Natural Living

[Umaisarah 2]

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Got a call from Alicia from House Plan who apologised that Douglas is on overseas assignment so she's taking over. Asked for an appt to meet her coz she has prepared the quote. Am planning to meet her on Sunday morning.

Jason from Steel and Bamboo has also come back with a quote. Within my budget, but I think can cut down some more. Meeting up for 2nd appt on Sunday oso.

More damages! Went window-shopping on Sunday but wind up buying 2 items, one very major.

The first is a coffee table from Natural Living which closely matches the weave of my sofa. I got the sofa from them too about 3 years back.

There was one with the exact weave but it was too big and bulky. The one I bought is just nice in terms of size and height, and cheaper by a few hundred $$.

The other item is a king-size bed! We currently have a queen-size and was contemplating to 'upgrade' to a king-size.

Went down to IMM to look at the Serta shop and after much discussion with hubby and salesman, we cfm purchase of king-size Sierra Hills mattress (no bed frame).

Not sure if this was a tactic by the shop, but they had a sign which states original was like $8199 and they were offering at half price. Final selling price was like 55% off and I got 1 mattress protector, 3 bedsheets and 4 pillows thrown in as free gifts. Funny thing is, I found old RT posts from 2007/2008 where the mattress was going at almost the same price (but tt was for a Queen size). So this half-price sale was just a gimmick I think . Anyway, I think it's a fairly good deal for the quality. Now must find bedframe. Time to go 'window-shopping' again, keh keh

[Umaisarah 2]

Hi Umaisarah,

its me porcupine ...i'll continue our chat here. Nice to hear you have 3 kids too . We were contemplating a 4 bedder too. Its size vs location, in the end, location won and we got a 3 bedder. Also I prefer to be maid free, cannot get a big unit n kill myself with the hsework . but of coz, now i see the benefits of getting a bigger unit lol.

If all my kids are of the same gender, I'll put them in 1 bedroom n convert the other into a nice study. But i hv both gals and boy..so cant do that . I want to build bed on bay window too to save space!

i'll be following your blog closely !

Hi Porcupine! Yeah, my first fan

I wish I can be maid free, hope to be in a few years' time when my daughters all grown up and they can do all the housework for me,

By tt time, the other daughter can have her own room too, or convert the room to study cum chill-out corner.

One of the ID told me my idea of bay window bed + additional single bed cannot be done because the room will end up very cramped . He suggested putting two single beds separately. We said ok, but now having 2nd thots coz the room will end up v cramp. May resort to bunk beds. But problem is the bunk beds sold here are so boring. Not creative.

I found a few US websites that specialise in bunk beds and they've got some really nice ones. You should check them out to get some ideas.

Simply Bunk Beds

CSN Bunk Beds

CSN has the better models and the beds look to be of better quality.

What I did was to pick the one I like and ask one of the contractor to make something like that.

Jason from Steel & Bamboo quoted me like $1,400 for it which is quite reasonable.

This is the design I picked.

I also liked this one. Like the groove design on the bed frame but not sure if the carpenter can create that look.

I really like this one but it's too big for the bedroom.

I was playing around with some designs using Google Sketchup. Will post them later.

[Umaisarah 2]

Hi all readers of my blog

I've drawn up 3 possible designs for my feature wall. It'll be abt 9' long. I'm planning to use wood and glass/mirror combination.

I also like the panels from www.seriessupplies.com and want to incorporate them into the feature wall.

The TV console is the same, 2 drawers at the sides, and a middle portion for the DVD player, SCV box etc.

So, here's the 1st design which is the basic design. Wood in the middle, and glass/mirror at the sides.

2nd design using the Veneer Carved Panel in the middle portion and slightly bigger mirror/glass at the sides.

The 3rd design is a bit tricky as it has a grille panel which is normally used as a room divider. My idea is to fix the grille against a dark tinted mirror

so you can still see some reflection. The other side is a wood panel coz I need a fairly stable wall base for my TV to be mounted on.

Anyone out there who has used Series Supplies product and can comment on the wood quality?

