#theoverusewoodwhiteblack Theme Home

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Hello! Decided to start a T Blog here after reading so many interesting blogs from you guys! Have been a silent reader since late last year and now my reno is almost ready hence would like to share my buys and progress.

My crib is located in the north-east area, we got our keys in mid jan. Renovation did not start until mid march as i want to avoid the CNY period.

First up, my tiny 4 room floor plan :

Floor Plan

Theme

As per the title, i am going for the super overuse wood,white & black color board in my new crib because i love the ambiance of those cafes which are sprouting over in Singapore over the past 1 year or so. Hence i decide to create the same ambiance which consist of a little of scandi, loft style so that i will not spend so much money on cafe-hopping.

A few must haves :

Woodgrain laminates

White laminate

Brick wall

Black electrical conduits

Contractor/ID

We have decided from start to engage a contractor instead of ID mainly because i have the design more or less in my mind.

I have read through so many blogs here and the first one i approach was Nicholas from Renoguyz.

He is the first and the only contractor we met up. We decided to engage him as our contractor after 2 meetups. He has a reputation of being sloppy,straight forward but that is what my husband like about him. Both of us are comfortable with him throughout the 2 meetups with him and we get along quite well with him hence we decided to take the plunge and go with him.

His ideas are more to the practical side and if he thinks it is not nice or will not fit, he will voice it out instead of accepting whatever i have suggested.

Budget

We did not take up any renovation loan hence our budget is quite limited and we allocated under 20K for renovation.

Nick gave me a very satisfied quotation 1 day after our meetup and its well below our 20K!

p.s : we opt in for tiles and doors from HDB.

Things we did :

Taobao

I have been an avid fan of TB since 5 years ago and It is in my natural instinct to get stuffs from TB since i am quite well verse with it. .

I have engaged AMCON for all my sea shipments till date. Their prices are slightly cheaper than other forwarders and they are fast! My 3rd shipment only took 5days! It is true that they say cheap will not be good, good will not be cheap because their customer service is like non-existence. Shall not rant on that part however i will still use them because of their speed!

Did not receive any damage on any of my items so far and i have to give credit to the AMCON warehouse staff and delivery uncle and of cos to TB sellers who wrapped it so well and sturdy!

I will write a separate post on my purchases on TB.

Progress

I do not have the before and after photos because i am not always around when they are doing the works. I only do checks on weekends and most of the time it is nicely done! So i only have the almost-done photos.

Every weekend checks are like opening presents during Christmas because our crib is changing every single week i went up and check!

Next post will be the almost-done pictures!

*************************************************************************************************************************************

Decided to do up table of contents for easy viewing:

1. Taobao purchase

2. Taobao Unboxing

3. Taobao Unboxing part 2

3. My completed Taobao brickwall

4. Progress #1

5. Progress #2

6. Progress #3

7. Taobao Unboxing part #3

8. Installation of Matt black bombshelter

9. Taobao unboxing part #4

10. Amazon purchase

11. Progress #4

12. Amazon unboxing

13. Taobao purchase #2

14, Progress #5

15. Amazon purchase #2

16. Electronic appliances purchases

17. Misc online purchases

18. Progress #6

19. Progress #7

20. Taobao unboxing #5

21. Post renovation cleaning

22. Blinds and curtains

23. Appliances delivery

24. Decoration #1

25. Decoration #2

26. Decoration #3

27. Decoration #4

28. Decoration #5

29. Decoration #6

30. Taobao purchases #3

31. Taobao unboxing #6 + reviews

Edited October 6, 2015 by xhomesweethomex

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Taobao purchase:

Besides carpentry and electrical appliances, all my other stuffs are from TB.

Till date, I have spent close to $4k and still counting..

I am not able to post all the links here because i purchase too many items and it will take me a while if i were to cut and paste all the links.

Let me know which item link you are interested in and i will provide the link when i have the time.

Edited May 12, 2015 by xhomesweethomex

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Almost done photos :

Brickwall

The brick wall was the first thing that was being done in my new crib some time in March.

It is also by far the most risky item which i have purchased on TB till date. Close to 17 boxes of tiles and no breakage (I think so since i only QC a few boxes).

This is take under low light condition and after grouting. The bomb shelter hole and corner has been filled up.

My husband was very impressed with the brick wall. And I know he will not allowed me to have a brick wall if we are using craft bricks because it may cost close to $4K. with our tight renovation budget, it is a .

We saved at least $2K by getting the tiles in ourselves!

the bricks came in pure white and some tiles have slightly greyish tint after applying the grouting. In fact, i love this look with a tint of grey as compare to tiles painted white after grouting.

Edited May 12, 2015 by xhomesweethomex

[elephantandpiggie 0]

Hello, can i have the links of the spice jars, frame posters and coasters? : )

thanks in advance!

