Design: Aestherior

#1. There are different pet rules when it comes to different types of housing

HDB public housing has stricter pet ownership rules.

It is illegal (although loosely enforced) to keep any cat and only 1 dog is allowed in a flat. In addition, no written approval is needed for keeping a dog as long as it belongs to 1 of the 62 types of small dog breed. Furthermore, you must have your pet licensed by the NParks Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).

Image from HDB 

Do you know?
“Cats are not allowed in flats. They are generally difficult to contain within the flat. When allowed to roam indiscriminately, they tend to shed fur and defecate or urinate in public areas, and also make caterwauling sounds, which can inconvenience your neighbours.” Extracted from HDB website.

Aside from cats and dogs, small animals such as rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, fishes etc are permitted. Nevertheless, you must ensure that they are legally imported and do not belong to any endangered species.

The pet ownership rules are less strict for Condominiums and landed properties.

Generally, the Condominium’s MCST will influence the types and number of pets you can keep. All types of pets are allowed, as long as they are legal and are not endangered species. Furthermore, if you are renting a landed property, only the landlord can decide the types and number of pets you can keep.

Design: akiHAUS

#2. The landlord has the right to reject your request to keep pets

Most landlords would prefer to adopt a no-pets policy due to the damage the pet might potentially cause; scratched or soiled wallpapers; furniture and floor, etc. Sometimes, when the pets are not properly looked after, smells, mites and fleas might linger in the property. Hence, the landlords have the right to terminate the contract if you keep any pets without any written permission from them.

Design: The Local Inn.terior

#3. You have to sign the clauses for keeping pets

These clauses will be included as part of the Tenancy Agreement (TA) and the landlord may also include a clause to ensure that the property is protected against any damages caused by your pet. Such pet-related clauses are usually a supplementary document to the TA contract.

Design: The Makers Design Studio

#4. You must responsible for any type of damage caused by your pets

Even if the landlord does not request you to sign the pet-related clause, you are still held liable and responsible for any damage caused by your pets. Do note that the security deposit will also be used to cover these damages.

Design: Versaform

#5. You may need to provide post tenancy cleaning service

Some landlords may include the professional property cleaning clause so that you will cover the cost of cleaning the property at the end of the tenancy period. You will need to provide receipts as proof that such works have been carried out. The cost of the professional cleaning services will also be deducted from the security deposit if you failed to do so.

Do you know?
Here is an example to ensure that the property is protected against pet damage and extra professional cleaning of the property at the end of the contract.
“The Tenant hereby undertakes and agrees to remedy and pay for any damage caused to The Property and/or contents of The Property which shall have been caused by The Pet residing in The Property. For the avoidance of doubt any such damage shall not be deemed to be fair wear and tear. The Tenant agrees to pay for the professional cleaning of the property at the end of The Tenancy including the cleaning of all carpets and treating the property for fleas and mites.” Extracted from Lets with Pets.

Original post What You Need to Know When Renting an Apartment with a Pet appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Glass can easily be morphed into various styles and shapes, like wine racks, storage units and dining table.

Glass furniture’s crystalline clarity can offset the claustrophobic feeling of living in a small space.

The transparency also makes the furniture look lighter than it actually is. Some lighting designs utilise glass to adjust the hue of the light in the interior.

Glass is a renovation material is highly practical, resistant to warping and unlikely to age over the years. Then what precautions should be taken when caring for your glass furniture? Deco-Man’s here to give you a few tips.

Design: Noble Interior Design

The characteristics of glass furniture

Glass furniture is often made of high-performance Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). A small amount of wood, paint and soft materials like fabric and foam are used as auxiliary materials.

The characteristics of glass fibre:

1. High-lustre
2. Nice to the touch
3. Fireproof
4. High hardness
5. Durable
6. Corrosion resistance
7. Humidity and temperature resistance
8. Mould resistance
9. Free of VOCs

Problem areas of glass furniture:

1. The joints between the glass fibre and metal parts might come loose if the proper joining technique is lacking.
2. Hand-made glass fibre furniture sometimes cracks on the surfaces.
3. Discolouration might occur in sub-quality glass fibre.
4. Hinges might creak as the furniture ages.

Design: D’Initial Concept

How to care for your glass fibre furniture

Wet cloth and newspaper should suffice for the purpose of daily cleaning. Dab beer or warm vinegar with a cloth to remove the stain, but avoid using a detergent that is extremely acidic or alkaline.

To avoid missing stain spots, wipe one side of the glass panel in a vertical direction, and then the other in a horizontal direction.

Cling film, a wet cloth and a bit of detergent are all you need to revive the glow on greasy glass panels.

First, spray detergent on all the glass surfaces. Then, apply cling film of the sprayed surfaces and leave for 10 minutes. Remove the cling film, wipe with a wet cloth and voila, the glass is sparkly, squeaky clean!

• For pen stains, soak the glass in water and try to remove the stains with a rubber.
• For paint, rub with cotton dipped in hot vinegar. Then wipe the glass with a dry cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. The glass surface should become crystal clear in no time.
• To clean carved glass, dab detergent on a toothbrush and brush off dirt in a circular motion. You can also apply a few drops of gasoline or wet chalk and plaster on the glass. Leave it to dry and then wipe with clean cloth or cotton.

Design: Icon Interior Design

Precautions

• Handle your glass furniture with care and avoid scratching the panels upon accidental collisions. Tablecloths are your friend. Keep a steady and gentle hand when placing objects on glass furniture.
• Avoid moving glass furniture around, and place heavy items on the lower racks of a glass cabinet or a coffee table so that toppling will not occur.

Design: Eightytwo

HKDecoman, now going global as Deco-Man, is a Hong Kong-based renovation platform which provides professional consultancy services and pioneers in the development of A.I. homeowner-engineer matching. We aim at educating the public about the art of home renovation and have our eyes on transforming the traditional renovation industry, bringing standardisation, transparency, convenience and automation to the business.

Original post How to Keep Your Glass Furniture Shiny As New appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

If you are contemplating to rent out your spare room or even lease out the entire HDB flat, you have come to the right place! It is actually very easy to D.I.Y without much hassle! So here is how to do rent out your HDB flat in 9 easy steps!

Step 1. Check whether if you have fulfilled the conditions for renting out your HDB

a. Citizenship
Only Singapore Citizen’s flat owners can rent out the entire flat. The Singapore Permanent Resident flat owners are only allowed to lease out the spare room.

b. Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)
Meet the MOP of 3 or 5 years. If your flat is non-subsidised (purchased from the open market without a housing grant) and purchased before 30 August 2010, the MOP is 3 years.

Tip: Print the confirmation of your eligibility to rent out the whole flat through My HDBPage. (Log in with your SingPass and go to: My Flat > Purchased Flat – Renting Out of Flat). For more details, refer to the HDB’s guide here.

Image from Fuse Concept

Step 2. Find out the occupancy cap and the maximum rental period

a. Occupancy cap

Take note of the occupancy cap when bedrooms are rented out.Image from HDB

For more details, refer to the HDB’s press release here.

b. Rental period
The minimum rental period for each tenant must be 6 months per application.
Note: Rent out your flat or bedroom on a short-term basis shorter than 6 months is illegal.

You can rent out to a maximum of:
a. 3 years if all the tenants are Singaporeans or Malaysians.
b. 2 years for non-Malaysian non-citizen tenants (Singapore Permanent Residents and foreigners)

Image from The Scientist

Step 3. Determine who can be your tenants

a. Non-citizen quota

Find out whether if the non-citizen quota for your neighbour/block has been reached. Once the quota is reached, you can only rent to Singaporeans and Malaysians.
Note: The non-citizen quota does not apply to the rental of bedrooms.

Tip: Here is the HDB e-Service to check the non-citizen quota. The e-Service can also be accessed via the HDB Map Services.

b. Eligibility

Persons who wish to rent HDB flats must not be holders of invalid employment, S passes, work permits, student, dependent or long-term social visit passes. These passes must have a validity period of at least 6 months.
Note: Work permit holders from the construction, manufacturing, marine, and process sectors must be Malaysians and that tourists are not allowed as tenants!

Tip: Here is the list of sites for you to find out if your tenant’s documents are valid:
a. NRIC, Student Pass or Long Term Social Visit Pass
b. Work permit
c. S Pass or Employment Pass

Image from Design Chapterz

Step 4. Decide on the rental price

Find out and determine how much your flat or spare room can fetch in the current market conditions.

