lets warm up the abode

we were thankful to Allah for everything especially me , I am definitely thankful to have a sweet husband and a shelter above our heads so i thought having a housewarming and inviting our close relatives and friends would be good , cite a little prayer by having my mum in law's group of marhaban to do that job .

chosen on 17th May as the date mainly because it was a public holiday , Vesak Day . we try to avoid dates that would be a long weekend or so as we knew there would be people taking a holiday trip even to the nearest coast .

prior to that , i have been long searching for a caterer that served good food at a reasonable price . again , we are glad that we picked Farah Diana catering and service for that delicious dishes . 



- nasi jagung (corn rice)
- ayam masak merah (chicken in a red sauce )
- daging rendang
- sambal goreng pengantin
- sweet and sour fish
- rojak petis
- bubur chacha  as the dessert

the simple set-up

being so much of camwhore , i didnt take a lot of pictures with our guests . that was my biggest regret ! how to ? when we were so busy chatting one after another .. but heres a bit of those that we manage to snap .

thank you Suhana and family for taking the time to come all the way , really appreciate . thanks for such a nice gift . it definitely blends well with my kitchen .

also to the sweet lovely couple , Darla and her fiance Ayim for dropping by . we gonna soon be a pretty close neighbour ! thanks many many for the coffee maker , the hubs eventually beamed widely as he opened the gift .

and to our family for helping up until the event ends , friends and colleagues for coming by . 

lets take a look again of the whole process and its outcome ... 

making the flooring tiles .. and the aftermath of the hacked kitchen walls to make way for our bar counter / breakfast table .

the tons of debris and sand .. perhaps ?

our 3D drawing of hot pink kitchen cabinet ..

almost complete , waiting for the solid surface and glass backing to be put up . look at the yard frame , its in shocking pink too !!!

picture taken during the housewarming , being the reason of why its in utter mess .

mr photographer should have alert us to clean up before snapping ,hmmmm...but anyway i love how it was design , in our own taste ..

our Brandt front load washer

and the Brandt dryer , a must for us as we dont have any afternoon or morning sun plus its so effiecient to use on rainy days or whenever i need it in emergency ..

our bar chair but , in black from Mondi . we just fell in love with its design and comfort ..

our customised sofa in studded diamonds ..

well , i think it should be enough for now . will upload more picts in facebook perhaps after my birthday .. stay tune !

Officially opens , says her .

i very well knew you must have been waiting this long for my post in this blog of mine . millions apology as i totally couldnt find any time to even take the laptop and type on . all i always wanted was to sit on my Maggie and rest while catching some shows as soon as i reached home . yes , my home . OUR HOME . finally our very own  shelter above our heads . ;)

before i proceed even further , i wished to thank the following people who have contributed a lot in the process of making a dream into a reality . well , not so much of having a castle as of cinderella but a dream of what we want in the house was finally achievable without these following people .

1) Barry Cheong from Chew Interior who was responsible for the whole reno process .

2) My mum who always ensure that her daughter chose the right colour , right furniture though at times i get so worked out when our taste didnt compromise each other . thank you for your contribution in giving suggestion , for your time to come and do qc (quality check) during the renovation , and thank you many many for the bed frame , (excluding the mattress , but ).  we love it .

3) My father in law who once came to help watching over the contractors when we both really had to go to work . we appreciate that , lots !

4) My darling sister and hubs for their help in hanging up my wall clock that took almost 5 solid hours , for drilling some holes to my walls . and the ikea cash vouchers , just in time for us to shop ;))

 there was definitely so many designs to choose but i wanted one that can make full use of the entire wall .

it was this picture that caught my attention .

5) My mother in law for her contribution in a refrigerator . Thank you , we wouldnt be able to freeze our ice and food without it !

6) My closest renovation buddy , A.Kamil Roman who have always been there day and night  sharing and giving feedbacks throughout the whole reno process . I thank you for sponsoring the wall clock , recommendation to join renotalk forum where thereafter i get to know MGL curtain and finishing and satisfied with their service .

