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when i was doing my home reno, i checked out 6-8 ID companies. from the 6-8 consultations, i learned 1 thing: i didn't really like any of the id companies, cause their ideas were pretty much the same (they didn't really listen to what i'd said, they just pushed their ideas on to me). in the end, my husband and i resorted to home decor magazines to get ideas. and we hired a contractor (no id company) to execute what we wanted. we're very happy with the outcome. i'm not saying that all id companies are bad, but i feel that you need to do your own research/homework first. and home decor magazines are very helpful. from there, once you have a clearer idea of what (theme) you want, you can then engage an id company or contractor, depending on your preference. my two cents' worth.

i've seen alot of pictures (and friends' homes) where they build a fake wall with sliding door in front of the bomb shelter. initially, i wanted to do the same. but then i realised that it was counter-productive because it drew more attention to the bomb shelter (i.e. "why is there a fake wall there?"). so for my own place, all i did was paint the wall (and bomb shelter door) a different colour. amazingly, when people to come to our home for the first time, they don't notice the bomb shelter door! they're always surprised when we later show them that there's a bomb shelter door there. hope this helps some.

on the view, i had 2 bay windows. so i just closed off the one with the not-so-nice view, and kept the one with the nicer view.

yep, i completely closed up 1 bay window. but remember, i still have another bay window, and it's huge (so there's no fear of not having sunlight or air). if you think about it, there's only so many windows you need for your master bedroom. if i didn't do that, my built-in wardrobe would have been on the usable floor space, which cuts down the floor area that i have to play around with. this way, i cut down the "wasted" area (i.e. bay windows) and increase the usable area. when i first mooted this idea, my husband wasn't keen either. he said exactly the same thing you guys said. but now that the renovation's completed, he loves it! one thing i'm good at, i'm good with room composition and space optimisation. i can send you a pic if you like, just send me your email address.

one other thing, minimise doors. doors create an illusion of compartments, which makes the apartment look smaller. instead, where possible, replace doors with curtains.

you have a few mirrors (maybe 1 big one), but too many will make the place look tacky. one thing i've learned about maximising space with small apartments, go for low furnitures e.g. sofa, bed. Low furniture will make the ceiling look higher, and hence the room look bigger. Also, where possible, get furniture with no backing e.g. benches. Again, this makes the place seem bigger (however having no back means compromising on comfort, it's a trade-off). hope this helps some.

if you like teak consoles, try wihardja. very decent prices. i got mine for only $159. and most people who come to my home notice it and comment that it's very pretty.

Hello My home is based on the Balinese concept too. If you want to see, just send me your email address and I'll send you some pics. I recently purchased a really nice picture from this place called Dinding: dindinghomedecor.blogspot.com They have very nice wall decorative items that suit the resort/Balinese style home. Hope this helps some.

My master bedroom has 2 sets of bay windows. So what I did was, I got my contractor to tear down my build-in wardrobe and build a new wardrobe in one of the bay windows. It's actually very nice, and I now have more floor space to play around with. Hope this helps some.

i have the same problem because our laundry area (or backyard) is very small. initially, we thought of getting a washer-dryer. but most people advised us against it because they say the drying function is not very effective. plus it's very expensive (at least 1k). then we chanced upon this clothes hanger that is installed from the ceiling (pull down and up with strings). we paid only $300-400 for it. and i absolute love it!

I would strongly recommend my contractor. His name is Johnard Kwok, his no. is 9690 8603. My husband and I were so happy with (the quality of) his work that we engaged him to do TWO rounds of renovation works. We're now even considering bringing him back for a third round. ;p What I like about him is: - good workmanship - reasonable prices (not the cheapest, also not the most expensive) - can negotiate prices - very good after-sales service (we still get him to come do little little things) Hope this helps some.

Hi everyone I'm waiting fervently for GLP's (Global Logistics Properties) initial public offering to be listed. Any news anyone?

i love mahjong! can play through the night and morning.

the only problem with 3m is, if you're hanging something big or heavy, the 3m hook is HUGE. which means, there is a big gap between the item you're hanging (in my case, mirror) and the wall. having said that, if you're renting, 3m is your best bet.

You can try my cleaner, her name is Sandy (from Cambodia). Her no. is 8195 5575. She charges $50 for 4 hours during weekends or $40 for 4 hours during weekdays. No contract. On the whole, I'm pretty pleased with the quality of her work. She can be slow sometimes, but you just need to tell her to hurry up and prioritise other areas. Hope this helps some.

Short-term fix: ear plugs. I'm not kidding. You will likely take awhile to resolve the issue with your neighbour, in the meantime, ear plugs will help ensure you are sleeping well. On your neighbour, if I were you, I'd try the soft approach first i.e. talk to them, you'd be surprised, they might actually be very reasonable people. IF that doesn't work, then go to TC. That way, they (your neighbour) can't say you didn't try being nice. Hope this helps some.

have you tried Cif? i had problems removing watermarks from my toilet, but Cif worked brilliantly. only thing to note is, Cif is a mild abrasive agent. so maybe try on a small area first.

there are the things i regretted: X Black Kitchen Counter contrary to popular belief, black does not hide dirt. on the contrary, dirt shows up even more easily on black counters. i changed mind to beige and i much rather prefer beige. X Square Toilet Sinks these look nice but are not practical. they gather residue on the 4 corners very easily and is difficult to clean. hope this helps some.

Hi everyone We're currently looking around for a good landscaper for our apartment. Any recommendations?

i stay on the 2nd floor and i'm paranoid so i lock my kitchen door.

i prefer to go barefooted (no slippars). but then, this means i keep my toilet floor clean and dry most of the time.

have you tried natural predators? i.e. dogs, cats i have a dog at home, and we very rarely see cockroaches or lizard. i read somewhere that house pets act as deterrant.

I used to have an ikea BED. And just after 1 year, the laminate started to peel off! That was the last time I bought ikea. I guess if you're cost conscious, ikea is an option. But if you're looking for quality or long-lasting furniture, I wouldn't recommend ikea.

Have you thought of custom making your bedside tables? I'm thinking of doing that. I'm planning to go to Pagoda (www.pagodateak.com.sg). I got them to make my dining set and I'm very happy with the quality. Very reasonably priced (not cheap), I felt.

Yep, Zen Tradition Living. Did you find what you were looking for? Alternatively, you can custom make from Pagoda (www.pagodateak.com.sg). I custom made my dining set there (1 table, 2 long benches, 2 short benches) for only SGD1,200. Hope this helps some.