Note: The following factors that affect the rental price of your home:
a. Distance from transport nodes & amenities
b. Distance from noisy places
c. Quality of furnishings

Tip: Refer to past HDB rental transaction median prices or market rental statistics on the HDB website (applies for whole flat rentals only).

Image from  The Local INN.Terior

Step 5. Market your HDB and arrange for viewings! 

Take photos of your HDB and advertise your HDB rental to potential tenants through free platforms such as forums or even Carousell! Try to “batch” as many potential tenants together for the viewings to minimize the trips for viewings. In addition, when the potential tenants see that there is competition, they are willing to pay more.

Tip: Make sure that the photos are attractive and be as detailed as possible in your description. Remember to include the size, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and whether if the kitchen is an open kitchen. Include nearby transportation facilities such as MRT, LRT or bus interchange, shopping malls, hawker centres, 24 hours supermarkets and more. Indicate how your unit is different from others; such as windy unblocked, park or sea view, newly renovated, a corner unit or if the unit is located on a high floor. Include in the types of kitchen appliances and furniture which you are including for rental too.

Image from Fuse Concept

Step 6: Negotiate & make an offer

Once the potential tenants express their desire to take up your offer, you should consider getting them to commit before you decide to turn down other potential tenants. To make a formal offer, you can issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) and obtain a good faith deposit from the would-be tenant to secure the unit.

Letter of Intent (LOI)
LOI is a formal offer made to the would-be tenant and the Tenancy Agreement (TA) contract will be drafted according to the LOI. It includes the following terms of offer such as the price, duration, amount of security deposit, requests for appliances, furniture, etc

Good faith deposit
To accept the LOI, the would-be tenant must pay the good faith deposit of 1 month of rent. This will subsequently be used to pay the first rental month or be used as the security deposit once the TA is signed.

Tip: You get to keep the good faith deposit should the would-be tenant decides to back out on the officer after the LOI is signed. However, if you are the one who wish to retract the offer, you need to return the good faith deposit. Once the LOI is signed, you have to stop marketing the HDB to other potential tenants.

Image from KNQ Associates

Step 7: Draft and sign the Tenancy Agreement (TA) with the inventory list

Proceed to get the TA signed by you and the would-be tenant, in the presence of a witness. Turn the good faith deposit as the security deposit and get the advance rental of 1 month from the tenant. Aside from the TA, you need to list down the list of fixtures (ceiling lights, air con etc) and furnishings (sofa, appliances etc) that is to be handed over to the tenant in the inventory list. Submit the relevant details of the tenants under your MyHDB page in the HDB page.

Tip: The security deposit is meant to pay for any damages or when the tenant defaults on the rental payment. You have to return the rest of the security deposit at the end of the lease.

Image from Space Atelier

Step 8: Ensure that the tenant pays for the stamp duty and applies for the utility

The rental stamp duty is borne by the tenant and it can be paid online at  IRAS. This has to be paid within 2 weeks after the TA is signed and in effect. The tenant has to prove that the rental stamp study has been paid by providing you a copy of the original certificate of stamp duty. The application for the utility can be done at the Singapore Power.

Tip: A demand note will be issued when the payment of Stamp Duty is not made by the due date. For more details refer here.

Image from Urban Habitat Design

Step 9: Handover and monitor for late or default rental payment

The date of the handover of your HDB should be at the commencement and the start of the rental period. You should pass all the HDB and mailbox keys to your tenant. For the entire rental tenure, monitor for any late or default payments.

Image from  Sujonohun Concept & Design

Original post How to Rent Out your HDB Flat Without an Agent in 9 Easy Steps appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

1. Keep personalisation to the minimal

Design: Fuse Concept

In general, some renovation works, such as carpentry works (which cost somewhere S$100-S$500 per foot run), made to tailor wrought iron fence, gate, grille and railing, will ramp up the cost of renovation significantly. These costs are very expensive because of the time, the skills and workmanship, and the materials involved to fabricate the customization.

Tips: In certain customization works, personalization through the 3D printing technology can be a cheaper alternative. This is because 3D printing can generally reduce the time taken and material costs needed.

2. Tile only where it is absolutely necessary

Design: Local INN-terior

Using the Average Cost of Home Renovation for a 4-room HDB Flat as a guide, the cost of tiling actually makes up the 2nd highest cost in a typical renovation project. Hence, unless you have a bigger renovation budget, only consider relaying of tiles as the last resort if the existing tiles are still in good condition. This is because the ceramic tiles cost around $10 to $12 psf, inclusive of labour.

Tips: Prior to the purchase of resale flats, you should take into consideration the condition and design of the tiles. Prior to the purchase of new BTO flats (3-room, 4-room, 5-room, and 3Gen flats), take care not to opt out of the Optional Component Scheme (OCS) which offers the floor finishes for living, dining room and bedrooms especially since the new BTO flats (launched after Feb 2019) are equipped with condo-like finishings in sleeker and more modern designs such as larger tiles and concealed floor traps.

3. Cement Screeding is not as cheap as it was in the past

Design: Poetus

HDB has stopped its Smooth Floor Rendering (SFR) service done with cement Screeding, which was previously a service provided on a goodwill upon request, With effect from 2014. According to the HDB’s circular (which has been removed); “new flat owners who require SFR will need to engage their own renovation contractor to carry out the works. This ensures that the rendering is done to the correct thickness according to the flat owners’ preferred floor finishes, and the works are completed according to their renovation plans and schedule”. Furthermore, with the new ruling of the mandatory use of pre-packed cement back in June 2015;  contractors estimated that the renovation costs will increase by “about $2 to $3 per square foot, with some estimating that the increased total could be as much as $3,000“. In fact, based on the MoneySmart flooring guide, polished cement screed may cost around $15 to $30 psf!

Tips: Cement Screeding has became more expensive due to the maintenance costs and the reapplication of protective coating to properly seal the cement screed against accidental liquid spills. Otherwise, the cement screed will crack and stain over time. For the budget conscious, do consider using less expensive flooring options such as Vinyl ($5.50 to $6.50 psf) and Laminate ($6 to $8 psf). 

4. Use white as the backdrop colour

Design: KURO +

As white is a neutral colour, it is the safest colour as a base backdrop for most of the home interior designs. This is because when used with calming, pastel hues, white makes the pastel palette more lively; when used with pure primary colours (such as red, yellow or blue), white makes them look brighter and stand out! Akin to a blank canvas, white essentially makes it much easier and cheaper for homeowners to decorate, mix and match without the need to spend on coordinated furnishings. Aside from aesthetic advantage, white is the most practical choice for small homeowners as it makes a small room look much brighter, bigger by reflecting more light and heat. Since dark colours absorb light and heat, hence they make the room look smaller and warmer. By keeping the room bright and airy, homeowners can reduce the renovation costs by foregoing the need to install large-format mirrors to make the room look bigger.

Tips: If white walls are deemed too clinical, you can opt for off-white or cream. There are actually many variants of white wall paint available in the market. The facing of your flat holds the key to choosing the right variant of white; a warm, a cool, and a neutral white. A north-facing flat, use a warm white to balance out the cold light, in a south-facing flat, choose cooler whites due to the golden bright sunshine. If your flat has the right amount of north and south light, a neutral white is the safest choice! 

5. Make memories last through the art of sentimental upcycling and repurposing

Image from: almostbohemian

This may seem the most obvious, but many homeowners fail to recognize that having a new house does not necessarily mean that everything has to be new. By adopting a more eco-friendly upcycling and re-purposing approach, it is also better for the environment too! For instance, antique household items, such as suitcases and maritime ship lamps, can be given new leases of life when they are creatively repurposed as storage table and balcony lights!

Tips: Discuss with your renovation professionals on how best to inject character into your home interior design through creative upcycling and repurposing items which hold sentimental values.

6. Shop online for good deals!

Design: Theyucatantimes

Virtual mega-shopping platforms such as Qoo10, Lazada, Shopee and Amazon offer competitive pricing and a huge variety of household and furnishing items for you to choose from. Due to the ease of search, it is much easier to compare prices, find alternatives as compared to shopping at malls and traditional brick and mortar stores. Now, many retails have hopped on to the bandwagon and offer irresistible good deals, discount coupons and rebates, especially during annual sales events, in order to attract and retain customers. In addition, it is actually more rewarding to shop online since apart from cheaper prices, you will also be able to get further discounts, either by chalking up credit card rebates and points, or earn additional cashback with Shopback!

