Hi All,

I will renovate my 5 roomer in May, so I am starting to source for inspirations over the internet to talk to ID/contractors.

My idea is to make my home simple yet cosy, keeping the cost to a minimum. The major reno will be the 2 toilets and kitchen. The rest of the house I will rely on wall color, curtains and lights to give it a cosy feel.

Original layout:

Rather clamped.

Layout 1 - spacious living / dining room :

Do away with study and balcony to give the living room more space. Or keep the balcony so that I can sun laundry etc but have a folding door to open up and let the sun in.

The original study room will become the living room and the original dining area will remain.

Layout 2 - Open kitchen + merge store to MBR :

Is it possible to merge the storeroom to MBR?

Should I have a folding door to the kitchen?

I have a 9 month old baby so the design should be baby / child centric.

Any good suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Rgds,

Tse Chong

Hi,

If you want to minimize cost, then probably you won't want to hack walls. Cos after hack walls, need to patch floor, ceiling, other walls, remove electrical, etc

I am waiting for my 1st appt for my 5 rm with a study rm too. I'm also in the midst of looking for IDs and playing with my own designs. My reno will be more than yours, I think. Besides kitchen and 2 toilets, I'm also doing living/dining rm floor and false ceiling and all lightings and pipes and bedroom/kitchen cabinets.

For me, I won't remove the study room. 1 rm for me, 1 rm for 2 sons, 1 rm for parents in law in case they want to come over, and the study rm will be for my girl. In the meantime, the study rm will be a playroom/music rm and possibly laundry drying rm. Personally, I don't really like putting laundry at the balcony. I think to make a cozy feel, the balcony can be a small private sitting area with some plants and deco. For kitchen, I like to have a tempered glass sliding door so that I can see my kids in the living rm while I'm cooking the kitchen? Then they can't run in. Plus maybe sliding door heavier so kids won't have strength to play with door?

Anyway, congrats on getting your house. Have fun decorating.

Hi sff,

How much have you budgeted for you renovation?

It seems reno for kitchen+2toilets will cost around 10k-12k? If so then I have some extra budget to do up a bit more.

Rgds,

TC

Hi sff,

How much have you budgeted for you renovation?

It seems reno for kitchen+2toilets will cost around 10k-12k? If so then I have some extra budget to do up a bit more.

Rgds,

TC

Actually, I'm hoping to spend less than $30k. But so far the quotes that came back range from 31k to 39k. Think I must cut down on some stuff. The kitchen and 2 toilets will already cost me about $13k.