My Country Home

[Countryliving 0]

Hi Zlia

I'm really into country theme home too. I find that this is a style that will never go out of fashion. If we furnish our homes in zen, comtemporary styles etc, trends in colours and designs do change with times. If we see carefully, many people in Europe & Aust do their homes up in the country theme. Perhaps it's because there are lots of countryside & rural areas in those places, whereas Singapore is simply a modern city where everyone leads hectic lives! Hence, I strongly agree that it's not popular here...made even so by the fact that there are not many country themed IDs and furnishing shops here.

I agree with what the others have shared with you. A home is where we dwell after a stressful day at work, therefore you shd renovate/furnish it according to what you want, not whether the theme is popular or not. The reason why I love this theme is because it gives me a warm and cosy feeling, something I look forward to after a tiring day at work.

I'm doing my reno after CNY and will do it up in the country style. It's gonna be a challenge here in Singapore but I believe with proper research, budgeting and planning, it can be done! In fact, back to the days when I was still single, I already told myself I wanna have a country home when I buy my own flat. !!

Over the past few months, I've been progressively buying my country style decor items from ebay. Things that are either not available here or too expensive. Prices are reasonable even with international shipping costs added. Really can't wait to display those items in my new home!

If you find it difficult to find the furniture you want, might wanna consider to custom make. In my search for local companies that specialise in country style furniture, I found the following :

http://wholesaleclassicfurniture.com/html/...french_fur.html

http://www.bedznco.com/index.html

These are wholesalers/manufacturers. Thus, I believe their prices would be more reasonable than those retail outlets. Am planning to check them out after CNY. Of cos, you can also try places like Scanteak, Picket & Rail, Furniture Mall...but prices are quite expensive.

Does anybody have any photos to share on their country theme home?

I will also be starting my reno in May. Are you getting an ID or contractor to do up your house? Is yours also an EM? I need some ideas on how to display my tv in the living room. IDs are always suggesting feature walls which I dun like.

[countrylover 0]

I will also be starting my reno in May. Are you getting an ID or contractor to do up your house? Is yours also an EM? I need some ideas on how to display my tv in the living room. IDs are always suggesting feature walls which I dun like.

My new flat is a 4-room. We won't be engaging an ID as we are getting our own sub-contractors. I realise that most IDs in Singapore specialise in contemporary design and won't be able to deliver the country look that we desire. Those that specialise in country style homes are very expensive. I actually approached an ID before and told him we want a country look and he asked me "what is country look?". !!

In fact, we plan to DIY most things. If you look into country homes magazines and books, they have lots of tips on how to DIY things at home to achieve the country look we want.

Which ID are you engaging? Do be careful cos I believe not many IDs in Singapore understand what is meant by "country look", hence the final delivery might be very different from what we want.

As for your TV, maybe you can consider a classic looking console or cupboard to conceal it? Most magazines I read suggest finding ways to conceal modern appliances for the country look.

[Countryliving 0]

My new flat is a 4-room. We won't be engaging an ID as we are getting our own sub-contractors. I realise that most IDs in Singapore specialise in contemporary design and won't be able to deliver the country look that we desire. Those that specialise in country style homes are very expensive. I actually approached an ID before and told him we want a country look and he asked me "what is country look?".

In fact, we plan to DIY most things. If you look into country homes magazines and books, they have lots of tips on how to DIY things at home to achieve the country look we want.

Which ID are you engaging? Do be careful cos I believe not many IDs in Singapore understand what is meant by "country look", hence the final delivery might be very different from what we want.

As for your TV, maybe you can consider a classic looking console or cupboard to conceal it? Most magazines I read suggest finding ways to conceal modern appliances for the country look.

You are right about ID not knowing much about country style. Today I visited cottage craft but I find their furniture too victorian and heavy to blend in with some of my existing furnitures. I prefer something more modern and casual. Two of the better IDs that I have short listed prefers me to go for the modern classic look instead. I am having second thoughts now. I think I may end up like you getting my own contractor. Meanwhile I will be on the look out for a suitable console or cupboard for my tv. Thanks for your

suggestions.

[countrylover 0]

You are right about ID not knowing much about country style. Today I visited cottage craft but I find their furniture too victorian and heavy to blend in with some of my existing furnitures. I prefer something more modern and casual. Two of the better IDs that I have short listed prefers me to go for the modern classic look instead. I am having second thoughts now. I think I may end up like you getting my own contractor. Meanwhile I will be on the look out for a suitable console or cupboard for my tv. Thanks for your

suggestions.

Which are the two IDs you have shortlisted? Yup, they are right in saying that the modern country look is more practical. Cos if we go for the french or english country look, it's gonna cost us a bomb as the furniture is really very expensive. The modern country look allows us to adopt a variety of country styles, but yet retain the coziness and warmth. Maybe you can consider buying teak or rattan style furniture.