Tips: Aside from the annual GSS, the other mega sales events, such as Black Friday (29th Nov) or Singles’ Day (11th Nov), often offers massive discounts and sales for furnishings and electrical appliances!  In fact, Singles Day has become one of the world’s largest shopping events in less than a decade! Hence, you should consider planning your big ticket item purchases only on these dates so that you can save more!

Original post 6 Simple Hacks To Reduce Your Home Renovation Costs appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Design: 0932 Design Consultants

That creepy whistling coming from your windows on the occasions of storm or a windy day is in fact a sign that your windows need maintenance.

When strong wind passes through narrow gaps on your windows, a whistling noise is created. The stronger the wind, the louder the noise.

Apart from the whistling, you might notice your windows’ soundproofing and insulating properties are deteriorating. These are all symptoms that the window frames’ materials are wearing down.

The reasons why your windows whistle after a period of use:

Design: Inspire ID Group

Low-quality aluminium

Warping might occur in two to three years’ time if the aluminium of your window frames is of poor quality. Once the frames become deformed, they lose their sealing property and air can pass through the gaps created.

Pay attention to the quality of the material when purchasing window frames.

Installation techniques

Window frames should be installed in an accurate and upright position. Or else, the gaps between the wall and the frame will become larger over time as the frame warps.

Another point to note is remember to seal the heads of the expansion bolts which attach the window frame to the wall. Sealing the heads with a good sealant can ensure the water trapped in the frame does not seep into the wall. Instead, it should be drained through the water outlet.

Substandard quality of accessories

As the sealing strips on the window frame age and crack, the window loses its airtight property and whistles due to the presence of small gaps.

Sometimes silicone sealant becomes brittle over time and as a result, gaps are formed between the wall and the window frame.

How to stop your windows whistling in the wind?

Design: 0932 Design Consultants

Pre-installation prepping

Before installing the windows, caulk the gaps between the window frame and the wall. After the sealant solidifies, apply sealing strips to all sides of the window frame to block rainwater and wind from seeping through.

Remember, both the interior and the exterior parts of the window frames should be sealed thoroughly.

If only the interior side of the window frame is sealed, air and water leakage might occur.

Extra-sealing with plastic

The ageing of window frames is practically unavoidable, gaps will inevitably appear. But there are ways to get around this problem.

The most secure way is to apply foam tape to the rims of the window, and then cover the whole window with plastic.

Since plastic is an insulating and airtight material, the temperature of the interior can be well-preserved using this sealing method.

Insulation solution for double-glazed windows

For traditional double-glazed windows, the best way to insulate them is to fill woodchips between the two glass panels to absorb excessive moisture, and block the harsh, cold air from the lower part of the window.

Use masking tape to seal the gaps where the window closes for a full protection.

Large gaps between the wall and window frames

Clean the gaps thoroughly before the insulation procedure.

First, use polystyrene to fill in the gaps, then top up with fine to medium-grained sand and concrete. Repair the frames afterwards if needed.

If the gaps are on the window frames themselves, simply apply sealing plastic strips.

Incomplete window frame installation

Determine whether the problem stems from the substandard quality of your window frames, or an incomplete window installation.

For the former, the responsible party is the hardware store here you purchase the frames. But for the latter, a simple re-installation should solve the problem.

HKDecoman, now going global as Deco-Man, is a Hong Kong-based renovation platform which provides professional consultancy services and pioneers in the development of A.I. homeowner-engineer matching. We aim at educating the public about the art of home renovation and have our eyes on transforming the traditional renovation industry, bringing standardisation, transparency, convenience and automation to the business.

Original post Whistling Windows: How to Prevent and Fix Narrow Gaps on Aluminium Windows? appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Designing for your 2-room or 3-room BTO? Thanks to the small space, you would have realised it’s no easy feat to design a home that is both stylish and functional. To get you inspired, pick up tips from these gorgeous predecessors that have been there, done that and made the most of their limited space:

2-Room BTOs

Design: Neu Konceptz
Location: Buangkok Crescent

Design: The Minimalist Society
Location: Punggol

Design: Space Atelier
Location: Yishun

Design: The Makers Design
Location: Bukit Batok

3-Room BTOs

Design: Linear Space Concepts
Location: Upper Boon Keng

Design: Aart Boxx Interior
Location: Chai Chee Road

Design: Weiken.com
Location: St George Lane

Design: Studio Abby
Location: Yishun

Get help from our interior designers to renovate your 2-room and 3-room BTOs by completing the form below: 

Original post 20 Small Space Hacks to Steal from 2-room and 3-room BTOs appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Water features not only beautify a home, it can potentially elevate the good vibes of your abode—provided you respect certain Feng Shui principles!

In this day and age, it’s becoming increasingly common to find homes with water features, either as an indication of status or simply as a means to level up a home’s aesthetics value. Not many people are going to complain about having a personal swimming pool whenever they’re gripped with a desire for a quick dip, either.

That said, water features in a home are incredibly important considerations in Feng Shui. Such features can either facilitate positive Qi flow and improve the wellbeing of a home’s inhabitants, or they can create violent Qi flow and severe domestic – even financial – consequences.

Of course, you’d much rather avoid bad Feng Shui in your house, so here are some things to consider before adding a water feature:

1. Manmade Waterfalls Inside Your Home

Waterfalls inside the house are an incredibly attractive feature, but it may pose more Feng Shui harm than good, especially if said water feature is noisy. For interior waterfalls, whether it’s a negative feature or otherwise largely depends on the level of sound it generates. Ideally, the waterfall should be sentimental – making gently rippling sounds or gurgling noises at most. Also, the waterfall needs to be in a house sector that would appreciate the presence of the Water element, though deciphering that requires expert consultation and an understanding of the specifications of your home.

2. Swimming Pool Above Your Home’s Main Door

Typically, you would be strongly advised against having a swimming pool above your porch or Main Door, since this creates an extremely negative Feng Shui formation called Wetting The Head Water. This formation is a wealth killer and thus commonly responsible for a household’s significant loss in wealth. The effects can be so extreme that some even suffer bankruptcy. It’s best to avoid having such a feature in your home, but you don’t have to worry too much so long as the Main Door is not directly underneath the pool.

3. Pond In The Center Of Your Home

There are several places where water features are perfectly acceptable to be located inside your house… the middle of your residence isn’t one of them. Known as the central palace, the exact centre of your home should always be Yin, meaning that it should be stable and quiet. Since water features, such as a pond, are considered Yang, they’re far too active to be placed in that location. Having a pond at the centre will cause your home’s Qi to become disrupted and unstable, which in turn generally results in the decline of the household’s health. While there are exceptions to the rule, it’s usually better to play safe and avoid buying a home with this specific Internal Form entirely.

Water tends to be a very prized element to have within your home, so a lot of people like to add water features in hopes that it will improve their Feng Shui. After all, water Feng Shui done right can massively improve wealth opportunities, for instance. However, water features aren’t a practice that you can implement half-heartedly. If you don’t know how to “play” with water, err on the side of caution and don’t let your house get too “wet”!

For more information on interior Feng Shui (and all things Chinese Metaphysics), visit store.joeyyap.com to peruse our wealth of resources on the subject.

About Joey Yap

Joey Yap is the founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics – an education institution for Feng Shui, BaZi, Qi Men Dun Jia, Mian Xiang, Yi Jing, Date Selection and Face Reading.

He is the best-selling author of over 172 book titles published in 7 different languages worldwide and engages with students in more than 37 countries. He has conducted professional consultations for a wide range of clientele from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany and all of South East Asia.

For all things Joey Yap and more, connect with us on www.instagram.com/realjoeyyap. For further enquiries on one-on-one consultation, please email info@joeyyap.com.

Original post 3 Things To Keep In Mind When Adding Water Features To Your Home appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Design: Starry Homestead

Since the revolutionary idea of Human Centric Lighting, the planning of lighting in the house has become an issue closely related to our health and wellbeing.

We now know that the wrong colour temperature of lighting for the occasion can harm our eyes, and sometimes even our natural sleep pattern. Warm white or cool white, that is the question. Check out the guide below and plan your lighting accordingly!

Colour temperature: the basics

When the colour temperature is low, the light tends to be warmer, more yellow. And when the colour temperature is high, the light tends to be cooler, more bluish in tone.

