Ideasmiths

I am also with the design of the toilet door of the MBR. When you open it, it sticks at the 90 degrees direction and right infront is the sink. So every morning when you wash your face, its so inconvenient. My solution is to 'consider' changing it to a PD door for two reasons 1) The PD door can replace the current door and when swing to the same location can act as a shower screen. In this mode, you probably would close and lock the MBR door. 2) The PD door can swing away well enough not to be a hinderance when washing my face. Each PD door is $288 (basic configuration), add $20 for the panes. For PD door with shower screen its $388 Site measurement takes 30 minutes, Installation takes max 2 hours. No hacking. I am installing the PD Door as my kitchen door this week, and by the way 99% of my reno will be done this Friday. So next weekend Sat/Sun (especially Sat), anyone want to look see (and help me check for ID defects) can arrange to drop by B-) I'm at 220B PS: Criteria for visiting is to bring ONE good durian, at least D24, yellow meat and bao jia...to share with the rest of the visitors PS2: Those forgot to bring durian need to go down on their knees and help me check 4 tiles for hollow

If you are looking for room doors, if they are standard HDB doors, can consider getting from 'us'....lol we are new residents of Linear Green at Bedok, some household would be considering changing their brand new doors. You need to a) decide left or right swing b) How to transport and install the doors PM me if you are keen, sure cheaper than those outside ones, plus they are standard HDB fireproof brand new doors

Meaning no wirelessSG for you B-) Which MAY be a good thing, let me share my insight. First of all, many students hog the wirelessSG bandwidth by downloading heavy stuff. so it is slow 2nd, you see wirelessSG you MAY not be seeing wirelessSG. Anybody can bring a router, name it wirelessSG and people will try so desperately to log in, thus giving away all their password and username. Worst, the guy could be sitting there, letting you bypass and log onto the website that you want and look at all your other passwords, example internet bank, naughty sites etc. BTW, I thought the durians are at $2 outside NTUC? Hmmm

1) Position : House Husband 2) Qualification needed : Wife 3) Salary : hen pecked, nagged at and still have to give wife allowance 4) Worst part of job is : No obvious career path, maybe 4 to 5 years later become senior house husband 5) Perks of job : When my son call me "mommy mommy" in front of all the parents when I pick him up from childcare

Hi, Why network cables? With the technology now, your wifi with N version would be fast enough, if not, get those network that uses the electrical circuit in your house. Or like me, use the broadband on mobile, can go everywhere. Come to think of it, why every household need to subscribe network? Why not we all share share and the host use the wifi N with super booster, then everyone can use (those who share lah).

I got this in my email from Philips, so it's on.....

Well, confirmed, Philips Carnival Sale is on Sat 23 August and Sun 24 August 9.30 am to 6 pm. To get there, take the MRT to Toa Payoh MRT, come out turn RIGHT you will see OCBC, BEFORE the steps leading up, turn LEFT into a tunnel (I think NTUC there)....walk all the way and you will come up. Now turn left and walk diagonally towards Philips....You will see a Community Center on the right to use as a guide, church also on the right PS: Someone asked me where I got the news...... I have bought some Philips stuff in the past, and subscribed to some notifications during the registering of warranty

It's too early for you? No problem, you are always welcome to send it to my home first and ....er.....you know... Was there too, a lot of display set for sale....

Goooooooodddddd Morning Linear Greeners Shall we all buy LG products? <- or get them to sponsor us !!!!!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!!

EDITED 23 August 2008 Update: Mesin Closed down. owe some of their supplier and they refused to send goods anymore. see post lower below for updates

Edited

Lol, latest news, just met my young ID.....you know that fire recently at that factory at sungei kadut....where someone burn some paper and the whole factory burn down? Well, my kitchen stuff supposed to be there lol That's their factory. Now she told me has to bring in my set from the Malaysia factory because all the Singapore ones gone up in smoke. So any Linear Green resident got the same news as me...you are using the same ID firm lol... so tomorrow I SURE Strike toto one PS: why today go for toto? today already long queue, tomorrow laggi super long queue. His must be 5 room, my 4 room deposit is $70. Its there in case you turn on water full blast, then don't want to pay, even after 2 red letters. They chop your electricity and water line then take the deposit. After a few years, with good behaviour, I think they will return the deposit to you. My current house was returned a long long time ago...

