Selection of ID
Since we are collecting our keys on 18 Jun , we decided to think through what we intend to renovate and what budget do we set aside for our renovation.
First we list down what are the things we want to do and send out several ID for quotes. We requested quote from CASA Interior, Dawin Interior, Northwest Interior and Livinz Synthesis. Meeting the IDs to go through what we wish to do and follow up on how they quoted. We shortlisted both Northwest interior and Livinz as their price are rather more competitive.
As sis fren had engaged livinz for their resale HDB renovation and sis commented that she finds the workmanship by livinz is good. So that was a plus point, I even went up to her fren unit to check out, generally not bad.
There are some points we put into consideration which we think is important. The response from ID, how efficient they response to our inquiries and if they able to provide solution to our problem.
We realize after meeting up several IDs we appreciate Isaac as we can tell he is very experience and he is able to provide feasible solution to some of our concerns. So we went through price quotation and finalize the price and decided to go with Livinz Synthesis
Livinz Synthesis
18 Yishun Ave 9 #01-08
Junction 9
Appointed Interior Designer: Isaac
Contact No: 68961510 / whatsapp 90086496
Quote: recommend by shuxian & ong
The timeline for renovation is within 2 months, Isaac target to commence work starting from July and complete the renovation by late August.
We hack off the parquet flooring of both master and common bed room. We hack off all carpentry of the house, include both bath rooms, kitchen, living room and all bedrooms. Removing of all wallpaper, false ceiling, replacing of master bathroom door, study room door as well as well as kitchen door.
Overlaying of tiles at all area and laying of tiles for bedrooms. Adding of carpentry works for the whole house. Basically we are revamping the whole house giving it a brand new look, budgeted quote at $45,000.
How the unit looks like before we took over:
Now almost a month into our renovation, we are please with the current state of our unit. In fact, my BFF, mj who gotten her key a week after us, where they manage to secure sale of balance unit in sembawang, and they also looking out for renovation, we recommended Isaac from Livinz Synthesis to them. We do recommend them to get several quotation to compare before they decide. In the end they decided to go with Isaac too as the price and package was competitive most importantly we recommended because they knew we done alot of homework before we confirmed to go with Livinz Synthesis too.
Contributing factors on deciding ID will be the price and package, the communication with the ID, the ID responsive and experience, ID’s integrity and sincerity, the workmanship (via review), and most importantly if there is any hidden cost. Hidden cost will be one of my greatest fear for me.
Our 3D Drawing from Livinz Synthesis
Before Isaac can start off with the 3D drawing, he required us to pick tiles for our home. Before hand we had done our homework by looking at what are the tiles and rate available in the current market. We actually send 3 trips to look around.
We started off with balestier, where we check out the stretch of shops, Hafary, Lian Seng Hin. We also went to boon lay where Soon Bee Huat located. It is huge. Isaac check with us where do we wish to pick our tiles and we decided to go for Soon Bee Huat. Reason we find that SBH has variety like hafary but the price seems cheaper thn hafary. As we saw some europe country tiles on discount price at $1.50 psf.
On the day we met Isaac for our tile selection, it took us 2 hours to settle the selection. Despite the pre-viewing on our own was done. We glad we manage to settle the tiles from sbh but we decided to buy from lsh for our living and bedrooms tile. We are happy that we manage to get our common toilet and wall tiles for $1.50 psf tiles from spain.
Isaac did check with us on our preference on type of material, and i gave him a big challenge. I didnt like any wood or brown material, which also means the choice limit to half. I told him perhaps light wood i might be able to accept if the outcome is good. So Isaac went ahead to get the first cut of 3D done in one week, and we met him up to confirm on the laminates, and he revised and send us the following 3D.
After selecting laminates, we select on the paint color for our walls. And we decided to make changes for the backsplash to be black instead of the standard white. Standard white will seem greenish, for crystal white need to top up additional cost. So, we request Isaac to amend to black together with the dish rack glass door.
Details of carpentry
First week of July, Isaac got his contractor to do all the hacking in 2-3 days, delivery of tiles and material was also arranged. He also get the ceiling people in as well. We meet up electrician to confirm on the light points as well as the power point position. In just 1 week, the ceiling and the electrical was almost done. Next up, the tiler came in to do up the floor and wall tiles which took about 1 week plus. Because overlaying, our existing doors need to be shave, and they did a good job. Electrician came back to help install our lights, however not all of our lights had arrived as we bought from Tabao.
We met up carpentry to discuss the details and also confirm the on site measurement. What was stated in the quote is a basis.
Additional things, our quote comes with 3 blum drawer, however, our first house adora have been using blum drawer box. We find it durable and easy to use. So we request Isaac to help us buy the blum drawer. We went to blum showroom at ubi to take a look on ideas for our kitchen carpentry. We went Ikea to get some ideas on wardrobe layout. So we did a little draft plan that how we want the compartment to be like.
4th week from the renovation, 1st coat of painting is up, glass panel installed too. Isaac also help to arrange for the delivery of the things we had purchase. We look forward on the completion as a whole. There was alot of thing we need to buy. I will be sharing in the other post.
- Lights – Down lights, T5, led strip, track light, ceiling light (for balcony)
- Bathroom accessories – basin, toilet, bathtub, shower set, taps
- Kitchen appliances – hod and hood, kitchen sink & tap
- Outdoor Blinds, Curtains & indoor blinds