Ely1

Gorgeous! All that glossy white and the sudden pop of colours when you go up the stairs! Brilliant! It looks fantastic, Soichiro - Grats! -Ely

Woooo, I might do this too - considering weird layout in the storeroom and was trying to configure some Ikea shelves to fit in nicely without obstructing the DB box. It looks great too! I might give them a call as well - thanks for sharing! -Ely

I got mine from Ideal Bathroom (oop Hafary?). One Bravat (German & China brand, but Geberit nonetheless) for the common bathroom - $378 after discount (was $540); One Ideal Standard (Euro) for Master - $840 after discount (was $1200). Yeah, we chose all the ones with only 1 tick water savings! -Ely

Same here! I used to have a nightly ritual of burning candles/incense/aromatherapy. I brought home a huge load when I was at Bali last. Was also contemplating buying another of those GoodAire machines during the Isetan Sale, but didn't get in the end. For me, it's particularly useful because I have asthma and allergies and I simply love scent. I always go for Lavender or Vanilla-type scents. I even use pillow mist sprays to scent the bed linen! When I ran out of that, I would use perfume! -Ely

That's a sad poem, albeit true. I prefer Marilyn Monroe's quote: "Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." -Ely

Hi eggroe, Best Blu-ray deals are on Amazon and eBay.com - I have a region-free player so no issue there My Avatar Extended cost me US$10, S.W.A.T was US$4+, The Departed was US$7, Batman Begins at US$8. Amazon runs daily specials on selected Blu-Ray titles, so do have a look: http://www.amazon.com/Blu-ray-movies-discs...;node=193640011 They allow direct credit card transactions, and some items qualify for international shipping so it should be much easier Hope this helps! -Ely

I totally agree. Choosing tiles and laminates and paint and electrical points really hurts the head. It's so much easier for me since I'm sticking to plain ol' black/white/grey - too boring to try adventurous, too timid to try vintage glamour, too "city-girl" to try cozy country, too hyper to try resort, too flighty to try retro chic. Strange though, I had a harder time with tiles than with laminates. How envious I am that all of you stay so close to each other and all doing renovations at the same time! Must be great fun meeting and exchanging pointers and advice! Too bad I'm located too far away - Changi/Tampines I hear Chelsea Lighting is quite popular on this forum. Perhaps worth the trip to Jurong just to check it out! I was planning to visit Lightings.com, and Lightcraft, so another to add to the list! -Ely

Haha, another Virgo! Virgoans unite! Not THAT much progress. We're still stuck with the electrical points, before carpentry is designed and fabricated, and painting. So far, we're on schedule though so no complaining. Haven't got any furniture or lightings yet Not sure about the hot water - have decided not to think about it anymore. Especially since we're back in Singapore, the hot water won't affect us so much, if at all. I tend to brush my teeth and wash my face in the shower so that's okay (yes, that's why I take extra long in the shower hence my dedicated 50l water heater haha!). Have yet to change the mixers but I'm hoping to do it tomorrow, then a trip to the bridal studio to FINALLY see the first designs. My most dreaded moment is when he produces the measuring tape with a flourish! Everything ordered has arrived really quickly so am quite happy with the purchases. Metal art, additional steel traps, pet bed! Hmm, thanks for reminding me about Daiso - definitely a much-needed trip there - I know I'll end up with lots of crap. -Ely

Welcome to RT! Looks like you're having really good progress! Your bathrooms look great! Keep us posted. -Ely

Grats on the approval! Certainly a good feeling when you see all the hacking (a huge mess has never looked so good) - it feels like the first "jumpstart" to building your home! Looking forward to more updates from you! -Ely

Received with thanks! Will go through your very extensive list -Ely

In the still of the night, with my headphones: 1. John Coltrane - In A Sentimental Mood 2. Sting - Fields of Gold (lute version) 3. Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Should've Come Over 4. Jamie Cullum - High and Dry 5. Seal - A Change is Gonna Come / It's A Man's World 6. Casey Abrams - Georgia On My Mind 7. Ingrid Michaelson - The Chain 8. Radiohead - Talk Show Host 9. Keane - Everyone's Changing (Acoustic version) 10. Lisa Ekdahl - Cry Me A River 11. Duffy - Warwick Avenue 12. Melissa Etheridge - The Weakness In Me 13. Natalie Merchant & Tom Waits - I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You 14. Lisa Ekdahl - When Did You Leave Heaven 15. Katie Melua - This Year's Love 16. Eva Cassidy - Songbird 17. Miles Davis - So What 18. Katherine McPhee - Terrified 19. John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare 20. Gary Jules - Mad World -Ely