Today so quiet because everyone is queing up for $8 millions dollars....run around island and bet on all the popular outlets.....ha ha Yoko, If I strike tomorrow, I'll gift you wany wallpaper you want, floor, ceiling, 4 walls, bomb shelter....

Engineers fear two types of failure, one is like the Nicoell Highway collaspe (buckling) and the other is shearing (ie being cut by scissors). Both type no signs one, until failure occurs. For other defects like tears, cut, dent, scratch, corrosion, bending, cracking, twisting, elongation, crushing and more...., all can see the 'defects' long before failure. Each HDB unit has a maximum floor loading, but seldom they specify wall loading, scarly someone lets say is a weight lifting fanatic and he stock some weights against wall. Then put a running track around wall, just running alone will causes all kind of vibration....boom boom boom. Anyway, I am very paranoid, that is why I am on the 5th floor lol, just high enough to jump down if kanna trap by fire (the most break a leg, with bedsheet tie maybe break toe)......I am very kiasu type lol.

Actually I was like waiting for the boy scouts to come around for their tour of duty, then pay each of them $10 and a hammer to break some bricks....will defintely save me $400. Whack already then lor can? come to think of it, if you happen to stay in the middle level of the block, please don't lean anything heavy on any of the black pillars (on drawing). Buckling failure is like lighting (aka 911 type) and you won't know it till it's too late. Buckling is like you take a long ruler, you put it vertically onto the table and press down the top with one finger. Then you just press lightly in the middle with one finger (on the FLAT and broader side, not the thinnest side), you will see the whole ruler will bend rapidly even with small pressure. Imagine you do that on our pillars. Most likely won't happen, but you may never know

2 months by the book B-) To be safer, 3 months..... But...you mean you apply sure get new flat? I 'applied' for 12 years liao, luckily wife didn't start/stop/start/stop/start work lol.

Can, we all live in pigeon holes that has 6 walls, just make sure don't the one on top and below. Unless of course your is the top level unit, you can create a skylight. Seriously, avoid those that are blacken in the drawing, these are steel structures for the whole block. Whack it and the whole block could be in trouble, especially if you are in the middle of the block (buckling problem).

same problem with one bunch of many keys. If lost mean whole bunch lost too. At least with one key, if you need to rush inside (loo), you don't need to go through 2 or 3 keys just to get into your house

For electrical stuff, actually I went to look/see one of our neighbourhood shop, around Block 851 Bedok North Ave something, seem quite okay price and they have a good selection. The salesguy also quite knowledgeable. Its beside one of the fruit stalls with regards to hacking down walls, my ID quoted me $400 for hacking down one wall, $800 for building up the corners (ie smoothen the rough edges), $1000 for the sliding doors!. My original intention is to straighten out bedroom 2 and 3 because one is a study and the other is my baby son room so no need so much space. If knock down will be very spacious. My wife objected B-* Just out of curiosity, anyone thinking of chaning ALL the locks in the home, gate/main door, doors etc and use only ONE key to access all of them (ie, no need so many keys)....I saw one set at DIY shop, also one type is magnetic one (ie you put on side of lock it opens, no need to insert....cannot be duplicated because the magentic thing is PC program changable)

Well, got closet design to do the wardrobe. Went back to Meisin to choose my soft set and coffee table, plus 37" LCD, fridge, washing machine (wife bought a package last month, can slowly choose combinationas till reach package) The usual ID people are there, good to walk around and get some ideas

Actually all these limited 10 sets all nonsense one. Just publicity to draw people in. If you ask them for the list of people who bought the sets, they will say all over the place or inside computer can't show you. Actually maybe only 1 or 2 sets. I went to parasil near Bedok Central the sales guy commented that some TVs the price even lower than dealer price, so all nonsense one For reno, should have let my alarm bell goes off when it was a double team. the SD was more seasoned and he introduce his colleague, the younger ID. say he will join project management with her. sigh, my house like training ground for new bird.

