All Lightings Settled!

28th June 2007 - FINALLY. FINALLY at long last we have bought our remaining lightings! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chelsea is great! The brown string cylinder-like hanging light for our WIW passageway does not come with a piece of cylindrical glass inside like the bigger versions of the same hanging light. As a result, its ugly (in my humble opinion) as the bulb can be seen through the strings. In fact, after checking out other lighting shops, Hb and I found that this smaller version does not come with a glass cylinder inside as well. We had been debating whether to get it or not since this string light is consistent with the other two string lights in the MBR. The only minus point is that for this small size, it does not come with the glass inside. Betty was great! She made no promises, but said she will try her best to find a piece of small glass and modify the whole thing for us such that there will be a small glass inside the string cylinder to cover the bulb. She managed to find one!!!! In fact, she did the same to our balcony light!

Original balcony light: A string box with a silver wire mesh ball inside. The bulb is inside the ball.

After modification: No more string box over the wire mesh ball. Just the ball itself, with a small glass cylinder inside. The bulb is inside the glass cylinder.

Purpose: Nicer. Also to prevent rain from getting to the bulb. The glass cylinder acts as a protective layer.

Errm, it looks something like this.... not exactly the same but its the closest I can find!

Met up with Evelyn for lunch and we went to Spotlight at Plaza Sing to check out curtain stuff. Liew, didn't know there are so many details with regards to curtains! Anyway, back to where I left off. Ok, yeah, Betty managed to find small glass cylinders to modify those 2 lights, and we bought them! Yay! WIW's passageway and balcony lights settled!!! Finally!!! All lighting stuff settled! Yay!

Total damage: $110

Elissa aka Ah Soh called the person who did her curtains and the guy delivered some samples to my office. Liew, see until eyes blur...

Hb and I went to Teck Whye Curtains and flipped through all the fabrics. Decided to custom make everything. Quality better. But we'll only get the bamboo chicks for the balcony first cos thats more urgent. The rest we'll get them at a later stage. Stupid bamboo chicks cost about $320. Will go to Arab St and Jalan Sultan over the weekend to check out other shops!

Updates:

1. Electrical stuff for our flat completed.
2. Painting will start on Satuday. Acid wash after that.
3. Confirmed our choice of laminates for the carpentry.
4. Carpentry designs to be confirmed tonight with our carpenter Ah Hua.
5. Added in a 10mm piece of tempered glass for each of our bathrooms' vanity tops (managed to bring down the price to $350 haha).
6. Debating whether to custom make our dresser mirror (full height) or to buy from Sim Siang Choon.

- Phebe

2 more lights and 2 taps down!

24 June 2007 - Went to Jalan Besar in the afternoon and again, we made a beeline for Royal Fanco. Haha, bought our 2 remaining taps there! Yay, so happy, basin taps 'gao dim' liao! Next, we went to Noble Lighting House and finally bought the 2 small expensive lights for our 2 passageways - entrance foyer and passageway to the bedrooms.

Total damage: $265.

Left 2 more lights haven't buy....and that will depend on whether Chelsea can help us to put a glass cylinder thingy into each of them.... sianz, this lighting thingy costs more than expected!

23rd June 2007 - Met up with Eesy, the carpenter (whatever his name is, lol) and Tom (the electrician). Electrical works will start next week!

- Phebe

Trunking & Piping

22 June 2007 - Hb took leave for the day to check on the 1st installation of the aircon trunking. Haiz, stupid layout of this flat makes the trunking so freaking ugly. Piping for water also done.







- Phebe

Fruitful Trip to Jalan Besar!

16 June 2007 - So happy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahahahahahahaa! Hb and I went to Sim Siang Choon in the afternoon to look at taps and bathroom accessories. Fell in love with a kitchen sink mixer that was selling for $188. Sad to say, despite having such a big showroom at its Changi branch, nothing else managed to get our attention, lol. We decided to KIV the design of the sink mixer... if other places don't have then we'll go back to get it. HENG AR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily we didn't buy it from Sim Siang Choon!!!! Haha, you'll find out why later.

We had already decided not to make a trip to Jalan Besar as it was very far...all the way at Little India.... liew. However, weird enough, the night before I suddenly had this strange, sudden urge to go to Jalan Besar. Somehow, the feeling is like if I don't make a trip down personally to check out the shops there, we will miss out on something good. I'M SO GLAD I MANAGED TO PSYCHO HB TO GO TO JALAN BESAR!!!!

