Modern Em Reno@ Bukit Panjang

[Harriette 42]

Hi Anemone,

Thanks for dropping by. Good to know that someone is still reading. I've PM-ed you.

I'm now busy:

- buying lights

- finalising the components for the Ikea kitchen (there are so many parts and details)

- choosing laminates

- choosing door/window grilles

- getting quotations for invisible grilles

- getting quotations for curtains

- going through carpentry drawings

Nothing to post now coz everything is still works-in-progress. Should be able to update this blog in 1 or 2 weeks' time.

[anemone 2]

Yes! Definitely still reading. I find myself reading posts from as early as 2009; keep learning from others, great site. Thank you for your reply on the contacts; I've received them. Happy Shopping & look forward to see your pics when it's all done

[alfredt 27]

i am still here post more pictures hehe

[mellenur 11]

Hi Anemone,

Thanks for dropping by. Good to know that someone is still reading. I've PM-ed you.

I'm now busy:

- buying lights

- finalising the components for the Ikea kitchen (there are so many parts and details)

- choosing laminates

- choosing door/window grilles

- getting quotations for invisible grilles

- getting quotations for curtains

- going through carpentry drawings

Nothing to post now coz everything is still works-in-progress. Should be able to update this blog in 1 or 2 weeks' time.

Hi Harriette,

Hope it's okay I share my experience with invisible grilles.

I used invisible grilles in my current house (not new house), installed them about 2 years ago and removed them a year later. I used the trademark owners, not the other one. Wasn't a good experience. I have cats so I asked the sales person who came to do a site visit for her suggestions. She said because my windows were long, it was better to use vertical grills rather than horizontal ones as it will slack near the centre. Mine is the standard HDB Punggol window, 4 leaves/panels. Then she suggested a gap of 2-inch so the cat head cannot come out. I thought she'd know best so proceeded with her suggestion. Only opted to do for windows in my living room and children's bedroom. On day of installation, the workers are Bangladeshis and their supervisor didn't come until much later when I made a complain. The process is this: for vertical grills they will drill a hole to insert a screw 2 inches apart just below your window frame so for me we have like 50-plus drill holes. Then they weave the wire grill material then put on a white frame to cover the screws. First problem: the grill lines were not straight. They were supposed to use laser pointer to create straight lines but the workers took short cut maybe? Anyway I called the supervisor to site and he agreed the lines were not straight, particularly the last 5 lines near the walls so they took it out, drilled more holes and patched the prev ones then weave the whole thing again. This time it was almost 80% straight, supervisor said last 2 lines cannot be straightened. By then we'd already moved in so each visit was a great inconvenience to me. The end product really made my house look like jail because the grills were close to one another and I have a fairly long hall compared to most other houses, even then it's very obvious. But I needed it because got cats and kids.

A few months later I called the sales person to give feedback that the gaps were very tight so it was quite difficult for me to squeeze my hands through to close the windows when it rains, and after much bugging then she finally told me she recommended 2 inch instead of 3 inch because there was no stock previously. I was surprised, I thought the gaps was drilled, what does it have to do with stock? Maybe it was the frame, I don't know and didn't ask. For a few months, I lived either with completely closed windows for few weeks at a go, or completely open windows even when it rained.

After a year, I cannot tahan already and I asked if we can amend and re-weave the grills to 4 inch gaps since we are using existing hardware, so just skip a screw only. Again, the sales person said no cannot be done. Not very helpful in providing options. By this time, I was getting very frustrated and asked that they remove the whole thing and patch up the holes in the wall. They charged me $200 for that. Finally did it and now I'm $1k plus poorer and back to square one.

[Mikirfan 2]

Hihi, your renovation looking good

Can share with me Jay n Mr Yeak contact and pricing?

Btw Mr Yeak co is it accredited by HDB...thks so much

My email is mikirfan1953@gmail.com

[anemone 2]

Hihi, your renovation looking good

Can share with me Jay n Mr Yeak contact and pricing?

Btw Mr Yeak co is it accredited by HDB...thks so much

My email is mikirfan1953@gmail.com

@Mikirfan, FYI - once you have the contractor's company name; you can verify it at HDB InfoWeb for HDB Registered Renovation Contractor, cheers!

[Harriette 42]

Hi Mikirfan,

I have PM-ed you. Mr Yeak is accredited by HDB.

[Harriette 42]

Hi Mellenur,

Thanks so much for your advice. Which supplier did you use? Pls PM me if you don't wish to disclose here.

So far, I have contacted 4 suppliers for quotes - Le Gate, Le Home, Invisible Grilles and Invisy Tech.

[mellenur 11]

Hi Harriette, mine was not the first, not the second and not the fourth and sales person was a lady.

[Harriette 42]

The false ceilings, lights, aircon, balcony door and yard door are up. Painting is currently on-going.

living rm ceiling by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

MBR ceiling by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

bedrm 2 ceiling by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

bedrm 3 ceiling by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

toilet ceiling by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

[Harriette 42]

painting by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

Cove light at stairs by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

aircon by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

The frame of the yard door is white. The black parts are the protective stickers.

Yard door by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

[anemone 2]

I like your ceiling lights, nice & unobtrusive.

[Harriette 42]

We had a 2-hour discussion with Jay (my ID), Mr Yeak (my contractor) and the carpenter (Mr Yeak's brother) today on the carpentry details. Prior to this, I had a 2-hour discussion with Jay. And prior to this, Jay and I had some email correspondences on the carpentry. Much thought and planning have gone into the carpentry. I'm really looking forward to seeing them implemented. Plus, we are eager to move house.

Our IKEA kitchen design is also almost finalised. We should be buying it next week.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Harriette

[Harriette 42]

I like your ceiling lights, nice & unobtrusive.

Thanks. Most of our lights are from Philips as we prefer established brand. We bought them from - , located at Orion Building, #01-08, 160 Paya Lebar Road. Their quotation was the lowest, compared to Lightings.com (2nd lowest) and Philips Lighting Showroom at Toa Payoh.

Interestingly, Lightings.com has always claimed that they give the lowest price possible and offered a 110% price guarantee. Their website even state that they will refund the customer 110% difference if he can find a lower price product within 7 days of his purchase.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Harriette

[Harriette 42]

Oh, the light shop's name got censored when I posted it. Well, if anyone wish to know the name, I can PM you.

Thanks. Most of our lights are from Philips as we prefer established brand. We bought them from - , located at Orion Building, #01-08, 160 Paya Lebar Road. Their quotation was the lowest, compared to Lightings.com (2nd lowest) and Philips Lighting Showroom at Toa Payoh.

Interestingly, Lightings.com has always claimed that they give the lowest price possible and offered a 110% price guarantee. Their website even state that they will refund the customer 110% difference if he can find a lower price product within 7 days of his purchase.