Ely1

Hi sleek, Thanks for stopping by I say, let those credit cards be free! You know you wanna I've read up on animal allergies for years and have never heard of the anal glands as a cause. I'll look more into it - thanks! There's currently a vaccine in development, stuff you can add to your pet's food to reduce saliva production, and steroid jabs I can take regularly so awaiting the vaccine with much-abated breath! My two rescue cats roam a lot so I don't get too allergic to them, unless they sneak in to snooze with me at night. Thank you for your well wishes - hopefully, the home turns out the way I picture it. You never know with carpentry... >< -Ely

PURCHASES! Now, on to the fun stuff. To be dutifully worthy of my Shopping Queen title, here's just half the stuff we've purchased that's slowly cramming the spare bedroom: Should have taken the pics in the day but /shrug. Made the trip to Ikea and spent about $2.5k there *ouch*. Got my bedside table, chest of drawers, foyer table, shoe cabinets, lights (really simple ones), boxes for the pets' toys etc. It's surprising how the small things add up! I anticipate another trip to Ikea again after moving in - for the misc items like vases and photoframes etc. A quarter of the stuff is already delivered to the apartment, while the bulk of it remains to be delivered, with a tiny percentage that needs to be self-collected, or still awaiting postage. An exciting purchase: Got a new pair of Usher S-520s bookshelf speakers to be hooked up to the hybrid tube amp for the bedroom. Though only entry level, this beats an iPod dock and are cheaper than the B&W Zeppelin Mini iPod dock I was looking at ($789 at Courts). -Ely

Heya footprint, please don't ever say you're ignorant - it's perfectly okay to ask any question, regardless how silly it may sound! It is (shamefully) real cowhide - it took me a long time to get to terms with it because I'm such a huge animal lover. And even when it came, I spent half an hour stroking it and saying "poor baby". I tried looking for faux cowhide but it was all pile which is really detrimental to my asthma (I already take steroids and antihistasmines, inhalers and eyedrops and nasal sprays, on a daily basis just to keep it from escalating into full blown attacks or else I get hospitalised). It sounds ridiculous to anyone why I would insist on keeping pets if so, but to me, it's a small sacrifice to have them part of my life. All my volunteer work involves animals as well. We invested in good vacuum cleaners and everything anti-allergy, and I brush the pets' coats daily and bathe them weekly, which helps. My asthma specialist has accepted that I'll never give my pet ups so we work on managing it the best we can. The Husband tried to console me by telling me they were probably skinned after a trip to the abattoir so I'm going to believe him. I know it's distasteful so I apologise if I offended anyone by my purchasing of the cowhide. Trust me, it wasn't an easy decision for me either. We simply realised it was the best alternative for a rug. I'm more allergic to the cat than the dog (also, Chihuahuas are one of the breeds most recommended for people with asthma) due to their dander and saliva (which is deposited on the fur when they groom themselves) so Bondi won't be allowed into the bedroom. *sniffle* However, he's pretty used to it as he never slept in the bedroom while in Australia, but I'm struggling with the allergies now that he's sharing my bed at my parents' home. Hopefully, we get to move in in 2 weeks -Ely

Wow, RB. Can't wait to see your new set-up! Already envious you have a projector but really decided not to spend anymore on the HTS, perhaps an upgrade in the future (wayyyyyy future). Would love to see how you do your trunking. I've stopped photography for a long time though we have a decent DSLR but I simply use my point-and-shoot. However, I still own my first Pentax SLR and my Lomos and these will go on display for their "antique" value haha. -Ely

Our cowhide rug: Not using plush pile because of the animals - their dander and fur is going to be a pain to vacuum, despite our very nice HEPA vacuums (Dyson 31 handheld and Miele Anniversary) as my allergies and asthma is pretty severe. Cowhide goes perfectly with the theme I'm going for so it's a gorgeous huge piece, about 2m long. Ordered two, another smaller for the bedroom. Shipping was about US$80. -Ely

Love the clock! Ne0, it does seem like we have similiar taste. I was going for a double-sided clock, though in the vintage train station style. Not like the timeless classic Karlsson, but I wanted a more "cottage" feel in the wet kitchen. Opted against it though - simply because of the placement, would be annoying, having to keep going around to look at the time~ -Ely

Bling it on! Simply gorgeous collar for US$17!! <3 -Ely

Your reno is definitely moving much, much faster than mine. I'm on Day 60 and the painting isn't done yet. Sigh. Was supposed to move in by next week but that's not going to happen. Now delayed to May 7. Yes, lots of discussion about your exhibitionistic bathroom Love the idea of cove lights above the kitchen. Will definitely bring a nice glow to the whole kitchen. Can't wait to see it in person! -Ely

Awesome use of the iPad stand. Makes it look like one of those Automated Smart Homes Very clever indeed! Your reno is going very well! -Ely

Because if I add Deh skills to my queenly title, I can better fulfil it!! Imagine the hauls if I Deh my way through the credit card bills! -Ely

LOL! Actually it's cheaper than the normal aluminium one (that was $179) - he kept saying it's so heavy etc etc. Maybe he needs to go to the gym~ But now he wants to get it too /shrug -Ely

