Our Dream Home - Seletar Springs

[melodyli1981 0]

On 10 May 2011, we collected our much awaited keys to our new home at Seletar Springs Condo.

We forgot all about tradition (rolling of pineapple etc etc) and invited Angeline from Intradesign to meet us at our house at almost 8pm for a site visit.

When we reached there, there was no light as electricity had already been cut off by the previous owner and we actually had to walk around the house with our iphone flashlight and a torchlight.

Angeline was extremely nice and obliging and we went through the entire quote, adjusted everything according to our inspection, made some last minute add ons and she would meet us at her office for the final quote the very next day.

Here are some pictures of the existing condition of the house. It's extremely nice and the previous owner spent more than 100k renovating it apparently.

Unfortunately, we went about buying a 2nd hand house with the intention of giving it a complete overhaul so 90% of the things you see here will go.

Edited May 23, 2011 by melodyli1981

[JCase 0]

Congrats. You are in good hands with Angeline.

[melodyli1981 0]

View of Living Room from Entrance

Long and narrow walkway to rooms

Future plan: 'Cosy Corner' of MBR

Tiny lil hole for a bed..

Future Plan: The wall is the original entrance to MBR which we will reopen

[melodyli1981 0]

1/2 of Walk in Wardrobe within MBR

2/2 of Walk in Wardrobe within MBR

Obviously, the previous owner wasn't into sleep but more into clothes

Master Vanity..

Future Plan: We'll hack through the wall to join 3rd toilet into MBR Toilet. So we have a dry area and shower area.

Master Shower...

Future Plan: Vanity area

[melodyli1981 0]

Spare Bedroom with Sliding Glass door into the MBR..

Future Plan: Will form the wall back and make it a spare bedroom without access to MBR

Future Plan: Bright and airy Study Room with Balcony so my 3 chihuahuas can sun tan whilst I work

Common Toilet that looks absolutely brand new. Unfortunately, its greenish mosaic is the one colour we absolutely hate

Edited May 23, 2011 by melodyli1981

[melodyli1981 0]

Nice Dining and Open Kitchen Concept

Future Plan: Glassed up Wet Kitchen with Dry Kitchen and dining outside

Inside the Kitchen

Yard Area

Future Plan: Doggy & Laundry Area

[melodyli1981 0]

Back to pre key collections...

House Hunting:

We were eyeing this condo for about a year already. During the whole of last year, we went around viewing many other condo project on our own, coming up with crap and corny reasons to sneak past through the security guards of other projects. Finally, when we felt that we were ready, we got our agent to line up all the units for Seletar Springs. We saw about 6-7 units and this was the last one. The owner is a pilot with SQ and an extremely nice and cool guy. Holding a glass of whiskey on the rock, he gave us a cheers and offered us one

We knew this was THE ONE.

Went downstairs, told our agent to make the offer, and after some bargaining, we closed the deal the very next day.

ID Hunting:

The funny part about us was, we kind of knew we wanted Seletar Springs all the while and we went around soliciting quotes from various ID pretending that we already confirmed the unit. (Well sort of.. )

So we already knew which ID we wanted long ago and we really wanted Intradesign - Angeline.

However, she is a good 10k more expensive than 7/8 quotes we got and we didn't know if it was justifiable or not. At the same moment, my mum needed to renovate her kitchen so we decided to test out another ID before we confirmed. He is Adrian from CJ Ambience. I think he is a nice guy and quite responsive but frankly, the workmanship of the kitchen is horrible And he didn't come cheap!

Space between the drawers are noticeably different in width and casement doors have see through gaps. So with that, he lost our condo deal + 2 of my friends' deal.

So.. sucking our thumbs, we decided that if money could give us a peace of mind and quality work, we'll pay. And that's how we ended up with Angeline

Edited May 24, 2011 by melodyli1981

[melodyli1981 0]

Right after we met up and agreed on the final quote, we met 2 days later at Hafary to choose our floor tiles.

We were both late on a Sat morning but I reached about 5 minutes earlier than Angeline.

In that 5 minutes, we were browsing the tiles for our living room and decided on what we wanted. The tile cost$4.50 psf and i had no idea what my budget was!

Another couple was with their ID, they picked the same floor tile and the ID told them it was too expensive and they would need to top up because their budget was $2.80 psf.

I was pretty nervous because I was wondering if I kinda got cheated because I never knew what was the max price Angeline was going to allow us to pick!

