My Renovation Journey

[strawberry8 0]

Hi there

I like to share my renovation journey here and also seek ideas and advice from fellow forumers.

This is the original floor plan:

This is what I have in mind:

Nothing fancy, just basic for my family of 5 including helper.

Problem areas:

1. Store room - Kitchen - Service balcony

Owner hacked away store room which was originally in the dining area.

I intend to install a false wall to create back the store room.....can't live w/o storeroom

As I cannot wall-tile the false wall, I also do not intend to wall-tile the kitchen and service balcony.

I don't do heavy cooking. Do your think this will work?

I intend to install a silver back splash between my top hung (all the way to ceiling) and bottom kitchen cabinets and all the way out to kitchen window.

Will it look awful?

As you can see from the 2nd plan, I am thinking to stretch my kitchen all the way into the service balcony.

do you think it looks funny ?

The kitchen sink will be facing the toilet bowl if the toilet door is open.

I will be hanging my clothes (in hangers) outside the ledge of study room/bedroom 2/3 as they are facing the direct east.

Will put up a short bamboo rod at the ledge.

No one except helper at home in the morning so can hang clothes without blocking morning sun for any member of the house.

2. Toilets

Position of toilet bowl is at 1/3 length of both toilets

How to have a small vanity top and a showerscreen at the same time?

Edited February 16, 2010 by strawberry8

[Amy Choon 1]

Hello Strawberry,

congrats to your new home.

I'm not expert in reno, but I don't see any issues with not having tiled kitchen walls. Since you will be doing backsplash, it will be sufficient when you do need to cook. Silver backsplash all the way to the kitchen window sounds good too. i imagined it to be neat, sleek in design, only concern is if it gets into contact with water at the sink area, will it be bad for the backsplash?

as for kitchen sink facing toilet doors, i've seen so many of such layout in the older HDB flats.

looking at the layout, seems quite difficult to have shower screen and vanity in the toilets wor.

[strawberry8 0]

thanks meredith....not my house yet...have not gone for 1st appt as too long queue

now i am wondering if i should stretch kitchen to service balcony or create a galley kitchen concept, ie stop kitchen cabinets at the official kitchen area and create more table top space next to fridge.

If I choose the latter option, I am not sure how the kitchen cabinet will turn out with my false wall of my store room.

[ossify 1]

Problem areas:

1. Store room - Kitchen - Service balcony

Owner hacked away store room which was originally in the dining area.

I intend to install a false wall to create back the store room.....can't live w/o storeroom

As I cannot wall-tile the false wall, I also do not intend to wall-tile the kitchen and service balcony.

I don't do heavy cooking. Do your think this will work?

I intend to install a silver back splash between my top hung (all the way to ceiling) and bottom kitchen cabinets and all the way out to kitchen window.

Will it look awful?

Tiling of wall is not required if your cooking style is not messy. Whoever cooks in your household, observe them while they cook, if the oil/sauce splashes onto the wall while cooking. A silver backsplash (silver or stainless steel?) can look stylish or industrial depending on your kitchen design. Your kitchen will not look awful just because of your backsplash

As you can see from the 2nd plan, I am thinking to stretch my kitchen all the way into the service balcony.

do you think it looks funny ?

The kitchen sink will be facing the toilet bowl if the toilet door is open.

This is not an issue unless you place a mirror above the kitchen sink.

I will be hanging my clothes (in hangers) outside the ledge of study room/bedroom 2/3 as they are facing the direct east.

Will put up a short bamboo rod at the ledge.

No one except helpder at home in the morning so can hang clothes without blocking morning sun for any member of the house.

2. Toilets

Position of toilet bowl is at 1/3 length of both toilets

How to have a small vanity top and a showerscreen at the same time?

quite easily done, move your basin to the other side. you'll have to move the entrance too, but since it's sliding door, you'll just have to adjust your sliding mechanism to the other way

[strawberry8 0]

Thanks Ossify.

I got the galley kitchen after reading your blog

Hope you dont mind I copy your idea for exploration

How do you think the galley kitchen concept will work for my kitchen size?

I am thinking to put fridge, sink and cooker hob on the side where the solid wall is and stop at the official kitchen area, leaving service balcony area intact.

Then create a stretch of table top space of the opposite side for the electricals.

But how to run the power sockets on false wall ????

If i go galley-style, I dont think I need any top-hung cabinets on both sides liao....

I am a very amateurish cook only

I dont quite understand what you mean by moving the toilet sink to the other side and reverse the sliding door direction.

Take the master toilet for example.

Pls share with me where to put the sink and shower screen.

I like the shower screen to be placed from wall to wall, ie the right side of the entrace.

I intend to mount a LCD TV on the wall left of the entrance.

[strawberry8 0]

Hi

I have a wall-to-wall 'sunken' 3m-wide area in my master bedroom and it's only logical to construct the wardrobe there.

As it already has the 'walls', I thought of doing the pole system wardrobe and curtains as the 'wardrobe door' to save cost.

Was looking at IKEA, OPSH and ELFA (by Howard Storage).

Not convinced of IKEA's quality while OPSH and ELFA are too expensive.

I believe with 3m, I can build a conventional 5-door wardrobe.

The config of my wardrobe is

- hanging clothes (double layer) for the 1-2nd doors,

- hanging clothes in the upper layer of 3-4th door,

- wide drawers for putting folded clothes in the lower layer of 3-4th door

- shelves in the entire height of the 5th door

- 2 layers of shelves in the overhung section in the entire length of the 5 doors

Any idea of a cheap way to construct this wardrobe?

The 2 layers of sheleves in the overhung section is easy - can use metal vertical piece iwth many holes and L-angle brackets and wooden planks.

The tricky part is what hardware to use to attach the metal hollow rod (that hangs the clothes) to the wooden plank above?

THanks !!!

[purecat 0]

Hi Strawberry

Congrats on finding your house !

I like your house layout, squarish and not missing any important corners.

So how long is the queue now ? Ours was like 4 mths ( from exercise option to 2nd appointment )

The wait may be long but it also give you umple time to plan like you are doing now. When eventually you get your keys... you can start your reno immediately.

Happy Planning !

[ossify 1]

Hi Strawberry

Congrats on finding your house !

I like your house layout, squarish and not missing any important corners.

So how long is the queue now ? Ours was like 4 mths ( from exercise option to 2nd appointment )

The wait may be long but it also give you umple time to plan like you are doing now. When eventually you get your keys... you can start your reno immediately.

Happy Planning !

Hey strawberry, any updates?