Serangoon North Renovation By Defong Interior Design

[ayazumi 0]

All the stuff are in the kitchen

Not sure if you see clearly the white tile design from this photo. The white tile design is similar to the brown tiles. We chose a beige + brown wall tiles for MBR toilet. The design pattern is the same as Common toilet too

Both toilets share the same color floor tiles

Hope you guys enjoy reading. Stay tune for more updates tomorrow!

Edited April 24, 2012 by ayazumi

[NeoBY 1]

More photos pl!!

[Antares 0]

enjoying the blog, Looking fwd to more updates

[ayazumi 0]

DAY SEVENTEEN

More photos pl!!

As promised!

Today, we didn't manage to check the floor tiles because the foam papers were still on the floors, so we have to wait till Monday week afer the workers clear the stuff, then we can inspect. Hubby and myself were busy choosing the laminates and wall colors, and also discussing about the kitchen layout.

It wasn't easy to decide on the laminates and paint colors. We had to stay focus to our color theme, and if the colors could match our purchased furnitures, other not-yet-purchase furnitures, and if the colors were too dull for the house, etc. We spent the whole afternoon trying to visualise and do mix-and-match, kinda headache. Finally, we had decided the colors we wanted, but hopefully I would not be fickle-minded again

In the evening, we went to Courts to purchase our electronic appliances. We need to find a built-in oven ASAP and to ask for delivery by next Wednesday. The purpose is not for installation, it is for the carpenter to do the measurement. That's why we need to ask Hoe Kee to deliver the sink and other bathroom accessories on next Wednesday too. Other than the oven, we bought other appliances too.

We bought a Techno TMO 18 built-in oven. This is a very simple oven, with the basic functions. The disadvantage about this oven is that there is no fan in the oven. The fan is for baking a cake evenly, but if you just want an oven for simple baking or roasting, this is good enough. I am not sure how many times I will be using this oven We just want an oven to fit under the hob, to make the kitchen look complete. I am not good in cooking (actually I don't even know how to cook).

We have also bought a Panasonic inverter microwave oven. Don't ask us why we need an inverter microwave oven (as if can save much electricity), but Hubby just want this one. There is a smaller microwave oven than this model, but the price is only SGD10 difference, so getting the bigger microwave oven isn't it more worth it?

Okay, we are not a fan for Panasonic, but we have aimed this Panasonic inverter fridge for very long. Our fridge base is made according to this fridge dimension, so there is no way we can change a bigger size fridge, other than to find a small fridge than this. Since there is special offer, and we can pay by instalment, might as well get all the electronic appliances from Courts. Some people may not like this fridge because the freezer is at the bottom. We are sure we will not get used to the fridge too, because we have been using top freezer since born, so this is our first time we use bottom freezer. Just hope we can slowly adapt to it.

In order to buy a built-in oven, we decided to buy a cheaper washer to balance out the costs. We bought a samsung WA10G 8kg top-load washer. Ask me wash clothes I can do it, ask me cook, I can't. Anyways, to us, washer is just washer. Whether the clothes will turn out more wrinkled, or save water save electricity, loud or soft, or the internal part make of whatsoever materials, it doesn't matter. As long the washer can wash our clothes clean, it is good washer. We still have to iron our clothes after washing.

Another thing I am good at is house cleaning. So we decided to invest on a good vacuum cleaner with good suction power. We bought Rowenta bagless vacuum cleaner. We can't afford Bosch bagless vacuum, so we found a cheaper alternative, that was Rowenta, made in Germany. I am fond of bagless vacuum because I don't like to change the bag or empty the cloth bag

Again, we don't know why we need an inverter vacuum, as though we will on the vacuum for 24hrs. However, this vacuum watt power is reduced by 25% less energy than a 2100W vacuum cleaner. The suction power is good, 31Kpa. How good is bagless: All you need is to take out the container, and wash the dust under the tap, or use wet tissue to wipe off the dust. It is that simple. However, this applies to this Rowenta model of vacuum. The most important point to take note is Rowenta intelligent technology - "High Separation Cyclonic Technolohy" system. This system helps to "convert" the dust into a dustball, so when you empty the dust from the container, it will not be as dusty. Some bagless vacuum do not come with this technology system, so when you remove the container, the dust will fly everywhere. The most convenient thing about this vacuum is, the wheels can rotate 360 degree Other thing to take note of other brands bagless vacuum is that mostly they come with a paper filter in the dust container. You can't wash the paper filter if it is dirty. When the paper filter gets very dirty (you can't wash the filter because it is made of paper), then you need to buy a new filter from the agent. Rowenta vacuum dust container does not have a paper filter, so you can dip the whole container into water and wash. The filter is at the side of the machine instead of inside the dust container.

Most vacuum wheels can only go straight or push back, therefore housechores become very tedious for you. Last time, I hate to vacuum floor, because the machine is so heavy, I need to pull the machine around, and when I need to turn left or right, the wheels got stuck, so I need to pull hard and drag the machine to the specific area I wanted to vacuum. Luckily, Rowenta vacuum can rotate 360 degree, it makes me "enjoy" a bit when doing housechores.