Anyway, Angeline came, apologising for being late but I brushed it aside since I wasn't exactly early anyway...

I happily told her that we have one item down on our list! I wanted 'that' tile. She just nodded and said, nice! Ok.. (Then she turned around to ask the assistant from the shop to note it down.)

So yippy! Just like that!

The gal who wanted that tile, gave me the stinkiest look EVER! And I must say, I felt good! (Though I obviously paid for it in some way or another...)

Edited May 23, 2011 by melodyli1981

[melodyli1981 0]

Congrats. You are in good hands with Angeline.

Thank you! Today is only the first day of hacking and I never saw any blogs that detailed everything with Intradesign.

So I tot, I'll try to be as thorough as possible and be able to help others in future.

[rotty 0]

Back to pre key collections...

House Hunting:

We were eyeing this condo for about a year already. During the whole of last year, we went around viewing many other condo project on our own, coming up with crap and corny reasons to sneak past through the security guards of other projects. Finally, when we felt that we were ready, we got our agent to line up all the units for Seletar Springs. We saw about 6-7 units and this was the last one. The owner is a pilot with SQ and an extremely nice and cool guy. Holding a glass of whiskey on the rock, he gave us a cheers and offered us one

We knew this was THE ONE.

Went downstairs, told our agent to make the offer, and after some bargaining, we closed the deal the very next day.

ID Hunting:

The funny part about us was, we kind of knew we wanted Seletar Springs all the while and we went around soliciting quotes from various ID pretending that we already confirmed the unit. (Well sort of.. )

So we already knew which ID we wanted long ago and we really wanted Intradesign - Angeline.

However, as we all know, she is a good 10k more expensive than any quote out there and we didn't know if it was justifiable or not. At the same moment, my mum needed to renovate her kitchen so we decided to test out another ID before we confirmed. He is Adrian from CJ Ambience. I think he is a nice guy and quite responsive but frankly, the workmanship of the kitchen is horrible And he didn't come cheap!

Space between the drawers are noticeably different in width and casement doors have see through gaps. So with that, he lost our condo deal + 2 of my friends' deal.

So.. sucking our thumbs, we decided that if money could give us a peace of mind and quality work, we'll pay. And that's how we ended up with Angeline

I think you made a wise decison. Pay for a responsible renovator designer. I can tell you it is not worth your health to deal with unscrupulous and irresponsible contractor. In the end, you end up paying more to re-do, or your health suffers from all the stress or missed deadline or poor workmanship.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ADVENTURE!STAY STRONG!

[melodyli1981 0]

On Vesak day, we decided to erm go a step back again... Assuming that its an auspicious day, we woke up early in the morning 7.30am, went to the market, bought some Huat Kueh, Pineapple, Flowers, Rice & Salt.

We aren't really superstitious, didn't go ask any FSM to choose any special dates, just did it any o' how!

First we rolled the pineapple and tried to shout 'Huat' as loudly as possible without our neighbours opening their doors. Anyway, hubby didnt throw far enough for my liking, I went in and pushed it in further.

Took the flowers, dip it in water, any how spray the house here and there...

Salted all corners of the house and sprinkled rice all over the house.

That's about all we did. Crazy stuff, but stuff that I gathered from this forum and picked and chose whatever I felt like doing!

[melodyli1981 0]

Deleted - Cos I realised I wasn't allowed to post the 3D!

Edited June 24, 2011 by melodyli1981

[XTR 1]

Nice Dining and Open Kitchen Concept

Future Plan: Glassed up Wet Kitchen with Dry Kitchen and dining outside

Inside the Kitchen

Yard Area

Future Plan: Doggy & Laundry Area

really what a waste...all those wood, basin, tiles, wardrobe and lighting... gone.

still its your choice!

[JCase 0]

Thank you! Today is only the first day of hacking and I never saw any blogs that detailed everything with Intradesign.

So I tot, I'll try to be as thorough as possible and be able to help others in future.

To be fair to Angeline and to Intradesign, her quote was definately not 10K more ex than other quotes. This is just a misconception. I did not use her in the end as we were more comfortable dealing with my current ID purely on a communication basis but the point is her pricing overall is fair.

Nice office they have as well.

[footprint 0]

nice place!

Though wasted, but most impt, its the feel that you wanted to create for yourselves!

Waiting for more photos hor.

ya, my friends all highly recommended Angeline de.