Cool white (L); warm white (R)

Living Room

Design: Elpis Interior Design

For the living room, we suggest using cool white light for a boost of mental concentration, as well as a heightened sense of transparency.

You can add a bit of warmth and variety to the space with a warm-white floor lamp.

If you have only one main lamp in the living room, making extra space for a floor lamp might be very difficult.

To up the amount of light in the space, you can consider installing a recessed ceiling with light troughs.

Bedroom

Design: Space Atelier

For the bedroom, opt for warm white lighting with lower colour temperature, ranging from 2700 – 3000K.

This is because cool white light suppresses the secretion of the ‘sleepy hormone’, melatonin, and interferes with our body’s circadian rhythm, messing with our sleep.

Take extra care to create a sense of warmth and comfort in the bedroom, since the space is where we rest and recuperate from a busy day.

If your bedroom also functions as a study, you can consider installing lights with a colour temperature of 3000 – 4000K.

Alternatively, you can purchase a table lamp for reading and studying purposes, so that the comforting atmosphere is not compromised.

Study room

Design: Sevenvine

If you are so lucky to have a study of your own, opt for even and bright lighting with a colour temperature of 4000 – 6000K.

The position and direction of lighting is an important matter in the study room. Do not install lighting behind the chair where you sit, since the shadows cast on your reading material will strain your eyes and tire you out quickly.

Nowadays you can find table lamps specifically designed for reading and studying. If you need an extra bit of brightening up, consider installing light troughs on the ceiling.

Kitchen

Design: Letz Interior

Design: 9 Creation

Cooking requires a great amount of concentration, which means cool white lights are more suitable for the kitchen. After all, you’re going to wield a knife and light a fire there.

In fact, all kitchens in restaurants are installed with cool white lights. Lighting with a higher colour temperature (4000 – 6000K) is installed in the kitchen also because of hygiene concerns. Adequate lighting is conducive to effective cleaning and spotting dirt and grime.

Overall, the kitchen looks cleaner in a cool white light. According to interior designers, installing spotlights below the cupboard or the countertop can both beautify the space and make cooking safer.

Design: Swiss Interior Design

Although the dining room is usually connected to the living room, the former almost always has its own set of lighting distinct from the lighting of the living room.

Under a warm white light, the colour of food increases in saturation and this raises our appetite at mealtime.

The best light for the dining room has a colour temperature of 3000K, and a colour rendering index of above 80.

This is why you see high-end restaurants placing a warm white lamp or a candle on their tables. Besides the purpose of illumination, the lights also improve the diners’ appetite.

Bathroom

Design: Aart Boxx Interior

The bathroom is where we relax and unwind. By that logic, the colour temperature of bathroom lighting should not go above 4000K.

But most bathrooms have cool white lights installed instead, which allow you to see clearly. This is mostly due to safety concerns as the bathroom can be slippery.

To reconcile the need for relaxation and concerns of safety, you can choose to install extra light near the washing basin and the bathtub/ shower stall.

Wall sconces and spotlights are good options for bathroom lighting.

Remember that since the bathroom is often humid and warm, when purchasing lighting for the bathroom, opt for ones with good waterproofing and heat-dissipating properties.

Conclusion

When dealing with home lighting problems, send a bit of extra time to figure out how the lighting can best improve your quality of life, as well as your health.

Moreover, try to give variety to your home lighting. Utilise an array of lighting types to make your home interesting and uniquely yours.

HKDecoman, now going global as Deco-Man, is a Hong Kong-based renovation platform which provides professional consultancy services and pioneers in the development of A.I. homeowner-engineer matching. We aim at educating the public about the art of home renovation and have our eyes on transforming the traditional renovation industry, bringing standardisation, transparency, convenience and automation to the business.

Original post Warm White, Cool White: How to Choose a Suitable Colour Temperature for Each Space in the House appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Design: Design NEU

#1. Only engage renovation professionals from the Directory of Renovation Contractor (DRC)

You may earn a fine of up to $5,000 and other penalties if you did not engage renovation professionals from DRC, since only renovation professionals listed in the DRC are authorized to carry out HDB renovations.

Do you know?
Renovation companies listed in the DRC are reputable since they are subjected to strict screening process. In order to be listed in the DRC, the renovation companies…
1. are trained; they have completed the ‘Renovation for Public Housing’ training course
2. are experience since they have at least 3 years of experience in renovation works
3. are actively involved in the renovation trade
4. have at least 1 year of good track record with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
5. have proven to be profitable in the past 1 year
6. have partner/ directors who are not undischarged bankrupts or have any criminal records

Design: Cozyspace

#2. HDB’s written approval must be obtained before the commencement of any demolition and hacking works which involve walls

In order to preserve the structural integrity of the building, any demolition or hacking works which involve walls (be it partial or complete) can only be carried out after the HDB’s written approval. You will face prosecution for unauthorised demolition or hacking works.

Design: Atas Design

#3. Housing & Development (Composition of Offences) Rules 2006 allow HDB to compound offences committed by the homeowners and the renovation professionals

Even after engaging the renovation professionals, you are still responsible for all the renovations in your flat. Make sure that all the renovation works which are carried out by your renovation professionals adhere to the HDB guidelines*. Otherwise, you and/or the renovation professionals will be prosecuted in Court when the composition sum is not paid.

Design: Neu Konceptz

#4. Notice of renovation must be displayed throughout the entire renovation period

Ensure that the renovation notice is prominently displayed during the renovation period. Also, remember to apply for an extension if your renovation has been unexpectedly delayed!

Design: Fuse Concept

#5. At least 2 of immediate neighbours (surrounding the apartment) must be informed at least 3 days before the commencement of the renovation works

Image from HDB

Aside from displaying the renovation notice, at least 2 of your immediate neighbours must be informed at least 3 days before the renovation works (even when no demolition and hacking works are involved) begin. Here is an example of the list of neighbours who should be informed.

Design:  akiHAUS

#6. Only carry out the renovation works within the permitted stipulated period and time

General renovation
Only allowed to be carried out on weekdays and Saturdays, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. General renovations are also not allowed on Public Holidays.

Noisy renovations
Which involve demolishing of walls, removing wall/ floor finishes, cutting of tiles and heavy and excessive drilling works are only allowed to be carried out on weekdays only, from 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Noisy renovations are also not allowed on the eve of major Public Holidays (i.e. New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas Day).

Days when renovations are prohibited
Strictly no renovations are allowed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Do you know?
Avoid Do-It-Yourself (DIY) works which include drilling or hammering from 10:30 pm to 7:00 am. You have to inform your neighbours beforehand if you are unable to keep within these timings!

Design: Icon Interior Design

#7. Only HDB approved tools, pre-packed cement screed and plaster is allowed

Image from HDB

HDB Approved Tools
The renovation professionals are allowed to use 2 HDB approved handheld power tools or the equivalent. Hence, they have to seek HDB’s permission if they are using tools not in the approved list. Furthermore, such work has to be completed within 3 consecutive days!

Pre-packed material
Only pre-packed screed, for the laying of floor finishes, and pre-packed plaster, for wall finishes, are allowed.

Do you know?
Pre-packed material (e.g. screed, plaster, etc) helps to reduce the time spent to complete the renovation. This is because pre-packed material is pre-blended with the required material proportions at the factory. It is also cleaner to use pre-packed material, since the renovation professionals do not have to prepare additional materials on site.

Design: The Interior Lab

#8. Inform the HDB Branch immediately once your renovation works have been completed

For resale flats, the renovation works must be completed within 1 month from the date the renovation permit is granted, while the timeline for the newly TOP flat is 3 months. You need to inform the HDB branch of your estate once the renovations have been completed.

Design: Tab Gallery

#9. Seek assistance through CASE, Singapore Mediation Centre, the Small Claims Tribunals, or through court proceedings

Usually, during or after renovation completion, disputes may arise over the defects and/or shoddy workmanship. If the disputes with your renovation professionals are unable to be resolved amicably, you may seek a resolution through the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), Singapore Mediation Centre, the Small Claims Tribunals, or through the court proceedings if you have exhausted these other options.

Do you know?
Before signing any renovation contract, make sure that you have read all the terms and conditions stipulated under the contract. You are encouraged to use the CASE model contract agreement and not sign the renovation professional’s proprietary contract since it is usually written in favour of the renovation professional.