Nope. Some forumers also asked, but I decide not to smear the name of the ID firm as most likely its a bad luck case of a young designer. She do good artistic work and ID, but I guess not strong in the operations side. As for the Senior Designer, that was the trump card I kept in my pocket to use in this type of situation. Needed it to cut some items off the contract too, so did some tactical moves B-) DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS, that was the headache that i (and most people) want to hand over to ID so that we pay them to do their job. Heck, if I sit there and pick up my rusty skills and design the details, probably can do it. Some more that kitchen is a LARGE proportion of the charges for my reno because my wife threw many stuff there, cabinets, this, and that. it's the small thing that really stump me, even I didn't spot the obvious mistake. On to another story -------------------- Gave my wardrobe to closet design. Went to near my home, their balestier showroom on Friday and did some good detail concept there, was quoted a price. Lucky I decide to wait till I trash out my problem on Sat. Noticed expo was on, dropped by and save 7% because GST was waived there!. sat down with wife and with another designer discussed the in-and outs of every drawers, rails, wood and layout of the wardrobe and the sales/designer came up with a good concept. Even threw them some obscure weird idea and he was able to advice that it is 'a bad idea'. happy with the details, and signed up there on the spot, gave them $500 as deposit. Takes about 3 weeks to line up in a queue for them to deliver to my home and install in one day. so 3rd week of August those who want to see can drop by my house again. At least I feel better with a 10 years warranty and detailed wardrobe that me and wife will stare at and use for the next decade or so, compared to the standard 'unknown-whatever you want' 6ft wardrobe that my ID wanted to make for me. At expo with Meisin ------------------- Last month actually signed up a package with this firm, today dropped by to finalise the 'details' of sofa, coffee table etc. My wife bought a package, lets say $x dollar and you can mixed and match till $x + 15% + discount. For example, if you got the $1K package, you can choose $1.2K worth of goods in terms of LCD TV, fridge, electronics, furniture (manufactured) or custom made. Seem like a good package to me, because I can go around Singapore and choose most type of common electronic stuff and they will match it. They are expanding to ID design too (partner with someone) and I talked to the GM of the ID firm, quite a knowledgeable person. Gave him the drawing of the floorplan, same starting scenerio (ie minus the obvious mistake) and gave him a test to see how he will design my kitchen. Sat not many people (most headed to Natas fair) so he spend about 1.5 hours with us. He was able to spot the obvious problem, came up with the same routing solution but he suggested also routing (plus hacking service yard) to the washing machine drainpipe. This is because less chance of backflow due to the drop at the service yard. Tested him on designing my study room and on the spot he was able to sketch out and detail the workstation etc. At least see some real kung Fu there. Think they partner with Meisin so now very eager to show their skills and sincerity. Was quite happy with my 'victory' with my ID