These days, I always bring along my mini portable fan whenever Hb and I go hunting for electrical or furniture stuff. Thankfully, there wasn't any need to switch it on as the weather was cool and windy, haha. We walked along Jalan Besar and went into several shops selling bathroom stuff and lightings. By the end of more than 2 hours, I was feeling pretty disappointed as we didn't managed to get anything and I hate leaving anywhere empty handed, lol. Read from the forum that Poh Joo offers very attractive pricing, but well, I didn't like the shop. As much as we are amatures in the field of shopping for taps, the staff was worse! Hb asked if a particular tap was a 2-way tap and the guy said no, its a mixer. I pointed out that NO, it IS a 2-way tap, look at blah blah blah features. The guy then double checked and apologised for his mistake. In fact, he was not able to provide us with the information we wanted and we decided to go off. Wanted to buy this cool basin (latest model!) for our master toilet but it is very pricey... $280!!!! In fact, the cheapest quote we managed to get is $225... :(

Went to the shop beside Poh Joo and managed to get this nice toothbrush-toothpaste-2-cups holder at only $38, haha. Very good...it has 3 times of chroming done, haha! Walked down the street and finally came to this super shop on our way to the MRT station: Royal Fanco. The exterior of the shop is really nothing fanciful. Rather dim lightings and the items on display are all rather outdated in terms of design. However, you'll be surprised that the boss (Henry) has got many, many items all packed in boxes not displayed out! If not for the fact that we asked him for those items, he wouldn't even have showed them to us! In fact, we were both pretty surprised when he quoted us $150 for the above basins!!! We immediately placed an order for it without any hesitation, wahahhahaa! So cheap!!! Guess what? The same design for the kitchen sink mixer we saw at Sim Siang Choon was only selling for $98 and he sold it to us for only $90! Ended up buying a cute round ceramic basin as well for the common toilet, 2 spray jets, 1 set of 7 pc bathroom accessories (5 times of chroming!!!!!!!! The feel of the items is so freaking solid and heavy!), additional paper holer and towel ring from the same brand, 2 tic tac wastes for the 2 basins, and 2 single corner glass shelves for the shower screen area. Guess how much everything costed? Only $554!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently, Henry usually sells his products to contractors and he has no other workers, which is why he is able to offer such attractive prices! In fact, there are few walk-in-customers, and we saw from his file that majority of these customers are staying around our area! So happy with our purchase! Didn't leave Jalan Besar empty handed afterall! Yay!

Rushed to Hoe Kee at Plaza Sing to buy 2 of their 2-way taps that look like mixers. So far, only Hoe Kee has such nice design for 2-way taps! Yay! 3 taps settled within the day, now left 2 more taps to go for both toilets' basins...

Got to CK Tang just in time before it closed for the day and bought a set of bedlinen for only $196 after discount! Liew, feeling so happy manz!! A sense of accomplishment achieved! Wahaahahahhaa!

Total Damage: $844

Happie!!!!!!!!!!

- Phebe

Customising our TV Console

15 Jun 07 - How many of you reading this have customised furniture? And how many of you with customised, built-to-measure, one-of-a-kind furniture end up with the same TV console as the uncle next door who bought his at the neighbourhood furniture store 2 blocks away?

It's quite common nowadays to have at least 1 or 2 pieces of customised furniture in homes, with the most popular probably being built-in wardrobes and TV consoles. However, with the proliferation of "customised" designs, it inevitably reaches a stage where everything starts to look similar.

That was the dilemma we faced recently when deciding on the design of our TV console. Our ID proposed a couple of ideas, but they invariably belonged to the category of "long rectangular box". These designs probably looked good enough on their own, but when we started comparing them with what we had seen from magazines and furniture showrooms, they started to look a little too similar.

Eventually, we came up with 2 designs that had elements which were considerably different from the current trends. And of these 2 designs, we have decided on the one which is more practical and easier to maintain.

Ultimately, it's not simply about being different from the crowd, but to know what exactly is needed, and to work with that objective in mind to create a design which is aesthetically pleasing as well as practical. We have probably taken on a fair bit of risk by choosing our own design, but the end product is potentially much more satisfying. So until then, we are keeping our fingers crossed.


- Melvin

Bought our Dining table and chairs!

13 June 2007 - Hb and I were on half day leave as we had an appointment with Eesy at our place. Before heading over, we went to custom-make my ROM heels at Leapin Lizard. $220 gone, haiz. Luckily I'm not the one paying though, haha!

Discussed with Eesy about the electrical and piping stuff. Paid $5250 since tiling works have completed. Now waiting for All Best to come and do the first air-con installation. They better don't delay, cos it will mean that our side won't be able to proceed with the glass works and carpentry! Haiz, Hb came up with a new design for the TV console again. Don't know lah, I am fine with either one since I am not the one doing the cleaning, lol. After 2 hours of discussion, we were finally off to IMM!

