Ask Me Anything - Retired Interior Designer Here

[RetiredInteriorDesigner 0]

general tips on how to choose IDs

i think there are only two categories of designers/IDs out there, experienced and inexperienced.

first i wanna talk about inexperienced.

how you tell if he is inexperienced?

the easiest way to tell is u think whether he hao seh kia (young man) or not.

you ask how many projects he do he may lie to u also. but unless you can read people very well then u can ask him how many years u in this, how many projects u do before.

if yes u think he is young then most likely, but not always, is inexperienced.

cause young, didnt do much projects before, or even worst you are his first project.

bad points - easily cock up, a lot of mistakes can happen. renovation mistakes etc if no one guides

good points - you as homeowner can bully him. ask him do free thing, give discount etc.most of the time he will give in. also he maybe more responsible, higher chance of him being a good guy, have heart and be responsible. ( no guarantee)

experienced - he look old, answer fast, knows his stuff

good points - he knows his stuff, most likely wont make mistake

bad points - he sure treat u as carrot chop, always got VO.

but sometimes the VO is really need to do one...

u sure cannot bully him/pressure him to do free stuff/give discount etc etc.

[mercey 0]

Hi RetiredInteriorDesigner,

If I don’t like the existing floor tiles of the new place I am about to buy, what are the cost-effective methods to have new flooring?

My husband suggests painting the floor tiles, but I am not sure if it is possible or even cheap. Some forumers suggest overlay with vinyl flooring.

I am trying to watch the budget for our renovation, so I am trying to avoid hacking and retiling.

Please kindly advise me as I still want to have something that looks like tiles, but more cost-effective.

Many thanks Sir for your advice!

Edited July 7, 2015 by mercey

[msfeline 0]

Hi RetiredInteriorDesigner,

can u advise if it is advisable not to tile Kitchen wall?

i bought a 4A resale and like to redo the kitchen.one of the ID quote did not include the wall tile for kitchen and that translates to abt 2k worth of savings for me. But i am not sure if i should so its easy to clean.

i wont be heavily cooking but juz like to be safe. appreciate your advise. thanks!

[Joel Ng 0]

Dear RID,

I have two qns and need your advise.

1) is it true is not allow to conceal the toilet big piping with calcium silicate board?

2) my existing water and gas piping are conceal, my ID had told me that all renovation require the pipe to be expose rather than conceal again, is it the HDB rule? Thanks for replying

[atirchow 0]

Hi RetiredInteriorDesigner,

Can advise if I want to build a kitchen cabinet, must I specify type of wood use (For eg Plywood how many mm thick etc), what about countertop, recommended thickness?

For wardrobe and shoe cabinet, type of wood use (grade & thickness). What is the reasonable labour cost for homogenous tile laying per sq ft?

Thank you.

Best regards,

[y2h1987 0]

Hi RetiredInteriorDesigner,

I am intending to renovate my old flat which has broken marble flooring like the person in this thread: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/topic/44606-how-to-match-light-pink-marble-flooring-to-earth-colors-wall/

However i would like shift from a normal looking home to a more modern kind of look and not sure if by retaining that kind of floor will i be able to achieve the look.

1. should i change the flooring?

i do not intend to hack the floor but just place vinyl overlay which then comes to the next problem of skirting, do i need to hack away the skirting? and if i don't hack the skirting will it look like its mismatched if my vinyl design is wood?

thanks

regards,

[tibetmonk 0]

Hi Retired ID,

I am staying in a old 3-room HDB flat and the living room and 2 rooms flooring are what you call "Chart4 Chio4" in Hokkien - (Sorry don't know the English term but basically like a piece of cover over the cement with some flowers motif as decoration.

Many parts of the flooring has been torn and all after 30 years of wear and tear. Just want to check with you:

1. If I want to just do laminate flooring, (after peeling away the Chart Chio and laying it on top), is it advisable and cost effective?

2. Do you know roughly how much it may cost?

3. I have many big pieces of furniture which may have to be dismantled and assembled again since I have to shift all these furniture around - does the contractor cater for such moving, dismantling and assembly and do you know roughly how much they may quote?

4. How long will the entire process take for a 3-room HDB flat?

Thank you in advance for your advice!

[Coolbreeze 0]

Hi retiredInteriordesigner

Can ask about aircon stuff? Aircon ppl turned up a day before the agreed date of first installation. This without informing us. Which we only realized when we go to check unit on that night.

Any ways cut story short. Is it ok to leave the pipings outside the unit with the ends (can see copper and cables coming out ) exposed to rain and sun for more than a week or more? Compressor haven't install yet.

Not sure if this is normal practice and whether the exposed parts will cause future problems to aircon. Eg condensation or rust

Also we saw some black insulations are torn and tattered (those inside trucking which was done halfway), not sure Why. How to tell whether they are using old or torn or new insulations? Since they came when we were not around, we didn't manage to check before they tuck the pipings in trucking around the house

Sorry for long qns. Hope you can share your views. Thank you..

Btw, Your replies quite funnie.

[KB0208 0]

Hi Retired Interior Designer,

I would like to check with you, as I come across people told me that Vinyl is waterproof.

Is it mean I can on my toilet too?

[peihao83 2]

Hi, any recommendations for bedroom door supplier ?

[dstudiodesign 0]

Be safe, hired a full-time ID not only do sales but also monitor site activities. Allow the specialist do the job minimize hassle & mistakes in your future home where you will stay on for years ........

[Adele Shang 0]

Hi,

I'm thinking to whether put waterproof wallpaper or tempered glass in the kitchen wall. The space between table top and top cabinet. Which is more practical and price saving?

Thank you...

[skb 2]

Hi, may I know what software does the ID used to draw the 3D drawing? Thanks.

[Chris9 0]

Hello , Retiredinteriordesigner .

I like read your blog .
I just got my 5 room BTO house key 1 week ago . Got 3 quotation from ID and Comtractor . 
Wanna to check with you some pricing, hope you can help . Thanks you .

<Please refrain from putting your quotation online, thanks> 

[Jess Ong 0]

Hi RetiredInteriorDesigner,

Have heard many pro and con about Granite and IQuartz, which is the most durable to go with? Will be cooking almost 5 days per week.. Why now in the market IQuartz seems to be more exp than Granite?