Old New Flat On A Shoestring Budget

[piknik 1]

No offence.

The initial impression i got is - japanese style. Spacious. Bright. relaxing, esp with alot of cut-outs from magazines. (i do recognise a few pic i seen somewhere b4)

The end result - very ikea, cramped and its totally different from what u portray.

The kitchen cabinet has too much stripes.

It looks like the place has been stayed for a couple of years. Perhaps u should ask yr ID to beautify it.

I think he did a good job designing his own interior look with practical ideas in mind, which fits his family lifestyle perfectly. Also, it's difficult to have a totally spacious look in a cramp hdb 4rm flat with 92m2 internally. Maybe he needs a home&decor photographer to help him take photos that beautify his house to a magazine standard only.

[adidaem 6]

No offence.

The initial impression i got is - japanese style. Spacious. Bright. relaxing, esp with alot of cut-outs from magazines. (i do recognise a few pic i seen somewhere b4)

The end result - very ikea, cramped and its totally different from what u portray.

The kitchen cabinet has too much stripes.

It looks like the place has been stayed for a couple of years. Perhaps u should ask yr ID to beautify it.

Are you trolling? You didn't even read the whole thread right?

This place is self-designed, which I think is really impressive for a DIY effort.

Magazine shots will usually be styled - so all the daily living items will be packed or moved away for the shot, your idea of 'beautification'?.

[Sygnur 0]

Wow!!! I love the look of ur home... Was impressed by the vinyl ceramic tiles( is that right?) .to design ur own house and to see its end product being as close as to ur design is simply marvelous.satisfaction to the max.

[bizkid76 0]

Are you trolling? You didn't even read the whole thread right?

This place is self-designed, which I think is really impressive for a DIY effort.

Magazine shots will usually be styled - so all the daily living items will be packed or moved away for the shot, your idea of 'beautification'?.

technically, i didn't really read word by word, but from start, quick glance in between, then end results.

My comments is not abt being messy and i do understand the constraint of HDB flat size.

Personally, my own opinion, the kitchen too many stripes effect. Too might lights creating an imbalance.

I not refering to the cramped bedroom with kids stuff, or the towel hanging here and there at the kitchen.

Its "too much". And even if the place is packed inside the cupboard, i still feel this way. It is somehow not anything near to the pic initially shown.

[rain 0]

One man's meat is another's poison. What is 'too much' to you may mean 'consistent' to another; what is 'cramped' to you may be 'cosy' to another, just like how your post with 'no offense' as a starting line sounds quite offensive in all.

It's entirely the owner's whims as to how he or she wants it to be, but you can always suggest how the owner can make the place more 'beautiful' in your opinion. I'm sure the owner would appreciate it more than a 'no offense' post.

technically, i didn't really read word by word, but from start, quick glance in between, then end results.

My comments is not abt being messy and i do understand the constraint of HDB flat size.

Personally, my own opinion, the kitchen too many stripes effect. Too might lights creating an imbalance.

I not refering to the cramped bedroom with kids stuff, or the towel hanging here and there at the kitchen.

Its "too much". And even if the place is packed inside the cupboard, i still feel this way. It is somehow not anything near to the pic initially shown.

[kirinshibori 0]

I think my kids are able to do space planning better than I can, lol!

For those who like my budget dwelling, thanks for the kind words! Hopefully, my rambling provides an interesting read or at least the featured pics from arch daily give you a better insight into Japanese interiors...

For those who think there's much to improve, my sentiments exactly!

In all honesty, I appreciate everyone who has bothered to post in my humble thread. Your opinions are always welcomed and they often allow me to see things that I've missed or totally not thought of!

[kirinshibori 0]

Let me see, where should I begin...

Yes, the intent was for the "atas" Japanese style, where basic remodelling easily cost SGD$100,000. Well, my budget started at a tenth of that, so I guess something's gotta give.

End result is totally my fault since I designed it, so I've technically got no ID to complain to or ask to beautify. Shaun did advise me on quite a number of feasibility issues, but the look is my pasar. As for Ikea, guilty as charged. Essentially, anything made of wood after my initial $8500 outlay on carpentry comes from Ikea.

Stripes-wise, it does border on overkill. But to keep carpentry cost down, variations are a luxury and my rudimentary ID acumen weighed in to demand symmetry in design.

I also dunno why we've messed up the place so efficiently. I guess it's time for some decluttering, alas time is also a luxury!

