LLChing

Neoby, you too? Problem signing in?

Go "chip" (don't break hor) his rice bowl. Hehehe.

Ya Hoo, thanks May for the signature thingy.

Yup, I know what you mean. Dirty, oily cloth. Use anti-fog on your glass lah. Then will have no steam. Can't remember what item that we can normally find in the kitchen that can also be used as anti-fog . Was it soap?? Andrew and ourselves were like eeeeerrrh.. when the lady showed us a mixer to match our basins. Then Andrew said , buay gaem hor. Looks chore lor. So we chose a slimmer looking tap.

@ jshome - Mobile shredder? 1st time I heard of it. See, I learn something everyday whenever I login RT. @ May - Hehehe. Gosh! Both you and Andrew sounds alike leh! Say the exact same things too. kekeke. Yeah, he used the website provided by Freedom laminates and wah bian, it's so different from the samples. 1 sky 1 earth Giving credit to Andrew, I began to see why at times he insist on certain colour combi. He will not force his idea on us but get the 3D fellow to come up with what we have in mind and let us see for ourselves the effect. Most of the time, his combi looks better. Then it dawn on me why you have fewer 3Ds. Cos you can visualise the sketches while we are handicapped in that area. We need to see a colour presentation before we go OOOOrh! Like that huh!?

Collection of homes featured in RT done by different ID/contractors/electricians/windows/curtain makers with their contacts? BTW, how do I input that small little feeder at the end of blog huh? The ones showing when reno starts, ends, done by who etc? Email me also can.

@May - I think your cleaning aunty must be cursing and swearing whenever she clean your place. Hahaha. True, mixer designs look nicer. As I need tall taps for my oval basins, the vertical shaft of a mixer is way too thick and bulky for my small basin.

@May - The furniture are bought from ikea, V-Hive, Best Denki and neighbourhood furniture shop. The different colours and laminates do not match. Since we have built-in storage space, might as well pass them on. We intend to buy just the sofa (without all tables)and 2 beds with mattresses. No throw cushions unless for aesthetic reasons. Apart from the packing and a messy house, the reno process hasn't sink in yet. Haven't got the urge to shop. Maybe I'll feel more enthu when I've relocated to my temporary place. Otherwise, where to put all the new stuff? Andrew just emailed me the revised 3D drawings. Better than the 1st one but still needs improvement. No WOW factor leh. Looks ordinary. Maybe we chose the wrong laminate colours. Anyway, we will meet up next week for more brain-storming.

Andrew chose your feature wall tile for our MBR toilet too but I opted for a smoother and broader strips tile instead of your narrow strips. Easier for me to clean mah! Whenever he choose a certain tile or laminate, he will expect my "easy to clean or not?""Easy to get dirty?" We din take photos at SBH. Only took photos of the items we bought like storage heater etc. We bought our dry cabinet from Sim Lim Square. Will check with hubby on shop name, capacity and price. Will try to PM you. Having problem PMing people. Always bounce back If you are only using cold water, why buy a mixer? Isn't it more ex?

@Ayazumi - hahaha, maybe if can't sell metal beds, can still scrap them and get back some money. They won't know how long they have to keep the beds till a buyer comes along. Yeah, like what getzski mentioned, likely scared by termites before during storage. @jshome - Actually, read your post about the recycling co. According to hubby, our documents are "too" confidential (govt related) to be handled by strangers before being destroyed. Anyway, the shredders had been repaired a couple of time over the years by hubby's friend who likes to repair things as a hobby and passing time. Already money well spent on them except that this time, really RIP liao. We called up Colex Recycling Co and it seems for fabric, they only take in old clothes and not bedspread, cushion covers, curtains, bedsheets etc. So, we had an "open house" to our next door neighbour who came and "chop" 5 pieces of furniture. A friend "chop" all our colourful curtains and single-sized bedsheets. Our "garan guni" neighbour from next block took all the balance unwanted items. All specialised reference textbooks/novels are donated to national library. Our TC man will take away all other bulky items. Heartening to know that the stuff are given a 2nd lease of "life".

Din know that Salvation Army only takes in metal beds and not wooden beds regardless of how new the beds are(unless the wooden bed comes with a stain free and fairly new mattress). So, an appt has been fixed for them to carry away my teak wood 3+1+1 sofa + coffee table + side table + cushions + an extra set of cushion covers. Made a donation of $30 (they asked for $60)to cover their transport. They will view the condition of my sofa 1st, if not satisfied, it will not be carried away. As for my beds and all other unwanted items, have contacted our TC conservancy foreman who says just call and he will come. Though TC limit only 3 bulky items, he's ok if more than 3 . Andrew will find the house in a mess tomorrow

@ Liang - Thanks Liang for info on the beds. Will visit the newly opened Toh Guan furniture mall. @Battle/Neoby - Got 2 shredders. Overworked one B4 I went to get a small, red burner. Oi, cannot anyhow use those burners provided lah . We want to enjoy our "final resting home" a bit longer leh . Verdict: Hubby and I smelt real bad from the burning job. Not only is burning slower than shredding, it is hot, sweaty and eyes tearing too . We need to keep poking the papers cos the fire tends to burn only the edges and top layers. The center portion are not burnt. Then you'll see a lot of white smoke emitting and polluted the air We are now using the 2nd shredder. @adidaem - Oh yes, it's La Germania. Saw the website. Limited choice. I saw the Rinnai model. Might get that if they have it in stainless steel.