[elephantandpiggie 0]

sorry and the mason jars too : )

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Hello, can i have the links of the spice jars, frame posters and coasters? : )

thanks in advance!

sorry and the mason jars too : )

Here you go :

Spice jars: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.274.PGJO3S&id=39548104324&_u=c1jv6jehd17a

Mason jars : http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.177.MAwV9K&id=43184139762&_u=c1jv6jeh8357

Coasters : http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.51.owPGO7&id=41809511149&_u=c1jv6jeh02d4

Posters : http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.242.MAwV9K&id=36155820612&_u=c1jv6jehfddb

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Almost Done photos:

In April, my carpentry is up! Bedroom 2 & 3 is empty hence the only places with carpentry are MBR wardrobe, kitchen, MBR toilet, Shoe cabinet.

Taken in low light condition.

Le husband loves the MBR wardrobe ! No defects found so far and both of us are very satisfied with the carpentry.

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Almost Done photos:

My TB sink and Rinnai hob is up but not yet fixed.

Lighting installation day!

Purchased different sizes of LED lights for all my rooms,bomb shelters, service yard.

I changed the foc bulb to edison bulb which i got from BKK Rot Fai Market and it is so pretty!

I will be removing some of the track lights as the electrician installed all my track lights in box ( ) which some are meant for backups.

[michael368 1]

Wow, very lovely home. Thanks for sharing.

Mind sharing the shower set link you purchase from TB.

[sotongfen 1]

hihi

amaze with your tb purchase

can share the link for following items? thank in advance

1) tv conosle

2) pastel dustbin

3) smiley tissue box

4) wood stool

[xhomesweethomex 7]

hihi

amaze with your tb purchase

can share the link for following items? thank in advance

1) tv conosle

2) pastel dustbin

3) smiley tissue box

4) wood stool

Hello! Here you go:

Dustbin : 淘宝商品:麦桶桶不锈钢垃圾桶脚踏欧式时尚创意家用卫生间厨房客厅可爱纸篓 http://tb.cn/Sa3Er7y?sm=0d4e26 (👉👉👉复制整段信息，打开手机淘宝可直接访问👈👈👈)

Wood stool : 淘宝商品:海力棋穿鞋凳储物式换鞋凳实木脚布艺沙发凳子矮凳子简约收纳脚凳 http://tb.cn/eBGDr7y?sm=7d4a77 (👉👉👉复制整段信息，打开手机淘宝可直接访问👈👈👈)

Tissue box : 淘宝商品:可爱卡通长形方形笑脸纸巾抽 卷纸厕纸巾架实用家用抽纸盒纸巾盒 http://tb.cn/JWlCr7y?sm=5584f3 (👉👉👉复制整段信息，打开手机淘宝可直接访问👈👈👈)

TV console : 淘宝商品:电视柜白色烤漆实木组合创意宜家现代客厅 简约北欧风格电视地柜 http://tb.cn/v4JCr7y?sm=bf4dff (👉👉👉复制整段信息，打开手机淘宝可直接访问👈👈👈)

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Wow, very lovely home. Thanks for sharing.

Mind sharing the shower set link you purchase from TB.

Here : 淘宝商品:辉瓷卫浴 方形 淋浴花洒套装 浴缸水龙头 空气能增压淋浴喷头 http://tb.cn/ycK8r7y?sm=ab6f2b (👉👉👉复制整段信息，打开手机淘宝可直接访问👈👈👈)

[CountryGlow 10]

Hi neighbour! I somehow confirm u are in my estate coz we have the exact floor plan!!

Your new post just reminded me how much I was ranting on the "allocated" dining area right outside the kitchen and the door of bedroom 3 which is exposed for all to see at the main door. Haha! But I'm over them now!

Your theme is looking good! I totally adore the cafe & loft theme too! Cosy & comfy on weeknights & stay-in weekends!

[xhomesweethomex 7]

Hi neighbour! I somehow confirm u are in my estate coz we have the exact floor plan!!

Your new post just reminded me how much I was ranting on the "allocated" dining area right outside the kitchen and the door of bedroom 3 which is exposed for all to see at the main door. Haha! But I'm over them now!

Your theme is looking good! I totally adore the cafe & loft theme too! Cosy & comfy on weeknights & stay-in weekends!

Hello neighbour!

I knew u are my neighbor when I saw the weird 3 window panels!

Haha! Which block are you at?

Your country style is look good too! I have a thing for blue as well!

Maybe we can organize home tours around our estate. LOL

[CountryGlow 10]

I collected my keys in early Jan so u can roughly guess which is my block

Yes I'm totally annoyed with the windows & esp the there-but-not-there dining space outside the kitchen! How I'm I to fit a dining table there unless I hack the wall which is now my & urs shoes cabinet area? It will be too cramped to the kitchen entrance, right? *ok better stop b*t*hing abt it* Hehe! So where are u gonna place ur dining table?

Thanks for ur compliments! I don't actually adore blue that much, just throwing in the colour to fit my theme better. My fav colour is in my MBR

Home tours? Haha! Ya home will be a good cafe to chillax at! LOL.

Edited May 12, 2015 by CountryGlow