Heya CutieCat, Here's the part about the distance to TV from the thread I copied a while back: Screen Size --> Recommended Viewing Distance 26 inches --> 3.5' to 10.5' 32 inches --> 4' to 13' 37 inches --> 4.5' to 15' 40 inches --> 5' to 16.5' 42 inches --> 5.5' to 17.5' 46 inches --> 6.0' to 19' 52 inches --> 6.5' to 21.5' Or, to be more pedantic: here's an online calculator! http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewing...calculator.html Hope this helps! -Ely

DAY 35 Chose laminates and paint last evening, and felt like world's most boring home-owner: Picket white, Lilly White, Brilliant White, xxx White, xyz White, yyy White. Grr. Piano Black, Piano White, Black glass, Tinted mirror, Clear mirror. Black Galaxy, Imperial Black. Sigh. How did choosing black and white become another 4-hr gruelling session that hurt my head?? Aircon trunking has been rectified at an extra cost of $250~ Previously (which was gawd-awful and prevented us putting up our sliding doors): Now it runs through the Master Bedroom wall, which we would conceal: Roofting also looks good: -Ely

Wow, we're all shorties then! Maybe that's why they have such high heels... -Ely

Thanks for this Mae! Very insightful, and true to a large extent. This is really all quite interesting! You may PM my weaknesses to me, I know I have many. :/ Many, many thanks! -Ely

44 holes earrings copper stand (also in black): US$10.98 Butterfly jewellery stand: US$12.24 Here's the rotating stand: US$12.94! -Ely

Well, you're in luck if you have lots of earrings - I found the stands to be much cuter and a lot cheaper, here's a few: Set of 3 pieces: US$0.99 w/ free shipping to Singapore More designs of these 3 set pieces from this shop (US$.099 - US$2?) Each frame holds 25 earrings (set of 3): (AU$2.99 + AU$3.99 S/H) 50 earrings (US$3.99 + US$3.99 S/H): 64 pairs copper rotating stand: US$8.03 w/ free shipping Copper jewellery necklace (6 X pieces of necklace) & earrings (16 pairs of earrings) display rack: US$8.72 w/ free shipping Tree shaped star burst stand: US$10.24 -cont'd

Finally found a cheap storage solution for all my accessories! As my vanity won't have much storage space *weep* (still deciding where to pots and bottles of lotion etc go?!), decided to buy these storage cases for my rings: And a couple of rotating stands for my necklaces: Bracelets and cuffs will just go into a box - those are easy enough to sort through, it's the tangling necklaces that drives me nuts! Thank gawd I don't have earrings!! -Ely

Hmm odd, the price check was significantly different when I tried the Borderlinx calculator. It's the "Service Announcement" on the main page: https://www.vpost.com.sg/vpost/index1.jsp I think it's the promo codes discounts are only applied after you enter the code during payment. Just key in 10% during the calculator to see the discounted rate for the normal promotions. I'm hoping my shipment makes it before the 31st!! -Ely