Original post 9 Things Every First-Time HDB Homeowner Must Know Before Renovating their Flat appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Looking to get a unit at BTO Tampines GreenGlen, launched during the Sep 2019 sales exercise? We look at what’s around the neighbourhood and see which unit you should pick.

Prefer the Punggol BTOs? Check out our unit analysis for Punggol Point Crown and Punggol Point Cove here.

Location and Amenities

Site for Tampines GreenGlen, taken during late September.

Tampines GreenGlen is a relatively small BTO, with only just 649 units. There are only 4- and 5-room flats available. Smaller size BTOs have advantages, one of which is you will get your keys faster. The expected completion date for Tampines GreenGlen, according to HDB, is 1Q2023 to 2Q2023.

Much of the area has yet to be developed, so we won’t know exactly what to expect, save for northern parts of the site, which is very much a commercial and light industrial zone. There, you will also find the retail trio of furniture/home electronics retailers Court and IKEA as well as Giant hypermarket. These are within walking distance, approximately 10 minutes.

New developments to expect in the Tampines North area include an upcoming Tampines North station along the future Cross-Island Station. Slated to be completed in 2029, the station will be located near the intersection of Tampines North Drive 2 and Tampines Ave 11. Until then, you will have to contend with the buses at the bus stop along the future Tampines Street 64.

The first phase of the upcoming Cross Island Line will be completed in 2029. It will include Tampines North station.

There will also be a Tampines North Hub (retail and commercial building) that will be situated next to the upcoming Tampines GreenView BTO.

Which Unit to Choose?

Cooling units

These stacks are likely to be the coolest: 193, 191, 137 and 135 as they are south-east facing, avoiding the western sun, which in Singapore mainly comes from the north-west and south-west, depending on the parts of the year.

Stacks 165, 167, 169, 185, 187 and 189 will likely have the breeziest flats, as they are north-south facing.

Privacy from neighbours

Get corner units away from elevators and rubbish chutes if you don’t want your neighbour peeking into your home while passing through the corridors.

Blk 662A: 101, 103, 111, 113
Blk 662B: 121, 123, 131, 133
Blk 662C: All units
Blk 663A: All units
Blk 663B: 157, 159, 167, 169
Blk 663C: 177, 179, 187, 189

What else to note

1. For stacks facing the industrial building T-Space, you might get a relatively unblocked view if you opt for a unit on the higher floors. T-Space is about 9 storeys high, and it features light industry, so you won’t get very much pollution or noise.
2. Stacks 151 and 153 closest to the centralised Bin Centre (leftmost corner of the site) might experience potential odours during waste collection. You might want to avoid those.
3. Areas such as the pavilion (PP), Plaza and the multipurpose court are potential grounds for the congregation of large groups of people. Avoid those if you want some peace and quiet.
4. Avoid the lower floor units in stacks that face the ramp-up walkway and link way leading to the roof garden atop the carpark as these are potentially high traffic areas.
5. Stacks 121, 139, 137, 135 and 133 face a site reserved for a school. Schools can be quite noisy, particularly during early mornings and afternoons. Traffic will also likely be more congested during drop-off and pick-up times, which will further contribute to the noise. Avoid them if you want a quieter flat.
6. Don’t want exhaust fumes coming into your flat? Avoid stacks that face the carpark: 151, 149, 147, 145, 117, 115, 113.

All site plans and maps are courtesy of HDB

Browse through the list of Interior Designers, their reviews and portfolios at http://www.renonation.sg/professionals/interior-designers/. Submit your renovation enquiry:

Original post Sep 2019 BTO: Tampines GreenGlen Unit Selection appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Punggol Point Crown and the second phase of Punggol Point Cove (the first phase was launched in August 2018) were launched in the recent Sep 2019 BTO sales exercise. If you are wondering which unit to pick in these developments, you’ve come to the right place. We did up a unit analysis to see the stacks you should go for if you are given a selection date from HDB.

Hoping to snag a unit at BTO Tampines GreenGlen instead? See our unit analysis for it here.

At a glance

Current progress of Punggol Point Crown, taken during our site visit at the end of September.

Current progress of Punggol Point Cove, taken during our site visit at the end of September.

Along Punggol Road, which will be turned into a green connector/heritage trail.

Punggol Point Crown and Punggol Point Cove are part of the fifth waterfront district in Punggol. There are seven waterfront districts out of the 11 districts in Punggol.

The 11 districts at Punggol.

Image courtesy of HDB

	Punggol Point Crown	Punggol Point Cove
Location	Bounded by New Punggol Road, Northshore Drive, and upcoming Heritage Trail	Along New Punggol Road
No. of units	1,545	1,179
Type of units	2-room Flexi, 3-, 4- and 5-room	2-room Flexi, 3-, 4- and 5-room
Blocks	9	6
Storeys	6 to 26	8 to 26
Design	Inspired by former Punggol Zoo. Will feature 5 thematic zones	Wave-like structure inspired by the waves and fishing nets. Kampong life concept
Car park	Aboveground	Basement
Estimated Completion Date	3Q2023 to 4Q2023	4Q2023 to 1Q2024
Nearby amenities	Greenery: Punggol Point Park/Jetty, Coney Island, Heritage Trail Dining: Restaurants at Punggol Settlement, Upcoming Punggol Digital District which will have a hawker centre, waterfront eateries
Nearest public transport	LRT: Punggol Point MRT: Upcoming Punggol Coast MRT along NE Line (ready by 2023) Bus: Along Punggol Road, outside Punggol Settlement

Chemical smells?

There have been reports of Punggol residents complaining of chemical smells in the air, with the NEA (National Environment Agency) tracing it to an industrial facility in Pasir Gudang in Johor. There have also been reports of “strange smells” and a “urine stench” in the area, likely to be caused by Johor. Both Punggol Point Crown and Punggol Point Cove, situated at the tip of Punggol, are located right across from Johor’s Pasir Gudang industrial area so you are likely to be facing the worst of the brunt. Keep this in mind when deciding if you should go for a flat there.

Punggol Point Crown: Which unit to pick?

1. If you want a balcony

Some 3-, 4- and 5-room flats come with a balcony. This will increase your total floor area by 3 sqm.

3-room: 1537, 1607
4-room: 1505, 1519, 1555, 1561, 1581
5-room: 1541, 1565, 1577, 1595, 1599

See gorgeous balcony ideas here.

2. For relatively unblocked views

Don’t want to be blocked by tall structures in front of your unit? For a breezier flat, get stacks that are facing the cluster of private housing (the properties are about two to four storeys high), Punggol Point Park as well as a the low-lying Punggol Settlement area.

Blk 435A: 1503, 1505
Blk 435B: 1535, 1537, 1517, 1519
Blk 436A: 1553, 1555, 1539, 1541
Blk 436B: 1559, 1561, 1563, 1565
Blk 437A: 1571 and 1573 (from fifth storeys onwards), 1575, 1577, 1579, 1581
Blk 437B: 1589, 1591, 1593, 1595

3. For more privacy

Want more privacy? Don’t want neighbours poking their noses into your home while passing through the corridors? Get corner units, away from the elevators and rubbish chutes.

Blk 435A: 1501, 1505, 1511, 1513
Blk 435B: 1517, 1527, 1535
Blk 436A: 1553, 1539
Blk 436B: 1557, 1567
Blk 437A: 1577, 1579
Blk 437B: 1587, 1589, 1593, 1599
Blk 438A: 1607, 1619
Blk 438B: 1627, 1647
Blk 438C: 1657, 1671

4. Cooler units

Prefer not to be baked by the hot afternoon sun? Get these cooler units that have the least likelihood of the western sun shining through the main areas of the home e.g. living/dining area.

Blk 435A: 1507, 1509, 1511, 1513, 1515
Blk 435B: 1525, 1527, 1529, 1531
Blk 436A: 1543, 1545, 1547, 1549
Blk 437A: 1583
Blk 437B: 1593, 1595, 1597, 1599
Blk 438A: 1605, 1607
Blk 438B: 1627, 1629, 1631, 1633, 1635, 1637
Blk 438C: 1657, 1659, 1661, 1663

Note that because some of the blocks are staggered, not all units might be blocked from the sun. To be on the safe side, check out the 3D model at HDB Hub when making your selection.

Other things to take note:

• Part of the upcoming Heritage Trail will border Punggol Point Crown. This green link will likely be busy and heavily used, as it connects to Punggol town centre, serving as a link also to the parks in the area. It will also likely be popular with joggers, walkers and cyclists, so it might get a bit noisy particularly during the evenings or weekends. Avoid a unit facing it if you want a quieter flat.