We realised that Courts can give further 5% discount if you ask. So if you see the items are not with discount price tag, remember to ask them to give you discount. We were given additional 5% discount for the electronic appliances except the discounted items such as the fridge and washer.

Edited April 24, 2012 by ayazumi

[ayazumi 0]

We wanted to get Rowenta standing fan for our house, but this fan was temporarily out of stock. Courts couldn't promise when this model would arrive, so we KIV first, didn't commit to buy. We chose this fan because of the "Turbo Boost". The wind was really very strong when you turned on the Turbo button. Unlike other standing fan, you can only adjust the wind strength level, but this Rowenta fan can add "extra boost" to your wind speed, so you enjoy stronger wind power.

We also KIV the dining table and coffee table from Courts. Need to make sure we have enough walking space after the kitchen cabinet is up and after our TV console and sofa are here, then we decide if to buy this two piece of furniture.

This coffee table is really very heavy and seems like it is made of solid wood. My knuckles hurt when I knocked on the wood.

Edited April 24, 2012 by ayazumi

[ayazumi 0]

Just to share with you guys how our kitchen cabinet will look like, but the MBR wardrobe will need to change - Hubby will discuss this with the contractor either tomorrow.

Kitchen cabinet

MBR wardobe (So envy those with big wardrobes I already told Hubby we will buy a toyogo drawer to put his clothes

Edited April 24, 2012 by ayazumi

[ayazumi 0]

enjoying the blog, Looking fwd to more updates

Hi Antares. Thank you for visiting our blog. Hope you enjoy!

[XTR 1]

hi, dropping by to say hi. good info on the vacuum. Learnt a bit more about such vacuums.

[getzski 1]

MBR wardobe (So envy those with big wardrobes I already told Hubby we will buy a toyogo drawer to put his clothes

[getzski 1]

Just to share with you guys how our kitchen cabinet will look like, but the MBR wardrobe will need to change - Hubby will discuss this with the contractor either tomorrow.

what did you not get more drawers done at the bottom section? it's no unreachable spots, so you will maximize the storage space.

Edited April 1, 2012 by getzski

[ayazumi 0]

what did you not get more drawers done at the bottom section? it's no unreachable spots, so you will maximize the storage space.

I thought of that and I asked for drawers. (Edited): Initially we need to top up if we want drawers, however, Hubby managed to negotiate to change the one door to two drawers. Our contractor didn't charge us for this request.

Edited April 1, 2012 by ayazumi

[ayazumi 0]

hi, dropping by to say hi. good info on the vacuum. Learnt a bit more about such vacuums.

Hi XTR. Thank you for visiting our blog. Hope you enjoy!

[ayazumi 0]

DAY EIGHTEEN

Our schedules for today are:

1) To finalize the kitchen cabinet design, laminates for kitchen cabinet and wardrobe, and the paint colors.

2) Meet our electrician (may or may not). My father will be there to handle this personally, so we may just leave this task to him. And this layout was designed by Hubby. Electrical works will start next Wednesday, 4 Apr, but not to worry, Hubby will be on leave that day to supervise the electrician; at same time receiving goods from Hoe Kee and Courts.

Looks like we may need to add more sockets in case not enough to use. We will also lay Cat6 cables to faciliate the fiber Internet. Opennet is coming to do the installation on 23 April, and Singtel will be coming on 28 Apr, Saturday, to turn on the Internet for us. We did less coordination work because Singtel helped us to coordinate to book the installation date with Opennet. The previous owner did not install Opennet when they are giving free instalment, now we have to pay $220 for the installation. The good thing is that we need not direct to Opennet because we engaged Singtel to help us do the coordination work, so the $220 will be paid to Singtel via our Internet bill. Another good thing is that we need not come out $220 upfront and we got 30 days credit to delay making payment to Singtel via our bill. And... we got FREEEEEEE 6 months subscription from Singtel! This balance out our cost! We pay Opennet, but we don't need to pay 6 months subscription fees. This cover the cost for Opennet installation.

3) We will be visiting Ikea later to get our shower curtains and rods, and also to see the tables and shelves. We will go back Ikea later to purchase the study tables and shelves when the renovation completes.

Edited April 24, 2012 by ayazumi

[paladin126 0]

Did you get your electrician or Kelvin's electrician to lay the cat 6 cables and LAN points?

[revox88 0]

I thought of that and I asked for drawers, but was told need to top up if I want to change for drawers and not practical (?????????????).

Me: *speechless*

Hi Aki & Aya Thanks for dropping by my blog too..

Seems like your carpenter is not that "flexible" haha cost normally will charge by per foot run. Mine was ok with any combinations but of cos not to the extend of Blum hinges or those extra pullout systems. Anyway they offered me "China Blum"

Anyway, I think to have those deep drawers should not be too much to ask for. Keep nego..gd luck!