Ely1

Common Bathroom: Yard: I hope everyone enjoys reading this "blog" as much as I'll enjoy documenting the renovation process. Share comments, suggestions, criticisms; have a laugh, be inspired, or simply ease boredom! - Ely

Corridor: Master Bedroom: Master Bathroom: 2nd Bedroom:

Hi All, Decided it's time to "pay it forward" after garnering so many useful tips and guides from this very generous forum. It makes one less apprehensive knowing you're not alone in your overwhelmed, clueless state (which I find myself in most of the time). It's nerve-wrecking being a first-time homeowner. Even more so when you're creating a future home for a family - to love where you live, to be able to grow within and with the home, to make the place uniquely yours. Albeit a mild set-back in home searching (the recent HDB ruling), we found The One after visiting 55 homes. Yes, 55! Armed with papers, chequebooks, and signing roughly 439 closing-related documents with home owners, lawyers, agents, IDs etc, the key is finally in the door and we had our official handover on Valentine's Day (how's that for romantic!). All the while juggling the coordination of our ROM held in December last year, a honeymoon in Bali, all the familial festivity obligations, and our upcoming wedding banquet in December this year - Logically, it sounds like such ideal staggering but in reality, we're exhausted with meetings and browsing and errands and research, and honestly, a little cash-strapped. It’s an old apartment, so everything needs to be redone. It lies tucked in the East, amidst tranquil landscaping and nature (kingfishers, parakeets and owls!), which was a major selling point for us. My brief to IDs was simple: I want a home I love to spend time in with those I love. It is contemporary, luxurious, sophisticated, plush, textile, clean and spacious. It is animal-friendly without compromising on style and comfort. Very few IDs got back to me after mass-mailing selected ID firms this forum recommended - perhaps I was too pedantic, perhaps I didn't convey my ideas clearly enough, perhaps everyone just had such a full load, perhaps my massive Inspiration Board was too intimidating/annoying. Nonetheless, we signed with an ID we liked merely days before the handover and work commenced a week later. I think it's hard when you know a renovation process consists of two project phases - the design phase and the construction phase - and when we're so thrown into the construction phase without an inkling of the design makes it so difficult to anticipate what we should concentrate on next. Perhaps I just like being systematic. How really, to design electrical points, without knowing the design? It may seem straightforward to some, but without knowing how big or where the kitchen island is, how to have lighting points? I can’t fault the ID either as he’s trying his best to manage the project as efficiently as he can, but the design phase should be carefully thought-through and agreed upon prior to work, then we can make changes to design later around problems or technical issues uncovered by construction. So stressful. Anyhow. Here are original pics: Balcony: Hall: Kitchen:

Thanks much! I'll make the trip there, or would have to buy them online and pay for crazy shipping costs. Oh, the price of vanity! Walked Jln Besar and places only carried blue or red lit ones that were going for $300+.

As title suggests, I'm looking for LED-illuminated mirrors, not with the blue/red lighting but something like these examples: They come with sensors too. Has anyone come across them, and what are their prices like? TIA!

Heya, Could you give me the prices for: Onkyo 608 Velodyne CHT-8Q Deft Tech Procinema 600 Thanks!

Unfortunately, Virtual Homes does not have floor plans for the apartment I'm moving into

Hello all, As I'm embarking on this crazy journey to creating a home I love, I've found my first obstacle is the hand-drawn floorplan that came from the MCST. It's an old property, so the floor plan does not indicate measurements/structural columns etc - who/what do I need to draw up a floor plan so I can start contacting some ID firms? Or, do I submit the hand-drawn plan, and get the selected ID firm to do it? (Not sure if they have enough information from the floor plan to devise some design ideas especially when I'd be hacking walls and such) Can I DIY with a surveyor and someone who has experience with measurements, then getting a draftsman to generate a CGI? Or do I need a PE, an architect, etc? Thanks in advance! -Ely

Not NV! I've always been in the East, as long as I can remember so I love that I'll still be here, close to my parents. Currently living near East Coast beach.