7) My only brother who helped us carrying our things during the shifting process . appreciate your energy and effort .

8) and how could i forget my partner in crime , my beloved husband who most of the time gave in to me in designing our abode . who has been patient with my rants and such when small little tiny thing wasnt up to my satisfaction , who mostly support in whatever i think is right . this beautiful abode couldnt be done , without YOU .

let me do some recapped. we bought a standard flat ( with no flooring tiles and doors from Hdb ) in 2008 and 3 years later got our keys . here are some of the pictures taken before and after the renovation complete .

we remove this sliding door at the service yard for two main reason .

1) it was darn difficult to open and shut it up .

2) it put so much space hence , the removal would be the best choice .

here it is . our super petite kitchen .

                                   our bomb shelter which was part of the living room turns out to be a ...

                                                   yes it was a house with 3 bedrooms

                              no flooring tiles whatsoever . it was bought nakedly from the hdb .

we narrow down the2 choices . bourbon oak and...

jungle pine

and we chose bourbon oak for its a little extraordinary to our likings

the common bathroom fixed with the accessories but take a look at the floor tiles . we were  pretty hesitant to overlay them , mainly to save cost but after much dreadful debating and considerations , we decide to overlay them with the same bathroom tiles as our master . no regrets !

one fine day when 1st layer of painting was done , its time to install our ferrari inspired RED ceiling fan . and we receive a lot of compliments from the different contractors who came to fix our house . we definitely glad we made the right choice .

and where was the room ?? we concealed it with a long piece of mirror bordered with same laminate design as our wall feature , courtesy of Chew Interior .

the 2 bathrooms above was literally my inspiration in also having such piece on my own . i ask Barry for designs and he sent us to White Horse , one of the famous tiles known here .

in the midst of renovation process . we made a point to try and come every day or every other day , most of the time after work to ensure the reno process was diligently made . this was just to ensure that  any mistakes arise can be corrected as soon as possible .

thats our living room . had a bit of a tough tug-of-war with the contractors over that wave wall feature . after so much of debating , we are satisfied with the outcome . didnt i tell you that not all renovation can satisfy you 100% ?

i like the idea of a scarlet concept but  didnt restrict myself in only having that in mind all the time . it just when , after surveying and seeing so many furnitures , we went to the one that strikes our eyes . thus , the outcome of our master bedroom .

this from the other view .

our master bathroom in a sexy black . yes , i reckon the new generation love having black bathroom and we are no exception .

they are the ones that made me not wanting to get out of the bathroom and hence , late for work . OOOps !

our simple guestroom , with not fully furnished yet . anyone wanna sponsor us a sofa bed ? we are please to receive it with open arms ;)

take a peep into our walk in wardrobe ..

the thing about me is that i love mirrors . not only that they are a good accessory to make any space look bigger , the feel of satisfaction seeing myself in big mirrors wowed me .

one of my favourite accessory . key holders . also seen in Mr and Mrs Smith movie .

thank you Jenny from Lights Arcade , this gorgeous piece blends perfectly with our furnishing .  we love it .

and there was a spontaneous question by Kamil when he pop at our place the other day
" which part that you dont like and wish it could have be done in another way ? "

nothing , was our reply . :)

on reno sharing with You !

what made me so inspired to send this message across , was solely of the handful of friends who will be getting their keys to their abode pretty soon . i found this article was so good to share , also snippets of my own experience dealing with the renovation throughout the few weeks .

Everyone who has renovated their home has a story to tell about their experience. Hidden cost , delays , poor workmanship are just some of the common causes of anxiety and frustration .Get your renovation to go as planned by working with a reliable and responsible renovation professional, and familiarising yourself with the process and its pitfalls .
Hope this guide that Im sharing will smoothen your path to that dream home .

