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Hi KayKay.. let me buy the LeGrand switches from you since I need them anyway.. u are so so talented i must say! All the best for your DIY projects! PM me so i can pay you accordingly :-) Cheers!

Time to give an update about the Fins sink we bought on Taobao. We have yet to move in, so the usage is about 2 days a week, left water spots to dry on their own for the past few visits. Generally, ok with it. We like the look. Only qualms are little rust marks and the usual dried water stains on stainless steel. But nothing that Cif can't clean away.

closeup of my fav shoe cabinet =) the vents are slotted in the capentry (ventilation coil that was sprayed black) can put quite a lot of shoes. each slot can squeeze 4 pairs but im keeping to 2 for now, saving the inner space to expand the collection. lol. this part is where the blackboard opens up... quite nice to feature them like in ALDO.

the other side of the mbr featuring the laundry baskets and ladder to hang some clothes, as well as the kitchen trolley from ikea, which i used to store my beauty items. my vanity table with slots to put my accessories and makeup! <3 my girlfriends all want to have this now. i must admit it is very easy to see at a glance what i have instead of having to dig thru different drawers. also got Second Charm to dip the legs of the stool in pink.

Dont dwell on it. I bet we have the same bricks. there are also parts with "blemishes" as well. It adds character to the wall. Anyway this wall of mine is only about 3 meters plus only.

Welcome to Reno t-blog!! Enjoy ur Reno process!!

WC RESEARCH REPORT: Since there is not much information available in Renotalk blog and forums on the choice of sanitary products - WCs and Toilets, available in the market, I decided to do a research. After spending few days of my time in going around and visiting various shops, I have compiled below some of my research in WC and toilet products (1 piece models only): Jalan Besar area: I started visiting the shops in traffic direction from Lavender Street. 1. Poh Joo Hardware, 389 Jalan Besar (opp. Lavender Square): My first stop. Brands they carry & promote are mostly Clayton only. Clayton prices seem to be on the cheaper side. But models don't inspire much. Also they carry other brands like Arino but very limited choice and price seems to be more expensive than others for such brands. 2. Hupfarri Bathroom, 255, Jalan Besar. My second stop. Nice, big showroom carrying primarily OTTO products. The staff are knowledgeable and able to explain the products in detail. But pricing is at a premium. For eg., a model like 7030 WC, the price quoted is $599 inclusive of a $300 FREE basin. Mind you - some decent basins cost $350 here; so you need to top-up another $50. Man, use this showroom to learn about the products and buy somewhere! Warning: Be careful - as some models are P-trap only with exposed back; not be suitable for HDB's, unless you use a converter. You will still have to live with the exposed back. 3. Fullsun Marketing, 146, Jalan Besar 3rd stop after third time! Don't get it right? They are like an Corporate office. Work only on weekdays. No weekend service. So I had to come here 3rd time. Please ensure you visit them only on weekdays and office hours only. Premium products right - you have to bear it! They market TOTO products. Well need not say much. Basic models start at $850 and move upwards of $1100 for decent ones. Ofcourse they claim to give you 20% discount on the list prices mentioned above. Also bear in mind, most of their models only cater to P-trap WC's; so not really suitable for poor HDB cousin's (like me!) unless you opt for converter to fit in the existing floor type S-trap's in HDB's. With being not comfortable with this converter stuff, I decided to walk out of the showroom. With my dreams of doing my stuff on a luxurious TOTO smashed, I decided to take a break and have a humble Nasi Briyani and Teh Halia to refreshen in Little India. 4. GR Link Marketing, 155 Jalan Besar (just opp Fullsun) I have read enough about them from Renotalk especially the very sweet lady and Uncle Ben, the owner. Brightly lit showroom, although much smaller than Hupfarri and Fullsun; products are neatly arranged. Friendly service and lots of advice. Models that impressed me here are: 1. Baron WC 888 (1 piece) with Geberit flush - 10 years warranty $389 2. Inspire 6081 (1 piece) with Geberit flush - 10 years warranty $399 3. OTTO Mercury (1 piece) - 10 years warranty $350 Add $68 and get a wash basin from the available choices. As usual, available choices don't impress me and I then see something that needs top up of $120. 5. Eng Soon Huat Hardware Merchant Pte Ltd 140 Jalan Besar, Next to Fullsun Not friendly service; not so much variety. Carry few Otto, Inspire, baron & one more chines brand (Caroma or Carona). I took note of the models and moved on quickly. 6. Poh Seng Hardware Enterprise, 153, Jln Besar (just next to GR Link Marketing) ALL prices here are inclusive of GST. Very experienced Uncle – Mr. Seah Boon Seng. Prices seem to be cheaper than GR Link Marketing. Models suggested by him: 1. Arino Caprio WC with Geberit (1 piece) new model where the top flushing system cover is invisible) with heavy duty seat cover $320 2. Treo T200 WC with Geberit (1 piece) - with a nice oblong shape; looks really nice. But more expensive than Arino Caprio. $380 7. Royal Fanco, 135 Jalan Besar Highly recommended by many people in Renotalk; Small showroom; cramped; not much on display; price seems to be cheapest especially if you go for package deal ie., WC+Basin. Models suggested: Baron (830x370x700) SINGLE PIECE $399 with basin With slim seat cover add $30 Magnum (640x360X780) Single Piece with new slim seat cover – same price. The slim seat cover was very impressive. No other shop seems to have that. 8. Ideal Merchandise, Block 808, French Road, #02-21 Had a big difficulty to locate this shop. It is above NTUC. Specialize in Bidet primarily for Toto, Bravat and other high end models. Approx cost $350 for a bidet. Not much focus on selling WC's. More interested in pricing a bundle offering of Bidet+WC. Geylang/Tanjong Katong: 9. Hoe Kee, Tanjong Katong Plaza Carry mainly their inhouse brand Roz. Didn't see the designs to be modern and contemporary. So left the shop quickly and headed to Geyland Road. 10. Wasserbath, Geylang Road WC’s : only deal with IXIS brand; supplied to many private condo project; Offer for GSS period $599 with Basin. WC's look decent and nice. Not heard of this brand much. 11. Heritage Bathroom, Geylang Road Carry Toto Brand. Prices are very competitive for Toto. (seems better than Fullsun); but no display. Suggested models: Inspire 6081 WC (1 piece) with Geberit ($320). Most competitive price. Baron 888 WC (similar to Inspire 6081) was $290. Again most competitive price. 12. Universal Union: not so impressive. not much knowledge from staff to explain. 13. Bath.z.o.n.e (don't why I can't use the original shop name; it says as spam!): I give it a miss. - too tired leh! Not visited from original list: 14. Bathroom Warehouse, Changi Guess, this gives you an idea of where/what to shop.. Happy shopping! Some picture links: http://renotalk.com/forum/uploads/gallery_62270_450_257645.jpg http://renotalk.com/forum/uploads/gallery_62270_450_223490.jpg http://renotalk.com/forum/uploads/gallery_62270_450_174823.jpg http://renotalk.com/forum/uploads/gallery_62270_450_194220.jpg