I'll only say that it's near Whitesands

Hello all, Have finally found my way back to this forum with good news! We've purchased our dream apartment in the East, keeping the Australian property, ROM in December is on track - have our JP, filed for marriage, got my shoes! Only bummer is that we only collect our keys much later, as the owners haven't found a place to stay and asked for extended stay, so we're technically "renting" it out to them for 2 months. All paperwork is in order, and it really is a huge weight off us. It did take us a long time to find it (viewed more than 50 properties...) but it ticked all our boxes: large enough to start a family, keep pets and the occasional foster, serene, has a balcony, affordable. We're excited! WE HAVE AN ADDRESS! YAY! Thanks to all who remained so supportive and encouraging. Now, stay tuned while I troll the forums for ID firms and participate in the Electrolux vs Bosch washer threads. <3 Ely

Hi forgotten and musicbox, Thanks for the uplifting encouragement. Yes, we're going ahead with the ROM! Not much effort put in there since it's an extremely small and intimate lunch solemnization (no big white dress or banquet yum sengs), but we're going ahead with the scheduled ROM on Christmas Eve. My parents have allowed my husband to live with us till we get our place. We've been looking at some condos, one in particular caught our eye, but we're still waiting because OH's father is still undecided about selling the Australian property or not (he keeps changing his mind). So, still a little stagnant, and just waiting on OH's parents to finally make a decision.

Pixie, I sympathise with your situation, truly. I believe the seller doesn't want to sell the property anymore, knowing that she cannot own one in the future so is keeping it for rental yield etc. Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.

Hi Bepgof, (for some reason, 'my controls' got mixed up - had resend validation even though there was no validation to resend - and I couldn't post with my previous account so I made another) I wasn't implying that everyone was k-po - It is a completely different matter when I seek advice amidst a shade of annoymity (which I was thankful for) but not made as a case study, and have my thread/personal worries be highlighted to the press and feedback.gov.sg. Besides, Jgal's comments to me have been personal and not exactly constructive, so hardly helpful and definitely not discreet ("statement meant solely for you", "meant to weed out people like yourself") so I am less inclined to think it is out of the goodness of his/her heart. I would have prefered that Jgal recommended/suggested that I bring it to the press, or send feedback to the relevant authorities than to do it on my behalf without asking. It is a violation of my privacy. I hope you can see the distinction. As for my MANY wants, I managed to fulfill all that with the resale flat I got, so I don't know why it is wrong of me to ask for what is best for my future family. They are not tall orders - having kids in the near future, keeping my pets with me, getting married on our agreed date (or forfeiting the deposit again!!) - aren't they simple demands that every young or not so young couples like myself yearn to have? We are not lost, we simply know what we want. The market-cooling measures are also designed to keep a couple in their HDB home for a lot longer, and we are fine with that, as we had planned to live in our first house for 5 - 8 years. A mickey mouse apartment does not allow the same freedom. I'm not young anymore (biological clock k), and it took me a long time to find my soulmate whom I am supposed to marry in December. I have already given up a wedding/photo shoot/banquet, for the sake of putting that money towards our home instead. If I wait for the next BTO, I would be well over 35! In fact, I feel "rushed" already because of that da** biological clock, and I'm not in the best of health so would require a lot of pre-natal care when we plan for a baby (unlike other people, I do not have the luxury of surprising my husband and saying "Guess what? We're having a baby!"). The common toilet in the kitchen is something I can work around - not much of a fuss there. As for pets, that is not negotiable - I already have them, and my volunteer work with animals sometimes means I have to bring sick/abandoned animals into my house and foster and rehome them. It is rewarding work. Already, my parents' house is filled with 6 rescues that people disposed of. Due to this, my work now has been directed towards more administrative duties, but I would like to be more involved with the animals, rehabiliating them and finding them good forever homes. My pets keep me very happy, and I cannot imagine my life without them. The one person's income rule is a safeguard, in case someone gets fired, or if the baby, for health reasons, require round the clock care. I do not want additional strain on our finances and having fights all the time. A lot of people go by this rule, and it is recommended in many guides for couples looking at marriage. Like I said, I want us to be comfortable - comfortable enough to say, afford medicines (my current monthly medication bills are about $400) and STILL can have a night out with my husband for champagne and jazz. I have never accused you to be k-po, I hope you understand my position a little better. That I might not be in the most ideal one, but I am trying to make the best of it, and a lot of it has to do with the support and advice this board has given me.