A Meeting Of East And West In Tampines.

[RimBlock 0]

Welcome and good stuff. Can't view any of the pics you posted though. Good luck with the reno.

Thanks. Yeah, you are not the only one to say that. I believe Photobucket are having a few issues at the moment. If it continues then I may have to look somewhere else to host them although I really hate imageshack .

It IS a soap opera!! Keeps you waiting for the next installment!! Keep them coming!! and good luck with your reno!

We DIY alot around the house too... just finished doing up my dressing table chair (12 year old IKEA!!) and now planning to do up the wall behind our bed with fabric....

Yep, I sometimes think I should sell my story as script writers could not come up with some of the situations I find myself in . Makes life more interesting though

It is good to know others also have the DIY bug. A fabric wall behind the bed can look really nice. Best of luck and make sure you put some pics up .

Hi RB,

Welcome to RT, looking forward to more updates on ur reno... enjoy reading ur chapters too...

btw I'm into photography also... are all ur pics shot using ur FF 5D?

anyway... cheers and enjoy ur stay here!!

Thanks Hippobb.

I would be pretty upset if all those pics were done with 5D . The ones of the new apartment were done with my HD2 camera phone and the ones of our current apartment were done with my Nikon Coolpix p6000. The poor old 5D does not come out to play much these days although I could always post a few I took with it here if nobody minds .

Yo~ interesting t-blog that you have. your write up on the paint removal was very useful! (i asked similar question on RT a few months back )

all the best for your reno journey~

Thanks Marshmallow.

Hope fully you got more or less the same answer when you asked .

I am glad people are finding the blog interesting and a little amusing. Makes it worth spending the time. I started working on putting together a blog site for myself but never got around to finishing it to the point I was happy for others to view. It still exists as do a few articles I wrote for it.

For your pleasure and amusement....

Edited September 15, 2010 by RimBlock

[RimBlock 0]

A facial, what's that my love ?

As a guy you just know things are going down hill when you wife explains to you that in the pursuit of fighting off the signs of aging she has signed up for a package at a beauty spa for a series of facials.

The fact that it is a couple of thousand dollars for xxx number of sessions is hard to take but anything to keep my darling happy and if it helps her keep her beautiful looks then so much the better.

So, after she told me this and after I convinced myself that the cost was possibly worth it, I realised it would also give us some quality time apart . I can spend the time with the kids where they can play in the mud and get messy and do boy stuff without mummy fainting with horror.

It was at that point that the bubble was burst with the phrase ‘we can go together’.

‘What was that my love ?’ I answered still distracted by my dream turning in to a water colour picture left out in the rain.

Drip, there goes my sons running through the mud.

Drip, there goes the kids hunting for bugs in the grass.

Drip, there goes the youngest dropping his sweets on the floor, brushing it off and continuing to eat it.

All those boy dreams swirling down the drain like washed out water colours.

‘Together my love, are you sure ?’ I ask again seeking confirmation of my fears.

‘Yes it will be so romantic.’ comes the reply.

Now, any husband with any sense knows that when the ‘R’ word is used then that is the end of the argument. You try fighting that with your wife and you will not win, or more accurately you may win the battle but will not win the war.

Being one of those ‘new age’ guys I thought ‘what is the worst that can happen’, well let me tell you …

Now I must explain that this is a ‘neighbourhood’ spa so it’s a two story shop which has been converted in to a nails and spa shop.

When we arrived there were a couple of ladies who were very attentive, got us slippers to wear that even almost fitted my big westerner feet and took us up to the spa area.

After being given some funny water a lady came and led my wife away.

‘err hang on, aren’t I meant meant to be coming as well’ I called out but they had disappeared into a door along the corridor and no answer was forthcoming.

I sat there feeling very out of place, trying to take in all the candles, wood carvings and other mother earth type sculptures. I was quite glad they didn’t have large fertility statues or I would not have known where to look.

A short while later a lady came an led me to a room for my facial treatment. Now this is a respectable establishment so there is no ‘under the counter’ services available…. I mean, come on, my wife chose this place…….

Well I had a towel wrapped around my head, was told to lie down and then the ‘treatment’ began…

First came to steam. Now when I say steam it was not very hot but it was like a hot face towel for a sustained period of time. Now this was not that unpleasant but it was a bit boring. Being one of the video game generations of the 80’s, sitting still and blanking my mind is a bit of an issue. My mind is usually pretty active.