Punggol Point Cove: Which unit to pick?

1. For sea views

If you are opting for Punggol Point Cove, it’s likely you hope to opt for one of the highly coveted seafront apartments. Major advantages include the cooler breeze and the gorgeous unblocked views, but there are challenges to take note of as well.

For one, metal furniture and fittings will likely corrode faster thanks to the saltier air and will need to be replaced more frequently. For another, seafront apartments tend to have higher humidity (because of the greater evaporation) so you might have to allocate some budget to control the humidity levels in your home.

Still up for it? Here are the units with the sea views:

Blk 442A: 610, 612
Blk 442B: 634, 636
Blk 443B: 674, 676
Blk 445B: 744, 746

2. For more privacy

Don’t want your neighbours poking their heads through your door while walking through? Get a corner unit away from the lifts and the rubbish chutes.

Blk 442A: 602, 604, 610, 612
Blk 442B: 618, 620, 632, 638
Blk 443A: 642, 644, 646, 650
Blk 443B: 662, 664, 672, 676
Blk 445A: 692, 694, 702, 704, 708, 710
Blk 445B: 724, 726, 744, 746

3. Cooler units

Avoid units that face the western sun if you want a cooler flat to come home to in the evenings. Some blocks, despite facing the west, are blocked by neighbouring buildings. As such, they might not get the full brunt of the heat. Consider this when choosing your unit.

Blk 442A: 600, 602, 610, 612, 614
Blk 442B: 616, 618, 634, 636, 638
Blk 443A: 648, 650
Blk 443B: All units (they are blocked from the sun thanks to nearby structures)
Blk 445A: 706, 708
Blk 445B: 714, 716, 718, 720, 726, 728, 730, 732, 734, 736, 744, 746

Once again, because some of the blocks are staggered, not all units might be blocked from the sun. To be on the safe side, check out the 3D model of the BTO at HDB Hub when making your selection.

Other things to take note:

• There are some units that will enjoy unblocked views as well, even though they don’t face the sea. Pick units from stacks 748, 750, 714, 716, 718, 720 and 722 which face a common green area as well as stacks 604, 606 and 608 which face the low-lying Punggol Settlement.

All site plan photos are courtesy of HDB

Browse through the list of Interior Designers, their reviews and portfolios at http://www.renonation.sg/professionals/interior-designers/

Submit your renovation enquiry:

Original post Sep 2019 BTO: Punggol Point Crown & Punggol Point Cove Unit Selection appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Renovating your home can be an expensive process. We all want marble counters, a walk-in wardrobe and a kitchen island. But the reality is, these design features can add up quickly. So what happens when you don’t have the budget for it? You can either do away with it completely or, even better, you think of more affordable substitutions. To help keep your budget in check, we show you the cheaper alternatives to expensive interior design features you can go for instead.

Open Concept Spaces
The alternative: Mirrors

An open-plan layout is great. Think bright, breezy spaces with flexible room and a sense of spaciousness. But in order to achieve that, you might need to hack away walls. And hacking walls don’t come cheap, costing anywhere from a couple of hundreds for a single wall to thousands for multiple hacking works.

Design: Fuse Concept

If you’re looking to achieve that open and airy feel, there are always wall mirrors which you can purchase off the shelf. Installing them on a wall that faces the windows will better reflect the daylight coming in, throwing light all around your space. For a more seamless illusion, get mirror panels that are thin and rimless.

Built-in Feature Wall
The alternative: Paint job

A customised feature wall is one way to make a big visual statement in your living room, but like all carpentry work, they tend to go for thousands of dollars, depending on the design and the materials used.

Design: The 80’s Studio

The cheaper alternative is to do a fancy paint job, which can be similarly eye-catching. Opt for a bold graphic print or incorporate a textural finish to your walls. Dulux has a range of Ambiance paints that you can also use to create finishes that look just like marble, velvet or linen.

Hardwood Flooring
The alternative: Engineered Wood or Parquet

For folks who want the texture and warmth of real wood underfoot, hardwood flooring is a natural (pun intended) choice. But cladding your entire home in hardwood flooring can cost a pretty penny—prices go for around $30 per square foot (psf).

Design: DistinctIdentity

If you want the feel of real wood but don’t want to shell out the moolah, consider engineered wood flooring, which costs about half the price compared to hardwood. Engineered wood essentially features several layers of core board (made from repurposed wood) compounded together with plywood to create a stable and sturdy material that is less prone to warping compared to hardwood. Buyer’s tip: To ensure that you engineered wood flooring lasts a longer time, get from a supply that has a thick top layer to ensure that it can be sanded down more than a couple of times.

If you aren’t particular about the long strip look of hardwood flooring, parquet is a good alternative. Parquet is essentially made of small pieces of wood laid together in a geometric fashion. It features the same qualities as hardwood flooring, but unlike its more expensive cousin, can go for as low as $8 psf, although the price depends very much on the type of wood you choose.

Marble Counters
The alternative: Marble-like laminates

Nothing says a dream kitchen like one that is decked out in marble counters. With their beautiful grains, they evoke an elegance, timelessness and an unparalleled sense of luxury. This natural stone counter is also a preferred choice for pastry chefs, who prefer having a constantly cool surface to roll out dough. Alas, they are one of the more expensive materials for countertops, going for around $150 per foot run (pfr). Besides the hefty cost, they are also difficult to maintain, susceptible to staining and knocks, and will require regular sealing.

Design: Fineline Design

For a much cheaper and less fussy alternative, marble-like laminates can look similarly sophisticated. Laminates tend to have a bad rep as kitchen countertop material as they aren’t able to withstand high heat for a prolonged period—but that’s nothing a trivet and a little precaution cannot solve. Also avoid using sharp objects like knives directly on the laminate surface as they can be scratched easily. Laminates for kitchen counters are mostly high-pressure laminates (HPLs), but if you’re looking for something that is a bit more resistant to water and humidity, consider compact laminates, which are a newer version of HPLs and come in thicker widths.

Kitchen Island
The alternative: Kitchen Trolley

Everyone wants a kitchen island in their cooking space. Great for adding extra prep space or storage, it’s a versatile addition to any kitchen. But like with all carpentry work, they don’t come cheap thanks to the labour and materials involved. Building a kitchen island from scratch can go for around $80 psf up to a couple of hundreds, which adds to an already expensive kitchen renovation budget.

Design: DB Studio

Consider instead an off-the-rack kitchen trolley, which goes for a lot cheaper, and is a lot more flexible since it can be moved around the kitchen or stowed away when not in use to save space. It can also double as a bar cart or a serving trolley when guests come around.

Shower Enclosure
The alternative: Shower Panel

Unless you are a stickler for a really dry bathroom outside the shower, shave off a few hundred dollars in your renovation by getting a single shower panel instead of a full shower enclosure. A full shower enclosure using tempered glass with sliding doors can cost around $620, while a single shower panel only costs around $400 or less, depending on the size.

Design: Styledbypt
Renovation: DB Studio

The single shower panel is enough as a splashguard in the right position. Plus, it ensures there is less cleaning involved with the smaller surface area.

Recessed Shower Niche
The alternative: Shower Shelf

Another cost you can save in the bathroom is to get a shower shelf instead of a recessed shower niche. Recessed shower niches may be trending and can keep things look less cluttered, but it’s a renovation cost you should forgo since it can increase your budget by a bit seeing as it may involve extra hacking and tiling works.

Design: Icon Interior Design

A simple shelf (or shelves) works to hold your bathroom amenities without the extra cost. Plus, if you have a small space, a recessed niche actually eats into your square footage since you will need to set aside extra space for the recess area.

Customised Walk-in Wardrobe
The alternative: DIY Walk-in Wardrobe

The epitome of a luxurious home, the walk-in wardrobe is a dream for many. But like with all carpentry work, designing and building one doesn’t come cheap—a customised wardrobe can go for $210 to $250 pfr.

Design: Urban Habitat Design

Think about doing it yourself, with modular systems like racks, drawers and shelves. Put them together and voila, instant walk-in wardrobe. Do away with wardrobe doors to cut cost, but if you are worried about the dust or the visual clutter, get curtains to conceal your closet.