If I sound like I'm trying to vindicate myself... Again, guilty as charged!

1339184417' post='723743']

No offence.

The initial impression i got is - japanese style. Spacious. Bright. relaxing, esp with alot of cut-outs from magazines. (i do recognise a few pic i seen somewhere b4)

The end result - very ikea, cramped and its totally different from what u portray.

The kitchen cabinet has too much stripes.

It looks like the place has been stayed for a couple of years. Perhaps u should ask yr ID to beautify it.

[kirinshibori 0]

You have an impressive kitchen, and i'm surprise your carpentary is less than $10k. Usually for your ash strip design, it cost alot more.?

Apparently so... But for my carpenter, he charged me for the material cost only, after we decided to change from plywood fronts to oak veneer and ash strips. The oak veneer plywood cost about $25 per piece, and each piece is huge, I think about 8x6ft. The ash strips cost about 80-90 cents/ft. This is material cost, not including labour, which I think most carpenters will mark up since using laminates is more straightforward and saves on labour.

Edited June 11, 2012 by kirinshibori

[kirinshibori 0]

1339218660' post='723803']

I think he did a good job designing his own interior look with practical ideas in mind, which fits his family lifestyle perfectly. Also, it's difficult to have a totally spacious look in a cramp hdb 4rm flat with 92m2 internally. Maybe he needs a home&decor photographer to help him take photos that beautify his house to a magazine standard only.

Thanks for your encouraging words! Perhaps I should get a friend to take nice photos of the house before we continue to systematically and efficiently clutter and mess the place up, haha... Btw any bright sparks for book storage in 90m2? I have too many books and they are still sitting in boxes in my home shelter. I was thinking of installing shelves on the walls above the room doors, but money and the fear that it'll further clutter up the place are holding me back...

[piknik 1]

Thanks for your encouraging words! Perhaps I should get a friend to take nice photos of the house before we continue to systematically and efficiently clutter and mess the place up, haha... Btw any bright sparks for book storage in 90m2? I have too many books and they are still sitting in boxes in my home shelter. I was thinking of installing shelves on the walls above the room doors, but money and the fear that it'll further clutter up the place are holding me back...

Well, hubby n I thought abt the budget for our book collection as well..we asked for carpentry cost and it's way above $1K. We went Ikea since their billy bookshelf got good reviews from ikeahack. For our study room, 2m long of bookshelf, with glass doors and extended shelf on top (to reach the ceiling) will cost up to $900. Can use bestar shelves as well, cost a little more than $900-$1000. I like to display all my books for easy access so it's the best to have a good bookshelf. Books r to be read. Other than that, I don't know how to hide them leh.. You won't want books to fall down on the person opening the door right? If you need, sort out the kind of book that no one in your family will read, or rarely read, put them underneath the bed or give away.

[star70 0]

This is like the nicest switch ever, but the price is not very nice, haha!

It's from the Merten M-Plan Glass series, with real glass and thermoplastic rocker switches...

So, true to my shoestring budget... I stuck to the plain jane MK Slimline R6 that HDB gave as rectification replacements and bought some Legrand Mallia for those new additions...

MK Slimline Plus

Legrand Mallia

While getting the switches and sockets, I also bought an ELCB for the isolated mains that I'll be using for my antique hifi... but that'll be another entry by itself.

Hihi

Could you let me know the price for the Schneider switches - i saw it in JB, i wonder if its cheaper?

Thanks!

[missterry 0]

hi, i really like the design of your house. i think its very commedable that the designs were from yourself. good job

im looking at something similiar for my house's reno. hope u dont mind if i steal some ideas

[leeking 0]

There's still some way to go till the end of the renovation, but this is the same perspective view as the "3D" I posted earlier...

Hi,

I love the stripes actually.

Can I check with u the colour of the laminate used in the kitchen cabinets? And for the strips of wood, are they laminated or plain stripes of plywood?

[kirinshibori 0]

Hihi

Could you let me know the price for the Schneider switches - i saw it in JB, i wonder if its cheaper?

Thanks!

The 1 gang 1/2 way switch in the picture costs $54.40 each, while the 1gang 13A power socket costs $93.50 each. What price did you get in JB?

[kirinshibori 0]

hi, i really like the design of your house. i think its very commedable that the designs were from yourself. good job

im looking at something similiar for my house's reno. hope u dont mind if i steal some ideas

Thanks! Good stuff are meant to be shared. Hope your house will turn out much better than mine!