GETTING STARTED

A. WHY RENOVATE ?
Tempting as it is to jump into space configuration and wall colours , take a moment to ask yourself what you hope to achieve with the renovation. Is it lifestyle benefits like more space or a financial return on investment if you sell ? This will determine the extent of your renovation.
Next survey your home-especially if it is a resale unit - for items that need to be repaired or replaced, such as old wiring and leaky pipes .
Also , have a realistic idea of how long the renovation is going to take and how disruptive it will be to you and your household . You may need to hire a temporary storage facility or look for alternative accomodation.

~ We have no other choice but to renovate our build-to-order house . We bought a standard house which HDB only provide us with kitchen and bathrooms wall and flooring tiles , also servie yard and bomb shelter flooring tiles . We did 98% renovation of the whole house .


B. DECIDE ON A DESIGN BRIEF
Now, think about your family's needs and preferences .How many users are there and what types of spaces will they need ? What is the ambience you want to achieve in each room (spa-like bathroom , industrial kitchen, cosy living room ?
Be very specific about style and themes . One person's idea of "contemporary" can vary greatly from another's. As taste and style may be hard to convey to your interior designer , gather as many visual examples as you can from magazines and catalogues.
And dont stop there - collect fabric swatches and samples , and visit show flats, furniture showrooms and friends' homes to snap photos of things you like. Giving your designer visual references and saying
" I want it like that " spells out what you want loud and clear .

~ As you have already known me by now , I am a magazine freak ! And they definitely helps me a lot in giving me ideas , tips and advise in making my dream home come true . Investing in about $5-$10 a month , was worth a cent . Through those visual pictures , I am able to show to my designer what I really want .
There was a time where our wall feature in master bedroom , wasnt much to our delight . The contractor kept telling the husband that what was designed to us , was what he normally do to many of his customers. But what shut him off was when the husband said this off clear right to his face , in a gentleman way . " I know this is what you normally do in most house BUT I want it like that " . ;) And voila , we love the outcome .

C. SET THE BUDGET
Have realistic expectationsand factor in all costs,plus a buffer for unexpected extras. Some seemingly minor things like lighting fixtures (and bulbs), door handles and decor accessories like curtain tie-backs add up substantially when you multiply them by the number you need.
Remember that renovation quotations do not cover items like loose furniture, built-in appliances, fixtures and fittingsand soft furnishings. Budget upwards of $20,000 for these, subject to selections .

CONSTRUCTIONS
A. SITE INSPECTIONS
Even if there is a project manageron site , homeowners should periodically drop in to check on the progress. Some firms dont expect clients to make site visits unless the conditions call for design changes . Design company Living Icon suggests making two visits ; after the wet constructions (when materials like concrete and plaster are applied ) and carpentry stages . If your designer has specified every aspect down to how high electrical outlets have positioned , you wont need to visit too often. However , if you are working with only a contractor , be prepared to make scheduled visits more regularly.

~ We make it a point to try and visit our home as often as we can especially when renovation works are being carried out . This comes handy especially when things that didnt turned out to what you want , can be rectified immediately or made to the attention of the interior designer , who was in charge and responsible for this whole project .

B. QUALITY CONTROL
Take the time to run through everything with a fine-toothed comb. Walk around barefoot , open and close doors and drawers and windows , and run the built-in appliances and air-conditioners. Some flaws, such as drawers thaat stick and window latches that dont align, only surface after youve moved into and lived in the house . These should be covered by the warranty usually a year stated  in the contract.
Just before handover . a general cleaning including acid or chemical wash over tiling work, will be conducted . Some designers accessorise the home for that final touch .

~ We really thank my mum for this . She was so so so much particular in small little things , things that you couldnt even see with bare naked eyes . If theres a job application in jobstreet.com for this QC , mum would be the best person I voted for . She highlighted to us some of the minor things that needs to be touch-up and bring the attention of our interior designer , just to ensure that everything was kept up in good condition as we have paid for such a hefty price .

