Ely1

OH MY GAWD, REGLXT! That was EXACTLY the one I was eyeing at Harvey Norman! There would definitely be a dock in the bathroom - just thought I should pick something sleeker if it's going to be placed on the vanity. I can't remember how much it retails here. I was also worried about being too excessive - there's going to be dock on my vanity in the bedroom, a decent sound system in the living room, another dock in the kitchen (or maybe I'll just use the mini speakers~). I just love bobbing to a tune, though The Husband can definitely attest to my crazy dancing around the house! Did you get yours from Amazon too? The brown one is going for US$149.99 with free US shipping on eBay! I may also use the Logitech Squeezebox for wireless music as another option. -Ely

Nah, he knows I would win The Husband has a soft spot for me and my loves Besides, who can resist such a cutie, really!! That was EXACTLY my main concern, ne0. I chose the deepest of all available in the shapes I wanted (one round, and the other rectangular) but it seems like they make all sinks really shallow nowadays! I predict a lot of pedantic wiping... The deeper ones were all counter-mounted, which wouldn't alleviate the wiping habit so /shrug. Wipe, wipe, wipe. We're definitely eyeing the kitchen island lamp from Illum Lighting, and the rest from lightings.com.sg, as they are significantly cheaper (quoted $380 after discount for a light we liked but listed on lightings.com at $280). Not sure about downlights and T5 and T8 lights though (we'd need to buy quite a few). Read that it's cheaper in Malaysia? I just don't know where to go though. Haven't even embarked on fan search yet... sigh. Thanks for the research info! Really saves me some trips! How much was your fan? Think my search would be easier as I'm going for an all-black 56" fan. -Ely

No problem Kobelala Just know that there's a 30% discount only if you purchase an item each from 3 different categories. However, this can simply be a $20 hook mounted behind a door, as long as it's under the Bravat series (for us, we picked a toilet, a sink and a silly toilet roll holder). Look for Gloria - she'll make exceptions for you and extend it to Ideal Standard purchases too, and also throw in lots of freebies (free soft closing, free pvc bottle traps etc). She's extremely knowledgeable and very easy to work with! She'll also show you some different ones - there's one cheaper at $112 after discount: 430mm (mine is 435mm diameter and chunkier) And another in the same price range (slightly cheaper I think), with a recessed ledge: Diameter 435mm This other square countertop one is $168 after discount: 470(L) x 465(W) Gloria will show you the entire catalog and advise which is in stock - some of them would only be in mid-April so if you can wait, you can have your pick! -Ely

I know!! I was willing to forgo *some* features, but not ALL! The reviews were really consistently bad - everyone reported that the transmission is close to impossible - if you use the mirror, the music cannot be turned on, and vice versa. The music apparently doesn't sound like music at all, apart from weird rhythmic static noise as it's super sensitive to any form of interference (your body moving is one and I'd imagine it's hard to stay completely still while in the shower). The mirror also fogs, terribly. Users sent in pictures of their fogged fogless mirrors~ It's also too heavy to stay mounted and keeps falling off, so I finally listened to the voice of reason and tearfully took it off my wishlist. No point buying it for all the features when none of them work If you're interested, there's one going for cheap on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sharper-Image-fog-free...=item3a6466af49 There's at least two redeeming reviews on Amazon I'll just have to contend myself with the Zadro I got for cheap at US$19: -Ely

Join the club! It's taking all my will to stop browsing the site! /repeats mantra "will...not...click..." -Ely

Ha, reglxt! Was going to use one with iPod wireless transmitter and LED display, but the reviews are universally negative (practically not fog-free at all!) and the dimensions didn't fit my recess, oh well. Decided what's more important in a shower mirror is a clock (cos I'm always running late, or so I know how long more to leave the hair mask on) and lighted. Will use an iPod dock in the bathroom instead for music -Ely

