Our Home in Kovan

Before After Straightened the curve wall - now can mount a shower set. What was good: 1. Straightening the curve wall.  Hehe...this was probably because the tiler was too lazy to cut the tiles to fit.  It turned out well.  Now we have a usable wall to mount the shower set. 2. Rain shower.  It might looked like an overkill, but having the water drops from the top reduces some splashing that might otherwise make this small toilet more messy. What was not good: 1. Wall tiles were too big.  Small toilet should use small tiles. 2. Floor tiles were too big.  Or maybe ALL toilet floors should use smaller tiles.  Especially critical in order to properly direct water flow to the drainage opening: smaller tiles make it easier to make gradient changes. 3. Tile colours were wrong.  I would have preferred a lighter wall and darker floor. 4.  The drainage opening should be located at a corner away from the entrance.  So that you would be stepping on wet when y

A week after moving in, we were sleeping on the floor in the master bedroom and sharing the common toilet... all the other rooms were filled with boxes from floor to ceiling. The first carpentry work to be completed was going to be the kitchen.  This was the area we spent the most time in design and configuration and would most likely be the room that would cost the most in fixtures and appliances. Kitchen - as seen for the first time The complete teardown After the first day of installation Second and final day of installation for carpentry Then came the quartz top The other side... big cabinets. It took a week to get all these up and it was already weekend, waiting for the backsplash next week and all will be done.

Recommended by our ID and we picked "Oregon", light brown/grey tone. It was a clip-on system and installation for my three room took only two days: first day for the floor and the second day for skirting. We noticed these problems. The skirting was chunky and the colour didn't match.  Also notice the gap between the skirting and the floor tiles. Bad workmanship The 'gap-filler' - the piece that separates the room and the hall, was of different colour and texture.  Now, we had three distinct flavours.  When questioned, the installer, a young bespectacled guy told us, "it is like that one".  Also, "if you can find something else, I will replace for you." Challenge accepted. We visited Neufloor's showroom in Guillermard Road to see how it was done.  We didn't managed to see the skirtings but the sales person showed us various pieces of "gap-filler" and there were different colours and textures for differ

What matter most to you when you are buying a mattress? What matter most to the manufacturers? That you are confused. We bought our mattresses from Robinsons in the past whenever they are having a promotion: the store discount on top of the hefty discount seems like a great buy. We did the same thing this time, but brought our children, now teenagers along.  First to The Centre Point, used to be Robinsons but now occupied by Metro.  Layout is uncannily similar and we had no problem getting to the floor for beddings. After my teens jumped, rolled and laid down on almost all the mattresses, they picked two, one from Simmons (forgot the model because the price was quite high) and the other was Sealy's Boston ($1,299 after all the discount).  Since it was closing time, we decided to come back other day. A week later, we went shopping again and this time to Takashimaya (selection was limited, no sales on), then to Robinsons.  In Robinsons, the Simmons mattress we liked was B

Painting was done by one guy and I am sure he rushed through it under pressure.  Some parts, especially gaps in trunkings were not properly plastered and painted over.  Since the painter will be coming back for final touch up, we will let him fix it up then. The problem is with the colour of paint for the sewage pipes.  (I realised the pictures taken were too dark to show.   Will have to retake) For the master bedroom toilet, the wall tiles are beige.  The pipe colour, was not close enough to blend in but understandable.  However, the common toilet wall tiles are grey and he used the same beige colour. When asked, our ID said "oh, you can only choose one colour for sewage pipe.  The master bedroom toilet is more important so we choose that colour for both." Really?  Aren't the IDs supposed to match colours to designs? When pressed, he told us, small matter, he would settle it.  We are not happy already - repeatedly give us excuses instead of fixing the problem r

Our ID did the 3-D drawing, on-site inspection and everything looks alright. We divided the bathroom into half: left for shower and right for basin.  The shower shall be glass divider with swing door.   We also wanted a kerb because it is useful to put lots of things.   Just two days ago, our carpenter asked us for the measurement of the wash basin area.  Only then did we realised... The space is too small for a basin! Solution?  He asked us if we mind taking a basin with 27cm in depth from Ikea.   We called up to cancel our basin.  Rushed to Hoe Kee, Sim Siang Choon and Ikea to look at other basins.   Our ID came down to view and apologise.  Since he cannot come up with a solution, we came up with one. But he will have to pay for it.

With less than a week to go to completion.  More work done and inevitably, more problems popped up.  How does your ID handle problems? "It's like that one." I have been hearing this phrase very frequently the past few days.  With three renovation done under our watch,  nope, it is not like that one. Keep cool. There's no use shouting.  Do some homework and show your ID what it is supposed to be like. "Can you accept it?" Before the sale, I am sure all ID will assure you of their high standard and taste.  Why is it that once work started, they morphed into a general contractor?  Should the ID tell me if it is acceptable? Well, sad to say, my selected ID is not that steady.

5 days to move and we hit problems.  One of them is plumbing. How to run a pipe?  Shouldn't this issue been dealt with like... thousands of years ago? Whenever I see a few young men storming into the house and work in frantic paces, I can't help but worry that something would go wrong.  Why am I so right? Bent, twisted and unceremoniously mutilated!! How should it be done?  Here's a look at the piping work in my rented condo: Pipes are aligned horizontally and vertically.   How to negotiate a bend?  Use an angular connector! I am so glad good work like this is not hidden.  Do take a moment to look and appreciate at this display of splendid and meticulous workmanship. Something to show my ID and the plumber. And to add, I am furious at my ID for thinking that was acceptable work.

We settled on side-by-side configuration.  In the beginning, we had our eyes on European brands like Bosch or Ariston for their looks and wider interior.  Later, we decided to go with Korean brands for their supposedly better reliability and service. The final two that we shortlisted were: LG GSB5282PZ Samsung RS-H5SUSL2/XSS I preferred the Samsung because: - Made in Korea - Dual Fan - Larger capacity 551 vs 528 (LG) My wife preferred the LG because of the better internal configuration and look. LG has clear plastic trays and are height adjustable.  Samsung's door side trays are cheaper looking white and not height adjustable. LG's ice tray is larger and fits the shelf nicely. Samsung's ice tray is smaller and doesn't fit well. Since we could not come to an agreement, we let the price be the final decision. Samsung was $1,699 and LG was $1,599.  Samsung was running a promotion giving away $150 super