Your renovation is a personal thing . It reveals personal quirks and habits , fulfils a dream , involves a substantial amount of hard-earned money and stays with you for years . So , selecting the person in charge of your renovation is akin to making a romantic match . You meet several potentials , pick one with whom you have good chemistry , and entrust him (or her) with your money and some very intimate details of your life(in this case of renovating, it could be bathroom habits and sleeping preferences). Finally you both hope for a happy ending and not one that leads to a bitter divorce.

Choosing a designer
Know what your designer or architect will be responsible for before you even look for one . " An interior designer must be able to propose a concept/design direction for the whole project. His services should include space planning , lighting solution , colour scheme , cabinet design , site management and the final styling of the overall space , which could include soft furnishings and furniture ."
Designers are also responsible for liaising with the authorities on the permits required for your renovation and for managing sub-contractors such as plumbers and electricians . Architects hired to do extensions for rebuilding worls are further responsiblefor the safety and structural integrity of the home's design - not just for complying with government code .
Its usually the aesthetics that bring a homeowner and a designer together . You're drawn to the style you see in a particular designer's portfolio. A good designer , even if he is popular for one style, will be versatile enough to develop a home according to the client's preferences. He should listen to you, understand what you want in your home and propose a design that appeals to you .
" Your home should reflect your character , taste , background and preferences. Most times  , we become good friends with our clients as we get to understand them better during the renovation process ." says Soh ,an interior designer in a firm .
Another major factor that you must consider when choosing a designer is your budget. Compare 3 to 5 firms to have an idea of the norm in terms of pricing and what's being offered . (which was what we did . Hamid and sons , Home Success , Design 36 , XXXX- dont remember the name actually and then Chew Interior)
Do not accept the cheapest quote as this may mean the designer cuts corners or ends up doing things you dont really want . If the highest quote is acceptable , find out what differentiates this designer from the others. Is it taste or design, better finishing or material ? there are some things that are measurable not by value, but by your own iundividual satisfaction at the end of the day .

Working with your designer
Now that you've found your designer , how do you maintain a good working relationship with him ? BOth Soh and Ho agreed that you shouldnt rush the design process- take the time to let your designer know what you need and what you're not comfortable with , and find a design solution within your budget .Communicate your doubts at this stage so your designer can clarify them . Having chose the designer , a certain amount of trust for his professionalism will be appreciated.
Try to avoid making changes once the renovation works begin as ammendments will result in delays and higher costs. Visit the renovation regularly , yes thats what we did , and let it be heard if you find something amiss- this will reduce the chances of mistakes being made and allow ammendments to be made earlier .
I AGREE so much !
Give your designer a reasonable amount of time to fine tune and rectify the finishes after the renovation is complete as minor defects are part and parcel of manual workmanship .
Finally , show your appreciation if you like the renovation,as designers feel a sense of ownership about their designs . Designers do remember difficult clients as well as those who are a joy to work with .

With these special post on renovation ,  i hope it does somehow help you in making your renovation a smooth one . Good luck !

the start is ON !

gosh ! time passed so fast that i couldnt even manage to blink an eye to sit right in front of this laptop with a hot mug of cereal . that was how speed the clock runs .

with work and house-chores to do , all energy were preserved for the next following day . that was my routine every day if you must know . and when theres a time to rest , i prefer to either took a nap or what else knowing that my abode is ready in weeks to come , shopping for some little accessories . i enjoyed going over to malls especially the current one , IMM . most of the accessories were bought there . i would say , its a one-stop shopping for everyone who was expecting their house keys . and again as i mentioned before , with a 3 hours of free parking we made full use of this opportunity to shop and even had our feast over at the banquet .

it was pretty stressful weeks for us but we took a breather , somehow . i think nobody understands us better except for my mum and those who own a house . some people do not understand why we wanted our abode to be as beautiful for our own eyes to see  , why we wanted that design and colour so much , why we chose that furniture and not the other one . all that was chose and bought were based on what we love . it doesnt matter to us whether you like it or not because at the end of the day , it was US who finally step in and rest . the place where we will spent mostly at . did i say too much ?

