adidaem

You like the yard? Me too... after I move in then I realize best to have a dedicated space for pails, mops and other cleaning stuff. Sounds so auntie but yeah... also good to isolate the noise from the washing machine. Btw, forgot to mention that one reason why I seldom use AC is cos I have lots of ceiling fans. I know not everyone likes ceiling fans, but it's really the easiest way to cool down the room (not to mention more energy efficient, economical, etc). If you want, you can install a couple in your big living/kitchen space to alleviate your AC worries. Hmm, on 2nd look, I'll re-do the long counter and lighting for human traffic flow and save lighting points cost. Sigh, such a long time before I can play with my next reno. Do share with us your final proposed layout from your ID k? Have fun!

Ok, your question 1st... I wanted an open concept for the beauty/feeling of spaciousness. So we did consider installing glass doors, but 1. It's expensive & 2. It kinda mars the spacious feel so we did not seal up the kitchen in the end. For AC, well, 1stly my place is really windy, so we hardly use the AC. AC is only for really rare occasions so I think I can live with the higher utility for that day. BTU wise, both the dining and living room AC are fairly high blowers. Think 18K and 24K? I can't really remember, but we got the highest possible ones knowing that we will work the blowers hard when we need them. We have 2 inverters, so each AC is linked to a separate inverter so when we use both, the inverters can support the blowers. The AC is divided like 2 bdrms + one living/dining each. I actually wanted AC in my kitchen but veto-ed by my ID, aircon contractor, and... everyone else lor. Anyway I hardly cook or use the AC, so my case could be very different from yours. ======== Was bored so I had a go at playing with your config if I got your mini-Jumbo just for fun... I really like that it's got so many toilets actually, so I wouldn't convert any to a 'non-toilet' kinda space. Without knowing where the beams and pipes actually are, this is what I would propose: 1. Master toilet wise, combine 2 toilets. Since there is space, put in a bathtub in the big combined toilet just for fun... I would put your hollywood dresser (with LED lights so it's not hot lar) near the window for better ventilation and natural lighting (needed for putting on make-up right?). 2. Retain the toilet at the newly created laundry yard/storage for guests. 3. The other toilet stays as an onsuite for the junior master bdrm. Kitchen and dining area wise... I put in a long island, with a small sink for purposes I'd mentioned above... without sink, I think can easily fit 10 pax comfortably, or more if squeezed. To hide the non-hackable walls, install cabinets for storage or display, depending on needs/hobby. Long vertical kitchen layout, starting with 1. fridge at the end nearest living room (easy access to drinks mah), to 2. prep area, to 3. vertical cabinets to put oven n microwave/toaster/coffee machines for easy access, then 4. actual stove, with backsplash of course for easy cleaning, 5. vertical cabinets for dish rack (to prevent wet armpits if rack is above head height - i.e. the racks at standing shoulder height or lower), 6. kitchen sink. Beam wise, instead of 'hiding' or ignoring, I'll play it up by lowering the entire ceiling aligned with width of island and install downlights. Possibly install hanging shelves like those mean for glasses, etc to give the cafe vibe at the island. Since I took away one storeroom you'd originally wanted at the toilet, I put in more shelves/cabinets at the side where the shoerack is, and also possibly at the right side of the kitchen depending on budget. Stuff like pails, vacuum cleaner and mops can be kept at the newly created yard. Wah, wrote a lot huh?

Welcome... I did do tonnes of research for my kitchen counter, no harm to spread the love lar... I also visited Maydream's place IRL and totally agree that it's a great hangout spot for gatherings. Too bad my place doesn't have space for a long counter, else I would surely do one. Mine is teeny tiny by comparison to the ones above, but I still love it cos it's mine mah. Oki, on to my teeny tiny one... I picked these pics for perspective (so u can see the beam, drawers, etc). If you wanna see more you can visit here: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/category/kitchen/ Btw, try using Google to search thru the RT blogs. Much better than the weird search function provided in the forum. I usually click on 'Images' and start scrolling to see which ones catch my eye. Try a few catchphrases e.g. I like minimalist designs so using these phrases 'kitchen island counter design minimalist', I got these pics from the web: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=kitchen+island+counter+design&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=K6_4TrTDB8nSrQe75rjkDw&biw=1440&bih=838&sei=La_4Tp6CCsuIrAf80fHpDw#um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=kitchen+island+counter+design+minimalist&pbx=1&oq=kitchen+island+counter+design+minimalist&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=4333l6461l0l6826l11l11l0l10l0l0l94l94l1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=370b5a71136fd07b&biw=1440&bih=838 Some really gorgeous ones right?

