Luxexplorer

Really a big thank you to Contractor Des' patience as we shuffled between Lian Seng Hin, Hafary and Soon Bee Huat. A total of 5.5 hours and I was exhausted and the tiles are starting to look alike..haha. After contractor Des left, I decided to pop into Hafary to have another look at the tile I have shortlisted and suddenly something caught my eye! "How come I didn't see it the first time when I walked pass it huh?" - standing there was a mock up wall @ Hup Kiong facing the streets which made me turned my head and have a 2nd look. For the service of Hup Kiong @ Balestier, i was served by a beautifully dressed up Malay lady who really don't give a ****. When I asked where the tiles are from she tells me very expensive from italy. When I say it is very nice, she told me some people cannot accept the randomness and have sent back for replacement and " ok la if you can accept it. all these while she sitting behind the counter & packing her bags to go home. I left feeling piffed and walk to Hafary. hmmmpppfff,, you think I cant afford a $6/psf? Undeterred when I finished the rounds in Hafary, I walked back and luckily Ms beauty Queen no longer there and i was served by Ah Hoon who is the sweetest lady ever. Even she was hunchback , she always insist to bring the tiles down for my viewing. Definitely going with her instead Because i am using only 1 tile for the entire house except the yard , open WC and Shower I am very cautious of the effect - BF said distress wood style might be boring after few years. And yet this one has more character than the other dark wood. HELP! From conversations with various sales, china woodlike tiles although random has repeats at every 5 or 6 piece whereas italian tiles can be all random in the entire box. Let the photos tell their story Option 1: Distress wood like tiles - For my entire living hall, kitchen, bedroom 2 (converted to hall and WIW) and bedroom 1 From Italy ($6/psf) Close up:

Thats right and it is a very solid looking piece and I like it lots! I think very singaporean woman thingy because I saw it is Samsung which is very popular now and the colour is cool so I bought it. (as long as practical and looks nice) If you keep the purchase below S$400 you will not pay GST so i added only 1 extra tag key to keep it below. I am sure can easily find someone to install the lock since Samsung also being sold here so i am not too worried. My newly appointed contractor said they can fixed it for me so thats a bonus

I love your kitchen colours and I love the flooring colours too! I think it is really good that it is finished in 48 days and without too much drama

Khng, you are the same one on that crazy 88 over pages blog by Kim76? I think I remember seeing you posting a photo of your sink as well and in all honety, this sink just look so sexy. Never thought I will feel that about a SINK!! Thanks for the advice but I have a habit to clean out out sink each time I finished washing dishes so thats a plus to not having this problem. Did you try without the grid because i fnd it a little troublesome or possibly it is just a matter of habit and getting use to it.

Dear xhomesweethomex, thanks for dropping by ! Where is this 日日红 麻辣香锅, Making me salivate already Have you tried this kaya & Butter toast TONG AH EATING HOUSE which has ben around way before Toastbox came into the picture. http://ieatishootipost.sg/tong-ah-eating-house-no-more-iconic-but-kopi-and-toast-still-shiok/