Then came the face cream part 1. Wow, that was nice. Soothing, cooling and a nice massage of the face.

‘This stuff may not be too bad. No wonder the ladies like it.’ I thought. Little did I know…

‘Ok, here comes the next cream, it may feel a little bitey on the face.’ the lady tells me.

‘Err, one second.’ I murmur, ‘what do you mean by bitey….’

Too late, the cream is on and it must be some sort of face peal as suddenly my face feels like it is being attacked by hundreds of ants biting it. With my skin stinging and trying to fight back the compulsion to wipe this gunk off my face or at least say a few choice words to the lady who put it there I noticed that slowly the feeling was starting to subside.

‘Wow, thank God the worst is over.’ I thought as the cream was wiped off.

‘Not we are going to clear your skin for you.’

‘Err, what ?, ow, ouch, now hang on a ow…..’ It was time to clear those stubborn blackheads and she was persistent. No stubborn blackhead was left, there would be no retreat and no surrender. My skin was pinched, prodded, rubbed and pinched some more until I ended up grimacing every time I felt her fingers on my skin. It became an involuntary reflex like being electrocuted.

Wow, with the last one done it was time to relax with another cream face massage and this time there was some more gunk stuck on my eyelids and so now, laying there on my back with my eyes closed I am told I have to allow 30 minutes for the cream to work.

Now, have you ever tried closing your eyes in the middle of the day when you are not tired and just lay there in one position with only your mind for company ?. Try it now, see how long you can lay there without sleeping but without opening your eyes or moving. How long does it take for your butt or your back to start aching ?. Can you clear your mind of any thoughts and just be calm and at peace. I jolly well can’t. After 10 minutes I am trying out the different movements I can do with my arms, legs and butt cheeks in order to shake out the aches and to just give myself something to do. I don’t need to have the water torture treatment, just stick me in a room with my eyes blindfolded and within the hour I will be banging my head against the wall.

Well a little later than planned the lady returned and wiped the stuff from my face with warm cotton pads. Then there was another cream wash and rinse and then the magic words came.

‘All done.’

She helped me in to the sitting position and gave my back a good beating to try and get the blood circulating after a two hours unmoving lie down. I stumbled to the standing position and limped out of the room.

‘How was that ?’ my wife asked sitting there smiling sweetly.

Now I come from a family where we were taught that if you do not have anything nice to say then it is better to say nothing at all.

‘Mmm-mm-mmm.’ I replied.

The people at the spa were then kind enough to sell me a small bottle of special water at only $50 which I was to use twice a day on my face to maintain the natural balance. They informed me that I could get another from them when it would run out in under a month.

As we left the shop my wife turned to me,

‘So the same again next month then.’

‘Like ****’ I thought. Of course I said ‘Mmm-mm-mmm.’

[JCase 0]

flmao

[patsy_sg 1]

i think you and my fiancee should get together! He had the same reaction when I mentioned taking him for a manicure he he

[RimBlock 0]

i think you and my fiancee should get together! He had the same reaction when I mentioned taking him for a manicure he he

It is more or less the same reaction I get from my wife if I suggest going for a browse around Sim Lim . It is only half the reaction I get when talking about going for a walk in a muddy forest on our trip to the UK at the end of Oct to visit my family there. You recall the painting by Edvard Munch called 'The Scream'... you know, the one that is a bit like . Well times it by 10 and that is close to my wifes' expression .

They are both going to be coming back with chocolate coloured legs and big grins. If anyone complains about them being dirty, what do they think showers are for .

Our key collection is not until Dec 27th (tentative) due to our visit to see my family. We will be in London for 3 weeks. My wife is having fun buying winter clothes .

RB

[patsy_sg 1]

It is more or less the same reaction I get from my wife if I suggest going for a browse around Sim Lim . It is only half the reaction I get when talking about going for a walk in a muddy forest on our trip to the UK at the end of Oct to visit my family there. You recall the painting by Edvard Munch called 'The Scream'... you know, the one that is a bit like . Well times it by 10 and that is close to my wifes' expression .

They are both going to be coming back with chocolate coloured legs and big grins. If anyone complains about them being dirty, what do they think showers are for .