Uploading photos (Thanks to a Renotalk friend's advise): OK, I must remember to do it this way : 1. Sign in 2. Go to Gallery (if unsure, go to T-blogs and go via Pinned How to post photos post 3. When in gallery, choose category on RHS 4. At bottom, can see "Choose photo" or something like that. Click it, will take you to your PC, choose yr photo folder 5. Select yr photo. It uploads. Done. 6. To load that photo into a post in an existing or new thread, click to open new post window 7. Go via another window (that's how I do it) to the gallery category where I uploaded that photo, select that photo 8. Click on Options (it's a black box) on RHS 9a. Choose and copy the Image Link code. 10a. Go to your posting window and select the Image icon (above the box where you write your stuff), and then Paste the code into the little box that appears. Your photo appears! I post this here for reference cause I always forget how to do it.

For those interested to read through my entire renovation journey but don't wish to go through the full 19 pages with lots of requests for PMs, I'm finally almost done transferring my tips and posts to my personal blog, plus written a few additional posts about renovation there that is not in this t-blog. Can understand everyone's pain coz I went through the "research" part too. Haha. Have read through so many t-blogs when I was researching that I became blurry eyed. So might be easier if you guys go directly to www.guojiawen.com and choose the tags - Dream Home / Renovation All the relevant posts will show up there. Am almost done with the renovation part... and will be moving on to blog more about the furnishing and decoration, and also about my taobao purchases. All $2000+ worth of them. My hubby nearly fainted when I told him how much I spent!

hi wrxkev, can i find out how many feet is your divider/shoe cabinet? Thanks!

Hi, me & hubby also looking for a ID, my cousin-in-law recommended my a ID 'homely Image", according to the feedback, they are pretty reasonable and comfortable to work with. they are very responsible and trustworthy.....oh..look for the ID who appeared on "Groom my room" TV programme. It's a lady..forgot her name. i''ll most prob call for a free consultation. good luck!

Haha... i think red_devil is too wrapped up in reno works, "broken" very sensitive, means need rectification. Anyway, i went to chk the valuation report again, confirmed the flooring is known as "broken marble tiles". Hehes. The house is quite okay, just that the space at the front is made smaller by the extended stairway while the living room is elongated, which make everything seems abit narrow. So we have to try not to place too many furniture along the hallway. One thing good is the location, which is near to the mrt. We dun have car, so have to be near mrt.