Hi Mae, I think I just like being ready. Wasn't much of a choice to buy or not - had to buy in time for the carpentry to start, or the vanity to be designed, or the kitchen cabinets to be planned, etc. Haha, I have so many clothes still with tags attached that I now make it a point to only wear the stuff that has tags on them! You're so funny about your son's gf's little incident in the kitchen! All white and sparkly - I think I would have cleaned and fumed at the same (no 'bing bing bang bang' of pots), then go complain to my husband all night haha! Odd about the glass hob - I definitely want mine sealed! I thought it was supposed to withstand the heat etc, hence it's a hob?? So far, have bought: Mattress + pillows + mattress protector + bedframe All shower fixtures - shower heads, mixers, vertical arms, unions, rain shower, one mirror and toilet roll holder for common bathroom, one towel rail for Master (master bathroom's mirror to be constructed) All sanitary ware - toilets and sinks, + respective taps HTS - Receiver, subwoofer, NAS storage/Media player, TV, 5.1 speakers, blu-ray player Study - HP printer, (using existing notebooks), tube amp (looking for suitable speakers) Kitchen appliances - Fridge, Wine chiller, Built-in oven, Hob, Hood (Still looking for coffee drip machine & microwave), filtered water jug, cutlery, glasses, pots, coffee press. Two kitchen sinks w/ chopping boards & drainers + faucets Laundry - washer and dryer Pet stuff - dog bed, pet igloo/side table, litter box washstand, pet potty Blu rays - haha! To anticipate the use of the HTS! Bed & Bath - all linen, TV, bath + hand towels Vacuums - handheld and normal vacuum. Art - metal art x2, bali paintings x3, decal x1 (more DIY later on) * Yet to get: ventilator fans, furniture, lighting, crockery... Did the chart and I'm supposed to be: Day Master Your Day Master (Who You Are) 庚 Geng (Yang Metal) Main Structure : Connectors (Companion Structure) Sub Structure : Thinkers (Resource Structure) Main Profile : The Friend Friend (庚) Sub Profile : The Artist Eating God (壬) Base Profile : - Social Profile : The Philosopher Indirect Resource (戊) Intimate Profile : The Diplomat Direct Officer (丁) 10 Profiles Strength Chart The Friend (庚) Friend 100% The Diplomat (丁) Direct Officer 86% The Artist (壬) Eating God 75% The Philosopher (戊) Indirect Resource 67% The Analyzer (己) Direct Resource 59% What's a Friend?! Doesn't sound very productive or bright or illustrous to me -Ely

Ha! I have it on digital copy. There's more on the way too. So far, the list is at: Blu-Ray: Kill Bill 1 & 2 Ultimate Bourne Collection 300: Complete Experience Band of Brothers The Departed Batman Begins The Dark Knight Avatar Extended S.W.A.T Saving Private Ryan Inception Troy Black Hawk Down LOTR Trilogy We Were Soldiers Digital Copy: Fight Club V for Vendetta Alien vs Predator Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 ( ) Shooter Magnolia X Men Trilogy Predator Trilogy The Last Samurai Matrix Trilogy Iron Man 1 & 2 Transformers Gladiator Casino Royale Black Swan Dark City Spider Man 3 Mission Impossible 3 Quantum of Solace Green Zone Godfather (Coppola Restoration) Godfather 2 Amelie DVD: Lord of the Rings Extended Special Edition Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Requiem for A Dream 24 - All Seasons Dexter - All Seasons Sex and the City - All Seasons Grey's Anatomy Concerts: Hit Man: David Foster & Friends Chris Botti in Boston John Mayer - Where the Light Is I'm actually more music than movies (80/20), but I am quite a movie buff Haha! Wait till I stand on the soap-box. The husband just spaces out. I agree! Despite all the Simmons' hype, I couldn't find a single one I like - Beautyrest or otherwise. The Serta is a close second but couldn't be bothered to return to Marina Square just to try the "feel" again. The Sealy was a major let-down after comparing the Dunlopillo (they were both at the fair) - was comfy but didn't have the "ensconced" feeling I wanted. I like the sinking in feeling and being cushioned by softness! Now imagine it with down feather quilts and Dream pillows and 828TC Egpytian Cotton sheets, with a fur throw at your feet. Mmm. *happy place* vPost promos: http://www.vpost.com.sg/promo/promocodes.html I deliberately set up a new account to qualify for the "new members" discounts keke. Now they're charging all UK shipment by weight only, so I thought it best to grab the towel rails now. It's about US$76. Thankfully, only 2 towels will be used I chose it because it allows the spacious draping of two towels, and I change all towels weekly (pets have a different set of towels and different bathroom). You know, Virgo, and all~ -Ely

Succumbed and got my towel rack tonight: Will be using vPost because of the promo they have now. -Ely

CutieCat reminded me I never posted the mattress I bought, so here it is: I'm a sucker for pillow-tops, so initially it was a choice between the Sealy Kingsbury or Serta Willow Spring, but laid on this, and felt like falling asleep. -Ely

Wow, super fast! I think the tiles you chose really complement each other - great choices there! -Ely