My Inter Terrace Reno

[whisky 0]

The bedroom floorings are teak timber strips but I am beginning to regret as gaps/cracks are beginning to show between the strips. I am not sure if I should went for laminates instead.

Personally I would prefer teak over laminates; more durable and exudes more class. Gaps most likely due to too much moisture in timber; ie kiln dry process not enough.Coupled with bedroom aircon on at night; will hasten the shrinkage process.

Not much choice really, as all timbers shrink to a certain extent. Check with your contractor if filling up with wood putty helps to improve the aesthetics.

[Beeblebrox000 0]

I think it was around 12k for the railings and 9k for the floor. + probably some more for hacking...

Thanks for the info. We were thinking of redoing the staircase too but will only do so in a few years' time. The current budget isn't big enough!

I really love your house and Green Giraffe's. I have been following both your blogs - no time for the other blogs.

[Livinstyle 0]

The original steps is parquet. The contractor says if you remove the railing, you need to change the flooring as it will be quite ugly to patch up.

you mean your old or new steps are single plank? Single plank is expensive. I think it was $2xx for one step.

Are you done with your reno? Any pics?

Actually parquet can be patch up quite nicely if done well. But of course, will need to give the new parquet some time to settle into the new surrounding. After which all will look good.

The old steps are single planks. Still in good shiny condition so we are keeping it. Yes it's expensive, was quoted about $4-5k just for the planks if redoing the stairs. Prices will depends on the width & depth of the steps. My stairs are rather wide and deep as compared to some newer developments we saw.

Still doing reno, all in a total mess now. Will post pics when i can get done decent shots.

Edited October 24, 2010 by Livinstyle

[leechaorui 2]

Very beautiful transformation of your house!

[bepgof 20]

staircase.

I wanted to keep the old staircase as I think it was probably quite good with all the big wooden pillars and they actually have wood covering all over the place. It was probably quite expensive when it was originally done. And redoing the staircase was expensive. But my wife hated the old staircase so we changed it.

The new staircase is more modern look with much less wood covering.

after

Ooops, careful too many sharp edges!

Edited October 25, 2010 by bepgof

[bepgof 20]

Inter Terrace quite "deep in", usually has air flow & natural light insufficiency, if design not properly, especially at stair case area to 2nd floor. Notice also many sharp corners/edges - study bence, book shelf, stair case area( wood + cement), tiolets, almost everywhere. Too many 90 deg bents. Feeling = rigid + hard = not soft/smoothening.

Care to share how you tackle these air + light insufficient problem? Also has engage any geomancer?

Edited October 25, 2010 by bepgof

[wind30 2]

Inter Terrace quite "deep in", usually has air flow & natural light insufficiency, if design not properly, especially at stair case area to 2nd floor. Notice also many sharp corners/edges - study bence, book shelf, stair case area( wood + cement), tiolets, almost everywhere. Too many 90 deg bents. Feeling = rigid + hard = not soft/smoothening.

Care to share how you tackle these air + light insufficient problem? Also has engage any geomancer?

we don't believe in geomancer so it is like wasting money to us.... especially with the tight reno budget.

The corners are 90degrees but not sharp. We have a 2 year old running kid so we are careful with sharp edges. As for the angular design, we are ok with the clean cut lines. The whole house is like that as I think it is easier for the contractor to make straight lines. I have seen some designer kitchens with organic lines which are gorgeous but I think my contractor dunno how to make them.

For me, the most impt thing is open spaces and not too cramp. That is why we did not overdo with more furniture, especially the kitchen and MBR which we could have added more stuff easily.

I agree about the light issue as we hate dark homes. Inter terrace is the worst because of the lack of side windows. Our layout is actually quite good because of the double height living room which throw light into the 2nd floor staircase. The family hall/TV room is also bright because it overlook the living room unlike a conventional inter terrace which is right in the middle with no windows.

And for the 3rd floor staircase, we have a glass panel throwing light from the top floor toilet, something akin to skylight.

We also have a skylight in the kitchen as we extended the backyard roof blocking somelight.