The Grille panel is made of Medium Density Fibreboard. One carpenter told me that is the lowest quality kind of wood and so will be quite flimsy . Anyone know if this is true? The carved panel is made of high density fibreboard. I got the price for the carved panel at $700 per 8 by 4 feet piece. Is this considered expensive compared with laminate of same size?

So, can I put this to a vote? Which design you like best? Tell me oso if you think all 3 designs are horrible

Appreciate all feedback and suggestions!

[Umaisarah 2]

Posting some drawings I made using Google Sketchup for my daughters' bedroom

and for my master bedroom. In case, I don't get an ID

The idea behind the 1st design is to save space and build the bottom bed on the bay window,

and create a loft bed so that part of it can be above the bay window.

But I'm installing a ceiling fan, so loft bed cannot be too high. Not sure if this design is stable coz the legs of the loft bed is offset to the left.

any expert in engineering or physics can comment?

2nd design is with more stable legs for the loft bed.

3rd design not even sure if can be made coz the leg of the loft bed will be sitting on the bay window itself.

May not be strong enough to support the bed with person on it.

In the end, 2nd design is the one I chose, like the picture I posted earlier. Oso, the bottom bed is not fixed so can be move to another room in future.

[Umaisarah 2]

My idea for the master bedroom, again using Series Supplies products. For this design to work, i need to hv a custom-made bedframe,

or get one which is without any bedhead. Got sell in the shops, meh?

Anyone used the Cocohusk panel?

Is this more suitable for outdoor use?

[porcupine12trade 0]

Hi Umaisarah,

You drawings are nice and practical but you can consider "no legs" really nice . I have seen many local interior mags and pics that loft bed can be done suspended. looks good and make the room looks more spacious too coz no legs. Honestly loft beds are fun and space saving, but my hb insist on no loft bed.

We are on the same side, I need ceiling fans on all rooms too

I may not put a study in the room after all. like what you said, put 2 single bed already cramp, not much space for study. My hb's reason for not needing study in room is the gals are sharing the room for sleeping too, if 1 needs to rest (sleep), the other maybe disturbing if in the room, with the lights on etc. so unwillingly i agreed. My main concern is the computer, I prefer the computer to be in the living where i can see what sites my kids are surfing, so might as well make study in living...er, but not sure yet how to make it still look nice?? haha

btw, $1400 to replicate the loft bed to me is reasonable, though i have not scout around, but its "feels" reasonable "p

on ur bed without head, you are looking for wooden right? I did see before, just the bed frame without bedhead

[porcupine12trade 0]

forgot to add. I love to make use of the bay window space... i tot its a waste to leave it as it is. so still thinking of building a bed on it.. this (designing of the gals room) is giving me headache

[Umaisarah 2]

You drawings are nice and practical but you can consider "no legs" really nice . I have seen many local interior mags and pics that loft bed can be done suspended. looks good and make the room looks more spacious too coz no legs. Honestly loft beds are fun and space saving, but my hb insist on no loft bed.

Oh, I hvn't seen those, but is it safe to have suspended like that?

How do they mount it to the wall?

Must go check it out. Thanks for the tip!

I saw a children's bunk bed at Furniture Mall selling for $1500 and it look to be of good quality, so I think $1400 is fairly ok.

on ur bed without head, you are looking for wooden right? I did see before, just the bed frame without bedhead

Do you remember where you saw it? We're looking for a low bedframe coz the mattress alone is already 14 inches thick!

Edited March 3, 2010 by Umaisarah

[Umaisarah 2]

finally found one pic of a suspended loft bed that I can show the carpenter and ID!

Suspended Bunk Bed

Just hope the carpenter confident enuf to do it

[Umaisarah 2]

Some quick updates before I dash off to work.

Met up with B&E group. Very disappointing meeting.

Kelvin missed out on several important details. Quoted $21K, then we revised it downwards to $18K

and then he gave a discount of $500 and told us the price is only valid for tt day.

Verdict: OUT!

Met up with Inner Room. Oh, what a difference in service and detailing. Mbe because she's a designer.