Original post 8 Cheaper Alternatives to Expensive Interior Design Features appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

If you’ve always wanted to live the high life, we show you how to do so in style, using floor plans from luxury condo MeyerHouse. Located at the very upscale district at Meyer Road (between the Tanjong Rhu and Marine Parade neighbourhoods), this exclusive development features a private lift for every of its 56 units! Talk about serious indulgence.
Want a slice of the luxury life? Find out more about this new condominium here.

1. Two Kitchen Islands + Platform Bed

Floor Plan: 3-Bedroom (Type 3A)
Size: 1,862 – 2,013 sqft

What’s one kitchen island when you can have two in your apartment? Thanks to the spacious wet kitchen layout, incorporate a slim island within the cooking space to increase your countertop space and to make food prep that much more convenient. To ease the visual bulk in the kitchen, consider going with a partially ‘floating’ design.

In the master bedroom, do up a platform bed that will help anchor your sleeping area while adding to your storage. Include a TV wall that features even more storage space.

Designs: De Style Interior and Earth Interior Design

2. Storage by the Window

Floor Plan: 3-Bedroom (Type 3B)
Size: 1,862 – 2,013 sqft

Common bedrooms might be a squeeze, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect storage, which are important in helping you manage your clutter. Make use of the areas by your windows to incorporate them.

Consider doing up a bay window bench that works as a cosy reading corner while also allowing underneath storage. Alternatively, you can just do up a storage cupboard, but make sure it’s built low so as to not block out the sunlight and ventilation from the windows.

Designs: The Scientist

3. Outdoor Living + Spa Sanctuary Bathroom

Floor Plan: 4-Bedroom (Type 4A) – for 4A.1
Size: 2,820 – 3,315 sqft

Private pool in your apartment? Lucky you! Take things up a notch by incorporating a cosy outdoor living area, perfect for lazy afternoons lounging by the pool. Then, ditch the formal dining area and do up a fun, casual island dining concept. Not only will it make it easier to grab bites between laps, it’s also a great layout for pool parties.

Check out the master en-suite, which features ample space for a dreamy partially sunken bathtub. Pamper yourself with a DIY spa session, right from the comfort of your home.

Designs: HYLA Architects

4. Round Tub + Informal Dining

Floor plan: 4-Bedroom (Type 4B)
Size: 2,820 – 3,315 sqft

Sunken baths not your thing? Consider changing up the conventional bathtub into a circular one. It’s ideal if you are hoping to minimise the footprint taken up in the bathroom. Incorporate whirlpool jets and you’ve got a ready Jacuzzi for an ultra-indulgent bathroom session.

Setting up a raised bar table at your kitchen island is one way to hide the food prep area, but it also means room for lounging by the island for a drink while waiting for the main course to be ready.

Designs: DistinctIdentity and The Interior Lab

5. Alfresco Dining

Floor plan: 4-Bedroom (Type 4C)
Size: 2,928 – 3,305 sqft

If you’ve always like having fresh air while taking your meals, consider shifting the dining area into that generous-sized balcony space. Set aside part of that outdoor area and turn it into a mini zen garden, complete with bonsai trees set atop a bed of gravel. It makes for a much more meditative and relaxing atmosphere, turning your apartment into a soothing retreat that is a vast contrast to the bustling outside world.

Designs: Architology

6. Staircase Storage

Floor plan: Penthouse 1
Size: 5,673 sqft

There are penthouses available at MeyerHouse as well. These limited units are indulgent double-storey spaces, packing a punch in creature comforts from spacious walk-in wardrobes to expansive living spaces.

Make the most of your staircase area by incorporating pull-out drawers. Have them clad in glossy mirrored surfaces for that elegant finish.

Design: New Chapter Design

7. Roof Terrace Lounge

Floor plan: Penthouse 4
Size: 5,683 sqft

What we really like about the penthouses is that they come with a roof terrace that makes for the perfect lounging spot. Incorporate cosy cushioned benches by the side and a home bar cabinet at the end and you will never feel like leaving the space.

Design: Architology

Do you love what you’ve seen? Contact us for a non-obligated consultation now.

Original post 7 Indulgent Floor Plan Ideas for Luxury Condo MeyerHouse appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Small kitchen problems are real, but not all kitchen layouts will see the same issues. For kitchen layouts like the one-wall, it may be a lack of storage or countertop space. A small galley layout on the other hand, may face more of a congested traffic flow problem because of how narrow the layout is. To combat these differing small kitchen issues, we offer up solutions based on your kitchen layout.

One-Wall

What is it: All the storage, counter and appliances lined along a single wall
Main problems: Lack of storage + Limited countertop

Solution 1: Go for full-height cabinets
Maximise your cabinet space by building them all the way to the top. Besides having more storage, it also helps to draw the eye upward, creating the illusion of height and therefore, a taller kitchen.

Design: Space Atelier

Solution 2: Get a pull-out countertop
Installing a pull-out countertop in one of your drawers means more room for food prep without sacrificing floor estate since it can be stowed away when you are done with it.

Design: Ark-hitecture

Galley

What is it: Comprises two parallel runs of counters with a central walkway
Main problems: May not be well-lit + congested traffic flow because of narrowness

Solution 3: Do without the cabinet hardware
Small galley kitchens can get really narrow, which might make it difficult to move about easily. Reduce the obstruction along the central walkway as much as you can by doing away with your knobs and handles. This also helps to create a sleeker, less cluttered cooking space. Go for recessed ones instead or opt for a push-open mechanism.

Design: Icon Interior Design

Solution 4: Remember under-cabinet or shelf lighting
Enveloped between walls, most galley kitchens don’t receive a lot of natural light, which can leave your cooking space feeling poorly lit and your countertops too dark. Make sure to include lighting underneath your cabinets or shelves if you have them. To reduce glare on polished surfaces, get diffusers or have your lighting placed at an angle so that it isn’t reflecting off a high-gloss surface.

Design: Dots ‘n’ Tots Interior Design

U-Shaped

What is it: An entrance leading to three connected walls of cabinets and counters
Main problems: Can feel cramped + problematic placement of built-in appliances

Solution 5: Get rid of upper cabinets
For a less cave-like atmosphere that a U-shaped kitchen can bring, do without your uppers. This can lend an airier feeling to your cooking space. Need more storage? Go with open shelves.

Design: Boon Siew D’sign

Solution 6: Open things up
Alternatively, adopt an open concept if possible by removing one side of the wall. Not only does this open up the cramped area, it also turns your kitchen into a cosy eat-in one if you place chairs on the other side of the open counter.

Design: Free Space Intent

Solution 7: Install built-in appliances away from corners
Because the cabinets are placed so close together in a U-shaped layout, you will want to take extra care that your built-ins such as your ovens and dishwasher can be opened fully without much obstruction, especially when other cabinet doors are also opened. As a general rule, install them away from the corners.

Design: Story of Us

L-Shaped

What is it: Counters and cabinets run along a perpendicular wall to form an L-shaped
Main problems: Can have an inefficient work triangle + corner cabinet may be too deep

Solution 8: Incorporate an island
If your L-shaped kitchen is particularly disproportionate i.e. you have a way longer length than a width, you might have an inefficient work triangle that makes moving about between your cooktop, sink and refrigerator somewhat tedious. To tackle this issue, include an island in the middle of the kitchen as an extra prep station. For folks who are really short on space, get a mobile freestanding island that can be stowed away when not in use.

Design: Space Concepts Design

Solution 9: Get a slide-out corner cabinet system
Some L-shaped cabinets can be built too deep in the corner, which might make it hard to reach for objects located there. Consider installing slide-out cabinet systems to ensure that items stored there don’t go forgotten.

Design: The Interior Lab

Original post 9 Small Kitchen Solutions for Every Kind of Layout appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

If you are not a morning person, you will empathise with the pain of having to wake up early. But what if there’s a cosy breakfast nook waiting for you when you wake up, a place to sip your cup of joe while enjoying the morning quiet before starting out for the day? Maybe that’s all you need to become a morning person. Here we show you 10 ideas to do up your very own breakfast nook, from practical solutions in the kitchen to stylish alcoves by the window.

1. Cosy corner

A breakfast nook was carved out from the corner of this kitchen island so that it doesn’t take up more space than necessary. The leg room makes for more comfortable seating, but it also helps to minimise disruption in the flow of the kitchen since the chairs can be tucked in when mealtime is over.

Design: Authors • Interior & Styling

2. Keep things simple

If you prefer a quick and unfussy breakfast to beat the morning rush, a dedicated but simple wall-mounted table inside the kitchen will do the job. While it will remind you to sit down and have a proper breakfast, it won’t make you linger for too long.