we spent a lot on magazines , basically my favourite SQUARE ROOMS and HOMESTYLE where we actually look for ideas to vamp our castle . and we think it was all worth the penny . imagine both of us had no idea what we wanted to do with our house , alot of ideas were put in by the designers from each company that we went to but we settled with something that was from ... ? yes , you are right . magazine !
i wanted so much to think out of the box and be creative but my stressful brain couldnt even think . Hence , the magazines .

ran away from the safe colours that people often used , we go all out for a more bold and daring colours . well , colours are invent not just to colour those papers but more to it . i am so excited for the final outcome to comeby when the whole renovation took place on 14th march 2011. by 6 weeks or so , i hope to be able to smile widely and enjoy the ride of our new journey with a new place where we called HOME .

Lets stop for Lunching

we were sourcing out for a ceiling fan at Sembawang Lighting House for our living room , although prior to this we have actually settled for an Alpha . somehow at certain point of time , we just dont feel good and then look out again for the right one . its just like having to find the right soulmate , you know ?

as we walked towards the shop , we passed by this restaurant which its outlook makes me think that  it wasnt Halal certified . they served western and some local delights at such a reasonable price ! and wait ...we were totally wrong ! now here comes the sentence " dont judge a boook by its cover " because ( lets smile together ) they were a bunch of young muslim entrepreneurs who took care of this restaurant . its HALAL !!!

our pretty empty stomach have to hold on first because our main priority was the ceiling fan . wanted to find out more about ceiling fans , a lady served us well . she explains the usual function of the recommended ones and tell us more on the speed and its motor . in fact all the staff at Sembawang Lighting House were very friendly even when we didnt have any transaction with them .

as we making our exit out , the husband already eyeing to go to FISH N CHICKS although i wanted to have Hei Sushi so much for my lunch . Apparently , i was amazed by the transformation made by capitaland to Sembawang Shopping Centre . Though it was a very quiet mall , i must say it had change a lot. plus the convenient shuttle bus to our new home , i definitely dont mind to hop when i wanted to eat sushi because this time , for the sake of the husband , i surrendered .

FISH n CHICKS didnt disappoint us . with a cosy ambience , you can chose to dine indoor or outdoor which we definitely prefer the former as both of us are puteri and putera lilin ;)

                                                           see... i told you that its so reasonable .

our drinks presentable with such a nice jar .

the hubs' meal for the day , it was finger licking good .

my bbq chicken. it was tender and the sauce has the right amount of spice and every little condiments . i especially like the brocollis , dipped with the chilli sauce that they provided .

Fish n Chicks definitely a great place to dine in with your love ones . they will soon welcoming us again in the near future , knowing that we knew this place which was not much far from where we stayed .

the wait is halfway through ?

do you know how long we waited for our  baby to arrive ? not days . weeks were hard to passed . but years . it was super LONG !!!!!!! but fortunately Hdb manage to move it forward one year earlier than the expected date of completion which was 2012. heres a little history of our baby .

we bought in august 2008 , months before we tied the knot , after discussing on a location that we both liked . somewhere central in the north , Yishun .

each time we were at that neighbourhood , we often took the opportunity to take a peep and view the site .

yes this was i think the year of 2009 where not even a single unit was done ; not even the base .

and the view from afar of the blocks of flats that were already completed ;)

it was 23rd february 2011 that was appointed for us to collect the possession of the house at 1110hours . out of so much excitement , we actually went out at ....

 we were thinking of having breakfast and slowly take our time to meet the customer service officer . but all plans were out ouf control when we just couldnt wait any longer to proceed with buying a fire insurance and waited no less than twenty minutes for our final session . taking of possession , signing pretty much a lot of documents and it all ended at 1016hours . way earlier than our scheduled .
you know how happy i was ?

yes i was this crazy . oops . we were this hyper actually ! now that the keys are in our hands , we are excited and anxious on the new outlook of our little baby .