She walked us through the entire house again, even though we had done it already the last time we met (unlike Kelvin).

Showed us some samples of the materials she's proposing. Really liked her choice of materials and design. But when show the quote, quite sad. $30K with GST! Sigh....then we cut, cut, cut, down to almost $20K but some of her design ideas have to be shelved.

Verdict: Would really like to work with her coz we click.

Will post some more during lunchtime.

[Umaisarah 2]

Need help!!Looking at e cost quoted by Inner Room, I'm thinking of hiring them to do living n mbr only. Then get MWG to do e rest of my hse. We save abt $10k if we do tt. But hb not keen cuz he said e company won't b happy we split like that. N odd to hv 2 contractors working at e hse at e same time.

Can I get advice if this is normally done? Cuz I read some forummers hv done ala carte before.

I still like to work w ID cuz later will need help w colour scheme n she can help choose materials for bedroom etc.

Can I hire ID for her design 'brains' but e actual carpentry n othr work done by our choice of contractor? After all the ID still need to hire carpenter rt???

Appreciate advice n suggestions cuz I'm confused.

[porcupine12trade 0]

hi umaisarah,

sorry i cant recall where i have seen a wooden bed w/o the headboard, because i hv been to quite many furniture shops! also wood is not what I am looking for, so did not pay particular attention but i rem they are pretty common. alot of furniture shops do customer make, removing or adding something should be easy for them.

On your qn about going ala carte, I think its perfectly ok? esp you are talking about a 10k saving!! i have moved couple of times and both times, i have my reno done a la carte. Also you asked abt using ID brain but engage own carpentry, yes this can be done also. Some ID do sell their design for about $800 (depends on ID). the sis co of rest and relax (cant recall the name) do mainly design (n lesser of the reno work).

if you ask me, i'll sure go for the way that saves money. But you have to be prepared to spend more time co-ordinating..so go with whichever you feel comfortable. Some people prefer to pay for service.

[porcupine12trade 0]

i browsed the Series supplies panels, look nice. Do you know how much they charge (or how they charge, by psf?) thanks!

[Umaisarah 2]

i browsed the Series supplies panels, look nice. Do you know how much they charge (or how they charge, by psf?) thanks!

This info I got from another forummer. They sell the panels on per piece basis. Some panels are small (abt 20 x 20 cm) while others are very big.

The one I like is $700 per 8' x 4' piece. And the ID from Inner Room told me the pieces come in unpainted, so hv to spray paint with your choice of colour.

I did send the company email enquiry but they never respond. I think they only deal with IDs and contractors.

[Umaisarah 2]

hi umaisarah,

sorry i cant recall where i have seen a wooden bed w/o the headboard, because i hv been to quite many furniture shops! also wood is not what I am looking for, so did not pay particular attention but i rem they are pretty common. alot of furniture shops do customer make, removing or adding something should be easy for them.

On your qn about going ala carte, I think its perfectly ok? esp you are talking about a 10k saving!! i have moved couple of times and both times, i have my reno done a la carte. Also you asked abt using ID brain but engage own carpentry, yes this can be done also. Some ID do sell their design for about $800 (depends on ID). the sis co of rest and relax (cant recall the name) do mainly design (n lesser of the reno work).

if you ask me, i'll sure go for the way that saves money. But you have to be prepared to spend more time co-ordinating..so go with whichever you feel comfortable. Some people prefer to pay for service.

Actually the ID I like is from Inner Room which IS the sister company of Rest and Relax

Mbe I should ask her if she mind I use my own carpenter. She actually charge $1000 for professional services which include site supervision.

Not sure if she also supervise if I get my own contractor??

Actually, what really make the price difference is the laminate for the bay window ledge.

Inner Room quote me $2,362 while Metal & Wood quoted $900. You see how much I can save just from that alone?

I'm not doing anything fancy for the bedrooms anyway, so don't really need an ID there. Just need a good carpenter who can build to spec.

That's why I'm thinking to use MWG for the 3 common bedrooms, and engage Inner Room for Living and Master coz need to hv designer touch there, mah?