Thanks Kobelala, it's pretty reasonably priced at $122.50 after discount! -Ely

Didn't dare to take photo! Isn't that usually frowned upon? Was thinking of going to compare prices at some of the lighting shops recommended here: like lightings.com.sg, Chan Huat, Nan Wah, Dream Lights, Lightcraft and Edison Lighting. These are the good cheap ones right? If I can't find the same one, I'll go back to that shop (can't remember the name now, but it cost $980 after discount). Another carried the replica Moooi Chandelier I've loved for ages - want it for my bedroom (the original uses paper - this one uses wood, and goes for $800). We only have a few feature lamps since we're using a lot of downlights so I'll like the kitchen island's light to be a statement piece. Then, purely for the whimisical princess in me, I'll like a glamourous light for the walk-in-wardrobe (sequins, or silver mesh), and a gorgeous piece above the bed, and a tiny black chandelier in the Master Bathroom. A standing lamp in the living room would also be nice. Will be using the Big Cubb table lamp for the balcony, accompanied by water feature light and another floor textured lamp, as there would be a fan overhead and I want the lights concentrated at the floor level. May, what's your kitchen island lamp like?? -Ely

Ha! You tickle me, ne0. Online tupperware... /smack Already got lecture from The Husband about buying crap online :/ Yet he didn't see me frown when he lugged that monstrous sub into my house! *humph* I'm now threatening that if we don't buy the Brawny Cat scratcher bed, the cat will use his sub as its scratch post - it's simply too conducive - floorstanding, cylinder, great material. Would most likely climb it too, and sit right on top. So there! Looks like we've got lots in common - planning the reno and the wedding etc, and hearing that your photo booth was a blast is great reassurance. We're afraid that people might be too shy and we don't want to use cheesy props. Anyway. SANITARY WARE - WHEE! ONE MORE OFF THE LIST /pats on back Got our bathroom sinks from Ideal Bathroom: Master (Bravat & Ideal Standard - we couldn't do wall hung ): Common Bathroom (both Bravat): Also got all our sink mixers and dry kitchen faucet, bidet sprays, pop up waste traps etc from Living Phenomenon. Yay! While walking the stretch, we think we've found The kitchen island light as well as The Bedroom hanging chandelier and silver mesh pendant for the walk-in-wardrobe!! There were cheap 52" fans for $108 nett too. Would probably need to recce more places before we make the final purchase, but The Kitchen Island lamp is going to be hard to beat Now onto ventilator fans zzz -Ely

Love Sherlock Holmes (<3 Guy Richie)! Going to get Quantum of Solace, Thin Red Line, Kick *** (truly quite a surprisingly good film), Gangs of New York (though I oppose to Cameron Diaz in her role - Leo & Lewis are superb as always), Green Zone. Thanks! Top Gun would be fun to watch again (hi2u Iceman mmm). Can't say I'm a fan of animation, but that would probably change once mini mes arrive. Oh, and also got Dark City - fantastic for sci-fi! May also pick up Snatch and Lock Stock Two Smokin' Barrels. Thanks for the pointers, guys. -Ely

I have Inception. Currently the Blu-Ray list is: 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 Digital Copy: Fight Club V for Vendetta Alien vs Predator Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (keke!!) Shooter Magnolia X Men Trilogy Predator Trilogy The Last Samurai Matrix Trilogy Iron Man 1 & 2 Transformers Gladiator Casino Royale Black Swan The Fighter Mission Impossible Spiderman DVDs: Lord of the Rings Special Edition Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Requiem For A Dream Concerts: Hit Man: David Foster & Friends Chris Botti in Boston John Mayer - Where the Light Is Any other good recommendations? I was thinking of War of the Worlds and We Were Soldiers too... Hmm. -Ely

Does anyone know where I can find cowhide rugs like this? I know Ikea sells them for $399, but was wondering if there's places here I'm unaware of that have them cheaper. Or else I'm back to mouse-clicking on eBay~ -Ely

Newest eBay purchase: Fog-free mirror with clock and led lights, (perfect for shaving and removing makeup!), complete with razor stand! Am planning to mount it within the recess. -Ely

Hey Martin, Thanks for the recommendation - we actually have 3 photographers for the day itself and I think that's plenty! Two allocated by the photography studio and another by a friend who's a photojournalist. We're also having a photo gallery of our pre-wedding images mounted on easels at the reception as well as running a photo booth at the reception with instant printing, something like this: Exciting times! We're just hoping everyone has a good, interactive time. We're doing away with the yum-sengs, best men and bridesmaids, gate-crashing etc. It's just not very 'us' - trying to keep it as simple as possible It's in December. Coincidentally, it's on my parents' wedding anniversary - their 39th to be exact -Ely