As for hiding the beam at the kitchen after the wall is knocked down, I've seen quite a few examples but can't find them now, so these are the ones I was able to find: Some cute (fake?) plants to hide the pipes etc: From: http://velleyeo.blogspot.com/search/label/stirling Or use the lower ceiling for practical use by installing shelves for glasses, canned food, etc (think can get from IKEA). e.g. From: http://julianinterior.com/2009/02/modern-kitchen-setup-with-counter-top-island-cabinet/ Actually for my small counter, there is a beam directly above it. Initially we were quite worried about it but we don't even notice it now... so maybe yours won't look so bad too after you've had a look when the walls are hacked. Curious tho, are you planning to combine any of the toilets for a bigger bathroom?

Hi, I would use the island either for sink or for food prep for the following reasons: 1. I hate to clean up oil splatters after cooking. At least with a backsplash, it's just wiping down the backsplash. If there isn't any backsplash, it'll probably mean wiping the floor? Lazy me can't imagine wiping the floor everyday (assuming cooking is an everyday affair). 2. Food prep can also be for baking, etc... just need to cater for power points for the mixer, etc. I kinda like the idea of playing with dough using the island. 3. Or a sink cos it means easy washing up, and convenient for guests to wash their hands, etc. Perhaps as a smaller, secondary sink rather than a primary one... (large industrial type sink at the wall). If u install a under sink water filter, then can locate the tap at the island for easy drinking water access. But end of the day, it's really up to your preference. Agree that whoever uses the kitchen more should have the final say. Some actual long islands for reference: From: FXEA (LINK: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=31090&st=0&p=540366entry540366) From: Little Modern Resort In Yishun (LINK: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=20878&st=40) And the longest island of all I think... From: Home Of The Blessed (LINK: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=30758&st=40)

Makes sense. I would do that too if an elder is staying in the apartment. Think high 2+K to 3+K. Can't really remember... but we do have loads of blinds, and mostly the black out type which costs more I think... e.g. at the balcony doors and all over the study.

Automated blinds cost a bomb. At least 1K for one set of windows I think... We didn't consider curtains at all cos I hate the idea of washing and changing curtains, plus blinds suit my decor better so we just went along with the blinds recommended by my IDs. For outdoor dining areas, cos I dislike the fake (and real) rattan weave type of furniture, we went with Emu outdoor furniture. You can find them at Marquis at the Tai Seng showroom. By far one of the better quality outdoor furniture we came across. Marquis usually has sets going at around $1.5-2K for a set of 4 chairs and a table. Not the cheapest, but I think they can last for a while and is not too bad for dining set. Think for your place you'll have space for either a round or rectangular table (e.g. Ronda range), but best to measure and check. We nearly got a set that was way too big. If I get a loft apt like yours, I wouldn't put in any platforms to fill up the void cos I think I would enjoy the high ceiling very much. But yeah, very much a lifestyle thing. Possibly if I need a study, I would put in a removable platform for a study area + bookshelves (saw a home with such a structure in Home & Decor mag long time ago, metal frame, glass flooring) assuming that HDB doesn't allow permanent structures to be put up... think such platforms don't come cheap, so be prepared for up to 5 fig sum. Have you thought about your preferred layout? Layout I would go for if I had your place (or for a couple w/o kids or older folks staying along)... - Kitchen: Open it up and squeeze in a breakfast counter for coffee machine etc. Doubles as back-up eating place for wet weather. - Living room: Stay as is, put in shoe cabinet somewhere. Hang a chandelier or a few nice hanging lights. - Open terrace: Alfresco dining place, plus roller shutter for wet weather. - BR2: Convert as MBR (lazy me hate to walk up the stairs plus I think the space is inadequate for wardrobe) - BR3: Walk-in wardrobe... plus middle island with jewelry/watch display/drawers. Perhaps pole system in case need to convert room as baby room next time. - MBR: Study, again nothing in-built in case need to convert to another room next time. To save money, minimal hacking (only the kitchen wall), retain all flooring and wall tiles, white walls (i.e. no wallpaper, etc), no grills (do when have kids), minimal electrical work, minimal carpentry (just shoe cabinet, TV console, bathroom mirror/cabinets, kitchen cabinets and all others get off the shelf and on discount whenever possible). Go easy on pocket since you just started working. Looking forward to more pics when you get your key.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Thanks cj07. Hope you have a smooth reno and a gorgeous home at the end of the reno.