Oh btw, our entrance foyer is done! :)

Went to BHG at Level 3 to check out the price of the dining chair. After the salesperson agreed to sell us the chair at $120, we went to Mondi Gallery to see if the design fits the dining table we like. We bought the dining table that we saw last weekend, haha, so happy! It's pretty cheap after discount, only $780, haha! Went back to BHG and the stupid guy told us he quoted us the wrong price! Liew. Decided not to buy from him and went to Level 2 where there was another BHG. Bought the same dining chairs at $129 each. Haha so happy finally settled our dining table and chairs! No need to go to that far-far-away Sungei Kadut anymore! Damage: $1296.

Heartpain, but don't know why I'm still feeling very happy, hahahahaa.

Total Damage for the day: $6766.00


- Phebe

Lights hunting @ Geylang Rd & Reno updates~!

9th June 2007 - Finally the weekend is here! Hb and I went to Geylang Rd to look at bathroom accessories. Surprisingly, there are many lighting shops there as well and we decided to give Jalan Besar a miss, haha. Sianz, we still have to buy 3 passageway, 1 balcony, 1 Master bedroom and 1 guest room lights. Haha, managed to buy our guest room light at VLUX! At the same time, I was informed by Betty from Chelsea over the phone that there is black colour for the master bedroom light that we wanted the other night and I agreed to add that to the invoice. Yay so happy, 2 more lights down! Now left only 4 more lights to go! Kinda hard to find nice passageway lights though, since we are not doing any false ceilings and thus can't solve our problem the easy way out by buying downlights. Went to IMM after that and HB and I bought fell in love with a dining table each. Ok, we have conflicting taste in the choice of dining table, though we both agree that it should be a glass one. His preferred choice costs $1160 while mine $1499. Anyway, we decided to think about it first as we both refused to budge. Anyway, back at home, Hb smsed me saying he'll let me have my way! Hahaha, I think I will want to make a trip to Sungei Kadut to see if there are any better choices before making my decision. Read from the forum that there a few furniture stores in Malaysia and they have quite nice designs. Very tempted to make a trip down but kinda sianz at the thought of having to go all the way there. Lol, we'll see how.

10 June 2007 - After church, Hb and I made a trip to our place...

The tiling is completed! What an interesting change from the bare and dirty concrete ground! This photo shows our living room and the TV feature wall. On the right side is our balcony "bar top".

Our master bedroom's feature wall is finally up! Can't see much. Will have to wait for the chemical wash to make everything nice and clean.



This is the former master bedroom entrance. It was sealed up with bricks as shown in previous pics and plastered smooth with cement.




See Hb in the pic waving, haha! The base for the washing machine in the service balcony and base for the fridge in the kitchen are done!



This shows part of the study room which is on the left, as well as our entrance foyer.

We were about to go back to my place when we bumped into Shih Shih and Kenny who decided to kpo (haha~!) by coming over to see our unit. They too, bought a unit, at Blk B though. They came up and marvelled at our windy unit, haha, and after showing them our place, we went over to theirs to kpo as well, lol.

Can't wait for reno to be completed!


- Phebe

Chelsea Lighting

7 June 2007 - We finally bought most of the lights for our home! As mentioned in the earlier post by Hb about buying our living and dining lights at Balestier, we have decided to get the rest of the lighting stuff at Jurong. After work, Hb and I went to Chelsea Lightings at Chinese Garden. So far, this shop has the most reasonable pricing and there we were, for more than an hour choosing our lights!

Here goes the list:

1. Study room
2. Store room
3. 2 toilets
4. Kitchen
5. Service balcony
6. Walk-in-wardrobe
7. Free Door bell!

Total Damage: $400

Manz, can you believe it, 7 lightings for only $400! So cheap! Our living and dining lights, only TWO, costed $450!!!!! Liew.... if not for THE DINING LIGHT we won't even have bought at Balestier...

Sad to say, we still have 6 more lights to buy as we can't find the following "THE LIGHTS" at Chelsea...

1. Main entrance
2. Main balcony
3. Passageway at Walk-in-wardrobe
4. Master bedroom
5. Guest room
6. Passageway to rooms

Haiz... still got 6 more lights to go....sianz... I was hoping we just settle them once and for all at Chelsea! Total damage already $850 so far.... still got 6 more haven't buy!!!! Manz... didn't know lightings can add up to more than $1000.... haiz.... sianz....that means.... more shopping for lights and risk being permanently blind...

- Phebe

Tiling has begun!

