Creating A Home With Your Own Hands

[alant18 0]

Got my keys last month but has been looking around a few months back for ideas and ways to build a nice environment without spending too much on reno.

Went to a few ID firms like G-Plan, DeFong, DeTrenzo, etc. The costs seems very much similar and sort of made me understand how much we actually need to spend. As the flat came much earlier than what we had expected, our savings were very likely not going to be enough for our new home. calculated we had only about 20k to play around so we need to plan very well in order not to burst our budget. Lights were the first few things I started to view and purchase before we even got the keys. Went to a wholesale place in Eunos, got my lights and ceiling fan from them.

After getting the keys, I started to get the stuff delivered and slowly started to install the lights, fans and cabinets on my own.

[mabaricows 0]

Got my keys last month but has been looking around a few months back for ideas and ways to build a nice environment without spending too much on reno.

Went to a few ID firms like G-Plan, DeFong, DeTrenzo, etc. The costs seems very much similar and sort of made me understand how much we actually need to spend. As the flat came much earlier than what we had expected, our savings were very likely not going to be enough for our new home. calculated we had only about 20k to play around so we need to plan very well in order not to burst our budget. Lights were the first few things I started to view and purchase before we even got the keys. Went to a wholesale place in Eunos, got my lights and ceiling fan from them.

After getting the keys, I started to get the stuff delivered and slowly started to install the lights, fans and cabinets on my own.

Good luck with your reno and your DIY projects!

A tip I picked up from the guy who came to install my ceiling fan is to tie a little counter-weight on fan blades if the fan shakes/wobbles. What he did was to tie a strip of lead on 2 of my fan blades(total of 4 blades) to make them stable, worked like magic!

[strikingreality 0]

Went to a wholesale place in Eunos, got my lights and ceiling fan from them.

After getting the keys, I started to get the stuff delivered and slowly started to install the lights, fans and cabinets on my own.

Welcome! Hope everything is going well!

Where is this place in Eunos? Care to share?

[alant18 0]

ok you can go to www.-.com.sg to have a look at the address.

[alant18 0]

Anyways my first project apart from installing the lights which I took quite some time was the TV console. The wall which is used to hang the cabinets was built with a hollow core and I wasn't aware until I drilled it.

After going through all the hassle and trial and error, I finally managed to get it up in a proper position.

That is only the beginning. IKEA has really nice combinations for me to expand my wall so I decided to look for more stuff to put.

The fan was also another difficult task for me and believe me, I didn't expect it to be so hard to hide the wireless unit in the fan.

here's the completed one in the master bedroom.

after that, it took me another few more days before I decided to install the Sun Flower.... which I thought would be easier.

had some difficulty getting the holes aligned and had to do tiny modifications to fit.

Got it working and it's quite satisfying.

Coming up next..... the lights installation.....

Edited June 29, 2011 by alant18

[alant18 0]

Lights installation started with this amazingly beautiful piece with a soft blue glow on top, which I got from lightcraft for 30 bucks. Initially wanted to put it in the service balcony but thought it's more suited for the store room due to the fact that there were openings to the lamp housing that will let insects go in.

Edited July 1, 2011 by alant18

[adidaem 6]

Wow, you are so brave to DIY. I would never trust myself to install stuff properly (accident waiting to happen man). Good luck and hope it works out well!

[alant18 0]

After gaining much from the experience of the first light in the storeroom, I decided that it's time to have the lights from e-warehouse delivered.

At the day of delivery for the many stuff I bought from them, there were 2 discrepancy in the order. one of the light which I thought was an extremely good deal was this light bulb design made with small cylinders. I had wanted to put the light at the corridor. They actually delivered a bulb like thing made of stained glass and I immediately told the delivery guy that it wasn't the correct thing. He brought back the light and I went down the next day to settle the differences. I changed the light to a simpler design which I thought was not as good but the previous one was sold out.

Installing this one is quite straight forward.

The 2 bedrooms and kitchen lights are using panasonic inverter circular lamps that costs $70 each.

Had an extra point in the MBR so I decided to go search around for a suitable one in IKEA. I bought 2 lamps for the toilet and a special track light for the room. I was very excited to get the light up so I quickly did measurements on the floor and made markings of where I need to drill on the ceiling. This really created a nice added feel to the room.

[alant18 0]

Deciding on the kitchen layout was the next thing in mind. Our kitchen is designed in an odd way, meaning the side for the cooking and sink is less than 2ft and this poses a problem for the kitchen cabinet. The worst thing that happened was the oven that we purchased needed a 2ft depth, therefore we had to make another cabinet on the other side.

The cabinet was decided to have the interiors black and I thought it will be something special, although the contractor says nobody uses black for kitchen.

When the granite top was installed by my dad, the hole for the sink was cut wrongly..... miscommunication I guess....

Dad asked me to look for another sink and we had a small argument regarding this issue. I gave in and tried to look for a kitchen sink that size but after a few tries, I gave up. wanted to go back and tell my dad to just use a piece to cover the hole but he said he will change it as it was both party's mistake. I was more than happy to hear that.

[alant18 0]

The doors took a while to finish and meanwhile, the bedroom cabinets were also being constructed.

The carpenter asked me if I could shift the bedroom fan which was blocking one of the cabinet doors and I told him to change the design of that particular door instead. The fan took me so much effort to install and you want me to shift... no way man. So decided to just make do with separate doors instead of a full one like the other 4 cabinet doors. I thought it's pretty ok as I wouldn't normally open that compartment to take things and it will require me to use a chair to reach it.

This settles the bedroom issue.

Meanwhile, the thought of putting the washing machine at the intended position seems wrong whereby there's actually a lot of space on the other side but the architect had to squeeze everything on the narrower side..... Well, I wanted to give it a try. Bought some stainless steel pipes and adaptors from a hardware shop at my workplace and started extending the pipe for the washing machine. The fact that I've never seen people install pipes and with only others suggesting ways to fix up the pipe, I had to do some trial and testing. It took me 2 nights to complete as I didn't get the correct adaptor and had to buy a suitable one the next day.

It was well worth the effort as it really fit in better on the other side

Of course there was still the power socket issue which I solved it by buying an outdoor socket for $25. All in all it costs me less than $50 to shift the washing machine position. I guess if you ask a contractor to do it, they'd probably charge you $150 or more to do that.

I now have a nice area I can use to for washing and there won't be obstruction when we hang our clothes.

Edited July 2, 2011 by alant18

[archenemy 0]

wah bro...great work!

btw..what do you do for a living ah?

[alant18 0]

wah bro...great work!

btw..what do you do for a living ah?

I actually do technical stuff for events. Special effects in precise.

[archenemy 0]

I actually do technical stuff for events. Special effects in precise.

i see..thought you were in the renovation line or something...

great work! looking forward to see your completed home.

[XTR 1]

alant, u have my respect. One by one you build up your home. and your diy is not shoddy work.

[ayukie 0]

wow hi neighbour but im nt as brave as you to diy haha .. i burst and burst my budget instead .. haiz ..