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This week is the week we're moving in! Excited much! =) Although there are many ideas we have that are yet realized, we're happy to say that we're proud of what we have done and excited about the possibilities that continue to be in coming our way! We have navigated past some tough obstacles like shabby workmanship and exorbitant charges, but we're wiser now. The last weekend was spent painting on our own with the help of kind friends, and we're glad it all worked out! =) This is our living room, with the recessed wall painted aquamarine and the skirting painted white. Our striped theme is complete! =)

My wire management box in my study table This is my study desk. The wire sticking out will connect my laptop to the datapoint in the adjacent TV console. The gap where the wire stick out has the black hairy thing. image by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr image by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr image by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr Actually, I only requested for a hole so that I can connect my laptop to the datapoint. Mr Yeak took the initiative to do the wire thing coz it is nicer.

reno completed

For those who have PM me about Renzz services... I will post one soon here ( bear with me. ) instead of Pm-ing one by one

I bought it at the underground mall at Taipei Main Station MRT. There are many underground malls at Taipei Main Station. I bought those stickers in one of the shops at the Z区 (Z area). If you refer to the map here >>> http://web.trtc.com.tw/img/ALL/Route2200/051.jpg, you should be able to see the Z area (站前地下街). The shop is likely to be along the stretch of Z1, Z3, Z5 exit (if my memory did not fail me ).

congrats ! moving in a new house is always exciting

Hi, I have installed louvre doors in my TV console to allow the heat to disspate. image by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr TV console by Harriette_Tan, on Flickr

Service IMHO is excellent, because whatever they promised they delivered. They listened to my views or requests and made changes/rectifications without any black faces, instead, my ID would asked me to check if ok or even took photos to show me. It was a very smooth renovation, maybe because it is simple, but I believe ny experience would be the same if I add in more carpentry. That said, I just requested them to help install Ikea curtains after handover and ID replied, Sure, will arrange. Wahhh aftersales service is good too:) Workmanship so far looks great, everything alighed, too soon to judge! But ID mentioned any issues, just contact him, he will fix them. My ID has been particularly busy like mad, I did not get to see him during handover but he sent his workers down and fixed everything for us. We communicated over the phone instead. Though I would love to meet him that day but his boss and workers said he had an influx of new projects so very busy from mon-sun. Since everything was well arranged by him and the house final touches were taken care of, I can't complain la. *I do not receive any commission for above review! Or referrals!*

Happy Updates! Key collection date is confirmed on 15 April! Just one more week to go! The arranging and re-arranging of schedule is starting to take its toll on me mentally due to all the uncertainties involved.... i.e., flight back is dependent on key collection date, checking of defects is dependent on auspicious house opening date & all these are dependent on whether school has presentations, quizzes etc. But luckily managed to find a window one week period where I can have minimal impact on school schedule and fly back SG to collect keys + settle house feng shui audit + buy my bathroom accessories + lights + any other reno required items before flying back to studies. If this window period passed by with no news from HDB, it will mean key collection in July liao. so... *heng ah!* I guess no taobao for me unless it's non reno-related items.. timing doesn't work out so its most likely only insect screen + other deco stuff from TB. Also... against all the experienced renotalkers suggestion, hubby and I will not be able to be on-site to supervise the reno. Can only rely mostly on whatsapp + Skype for updates from my ID. Crossing my fingers & toes that nothing major will occur that requires us to rush back to salvage. A consolation though, my mom will be helping to supervise the reno. She is super particular for her own house when it comes to reno. I hope she is equally particular for my reno as well. Oh man.. what will I do without my mum! Haha. Ok over dramatic. But YAY! it's finally my turn to share the actual reno journey!

Hi alfredt, we are targeting to move in mid-Apr. Still waiting for Ikea sub-contractor to install solid surface, installation of shower and taps and curtains. Almost there!

hey alfredt, I'll try taking a picture when I go over tomorrow night.

i think it may be intentional. My aircon is not installed yet, but my contractor already warned me that the drainage will be close to the floor trap. To open it, i will need to push back the pipe. can you take a picture of the drainage pipe at the floor trap ?

Pmed all already.. Did a little window shopping yesterday on lightings. Sooo expensive~! I'll compare prices with the shop my ID recommended. I went back and start shopping on taobao instead. Indeed very cheap. 1:4 Here are some items I have in mind: Living Room Spotlights Bedroom 2 & 3 & Kitchen Ceiling Lights Dressing Table Mirror MBR Toilet Mirror Dining Table Light

After cleaning a little, looks better now.

