Renozilla Journey: Kitchen & Living Room

On to the renovation! After the finalisation of the 3D conceptualisation, it was time to choose the materials for our carpentry! There was really only 1 material to choose and that was for the concrete sink we were planning to fabricate in the kitchen. Based on the colour theme that we chose for the kitchen, Rachel short-listed the following:

  With her help, we eventually decided on the first colour from the left on the top row because it matched our Kompacplus counter top (American Walnut). For some mysterious reason I was pretty excited about the kitchen, even though I don't cook much. LOL.    

The Kitchen

As previously mentioned, we wanted to hack the service yard walls in the kitchen to make it more spacious. Rachel promptly sent off an application for the hacking permit. Do note that if your application is not approved and you still want to go ahead with it, you have to get a Professional Engineer (PE) or stamp on the form and this will normally cost around $400 to $500 (please check with your ID on the exact cost). This process is crucial because the engineer is supposed to certify that the hacking won't affect the integrity of the building structure. Another charge you may incur is the haulage fee. It actually refers to the transport of building materials such as sand and cement to your home as well as the disposal of the hacked tiles etc. According to the HDB website, "Some Town Councils provide haulage and debris removal services for renovation for newly completed HDB flats and the charges imposed by different Town Councils vary. You or your appointed HDB registered renovation contractor may approach the Town Council managing your flat to check on the service provision and its charges." My research online revealed that people have been quoted as high as $1000 while others maintained that it should be in the region of $200 plus. Hmm, I'm not an expert on this topic but I personally think that the more major your renovation is, the more expensive haulage will be because of the additional materials you need. The price is, apparently, also dependant on the location of your flat so do check with your Town Council. Oh and if you're hacking any walls in the kitchen, you may need to purchase extra tiles from HDB for the touch-up work. Don't forget to get a copy of the invoice from your ID. Thankfully we didn't have to pay for the PE chop nor was our haulage fee exorbitant. Rachel had also informed us beforehand of the need to purchase tiles, so the final bill didn't vary by a lot.  

The kitchen now looks so spacious!

Tip: You might also want to check your letter box for a letter from Singapore Power Services (SP Services) stating that it has already turned on the utilities temporarily and you're advised to go set up an account if you want to continue using it. I didn't turn on the utilities when I first got my keys and the matter slipped my mind until the day of the hacking. I hurriedly applied for an express turn-on of services at an extra cost of $60 and the hacking guys were supposed to have arrived after activation is done on-site by the SP Services representative. But you know what? When I arrived at the flat to meet the SP Services representative, the hacking was already done! I was utterly astonished because I thought the activation would only be done after the SP Services representative had arrived. After everything has been settled, I went to check my letter box. Lo and behold, the letter was there and I realised that I didn't even need do an express turn-on. =.= So there you go, check your letter box religiously and don't waste money paying for the express fee if the utilities have already been activated.  

The concrete base for the kitchen sink

 

Extension of the City Gas pipe

 

The kitchen carpentry is almost completed!

 

Awaiting the Kompacplus countertop!

 

The final look! The water pipes have been boxed up to hide them from sight.

 

Rinnai Hood and Hob, and Samsung Fridge from Goh Ah Bee Blanco Sink and Faucet set from Hoe Kee

   

Living Room

Having decided on a very light green colour for my living room, I was initially totally unprepared for the colour when I first stepped in after the first coat of paint. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it literally bowled me over because I had always been used to living in a white house. I mean, almost everyone I know has white walls at home! But I've got to admit that it's a lovely colour. Plus it's supposedly good for your eyes! LOL. Oh, and my floor tiles are from HDB. Not perfect, but I guess they will do.  

Still messy, but the ceiling fan and lights are up!

 

Installation of the puzzle divider that I bought from Taobao. I like that it's not too bulky and easy to dismantle for cleaning!

 

Upon completion

  Sofa and Dining table set from now defunct Franc Franc, dining table lamp from IKEA, Fanco Fan with light kit from Royal Fanco, Rainbow blinds from Taobao, Burger light (not in the picture) from Chan Huat

My divider! =3

  Okies, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more of my home renovation in the next post, but here is a parting image of my passageway!

Rose Lamps from LightCraft

  Next Up: Lessons I learnt from My Renovation Previously: The Planning Starts