Mistakes of ID to share with new comers of Bedok Central 1) I made the mistake of signing on the dot for this ID, should have get EVERYTHING in black and white then sign 2) The ID claims they have ISO standard, ie a solid project work plan etc, but it turns out to be a big surprise. As follows a) Biggest mistakes was the kitchen. during signing on the dot, everthing can, price confirm etc etc. Picture of floor plan as shown Nice 3D design, selection of colors etc went ahead. Electrician was called in to lay the necessary wires for gas powered stove. CityGas was called in to route the gas line. Kitchen sink was ordered (ID brought down to shop), everything seem okay. One day suddenly ID called say plumber with her right now at site, OOPS As you can see, the HDB drain pipe i at corner, thats where HDB 'intend' sink to be. But because of Feng Shui, that location is my 'fire' so the kitchen sink was shifted to as shown where my 'water' space is. This info was made known to the ID. Now, the problem is that the drain pipe from the kitchen sink has to reach across but you can't hack the kitchen floor as it was already tiled. You can't route left where the bomb shelter door is, you can't route upwards because water flow downwards. So the only choice is route right. It will be right infront of the bi-fold service yard door, where the ID propose to build a ramp to protect the pipe. This means you may have chance to trip and fall into the service yard (pipe is quite big in diameter plus cement etc). Plus the long routing means that years down the road, choking inside is probable because of all the food residue, oil and dirty stuff clog there. was so FED up with my ID becaue this is a BIG mistake. She proposed on the phone to route the pipe there or worst move the sink to on top of the drain pipe. I say 'hello?", that is my FS fire place, you want my wealth to be drown daily by water? flushing all my money down the drain? Even if my FS master say can, the shifting means I got to top up $ for the table top. And I will NOT make a decision affecting 10 to 15 years of my life on the phone in 5 minutes. So tick her off ask her to send plumper, kitchen carpenter all home. Called her boss and ask them to come solve problem this Saturday. So the lesson learn? young ID designers may have good looking drawing for you, but their 'details' is not there. c) On sat, the more senior designer boss came down, propose the routing beside the door, all foc. Then oops, where is the water line to the kitchen tap going to go? Because on the top, the electrician already routed the wires to power the spark starter of the stove. $#@&, the gap between that pvc and the HDB 'do not drill here' hidden blue water lines is very narrow. So trash it out and they will adjust from the top. d) Then bring the SD to the living room to show him that the young designer already put up the false ceiling, but left a 8 inch gap for the window curtain rails. Unfortunately, my curtain guy comes down and say that the horizontal wooden brackets that we bought cannot be mounted because his drill cannot bend 90 degrees. Supposed to install the curtain brackets first, THEN put on the false ceiling. So now only got 2 choices, either change to vertical brackets (ie drill upwards and secure) or cut away some of the false ceiling. The SD agrees to the problem....but I was like 'hey man, your company got ISO standard project management standard'...its DESIGN then execute, not do half way, oops, ask me to top up $ or ask me to change my purchases. e) ID asked for $x topup for kitchen cabinet because the hood that we chosen was too small and there are gaps in the proposed top cabinet. My wife flip, did 2 sommersaut and I asked her ##@*((, you are the designer, you bring us to shop, if the hood NOT suitable, then you advice us we choose the right one. How is the consumer going to know.....trashed out with ID and he also FOC the extra gap. Got so fed up that I say from this point on, all the capentry work that has not started, (ie wardrobe, bookcase etc) all cancel....becuase I don't trust any of their work anymore. On contract the wardrobe is 6ft, is she going to give me a rectangular box? I asked the ID what is the design going to be? she say will be whatever I want....SD sense my temper rising and called the workshop, but try to bluff me that they already ordered the laminate etc, can't change. Negotiated, and managed to strike the wardrobe off the contract. gave the wardrobe work to closet design. So my lesson learnt? get a good ID B-(

My electrician referred by ID charges me (26 July 2008) Each ----- 5Amp light and cornices light point - $35 13 Amp double power point - $55 SCV point - $100 Switch - $50 10 AMp MCB - $30 Cooker hood and hod point switch - $100 Fixing door bell and light - $10 (kan na sai) Fixing light and cornices light - $10 Shifting 13A point $20 Okay? Or I kanna chop

My renovation half done. Will be at my unit this Saturday 10 am to meet my ID to trash out something. So anyone want to visit 9 am or after 11 am can let me know. Can share with you some 'mistakes' my ID making.... 220B #05-40. Reno done 1) Tiles 2) False ceiling **** and master with space for curtain rails 3) Wiring attempts 4) Cement bases, kitchen position (potentially mistake here by ID....)