Thanks for the guide! I did read your blog, but didn't read all of it..this chunk didn't register in my memory at all... haha....alamak, should have read it earlier, didn't know ikea have tool sets. I just went ikea yesterday and not feeling like going again. Really tedious waiting for the shuttle bus, it doesn't follow the estimated timing posted on ikea's website at all. Oh well, there are lots of hardware shops around my new place, shall go walk walk this afternoon and see what is available. For hand-drills.....is there anything wrong with re-chargeable types? Not enough power arh? I was considering a bosch screwdriver cum drill rechargeable set leh....though not the mini ones though. I think won't be able to drill concrete. I have handled power drill before (helped mom ~ she's the handywoman around our place, not dad. LOL), so I know concrete walls are tough. thank you. I'm sort of glad it worked out...haha...kitchen is the place where a lot of my budget went to. Must be swee else I heart pain. hahaha.... Wow. You can guess my plans? haha...I plan to put the dining table at the corner connecting to living room. Resale flats tend to have more space in kitchens I think. I wanted a place to sit while showering. Went googling shower benches and show the contractor photographs ask him to do. Haha. I think he had to think quite long coz he got to siam the glass door and still have enough space for the very big me to get in and out of the shower area. I totally wasn't able to visualise when he was discussing with me saying he will do diagonal bench, bottom will leave it open so can put shampoo if I want.. Glad it turned out still pretty....and useable!

Thanks everyone for the input. This is just the first quote I got from one of the ID but seems that a lot is wrong. He will do a requote and I keep you all update again. Once again thanks for the input and advance thanks to those that post later for the quote shown above.

If your flat specifications state the above, most probaby like ours! We are thinking of buying big whether we frequently cook or not. We will take the fridge type into consideration. Thanks for another perspective.

if you are looking for the bike series, here's the link http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=20038177881 for the ocean series, i think the link does not work anymore.. i just tried to look earlier this was the link anyway http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=18890406578

tips & tricks for sound bar (copied from philips support forum) Center the SoundBar right under the TV for a balanced sound experience, so picture and sound play from the same origin — just the way the cinema engineer intended. Place the SoundBar so that the speakers are in line with your ears. This lets you hear more detail, especially at high frequencies. However, this should be balanced with the preferred height of your TV. Leave at least 1 meter of space between the SoundBar and both sidewalls so the sound reflects in a balanced, symmetrical way. To experience the maximum surround sound effect, allow 3 to 8 meters distance between the sound setup and the listening area. Make sure the SoundBar doesn’t block the TV screen – the TV should be elevated higher, or be wall mounted. The ideal place for the TV and SoundBar is on the wall: if the TV is wall mounted, the SoundBar can be easily mounted under it with the supplied bracket. You can then remove the feet pads for a cleaner look. If wall mounted, leave a 10 to 15 centimeter gap between the SoundBar and TV, so you can access the top control panel and vertical disc loader (for most of our models). The subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room as long as it’s at least 1 meter away from the main unit. This prevents sound vibrations from interfering with the disc reader. Leave about 10 centimeters between the subwoofer and the wall to let sound carry with the airflow. Obsessed with replicating the ‘live’ experience? Then place your subwoofer on the right side of your TV and SoundBar – the bass and brass section of an orchestra are traditionally located on that side. Great sound also depends on your home environment. A room with curtains and carpet helps to dampen the noise reflections for more authentic sound. Speakers and subwoofers out in the open also produce better sound – so avoid placing them in an enclosed shelf and cupboard space.my ID drew a very nice detailed drawing of all my carpentry works, just like how i learn my D&T back in my sec sch days! as for my TV feature/console, ID thot we are jus placing the soundbar on top of the drawers ... but we are actually gg to mount it! haha ... ID says he normally leave a standard hole for the TV cables at 1100mm from floor for TV mounting. now the measurements are very impt for us becos we are having a soundbar below the TV and future expansion of TV size affects where the TV should b hung now... and once the hole is drilled, its there forever! tentatively we are eyeing on a 50" TV. so now i'm not sure if its ok to leave 10cm from the drawer and 10cm from the TV. i think i shld hav a hole for the cabling to rch the soundbar too? so it will b neater and concealed ... for any bigger TV in the future, i guess i won't get anything bigger than 60" ... cos its either too ex or its too huge for the small living area. just in case i get richer next time the 60" TV will leave only 3.2cm gap from the soundbar ... and 6.4cm gap if its 55" TV, which i'm not sure if its too narrow. and oso i dono whats the probability tt i will upgrade the TV in the future. hmmm should i leave a 15cm gap from the TV to play safe? but visual wise, i personally feel it looks more sleek with the TV and soundbar close tgt ...

we went to visit the house in darkness again!! hehehe tiling has finally started and they almost finished the whole living room and corridor already ... my tile colour we requested to have some electrical pts and lan pt at the study area .... so the electrician actually "concealed" it by running the cabling across the living room from the tv side to the opposite side ... the "concealed" part is hidden under the tiles. reno guys are so smart! my water outlet for kitchen sink is done too! lol i dono why they splash some cement there .... am thinking of sealing up that floor trap and only use the one in service yard.

hi kelhy, the bomb shelter is still in its original state. I am planning to paint it chalkboard black for me to doodle on

Maydream, his price higher by 20-30Percent n he cant commit completion bef cny. So we dint pick him as he busy rushin a project bef cny