Edited October 25, 2010 by wind30

[wind30 2]

Actually parquet can be patch up quite nicely if done well. But of course, will need to give the new parquet some time to settle into the new surrounding. After which all will look good.

The old steps are single planks. Still in good shiny condition so we are keeping it. Yes it's expensive, was quoted about $4-5k just for the planks if redoing the stairs. Prices will depends on the width & depth of the steps. My stairs are rather wide and deep as compared to some newer developments we saw.

Still doing reno, all in a total mess now. Will post pics when i can get done decent shots.

I dunno, this is what the contractor says...

The new Terrace stairs are usually steeper. That is good and bad. The good is of course more useable space. The bad is that it is hard to go up and down.

Will your reno make it in time for Chinese New Year? I hope to finish getting my accesories like paintings in time for new year.

[wind30 2]

Thanks for the info. We were thinking of redoing the staircase too but will only do so in a few years' time. The current budget isn't big enough!

I really love your house and Green Giraffe's. I have been following both your blogs - no time for the other blogs.

Thanks.

We were REALLY poor during the reno period. We did not replace the Metal Gate and do up the backyard lanscaping because of cost cutting...

Edited October 25, 2010 by wind30

[wind30 2]

Personally I would prefer teak over laminates; more durable and exudes more class. Gaps most likely due to too much moisture in timber; ie kiln dry process not enough.Coupled with bedroom aircon on at night; will hasten the shrinkage process.

Not much choice really, as all timbers shrink to a certain extent. Check with your contractor if filling up with wood putty helps to improve the aesthetics.

Actually some of the laminates look so real that it is hard to tell. Especially those planks which "looks" very classy and expensive.

I also think timber will shrink especially if you use bigger pieces which will show gaps more easily. So I am just waiting before chinese new year and then get my contractor to come and fix.

[Livinstyle 0]

I dunno, this is what the contractor says...

The new Terrace stairs are usually steeper. That is good and bad. The good is of course more useable space. The bad is that it is hard to go up and down.

Will your reno make it in time for Chinese New Year? I hope to finish getting my accesories like paintings in time for new year.

Yea the new developments stairs are steeper. That kind of give me a danger feel and yes I find it more difficult to climb the stairs.

Hopefully would be in time for Chinese New Year. You will have lots of fun decorating up your pretty place.

[wind30 2]

my kitchen clock

A painting we lugged back from Japan. It is just a print.

Edited October 26, 2010 by wind30

[wind30 2]

Backyard. We remove the retractable roof and extended the roof. Tiled over the ugly drain and the space behind is remarkably useful now.

before

after

Edited October 26, 2010 by wind30

[bepgof 20]

we don't believe in geomancer so it is like wasting money to us.... especially with the tight reno budget.

The corners are 90degrees but not sharp. We have a 2 year old running kid so we are careful with sharp edges. As for the angular design, we are ok with the clean cut lines. The whole house is like that as I think it is easier for the contractor to make straight lines. I have seen some designer kitchens with organic lines which are gorgeous but I think my contractor dunno how to make them.

For me, the most impt thing is open spaces and not too cramp. That is why we did not overdo with more furniture, especially the kitchen and MBR which we could have added more stuff easily.

I agree about the light issue as we hate dark homes. Inter terrace is the worst because of the lack of side windows. Our layout is actually quite good because of the double height living room which throw light into the 2nd floor staircase. The family hall/TV room is also bright because it overlook the living room unlike a conventional inter terrace which is right in the middle with no windows.

And for the 3rd floor staircase, we have a glass panel throwing light from the top floor toilet, something akin to skylight.

We also have a skylight in the kitchen as we extended the backyard roof blocking somelight.

Wind30, thanks for the sharing. "Light throwing" is a technique, as well as the "skyight" to bring in natural light. Sharp corners do create "undue mental stress" without much noticing, can put some indoor plants to "hide some - just merely from personal point of view.

Edited October 26, 2010 by bepgof

[fuji_apple74 0]

my kitchen clock

Hihi... can advise where u get this clock from? TIA!