UPDATE : Contractor D from In Star Design Pte Ltd After meeting with him last evening and a few hours of discussion, I have made the decision based on a few reasons : Feels he is very honest and calm though a bit quiet and little shy to contradict my ideas. But better than those who everything can can can but turned out all cannot!Pricing competitive by few thousandsAs I will be travelling a lot in the month of November through to December, lots of supervision of project will be done personally by him and I prefer to work with a contractor who has his own electrician and carpentry work etc where he can have direct chain of command.Referral by family member which is probably the best since I have also seen the workmanshipAlso can chop chop submit for hacking approval while the current owner still staying there. ************************ After discussion, the decision Hack bedroom 2 - 30% allocated to a WIW 70% to be the living room where the TV area is. The existing living area will be the dining area to accommodate my 2m teak dining table bought from Origin Asia ( 372 River Valley Rd, 248280) which I love very much even after few years We will also hack off the kitchen walls to make an open loft concept. Hack the WC toilet and become an open concept WC.., hahahah but don't worry as the yard window is not facing anyone's home we can "do our business" in peace without offending anyone. Will add door between yard and kitchen to prevent merging of smells..LOL Hack the wall dividing the WC and shower and convert to glass panels and door Hack all the existing floor and wall tiles and level the kitchen floor with living roomToday will meet up for tiles selection at Soon Bee Huat, Hafary and GF+A. Usually I am not a indecisive person but when it comes to floor tiles, I just cant seem to make a decision. I wanted wood like tiles and thought that would be simple enough but when I was there last month to have a look-see, I was overwhelmed! Flat wood grains, distressed wood, texture, long plank/ short plank, colours... oh man.. colours from the lightest of white to the darkest of brown, red tone, grey tone, green tone and 100 others in between. On top of that still trying to budget the tiles at $3.50 which nothing I like and those that caught my eyes are like $7, 8, 9 and even $15. I have to mentally stop myself as I know it is easy to say " just a little more $$" I left with a million visualisation in my head. *Evorich Vinyl - we were very impressed by their fire test and their brass ball drop but I just don't believe that no water will seep through those tiniest gap between the click ons. I have DOGSSS and foster strays as well so the tiles needs to be foolproof.

For the filter system - my sister''s family has been using the Elken Bio Pure filter system for years and my parents also swear by this diamond water. You have to make a switch near the dispense and it also serves hot and tepid water and another switch under the sink for the filter. Mum said the last change of the filter ( which is like every 3 months and a major service/ clean up by company every 1.5 years) ) the water that came out from dispenser was sparkling with bubbles, The dispenser looks modern so thats crucial to your interior design and personally I like it that I can have hot water for my tea and coffee instantly I will be getting that as a present from my parents https://www.elken.com/product_details.php?product_id=2503

Nextstep: My friends and family are give me the same "huh are you sure" look. Conversation with mum went like this Mum: Later someone break in and steal all your watches. Me: Aiyah, I will have safety box. Mum: Later they take the safety box also Me: Will install camera as well la Mum: later then you know!! Me; ok la, let me think about it....!

Septh! Thats one of the worse fear for online shopping May I asked how you rectify it in the end? Sorry to hear about the 3 hours wait and really good advice from you

I cant wait to see it too!! especially the fireplace because I think thats the coolest thing I have read so far on the blog!

The 2nd item I bought for the new flat is.... the digital door lock! As I don't intend to have a metal gate ( even the ID and contractor are surprise by this decision) I decided early on to have this digital lock for added security. The initial plan was to purchase Yale since I grew up with this brand and always felt it is very reliable. While shopping online (which is very addictive since my 1st purchase from Amazon) I came across this and because I love the colour I decided to buy it from Qoo10 and it ships from Korea. It comes with emergency keys, 2 tag keys and I ordered 1 extra tag key http://list.qoo10.sg/item/TODAY-ONLY-1DAY-BIG-SALE-SAMSUNG/413847706?selectedOptions=;; Easy way to open the door with Push-Pull typeFire and emergency door opening function such as a panic bar. Enter with emergency keyWelcome feature for users and locking notification featureManner mode for a quiet night outings & outsider alarm notification of residenceSecuring door management with robust dual structureOption for push- pull OR pull-pushPros ; Colour nicer because the export models only comes in silver. The local market comes in champagne cold Price is cheaper. $700++ versus $395 (including extra tag keys) Con Everything In Korean (although the seller send me the english manual via email the moment I placed order online) but reckon once figure out how to use should be quite standard. Maybe can deter break ins too.. haha Fingers crossed that it is not faulty as with all online purchase

Bykaraanne, the monic sink doesn't comes cheap as well because I remember seeing the 600mm top mount 1.2mm sink and they quoted me $560.. i was like wow bian.. and then now I end up with the Kraus..lagi wow bian.. I console myself that it is bigger and used for 10 years is $70 a year.. haha

Hey Relacker... I am also realistic about that.. haha.. so can only try to get the "feel". Because a small place with these elements might cause the flat to look really cramp?