Oh gorgeous. If your apt is not too hot (i.e. afternoon sun), I'll suggest using the open terrace as a nice alfresco dining area. My SO and I usually eat out in our balcony and we really like it there. Just install a fan so that you can get a breeze if it's not a windy day. And do use blinds instead of curtains so you don't have to worry about washing the curtains. But ya lar, just get him to clean the windows, LOL. I would love to get a loft unit, hang a few Moooi Raimond lamps in the double height living room and then just stay on for good... Hope you have a smooth reno!

I'll hv to wait for MOP. Plus for prices to drop. So nothing concrete unfortunately. But yeah, will definitely get another place in a few years, whether for investment or to move.

Based on my personal experience staying at my place... my thoughts... 1. Dryer. It takes up space and consumes a lot of electricity. I would dry my laundry the old way outside the MBR balcony since I am not planning to use it. I think my challenge is too do it in an aesthetically appealing way. Agree on it being important when it's the rainy season. I hate the musty smell of badly dried clothes (makes me gag on public transports). Plus as your mum gets older, having a dryer will help her do her chores. Definitely less tiring to chuck the clothes in dryer vs hanging them, especially for heavy laundry like bedsheets. As for taking up space, just stack the washer & dryer up nicely, and put them in a simple closet to hide the machines. Think will be nicer than seeing undies and stuff hanging around the house, especially on rainy days... Read that condenser dryers use less electricity. 2. Dishwasher. This one takes up space and also consumes electricity & water. I think this is not a necessity but more an indulgence. It's an indulgence I resisted, but now am regretting whenever I have guests over. I will definitely install in my next place. 4. Big fridge. I think a big fridge encourages me to buy more stuff to fill it up. A smaller fridge would force me to plan my grocery shopping and meals for the week. I read that freezer boxes on top or bottom actually saves more electricity than side by sides. Look out for those with 4 ticks. You'll be surprised that the bigger 4 tick machines (e.g. with inverter technology) actually consume less electricity than smaller inefficient ones. Plus sometimes I'll rather stay at home and raid the fridge than to have to drive out (which consumes petrol anyways), park (pay for parking and risk getting mugged?) and then go thru the time-consuming chore of groceries shopping. So I'll still go for a big fridge. 5. Rice-cooker. Multi-function devices are the way to go and this one can be done with a substitute pot I already have. I have found myself using cous cous more than rice these days and the best thing about it, cooking is a 5 minute deal by pouring boiling water over. Fast, minimum fuss. If you have a microwave, can use the microwave rice cooker too. But if you like japanese rice, then I think have to get a japanese rice cooker. 8. Bookshelf. I am trying to reduce the number of books I have looking to rotate nice design glossies I can borrow from the library on the coffee table. Book shelves just encourage the owner to buy more books to fill it up. Clutterism. Hahahaha... booklovers can't resist methinks. But I did get a Kindle for christmas so that should mean less buying of books. 9. Curtains. They take up space and close up the interior. I guess I am more 'exhibitionist'. I reckon if I were to spend good money to get nice furniture or carpentry works, isn't it better to 'show it off' then hide it behind curtains? More to block off the sunlight (especially critical if you face the morning/afternoon sun), or for watching movies in the day. At night, essential for privacy... I wouldn't want my neighbours to see what I'm doing in the privacy of my room... nor to see what my neighbours are doing either (ewww... gross). Think the minimalist solution to this is to install blinds. You can hide them behind pelmets if you don't want to see them.

Just got my new living room cabinets today. And am still looking to furnish my study, so yeah sorta wip but really just enjoying my place. It's lovely to stay at home to bum around, read or just sit in the balcony. Not as minimal as it looks! Clutter is hard to keep away. Plus I hv no discipline. Luckily my weekend helper comes to help clean the place a bit. Had no idea it's a signature tv cabinet. We just wanted a simple yet functional design. Glad we insisted on the cantilever top tho. Think aesthetically it makes a major diff. Those little decisions that make such a diff... Designer pieces, or at least well designed furniture are integral to minimalist interiors. We took forever to decide on the furniture selection. I do like the inspiration pics u shared. Looking fwd to the end results. Herb garden is nice. We also toyed with the idea but since we don't cook... Just continue with the plants we got for housewarming lor. For us, having our Japanese IDs helped. They are pretty hardcore minimalists at heart. Hey try shopping in KL? JB won't have the kinda furniture u r looking for methinks. KL would have tho. May be cheaper than bringing in from SG, or at least less troublesome I think.

Still one of my all-time favs... think not quite the minimalist aesthetic you like, but I remember reading that the TV and switches are hidden and I simply love the contrast between the conservation townhouse exterior and the extremely modern interior.