Pre-Reno preparation: 1/3 of our barang already shifted to storage and 179 kgs of secondary/JC textbooks and notes sold to trash for cash for $21.50. Another 100 kgs of confidential papers in the process of being shredded and burned . 1 shredder already wasted. Managed to secure a most convenient place to stay comfortably during reno . Having a hard time getting through to the collecting agent for salvation army. Will try again today. Started looking for a simple sofa, 2 super single bed frames plus mattresses and another TV. Intend to buy only after all wet/repair/tiling works are done some time in June. Then I will be able to know how much space I have and the size of the furniture I should get. Must get my hood and hob by May end though. Question: Which is better? Bosch or electrolux for hood and hob? Prefers a slim, white stainless stain design. I hardly use oil even for pan-frying. Mostly braise, steam, stew, and excessive use of the crockpot. Any other brands to recommend? My present stove is Rhoyxon(La Germaine) which has serve us for 14 yrs and still working well. Heard that it is no longer selling in the market. What a pity.

Instead of just submitting hand drawn layout with explanation (in case HDB architect dun understanding), how about including actual photos of beams, pillars, columns etc to substantiate what you want to hack? If yours have RC beam, can only "hack from underside of RC beam" (this is the key sentence). Cannot just state "hack wall" I think HDB just wants to make sure contractors know exactly what they are doing by making them explain 2-3 times before approval. The problem lies with the HDB architect and not so much of the HDB officer. Our HDB officer taught us what key sentences to use to get approval but still kena rejected by architect. Still waiting for approval of just 1 wall.

Emailed you. Will follow up.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE PM ME AND NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE ... A THOUSAND APOLOGIES!! I did reply but subsequently always getting "notification failure". Didn't know what had happened. I think I've used the wrong "reply" mode.

Our HDB officer seems to prefer dealing with man than woman. Both Andrew's admin staff Christine and myself kena from him. He is not helpful in explaining things. Only after I send an email under my hubby's name did he contact my hubby within the minute and explain the 1st rejection. He contacted my hubby immediately upon receiving the 2nd rejection from the architect. I've got Franc Franc 14"X10" brochure here with me. Want me to send the whole thing to you? All prices included too. PM me your address if you want.

No need to be gek sim. Electronic/computer/camera stuff are like that one. New models always popping up every mth or so and prices of old model will keep dropping. As long as you are willing to pay for that price at the point of purchase, then don't bother if the price drops a mth later. When you buy, it's the latest model but 1 mth later, it's old model liao. Cheer up!

Hacking permit 2nd time rejected due to HDB/architect did not notice that our contractor had mentioned storeroom became WIW. Saw only the key words "demolition underside RC beam". See how HDB is going to rectify their own mistake. My long time "agent became friend" is helping us secure a 5 rm flat for 2 mth. Negotiating with owner. Keeping my fingers crossed. If not, I've to settle for a serviced apartment near Raffles Hotel for 7 weeks at a much higher rent. Once housing is settled, I'll be free of worry. Went to JCube's new Japanese furniture store Franc Franc and fell in love with a very simple 2 pc fabric sofa settee ($550 + $800). It is high enough for vacuuming underneath and the legs are made of wood (oak, I think)!! Franc Franc will also open a bigger outlet (3X that of JCube)at vivocity in June. More Japanese furniture there . The store is rather like "I wanna go home" in Great World City. @May: About the curtain tracks - yes, it is very ugly! It was a CNY gathering cum housewarming at a relative's flat and everyone was admiring how well the curtains were done up (curtain relative was there too). Our family were like ... uuhh .. those tracks ... something not right leh but we just kept quiet lah. Already done what! But I told my hubby, die die also won't get him, no matter how cheap. No aesthetic sense lol! @Neoby and May: Thanks for the info on the steam iron. We are "cottony" clothes wearers. Mainly T-shirts, jeans, shorts and hubby's working shirts which is also cottony. Means I have to stick on to conventional ironing of 1 week twice. Sian.

@May: Haha .. I reminded him cos he received a call from your friend while he was at our place this Tues and he told us another one recommended by you. Quote: May will be expecting a BIG hamper from you for CNY ... keke. Question 1: Is it normal for day and night curtains to run on 2 different tracks - night on a higher one while the day curtain on a lower track about 4" lower? It was done by a relative who is in the curtain business but I'm not gonna ask him to do ours after seeing the end product in another relative's place. Any recommendation, anyone? Only need curtains for the 3 bedrooms. Question 2: Anyone ever use those standing steam iron normally used by boutique or departmental store? Any good?

From my limited knowledge and looking at my wardrobe, both old and new, I've noticed that nowadays, most carpentry comes with white PVC on the inside unless specified that polygon will be used. PVC is thin and stretchable. Easier to tear especially around the screws and if scratched by sharp edge objects. Polygon was used for all my older cabinets. It has a smoother surface, thicker and to me, more durable. It comes in different colours. Depending on the humidity and how often you clean the inside of the cabinets, both do turn slightly yellowish with age. This is only from my own visual observation and regular care.

Welcome aboard! Is the floor cement screed apart from the kitchen and toilets? If so, can save money on hacking. Previous owner's layout idea quite unique, being 8 yrs ago. The house looks spacious.

Finally! Laminates chosen for all the rooms yesterday. Andrew will get back to us with the updated 3D drawings once ready. That guy needs to spend more time with his family. Luckily his wife is supportive. May - Reminded Andrew to send you a BIG hamper next CNY since you've been introducing friends/RT to him. Kekeke.

Have you tried Army market for the tie strings? If not, for temporary use till you find the prefect strings, cable ties work well too for securing the shelves. Used those for our storeroom metal shelving when a few screws and nuts in hard to reach places became loose and the L-shaped shelves starts to wobble.

Ah ha! HDB architect's reason for not approving the hacking of store/bedroom wall is due to potential fire hazard (flammables may be stored). As this is a HDB guideline, doors are also not allowed for walls separating store and bedroom. However, converting store into WIW is a different issue. If we are aware of this earlier, our 1st application would have be more specific, then no more hassle of re-application for rejected item.