I know this is so wrong ... but shopping has started as well even before I have collect keys and select the ID/contractor I chanced upon one topic here which was discussing about sinks and honestly I fell in love with the photos of all the bloggers who bought them : single bowl, double bowls, farmhouse style etc. I opted for the single bowl as I had the double in previous flat and this time I want everything else to be different. Tired of looking at the same thing after 7 years. Besides the good reviews online and those horrid ones of their sinks from TB with rust and drainage problems, I have decided to spend some good $$ on the undermount sink. I just don't want to have to destroy my solid top / others to remove a faulty sink or to live with it just like 1 blogger who have to regularly pump the TB sink as drainage too small. The pain could be worse than my pocket pain now. Being a sales person myself, I am very realistic that we get what we pay for..hehe This sink also marked the start of my online purchases!! The famous Kraus KHU100-30 30 inch Undermount Single Bowl 16 gauge Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink http://www.amazon.com/Kraus-KHU100-30-Undermount-Stainless-Kitchen/dp/B0032BYM4Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1446777745&sr=1-1&keywords=kraus+sink+30%22 Also online at qoo10 (Only found it after I have purchased) @ $485. It is much cheaper and presumably seller has very good shipping rates. http://list.qoo10.sg/item/KRAUS-KHU100-30-30-INCH-UNDERMOUNT/431851863 Premium T-304 Stainless Steel ConstructionSound Insulated with Thick Rubber Dampening Pads & Stone Guard UndercoatingChannel Grooves Engineered for Optimal Drainage16-Gauge Steel for Added DurabilityHandcrafted by Skilled ArtisansAlso bought the Kraus Stainless Steel Colander http://www.amazon.com/Kraus-CS-2-Stainless-Steel-Colander/dp/B0042D576I/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1446777916&sr=1-2&keywords=kraus+colander You want the strong, silent type, which is characteristic—counterintuitively—of the lowest and thus best gauges. No need to lose sleep over 16- versus 18-gauge, but when you get up to 22-gauge the metal is more prone to denting and vibrating, and less able to handle a garbage disposer. High-gauge drop-ins can be especially thin around the edges, making them ill equipped to support the heavier weight of a quality faucet. - for those who want to know about the 16 guage which is equivalent to 1.651mm. Items received and they feel super solid and heavy. First thing I did was knocked on the sink to hear that solid sound that the group in reno blog has been raving about

The search for ID/Contractor has started. **I saw some reno bloggers see up to 10 contractors but personally feel that is too tedious and unproductive. Reason being that everything are all talk talk only and will only know when work commence ( by then too late liao) The best way is recommendation and work from there. Most important - a honest person and easy to work + good workmanship is my top priorities. Renovation will definitely face some hiccups ( some big and some small) but most are rectifiable with some $$ but i dont want to deal with a rude or cant be bother attitude should issues arise. That will definitely add on to the frustration. 1) From the various blogs, the highly sought after Mr K from H2O whom I managed to track down on FB and send a message. They asked for my number but have not got back to me for 3 weeks. Guess that's a no then since they are so busy. 2) Visited an "exhibition" organised by an ID company. Creative Sky and was attended by a young lady S. As she took me around to see their fixtures, she explained the different materials on display which gives me an idea of all those Komplaplus, Iquartz, Lamitak etc which I have read in reno blog. Price seems reasonable and ranging about 50k - 60k for the 2 roomer full renovation. Tried to find more reviews about workmanship before deciding 3) Contractor D from In-Star Design. He was recommended by a family member as has been renovating their many homes for years. He is probably the most soft spoken contractor which I've met. Seems really honest and didnt try to hard sell me ( I don't like to feel pressured to make decision). We discussed some ideas and I showed him the moodboard and he told me it is achievable at least 70% by choosing the right materials and be prepared to step out of the comfort zone for a different design. haha,, he was able to tell that I want industrial and yet worry that the flat will be too dark afterall I dont have the luxury of those full height windows and also maintenance. Suggested we try to balance design and practicality. Will come back with quotation from our floor plan discussion. For those 3D design have to pay extra with 2 amendments included but I told him I dont need it. Better spend the money elsewhere..LOL

nextstep, thanks for dropping by and I just finished reading your reno progress. So exciting and always fast forwarding to see the photos *Loft inspiration I love so much - they look so stylish without trying too hard but could be hard to pull off in a small space. While reading many blogs, I realised many don't go all the way and will incorporate scandi design as well. I will try to stick to modern loft as much as I can although being a practical Singaporean, I am always thinking how much maintenance will a particular texture be or how practical is such a design.. hahah PS: hope that you can review your WC before I purchase mine..!