Our key collection is not until Dec 27th (tentative) due to our visit to see my family. We will be in London for 3 weeks. My wife is having fun buying winter clothes .

RB

Fortunately for him, I love Sim Lim/Funan/Harvey Norman... he often comments I'm a teenage boy in an adult females body!

That was my reaction over the weekend we after hiked from Bukit Timah Nature reserve to MacRitchie Reservoir.. if i could have gathered enough energy to even have a facial expression!

[RimBlock 0]

That was my reaction over the weekend we after hiked from Bukit Timah Nature reserve to MacRitchie Reservoir.. if i could have gathered enough energy to even have a facial expression!

Cool, someone who actually walks in Singapore . My wife is a concrete city girl through and through. Me, I have always lived near the forest in the UK so nature is pretty appealing.

A few pics for those interested in photography. Most are in the photography link as it seems I have very few new ones I like and almost none done with the 5D.

We all know this one.

Out with my wife (bar 5 off Somerset Road).

Melissa. A model I did a photo shoot with in the UK.

We all know this one too .

Anyone want some photography done, I am open to offers ;) . Gotta pay for the reno somehow

RB

[RimBlock 0]

Oh and to sneek a last one in....

Not my 5D, not my photo. Love it never the less. One my wife took of our youngest.

RB

[JCase 0]

Nice pics mate.

It's No.5 at Emerald Hill btw. Ahhh my old haunt pre-marriage.

I'd be in the dog house if I posted any pics of my wife. I imagine you're heading there soon if she finds out ... ha ha.

My wife too is made of glass and is apparently allergic to sunlight. So I bike, golf etc with my young'un who's 7.

[reizzz 0]

Luckily my wife don't like to go for spa or facial. she rather stay home and do her own facial. lol

[RimBlock 0]

Nice pics mate.

It's No.5 at Emerald Hill btw. Ahhh my old haunt pre-marriage.

I'd be in the dog house if I posted any pics of my wife. I imagine you're heading there soon if she finds out ... ha ha.

My wife too is made of glass and is apparently allergic to sunlight. So I bike, golf etc with my young'un who's 7.

Thanks.

Yep, we know it as bar 5. We were there last night as my wife decided going for a drink with my mother-in-law watching the kids was more important that getting her birthday cake . We got a bit lost as the new shopping centre has opened since we were last there . Found it in the end and helped litter with peanut shells .

RB

[RimBlock 0]

So, a week later and still no quote from our last ID company even after chasing them so we have finally decided to go with Home Success.

We will be putting down our initial S$500 to get the ball rolling. This covers the 3d drawings and is refundable from the total cost.

Our initial budget was 20-25K for a very basic reno. After speaking to a number of companies it was clear that we would have to increase our budget just to get the basics done.

Home Success quoted us a rough 36K not inc tax. When the formal quote was drafted this became 41K inc tax.

Items not included;

Upper landing laminated floor (400 extra)

Toilet bowls, sinks, taps, showers etc (source ourselves or buy from their preferred supplier with discount)

Lights (we have some we are taking with us and may use others already there or buy new ones) - S$?????

Electrical works (only for kitchen, bathrooms as they will be completely striped) - S$?????.

Hot water storage heater. - $300-$500 depending on size.

New sys-3 aircon.

The price came down to 36K total after removing a few items that were luxuries we really were not too bothered about.

36K is possible with another 10K for the items listed above.

I will post up a rough space planning proposal (first draft) supplied by Henry when I get home tonight along with the results of tonights meeting. Again, Henry is coming to our place. Very happy with the service so far. Hopefully it will not change after the money gets paid

RB

[leechaorui 2]

...

Items not included;

Upper landing laminated floor (400 extra)

Toilet bowls, sinks, taps, showers etc (source ourselves or buy from their preferred supplier with discount)

Lights (we have some we are taking with us and may use others already there or buy new ones) - S$?????

Electrical works (only for kitchen, bathrooms as they will be completely striped) - S$?????.

Hot water storage heater. - $300-$500 depending on size.

New sys-3 aircon.

...