[Countryliving 0]

The two IDs are Weiken and Edgeline. Will see their quotations after CNY. Yesterday I came across a shop at Parkmall dealing with laminated floorings imported from Germany. They say that they dun supply to contractors or ID but have always dealt with customers direct instead. Reason being - IDs and contractors normally recommend cheaper laminates (from malaysia & china) to increase their own profit. The price of their laminates are between $5-$9 per sq ft and the quality looks good - looks like real wood. I am using real birch wood floor in my present house and I think the color and look is pretty similar. I may be using that through out the house so that I can cut down on the hacking cost.

[kriegs 0]

can also try 'Creations by the Heart', the boss Daniel has a shop at Anchorpoint selling country styled kitchen stuffs. He is also a contractor who specialise in such country styled renovations.

[countrylover 0]

The two IDs are Weiken and Edgeline. Will see their quotations after CNY. Yesterday I came across a shop at Parkmall dealing with laminated floorings imported from Germany. They say that they dun supply to contractors or ID but have always dealt with customers direct instead. Reason being - IDs and contractors normally recommend cheaper laminates (from malaysia & china) to increase their own profit. The price of their laminates are between $5-$9 per sq ft and the quality looks good - looks like real wood. I am using real birch wood floor in my present house and I think the color and look is pretty similar. I may be using that through out the house so that I can cut down on the hacking cost.

I initially wanted to do laminated flooring too, but many friends and IDs are telling me it's not as easy to maintain as ceramics. For example, if we do not clean off water from its surface properly, the floorings might end up with blotches over time.

I have seen some ceramic floor tiles that look exactly like laminates. There's a high possibility that I would go for that instead.

can also try 'Creations by the Heart', the boss Daniel has a shop at Anchorpoint selling country styled kitchen stuffs. He is also a contractor who specialise in such country styled renovations.

Can I check how much did Creations from the Heart quote you for your kitchen cabinet? How many feet is yours?

[tingshen 0]

Try cottage craft at Stamford House.

we went b4, what I can say is, OVERPRICED OVERPRICED OVERPRICED.......

Country style also got many types. French, American, English etc etc.....

but a particular race would do it very their way....you can always feel it. Make sure you dun over do it and end up like that.......then the comments will be very funny one lor....

IKEA is another place suitable for such theme. They have certain series/range of furnitures that's of better quality one, more expensive but affordable.

Edited February 4, 2008 by tingshen

[kriegs 0]

Can I check how much did Creations from the Heart quote you for your kitchen cabinet? How many feet is yours?

They quoted not more than 4K including accessories, cos mine haf not really started yet.

Can always go down with your floorplan and let him do a initial quote. He quoted us on the day we visited his shop (as he is doing another unit at JM), so pricing is roughly here or there.

[countrylover 0]

They quoted not more than 4K including accessories, cos mine haf not really started yet.

Can always go down with your floorplan and let him do a initial quote. He quoted us on the day we visited his shop (as he is doing another unit at JM), so pricing is roughly here or there.

If it's about 4K that you mentioned for the kitchen cabinet, then I think it's quite reasonable. Most IDs or carpenters will usually quote between 5k - 8k for a country style cabinet using solid teak or timber wood. Do share with me your photos once it's done. Think I will also try to pop by Anchor Point after CNY.

When my parents reno their flat a few years back, their cabinet was also done in the country style. They paid about 5k...but I won't use their carpenter, cos workmanship not very good.

[kriegs 0]

no problem

[jetfire 0]

Hi all,

on the topic of country theme, anyone has any mag/webby/pictures where i can refer to for the decoration of country theme room.

Eg. what kinda of wallpaper to use or what colors to match.

would be good if there are pictures for reference.

Thanks in advance

[countrylover 0]

Hi all,

on the topic of country theme, anyone has any mag/webby/pictures where i can refer to for the decoration of country theme room.

Eg. what kinda of wallpaper to use or what colors to match.

would be good if there are pictures for reference.

Thanks in advance

You can try the following :

http://www.my-country-home.com/index.html

For more ideas, try going to the library. You can find a good resource of books on country home decor. Likewise, can also go to Borders and other major bookstores to browse the mags. Some recommended titles are Country Living and Country Home. I've recently bought some books on country decor from Amazon.com. Cheaper than if I were to buy from Singapore.

Found these books which I bought especially useful :

Country Living 750 Great Ideas for Decorating on a Budget: Transform Your Home Inside & Out

Country Living Shortcuts to Decorating Country Style

[jetfire 0]

You can try the following :

http://www.my-country-home.com/index.html

For more ideas, try going to the library. You can find a good resource of books on country home decor. Likewise, can also go to Borders and other major bookstores to browse the mags. Some recommended titles are Country Living and Country Home. I've recently bought some books on country decor from Amazon.com. Cheaper than if I were to buy from Singapore.

Found these books which I bought especially useful :

Country Living 750 Great Ideas for Decorating on a Budget: Transform Your Home Inside & Out

Country Living Shortcuts to Decorating Country Style

thks a million would source for them

[brightred 0]

I am going for the Modern Classical theme at my place. If you are looing for such shops, may I suggest you can goto Park Mall - Level 1 and 3, Furniture Mall - Level 1, Robertson Walk - Level 1 and Kaki Bukit where you can get country furnitue at wholesale prices. Do not goto places like The Cottage Place and Iwannagohome, they are just complete "sucker" places to goto.