Strikingreality is right about the coupon admission tickets, but with the Isetan card, you get further discounts. For example, the WMF cutlery set that retails for $549 was going for $129, but we got an additional 10% at $116. Same for a lot of items like Sigg bottles, Novita and Panasonic appliances, save for the already heavily discounted packages like a Cavelli duvet sheet set (quilt cover + 2 pillow shams) at $299 or the quilt at $149. -Ely

Latest covet: A storage scratcher bed especially for the really rotund cats From the 20lb model pictured, I suspect my cat will really appreciate the extra stretching space. Must...resist... Oh, just have to add that the pet potty arrived yesterday, and I'm continually amazed by Amazon's quick service! -Ely

Hey ne0, I'll just breathe through it. Regarding the marriage preparation stuff, we've got the venue, photographer, makeup artist and bridal studio - and everything was just as impulsively done haha! More of a relief than anything to get one thing of the list struck off, and we were trying to speed through it all so we could concentrate on the home reno. Somewhere along the line, we forgot that it's actually an ongoing process so we're currently still in the midst of getting everything prepared. Most of the major stuff is booked - we just need to finalise the details and make the final selections - we simply did not allocate any time for it because we conveniently and foolishly believed that everything would just fall in place once the booking is done! Thank you for your offer of advice - will definitely need it. Currently, we've yet to see the designs of the dresses so we still have a little breathing room. Just need a find a band now (due to the silly Compass restrictions). The photoshoot is scheduled for July. Thanks for the tips for the home decor places. Would definitely visit the ones you mention. For Ikea, we ended up buying all the silly misc. stuff like the packet sealing clips, all the candles that were on sale, throw rugs and the ubiquitous 17-pc tupperware for $4.90. None of the furniture we wanted was on sale so we simply didn't bother. There is already too much crap at my parents', esp the crazy sub!! -Ely

Yep - it's the on the coupon for $55. Got my 12-cup Bodum Chambord for $60, so that's a steal!! The Hungarian Goose Down quilt too was orginally at $699, and we got it at $149. The WMF cutlery set was $549 and we got it $116! Awesome sale -Ely

Sure, scruff marks show up more, like hands dirtied from reading the newspapers should really refrain from pushing the doors haha, but it's just as easy to clean. Enjoy your crisp white doors - very country -Ely

I've had white doors for years (at several places too - when I was renting in Australia) and it wasn't too bad at all. I think glass doors are worse!

Was going to say the same thing: the parquet looks pristine! The arch-doors, well, if the wood isn't in bad condition, it's okay to keep them, perhaps in white, it'd look more inviting. -Ely

Pet igloo from Amazon arrived, and the box is massive - it's twice the size of the purported 25" diameter! I almost feel bad about filling my parents' house with all our crap - so far, a spare room has been dedicated to hoarding all our purchases. Almost all of the tiling is done, so come Wednesday is another meeting with the ID discussing electrical points. I hope to have a better idea what kind of lights I want and where, because asking the electrician to keep coming down to pull points here and there is really tedious. I feel bad that he has made so many trips to accomodate our requests and our whimisical decisions. Hopefully, the sliding door frames will be ready next week, and the wet kitchen wall hacked to 1m. There's still so much to be done - laminates to be chosen, paint to be selected, all the textiles (wallpaper, rugs and curtains) to be picked, and more importantly, OUR own furniture. Seems like the pets' have their needs covered whereas we do not have a single stool to our name. Adding to the mix is sporadic meetings with banquet managers, bridal studios and photographers. Absolutely fatigued, and I look it. :/ Will definitely need to schedule a trip to Ikea tomorrow though I have doggy duties, and a trip to some landscaping companies, Hommage, IFC next week. Every purchase brings forth some kind of relief - no more lying in strange beds with a borrowed throw rug so thoughtfully draped over your knees, no more rewatching of "Battle for Pandora" scene from Avatar, no more scouring the Internet for washer reviews, no more listening to catalytic cleaning bla bla bla cooking programs bla cool touch door salestalk. I feel like I should be taking some kind of reno-excitement pill. I wish everything was more fun like hunting for pet furniture -Ely

Hi, can someone pls kindly PM me Mr Chew's details? Thanks!

Try KEC at Adelphi - ask for Alan, let him know your budget and your preferences (music/movies?). Their Pro Cinema 600 with Denon 1611 is going for $1850, the MS Genie with Onkyo 508 is going for $2050 and the Wharfedale 10 with Onkyo 508 is going for $1999 - go have fun auditioning the systems! -Ely

Wow, that was quick...