adidaem

Heyhey, I'm so not settled. Still boxes in the room, and I honestly don't think I'll fully unpack till year end cos work has been such a killer... You guys must be enjoying ur place too right? Yeah, think there are a few more 'vintage' stores I missed. If I ever have time I'll do more updates. If you have any gems let me know too k? Thanks Industrial, been too busy to blog weekdays. I'll try to do a few posts this weekend. Yeah... as usual nice original stuff cost a few kidneys (mabbe hearts too). Sigh, so my walls are still sadly blank. Thanks lamaray! Always nice to hear that people like my place as much as I do. Erm... haven't unpacked yet. Still looks like a storeroom after a mini tornado has gone thru it. Yes lar, coffee/tea cups... what were u thinking about? Naughty...

Well, before I start, just to give some continuity to some earlier posts... I'd earlier replied to Defelio on his question on the copycat I'd mentioned in my Wordpress blog... Which lead to my expletives filled rant... Which frigginfuchsia read and asked about here: And Defelio also asked more details about... To answer the question of how I found out, I've to start with how I met my neighbours. Well there was this one crazy day when we arranged ALL our deliveries in one day... so while I was really busy with checking that I got the right delivery, I noticed this group of 2 women and one guy (with a really smirking, arrogant, kiam pa face) standing outside my door. They made me feel really uncomfortable, cos they just kept standing there while I was busy with the deliveries so I finally asked where they are from and they said that they will be renovating their unit in the same block soon. All well and good so far right? They seemed really interested, so I invited them in to have a look and the 2 women happily accepted. The guy? He just replied 'I've already seen the place'. To be honest I was quite stunned at his response (and so rude right?) but I was like 'whatever' at that point cos it was just such a crazy busy day for me. So after they left when I spoke to my contractor, then he told me that his workers told him that this guy had gone into my place WITH A CAMERA and took lots of pictures and asked a lot of questions during construction (I think near completion time). WTF right??? I was really quite pissed when I found out especially considering that I was neighbourly and even invited them to have a look... Btw, I say he has a kiam pa face cos he really has one. My contractor n his workers think so too. Not being biased here.. Anyway I knew which unit they have so when I went to check out their unit (post tiling, in the midst of carpentry) 2 weeks ago, I was quite stunned to see glaring similarities in the stairs, the toilets (all black ones, duh), box-ups for the pipes (kitchen & toilets) and even the position of the light switches (down to the same inconvenient places)... to me, it was quite obvious they were copying our ideas. I have to admit that knowing the f***er took pics of my place (without permission!!! ) predisposes me to think badly of them. So that's the story. My contractor tried to console me with 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'. But I don't feel flattered lor, just upset with cheapo bast**ds.

Hey Defelio, I won't hijack your blog. Tell you about it on mine k? Really like your cute decor. Don't let us wait too long for your kitchen update k?

That's a fast reno! Congrats n looking forward to more completed pics.

Haiz, some moron in my block... Who went to my place while it was being renovated armed with camera. What a f***er. Black toilets... Same parquet stairs, MBR light switches in the same inconvenient spot. Once again, what a cheap f***er.

Omg that is so cute! Your tv I mean!

Toilets? Still remember how digusting the previous ones were... enjoy the before and after shots here: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/before-after-toilets/ BKK wasn't very fruitful. I only went to Chatuchak and did saw lots of lovely art but they are huge and expensive and I'm not sure how to carry them back. Some really nice original works tho. Hugely impressed.

Yeah, my Thai colleagues said this weekend is pretty critical. Their worry is that they don't stay near the city centre so even if the city centre doesn't flood, their homes might. Plus it has been raining pretty consistently... heavy rains at that. You can sense the worry cos whenever it rained when I was there, the rain becomes a topic like 'oh no the rain is so heavy again'. The concern is whether the dykes and flood walls surrounding bkk will hold. As I read from the papers, the wall is pretty much a mish/mash of materials. No one can predict if the walls can withstand the constant strong flow of water from the north (for a month!). If one part of the wall collapses from the pressure, then there is a good chance that the defences will not hold. I'm monitoring the news closely cos I've another planned trip there.

Ya... looking at the before and after pics wows me too. LOL. Am now sitting at home (in my comfy & airy armchair if you can picture that) and feeling lazy to get out of the apartment altho I'm so near town. Think I'll procrastinate till it's cooler outside. The vintage furniture shopping post remains a constant fav. So think I ought to do up the other posts I'd planned too. Lemme finish up the before-&-after posts 1st.