Ooh, I love the effects of the lights - makes me feel so much more confident I picked the white nest one for the guest bedroom! Very, very nice pop of pink!! Daring move, but a good one - it makes it such a standout! As for Ideal House, I'm using them too and mine is pretty responsive. I do like our working relationship but don't expect them to go shopping with you etc. (I prefer shopping by myself anyway - on the computer! ) They are pretty busy but will be honest if they can manage your project effectively or not. If they feel their schedule is too packed, they might refer you to another ID in the firm. -Ely

I pronounce May Dream as Deh Queen. She should hold some seminars on perfecting the very effectual Deh technique. -Ely

Same!! Felt it was too expensive so only use the hinges. Bleh, completely envious. But then again, sometimes slamming of drawers can feel quite rewarding when expressing distaste. It's like slamming down the phone - pressing the End button feels so inadequate! Need to like bang down for effect! -Ely

Everything blame Ely Sadness. -Ely

Gee, guess I better live up to my name then. Don't I get a crown and do my little wave at least? Here's my big buffa, Secret Agent 007.5: This is what I'm currently eyeing: (but NOT buying...yet) I imagine it sitting right on the partition shelf, looking very glamourous indeed! Love the look! Lost the bid to this gorgeous Ghost Candelabra by Jon Russel - I blame USA time! Didn't manage to wake to the alarming sound of being outbid on my iPhone to increase bid! It's usually right by the bedside so I can spring up and click on Increase Max Bid. Yes, I confess - I'm an eBay addict. Was also supposed to get the ladder May Dream has, but was so distracted Whatsapping her the whole time that we didn't get it in the end - so, May's fault. Must return to Howard Storage World to get it! It is, by far, the most comfortable and secure ladder I've tried (I have a morbid fear of heights). Going to go to the house to clean up some (received complaints from the neighbours about the dust ><) and maybe see if there's any pictures worth taking. -Ely

REPOST Paintings from Bali framed: No religious connatations, simply loved the pop of colour and the serenity of the picture The now-ominious elephant >< So should have gotten the zebra that ne0 saw too, but the driver was telling us what a revered animal the elephant is so got it instead: Smallest picture of all, to be placed in the guest bedroom: -Ely

Ha! Am I that known for my shopping habit? *blush* Well, it's mostly been the boring stuff: - $560 worth of LeGrand switches (62 switches of all sorts - sockets, dimmers, heaters, 2 ways, SCVs, isolaters, telephone jacks, wardrobe switches etc) - pretty reasonable from Choo Chiang Marketing, and electrical door bell. - Installed the doors(Not quite sure what happened to the handles of the room doors... Almost completely certain they were not the ones I asked for... it's a small detail that can be overlooked but the Virgo in me can't get over it~), and the digital lock! After a lot of fumbling, The Husband got it working yay It makes a pleasant sound so it doesn't bother me. Ask me again after a year. - Have gotten all the handles for the glass doors and hinges for the doors from Shanghai Tong Lee. - 3 decals, with one more to be custom-made (all left as surprises for final makeover pictures k?) - Have gotten quotations for wallpaper, blinds and curtains. - Bondi is home!!! He seems to have forgotten me *sniff* but it's been more than a year so I don't blame him. He's taking some time adjusting - everything spooks him and Maxey can't seem to leave him alone but they've exchanged kisses so no fights, but definitely plannning now where the cat ladder should be so Bondi gets a break from the hyper Chi. Maxey has such a wonderful temperament I'm bursting with pride - he knows how to respect Bondi's space, and Bondi, with his ever-sweet nature takes everything in his stride. Can't be happier with these two. Have yet to go back to iwannagohome for a chaise, and to Lifestorey for a vanity stool - these things still haunt me! A couple of stuff left from Ikea and we're all done. I think we're falling behind our schedule though - carpentry is supposed to be fitted already, yet it has only just commenced and painting isn't done yet so the lights can't go up either. Part of the bathroom had to be re-hacked and re-tiled and extended, so that the wardrobe can have its 600mm width. This means, the glass door to the bathroom, has to be re-ordered as well. Unpainted walls of the Master: Where the wardrobes would go: Wrong light fittings: - Ely

Gah, the posts were deleted, so here I am again, reiterating that: CUTIECAT IS GOR-GEOUS!! Very, very pretty gowns, especially her white tulle one which makes her look like a modern day princess. I had the honour a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the photoshoot! Can't wait to see the final pics, Cutiecat! -Ely

May Dream had serious withdrawal symptoms~ -Ely

Lol! Yep, we're all Virgoes (CutieCat too, along with ne0's and RB's wives), frenetically blogging on our purchases and reno progress and feeling squirmish whenever something is not the most ideal. Excellence is a habit, no? -Ely

It's still crazy big with two king beds... How much do you roll in your sleep omgah! -Ely

Not that big, but we have a lot of space, since younger brother is in Australia and older brother already has his own apartment, so it's just the folks and me (and the zoo). Getting my ID to do A&A for my parents' home too, more space to store leftover crap muahaha! And I don't think I'm winning the wardrobe battle...I'll just use the other wardrobe then *humph*. -Ely

Very, very nice transformation! I love your kitchen tiles - very unconventional but they work so well! Wow! Amazing place! -Ely

I can't wait to see your place featured in the papers!! Must let us know when it's coming out! -Ely