Do you have Zinio app? I subscribe to various mags like Dwell, NatGeo n Cosmo using that app. Wow, small world indeed. Yeah, it's a constant battle with clutter for my place too. Doesn't help that I love to shop... Well, just read about the 1st apt from Pomelo Home's fb page a few days ago. Raymond (Pomelo's boss) shares nice sites and new arrivals periodically which I keep an eye out for. Instant love... I even spent some time dissecting how the apartment was reconfigured with my colleague who is the owner of the Telok Blangah apt (the one on Qeeple) that I'd shared, hence the floor plan that I went to search for. As for the other one... one of the very few minimalist HDB apartments I found (plus I like how the ID does the 3Ds for his projects). So far not many owners who like minimalist interiors. In fact a common comment when I show people my apartment photos is... 'where are your stuff'? Or they think I should get more furniture like a coffee table which I vehemently resist cos I love the living room space that is freed up without a coffee table. I love the idea of courtyards... if I ever get a landed property, I'll want a courtyard too... like some of those Japanese houses I've seen... squarish white or black boxes on the outside (less windows facing neighbors = more privacy, IMO important in sardine packed Singapore), with a large central courtyard to introduce light and ventilation into the house. Unfortunately I guess I can't ever afford a bungalow to achieve my dream of building a house with a tropical (practical) living mixed with clean Japanese aesthetics... so I can only read about nice apartments and houses from a variety of magazines and online sites. Do you or your mum have green fingers? What about your furnishings? Now is a great time to shop for furniture with lots of sales.

Look for Reiki's T-blog. Google search is easier than the search function here. Plaster boards, carpentry and false ceilings for the legal way.

Hi Euphony, no celebrity lar, just a fellow RT-er and design lover. And thanks for reading my WP blog. Yep, I love the clean look of the apartment too. So far the best example of minimalist interior in a HDB that I've seen. Of course, the owner was willing to sacrifice a room to achieve the spacious feel. I think the original layout is like this, but mirrored: Not sure how well the white epoxy flooring will stand up to the rigors of daily living (and 2 young kids) tho. I read that you won't be going for a typically minimalist 'white' look? Pros and cons to that, but my suggestion is not to make the place too 'dark' with the combination of wall paint/materials/laminate/tiles. E.g. this apartment uses both dark tiles and wood laminates which makes the place feel much less spacious and darker (but of course, I'm biased cos I like bright and airy interiors...) Source: http://sklim.com/projects/field/interior/redhill-apartment/ This apartment also has dark flooring, but the sofa and other furnishing uses a lighter palette which I much prefer: http://www.qeeple.com/pm/211/1821/The+Organic+and+the+Inorganic Not sure how much natural lighting you tend to get in your place? The middle part of your house may get a bit dark if you use an overall dark palette.

Hi Euphony, this minimalist apartment is actually a HDB 5 room pt blk flat: http://www.habitusliving.com/live/live-free/the-singapore-apartment

Try Lightcraft at Jln Sultan. Like that prices are clearly marked and you are left alone to browse their bewildering selection of lights at your leisure.

Hey Olg, Reebonz is having another clocks promo (under "WOW! CHRISTMAS"). They actually have promos for home decor, appliances and furnishings pretty often. You have to sign up for membership tho: LINK e.g. The other home promos currently on: The other online site I check pretty often is Brandsfever. I like their pretty kitchen stuff... e.g. Hario, Mastrad, WMF, Alessi... LINK I also like the simple clocks from MUJI.

Ya agree... Plus the parquet and wooden doors will look good after buffing/treatment. Any pics of the bedrooms?

Oh so sorry to hear about the hiccups but happy to hear that you are finally moving in. Looking forward to pictures when u hv settled in k?

So lucky that you can retain the marble and parquet flooring! And the stairs and wooden doors at balcony too. Good luck with your reno.

I like point blocks (for the same reason why I dislike corridor units...). Read that 3 room point blocks are rare? This should be in Mei Ling Street. 76 sqm. Unfortunately, the toilet seems to be in dead centre of the house, which is a mega no-no fengshui wise based on my layman knowledge (from reading Joey Yap's book). Anyone can confirm? Otherwise I actually quite like the squarish layout as oppose to the usually rectangular 3 room layouts. The bedrooms are much closer to the toilet too (but yeah, the toilet is in the middle of the apartment lor).

Mae-jie, thanks for sharing your knowledge! But... got any English articles? Would love to learn abt face reading but my Chinese really cannot make it.