Wouldn't that create a problem when you need to buy a flat with your future spouse? I know someone who bought an apartment under parents' instructions but now having problem applying for HDB. Just my 2 cents, no harm meant.

Thanks Industrial. Glad to still have people reading my blog. More before-&-after pics, this time of the kitchen, study & utility area: http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/before-after-kitchen-utility-study/

Hi Mickey M, how's your phase 2 coming along? Read your blog and realized that I forgot to update my security system. It's $50 per month inclusive of equipment and monitoring for 3 years and the equipment belongs to u after 3 years. From ADT and yep, wireless system. More in my blog if you want to know more. Do post pics of your new reno k?

Thanks! We are outta bookshelf space and are now considering to put in new shelves... Thanks! Saw the cups on your blog. Realized I don't have proper cups! I offer disposable ones when I have guests over. How lazy is that right? So nice that you got discounts. I will tell them it's my first time if I go over too.

I realized that I did not mention my eventual choice of security system. After considering ADT and Chubbs, we decided to go with ADT. Prices for both are about the same. SO preferred ADT so we went with that. The way it works is that you either pay for the equipment upfront (without any monitoring services) or get a three year contract that includes monitoring services. At the end of three years the equipment belongs to you. The price over three years works out to be about the same for the upfront equipment cost so of course we got a three year contract. Cost is about $50 a month. We got 2 window contacts, a door contact, and 2 motion sensors, all wireless. The central monitoring unit was plugged in to the telephone line and power and can be moved so no need for special wirings to set up the security system. System is pretty easy to use. Just press the remote control buttons to arm or disarm. You can also enter the pin into the central unit if you don't have a remote. Makes me feel better about having a corridor unit so I think it's money well spent. We contacted both ADT and Chubbs from their websites.

If you are thinking of shopping in bkk, I'll advise you to monitor the situation closely until the flood crisis passes. Bkk may flood this weekend or end of the month when there are high tides. The city centre is fine now but no one knows if it'll be flooding or not. Some suburbs have already experienced flooding. The locals have prepared emergency supplies if there is a big flood. Some items like batteries are now hard to find as they gear up with torches. My business trip has been cut short and I will be returning earlier to avoid the tides. - Adi, still in bkk and hoping it stays sunny.

Parts of bkk are already flooded. Parts of the old capital just 80 km away is under 3m of water.

M in bkk now. May flood. M actually flying back early. Some local colleagues homes are already affected. You sure you want to go bkk at this time?

Feeling bewildered by the wares and layout at/of Chatuchak n hving a coffee break. - Adi, reporting live from JJ Market.

And the next comparison, the stairs. CLICK HERE to see. Am amazed all over again by the transformation...

I decided to finally do my before-and-after comparison... it's like looking at 2 completely different apartments... extreme makeover anyone? The WP blog is nicely formatted, so pls CLICK HERE to see the bedroom before & after pics. Really brings back memories!

Long time no new pics... this is more or less the usual 'live-in' look. The remotes are usually thrown around the different stools/sofa depending on who sits where. The elephant is my personal foot rest... (hubby doesn't quite dare to use my precious elephant). Visitors are usually a bit surprised we don't have a coffee table, but so far we are quite happy without one. Kinda used to have a big space in the middle rather than having a table which we have to circle around - so probably no coffee table for us. Anyone else who doesn't have a coffee table?

Thanks! But errr.... you don't like my bedrooms ah? Hope you find the cups soon! If Moderne don't have u can try the 2 stores at Chinatown? Do post pics of your special cups for us when you get them k? Jia you!

Sigh, just as well I posted this summary... I just got home around midnight... It takes a bit of time to do the links and addresses etc so looks like I won't be able to do up the list before I go off. Thanks for the tip - as mentioned I planned to go CDC cos I know there are some home decor stores (like Qualy - I really like their stuff) that I would like to visit/shop. Ditto Siam Discovery & Chatuchak. The rest of the list is really more for 'collection'? Since I already got started, figured it'll be useful ref for others. Carrefour actually I dun mind (if I have the time) cos I like to look at 'rubbishy' stuff... am just happy window shopping and looking at local stuff actually. Yeah, do let me know if you know of other places. When ur housewarming btw? Durian season is over leh.

Congrats! U must be looking forward to the changes... shall be stalking ur blog for updates.

Howards have. Dunno how much tho.