Hey! I have been following your t-blog and I have to say that its fantastic that your home looks like one of those with lots of character. Can see why you are captured by the words contemporary luxe It is nice and a lot of effort went into making it feels luxurious and yet sleek. That is probably why the flat was sold in 1 month after advertising. I cant wait to see your completed project and that fireplace... oh man

I find these terrazzo tiles really funky. Unfortunately my flat has the plain colour small squares which are already popping so definitely have to hack away

Hey, Found your renovation post :0 Will continue on the other topic.

My previous flat has been contemporary-luxe inspired hacking done to expand dry/wet area in MBR toilet, totally concealed wires, glossy homogenous tiles, wallpaper etc. Everything was black and sleek. This time I would like something totally different. Honestly I am not sure if the small HDB will be able to go all the way for the modern rustic loft inspired theme. I love the coziness and warmth that oozes out from a rustic home provides and my favourite is staying in those old italian homes in the countryside. Do you remember the movie " Under the Tuscan Sun?" MODERN RUSTIC STYLE Rustic style to an extend is making do with what one has - just as it was in the old days. It is a cross pollination with the industrial style and the more masculine gene of shabby-chic. Our main colour schemes will be brown wood, black and copper Little tips to make it work - Weathered woods - Cozy colour palettes - Distressed metals - Natural and solid fabrics - Brickwalls - Nature - Cowhides

I was looking at Chin Swee and Kreta Ayer/Sago Lane area. Walking distance to all the cool areas such as Club Street and Keong Saik Street which happens to have my favourite zhi char store there. Upper Cross Street next to Chinatown Point also very nice but price seems even higher. Did consider Cantonment area as it is near town and more secluded and quiet but really the thought of a MRT so nearby just hard to resist Have you found anything you like yet?

An avid reader of reno t blog where i have learnt a lot and now it's time to start my own blog so that more and more people can benefit from the renovation process especially for resale flat since it is much more to do than a BTO. Although it is not my first home, it is the first time I have more time to do research into renovation after making a purchase of a very old 3 room HDB located smack in the city @ Chinatown. I am surprise at myself since I have never like areas too congested but after spending last 2 years living in the city, I realise that it is well worth it. Surrounded by 2 MRT stations and the 3rd one in progress, the new train station will be right at my door step (almost). famous food stalls every where, wet market, train stations, easy commuting are what I am looking for. As I knew what I want, it was easy and the decision was made after looking at 3 units in the vicinity. Ultimately, it boils down to the pricing, facing ( I like morning sun facing), Privacy ( prefer corner unit) and how I feel when I step into the flat. Reading the reno t- blogs here has been really an eye-opener at some of those beautiful BTO and kinda sad I will not have a chance to getting a new HDB There are some cool homes with lots of character and kudos to those who have contributed source of information. Here is the layout of my new home and I will be getting the keys in 10 days time as I have agreed to let current owner stayed on for a little longer. As you can see, a simple old layout where there is a separate toilet and shower area. But what is great is the rooms are really big http://renotalk.com/forum/uploads/gallery_71855_3_65525.png

I was surprised at my myself that I finished through 88 pages of this t-blog and even signed up just so I can comment; great great reviews for the items recommended. Thanks everyone and you have poisoned me already on Amazon because i have signed up for years but never bought anything. Just a quick question if anyone can help - I wanted to purchase a Kohler basin which cost USD258 but the shipping cost is USD231.. is this normal as it just seem a little crazy to pay for that high cost of shipping especially now our SGD is weaker Any tips for me to be able to save some $$ as I am in love with this sink http://www.amazon.com/KOHLER-K-2660-1-95-Rectangle-Above-Counter-Bathroom/dp/B00CAXZUOQ/ref=sr_1_223?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1445046878&sr=1-223&keywords=kohler+sink