RB

Hi RB,

I am also in the process of renovating my house. For toilet bowls, sinks, taps, showers, storage water heater, etc... you can get from GR link at Jalan Besar or from Lite Fusion. I got mine from Lite Fusion because their service is very efficient. The salesperson, Marcus came to my place a few times to look at the layout before confirming the items. I have not done a competitive check on all the items but only checked on the Joven Storage Water Heater 15 Litres that comes with 10 years warranty. He charged me $200 inclusive of tax because I got many items from him. I think the rest of the items may not be the cheapest in the market but should be priced very competitively.

For air-conditioner, you can check on the price with Goh Ah Bee at Hougang. Before going to Goh Ah Bee, you can check on the promotions by the major retailers and call Goh Ah Bee for a price comparison. They are normally slightly cheaper.

For lighting, you may want to consider LED lights. I think in the longer term, there is some good savings especially if your usage is high. For other normal lighting, you can check lighting.com at Balestier Road. It is a small lighting shop that sells lights competitively but may not be the cheapest in town. The price is fixed at this shop.

Just sharing some lobang with you.

Cheers.

[RimBlock 0]

Hi Leechaorui,

Thanks for the head up on the other places to take a look.

We are going with the ID to look at tiles and sinks etc on Sunday just to get pricings as we do not get our keys until the end of December. After getting a discounted quote from Home Successes supplier we can look elsewhere and see if we can find anything comparable cheaper.

Henry was able to confirm that we can do the renovation under one of the Home Success companies that have limited GST exemption. To maintain the exemption status they must process no more that XXX per year and as we are not starting until December we can hitch a ride on the GST free boat. This has allowed us to keep the budget at 36K (just under 3K in tax not required any more.). We are very happy with this as you can imagine.

We took a look through the laminated flooring examples (Supreme - Malaysian wood - Click system). We chose Raffles Oak for downstairs and Bali Chengal for upstairs. The stairs are currently like the Oxford Cherry so hopefully should blend with the two different shades.

I very much like the up/down coving light that people have installed halfway up the staircase wall. I have asked for a quote both with plain white fluorescent and with changeable multicolour led lights. I expect the led lights to be expensive but if we have some cash spare from the 'extras' pool of money then it would be nice to have. For the front we would probably add a decal to give it some detail rather than leaving it plain. A pic from sweetlittlethings t-blog (which was borrowed from kopi-o's blog here.

We have also included doing the landing area at the top of the stairs in laminate flooring. For S$380 more it really is not worth leaving out.

Whilst Henry was visiting we were going through laminates for the kitchen cabinets. We currently have beech textured laminate in our current place and like it very much. It is light, fairly natural looking and quite neutral meaning most people do not have a strong dislike. We do like some of the more modern colourings but are holding back a bit as they are less neutral with people either liking or hating it. To this end we have a fall back plan, use the beech finish. We have no idea of what other options we may like though and choosing a laminate without having an overall design to work towards is like putting a car together with only the pieces and no idea of what it is meant to look like. If you do not stay in a fairly 'safe' area styling wise you can easily end up with a mismatched mess. The same is true on just going and looking at tiles. We have therefore asked Henry to give us an idea. I have tried to give examples of what we like and dislike (my wife hates white cabinets especially with two kids who have access to pens and crayons sometimes). I would tend to agree with her . As we really have no idea, Henry is going to send us some pics over and we can highlight what we like or dislike so he can get a good baseline to start with.

The overriding factor in this reno is that we are old(er), this is not our first reno, we have two kids and no maid. Things need to be practical, low maintenance and kid friendly. We have seen some wonderful ideas and beautiful reno's both here and in other places but a lot of them really would not be practical for us. This is again a very personal thing as two families with the same apartment may well use it in different ways.

RB

[RimBlock 0]

Whilst looking for ideas I have come across a number of room planning websites.

I am finding Sweet Home 3D to be a reasonable starting point. It is free, not so hard to use and will render nice drawings. There is an on-line version meaning that your designs are on-line so you can view from different computers but the size of the working area is fixed regardless of your monitor size / resolution. There is also an installable version which gets around this issue. Downside is that there are limited 3d 'items' to place in your design so you need to hunt around for something you like the look of.

I had a look at floor planner but found issues importing my floor plan so I could draw the walls over it.

I will be taking a look at Turbo Floor Plan tonight hopefully. This is a paid product but has a free 15 day trial.

I have a copy of my EM floor plan in the correct format for Sweet Home 3D so if anyone wants a copy then PM me and I will send it to you.

RB