5 June 2007 - After work, Hb and I went to check on our place. Tiling works started yesterday and I reckon it would be good to check on things. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here goes:

The first thing thing that caught our attention...the kerb is back! As in, gone is the gaping hole!

They have started work on our living room! Kinda interesting to note that due to the thickness of the tiles, the ground level is now higher, haha. Very happy to see the tiles in place... we're beginning to see our home undergoing a major facelift!

Flooring for the common toilet is done. Looks dirty now, but it'll be clean once chemical washing is completed!

Flooring for our master toilet is done too! We love our master toilet with its 5 different tiles!!

From this pic, you can tell that they have laid cement at the passageway so that the ground level is now the same as that of the study room's after screeding. Now, the study room and passageway's level is the same and tiling can be done! No tiling for the study though, cos we are going for wood lamination, haha!

We're happy to see that Eesy's guys are working rather fast and tiling is due to be completed by the end of this week! Can't wait for it to be done, then we'll be able to start on carpentry works! Yay!

- Phebe

Back to Balestier

2 June 07 - Her Royal Majesty and I went shopping for lights at Balestier. Again.

Just a while ago, we had faithfully trudged down the rows of lighting shops in our attempt to hunt down The Lights. Subsequently, we also visited some neighbourhood lighting shops at Jurong East after reading really positive reviews in the forums.

This time round, armed with a better idea of what's available and the general price range, we were more confident of getting something good. Nevertheless, it still took a whole afternoon's worth of footwork before we found something suitable.

It was a simple hanging light, comprising a horizontal black bar from which dangled 3 cylindrical shades made of cane. Simple, clean and stylish. Exactly what we were looking for. At the same time, we also spotted a ceiling-mounted light, and got it modified so that it can now project both yellow and white light. Total damage: $450!!!

(Comment from Her Royal Majesty: The moment we stepped into the shop, the dining light caught my attention, and immediately, I knew that it was The Light. After viewing countless dining lights with string curtin shades, this was a really refreshing change. Unfortunately, beauty comes with a price, and this particular beauty cost $360!!!! After some tough haggling, we managed to cut the price down to $285, and decided to snap it up together with the living room light. That's all we could afford to get from this shop, and wisely decided to buy the remaining lights elsewhere in case we end up poking too many holes in our wallets. )

It's a huge relief to be able to settle the living and dining lights, as there were so many factors to consider: whether the designs matched each other, whether the designs matched the general decor, are they easy to clean, what's the energy consumption, and of course, price. Now all that's left are the master bedroom lights, and some simple ceiling-mounted lights.

But that's a story for another day.


- Melvin

The Fridge, The Washing Machine & The Toilet Wall Tiles

29 May 2007 - We bought our Mitsubishi MRF42S fridge and Toshiba washer D950 at Kong Tai~! Haha, the lady boss was finally back from Germany, haha~! Total damage of $1230, but definitely still much cheaper than the big boys'! Yay, so happy, finally settled these 2 things! Headache over the lightings though, it's so hard to find lights for the living and dining area, sianz. More or less have an idea of what design we want for our MBR though, so at least that's a relief.

31st May 2007 - Went to my HK aunt's condo as she asked if we would like to have some of her furnitures as they are moving back to HK in July. Haha, 'chope' her side table and chest of drawers. Intend to put them in the guest room, haha! Even got her Epson printer which we intend to use just for black ink printing, and a study chair! There are a couple of other smaller items here and there, one of which includes a pretty shimmering white shoulder bag she just bought from HK but didn't use, lol. Haha, "da shou huo" manz! Yay, our guest room won't be so empty then!

1 June 2007 - The PC Show is here finally and we went to Suntec the day before. Manz, hell lot of people! Decided to buy a printer to put in our study and almost wanted to buy a Brother printer, but luckily we did not...cos Canon has a better offer! Haha, I took a super long lunch break and went to Suntec to buy the Canon All-in-One printer and was given a free 1GB thumbdrive! Luckily Hb didn't buy the thumbdrive yesterday, cos now we get it for free! So happy and of course, I bought some other things too, feel such a sense of accomplishment! Boy, I love spending money! Popped over to our place at night as it has been 5 days since we last went, lol. Our toilet wall tiles are done! Don't like the black skirting in the common bathroom though, will ask Eesy to change it.


*Our common bathroom

Love our master bathroom!! Pictures do not do the tiles any justice at all! Can't wait to see the final thing after the floor tiles are laid!!

They didn't plaster the remaining kitchen wall tiles!! Arrgh, sianz, need to call them tmr...



*What used to be the entrance to our MBR...

- Phebe