Design: Zenith Arc

3. Arched window

By cutting out an arched window (that mirrors the curved doorway) and incorporating a wall-mounted drop-leaf table and a couple of chairs, the designers turned an otherwise empty wall into a striking breakfast corner.

Design: Dots ‘n’ Tots Interior Design

4. Bay window pop-up

A pop-up table was built into the bay window seat to create a little breakfast corner. There’s space underneath where you can tuck in your legs to make things more comfortable. When closed, the table is completely hidden, functioning as extra storage space or seating in the living room.

Design: DistinctIdentity

5. The kitchen divide

Propped up by the end of the kitchen, this small breakfast table for one (or two!) also serves as a divider between the living room and cooking space in this open-plan home. Having your breakfast table at standard table height is an option if you have kids or the elderly at home or you tend to sit by the breakfast table for long periods of time.

Design: New Nyew Design

6. Green fingers

To create a breakfast nook that evokes calm and comfort, surround the eating space with plants. The greenery coupled with the generous amount of daylight makes this the perfect morning retreat.

Design: Sync Interior

7. Window counter seating

Inject café vibes into your home by placing your breakfast nook by the window. Nothing says relaxing like sipping a cuppa and staring out into the clear blue skies. If you live on a lower floor, you can even people watch! A long table that stretches all the way across like the one shown below helps to visually lengthen the space too.

Design: Design Zage

8. Bi-fold beauty

The kitchen’s bi-fold pass-through window opens out into the breakfast area, which was created by extending the kitchen counter with an overhang. The folding screen helps to keep the cooking smells and grease contained in the kitchen while you are enjoying that delicious American breakfast you’ve just whipped up.

Design: Haus Werkz Interior

9. A casual affair

Unlike more formal dining tables, breakfast nooks feature a more laidback vibe. The best way to convey this mood is to go with a bar- or counter-height table. Take up lesser floor area by having it wall-mounted.

Design: Lemonfridge Studio

10. Cut it out

If you like having breakfast nook by the kitchen, consider doing a wall cut-out to make room for one. Firstly, it takes up less space since you can share the breakfast table with the kitchen counter. Secondly, it makes it more convenient when you are serving up your breakfast platter.

Design: Amterior Creation

Original post 10 Breakfast Nook Ideas to Make Mornings Easier appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

For frequent clubbers, you would have known the site that new condo Riviere sits on is the former location of popular nightclub Zouk. Aside from the nostalgia, the site also fronts the Singapore River. So if you’ve always wanted an apartment with some highly coveted riverfront views, Riviere is as good as it gets. In this article, with floor plans from this new development, we show you what it could be like living in this prestigious address.

Floor plan: 1-Bedroom (Type A1-2)
Size: 560 sqft

1. Bar-style dining

Relive your glory days at the club with a bar counter in your home that lets you sip the bubblies while waiting for dinner to be ready. By day, it can also serve as a fuss-free area for breakfast.

Design: Starry Homestead

2. Hide away the clutter with recessed storage

The key to keeping things looking polished and stylish in your home is to get recessed storage. It is visually and physically unobtrusive since it hides into the walls, which is great if you are looking to achieve a minimalist look.

Design: Authors • Interior & Styling

Floor plan: 2-Bedroom (Type B1-2)
Size: 818 sqft

3. A glass window to open up the kitchen

While the original layout features an open kitchen, you can close it up if you are a frequent cook and prefer to keep the grease and fumes contained. Open up the kitchen visually with a tall and wide glass window that will also help invite light into your cooking space.

Design: LLARK Architects

4. Turning the living room into a bedroom

Short on bedrooms? Consider this novel idea of converting your entire living room into a bedroom. A study area, featuring a low divider will offer up some privacy between the communal zones and the private space.

Design: Space Atelier

Floor plan: 3-Bedroom (Type C2-2)
Size: 1,249

5. Pull-out shoe storage

Countless pairs of sneaks, heels and sandals? Go with a pull-out drawer located near the entrance of your apartment that lets you store more footwear without taking up extra floor estate.

Design: Crescendo Interior & Lifestyle

6. Total wardrobe solution

On the other hand, if you need more wardrobe space in the bedroom, consider customising a platform bed that gives you underneath storage. Add a full-fledged closet by the side and incorporate an open clothes rail that lets you hang up clothes that aren’t freshly laundered but not exactly dirty enough to need a wash yet.

Design: DSOD Interior

Floor plan: 4-Bedroom (Type D1)
Size: 2,002 sqft

7. Statement kitchen island

Need a showstopper in your home? Make it the kitchen island in the dry kitchen area by using a mix of materials to create a stunning visual contrast. We love the marble addition, which is great for frequent bakers who need a cool surface to roll out pastries on.

Design: Briey Interior

8. A dedicated study

Carve out a small workstation in your bedroom so you can have a dedicated space to work in at home. Ceiling-hung cabinets offer some privacy between the sleeping area and your mini home office.

Design: Luova Project Services

Original post 8 Incredibly Hip Layouts for Riverfront Condo Riviere Worthy of the Former Zouk Site appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Most of us love an open concept home. You get brighter and airier spaces and everything feels just that bit more spacious. Plus, it’s great layout if you entertain often. But the open floor plan, to quote Rocky, ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. In other words, it has its caveats. Here are 7 all-too-real reasons why it might not be such a good idea after all:

1. No Privacy

You don’t get much privacy in an open-plan home. It’s not ideal if you work from home, since you might need that private space to focus. There is also hardly any room for you to retreat for alone time, which everyone needs now and then.

Possible solution: Go with flexible dividers such as sliding glass doors or curtains that can help cordon off an area when privacy is needed.

Design: Adroit Interior Design

2. The Noise

Daily life can cause quite the commotion. Imagine watching telly while someone in the kitchen is using the juicier. Or you are deep in the pages of your favourite novel only to be interrupted by the blasting and blaring of an intense gaming session. With an open plan, there are no obstructions to all that noise that can arise.

Possible solution: In your open concept home, consider getting in more solid storage pieces such as shelves or cabinets to help serve as sound barriers to absorb some of the noise.

Design: In-Expat

3. Difficulty Decorating and Designing

An open concept home can be more somewhat difficult to design and decorate. The lack of boundaries means you get to see everything at once, so the elements in various spaces need to work together as a whole or things can end up looking messy. Fewer walls can also mean fewer places to build carpentry, install shelves or put up artwork.

Possible solution: Engage professionals such as an interior designer and stylist if you are worried about designing or decorating your own open-plan home. Not only are they more experienced, they also have a trained eye to see what works best for your open space.

Design and Interior Styling: Styledbypt
Renovation: DB Studio

4. Higher Electrical Bills

It’s much more difficult to cool down a larger room than it is to cool down a smaller one. This means your air-conditioner will need to work harder if you have a big, open space, translating to higher energy costs.

Possible solution: Invest in more energy-efficient air-conditioning units that can help cut your costs in the long run.

Design: Inspire ID Group

5. Lack of Cosiness

In an open concept home, things feel further apart so it can somewhat feel sparse and cold, which isn’t what you want in a home.

Possible solution: One of the easiest ways to create more intimacy and cosiness is to anchor your open plan with a large area rug. Also, consider using warmer lights to bring in the ambience.

Design: Minimo

6. Visual Clutter

Unless you are Marie Kondo or you possess her tenacity to declutter and organise, your home will probably look like a clutter fest over time. Hey, we get it: life happens. With an open concept home, this problem only gets worse since you won’t have anywhere to hide all the mess. That dangling stack of cables behind the TV? Totally noticeable while you are chowing down dinner in the dining room. That stack of unwashed dishes by the sink? So visible in the living room and particularly embarrassing when you have impromptu guests over and have no time to clean up.

Possible solution: Invest in proper storage solutions to hide your clutter. Built-in ones work best to create a neat and tidy look customised to your space.

Design: KNQ Associates

7. Expensive to Hack Walls

Unless your home already comes with an open plan, it can be expensive to hack down walls to create one. This will increase your renovation costs quite a bit depending on how many walls you are removing. Based on the difficulty of hacking and wall thickness, hacking a single wall can cost anywhere from $200 to $1000. And that doesn’t include the haulage removal fees.

Possible solution: This is a necessary cost if you insist on going with an open concept. Alternatively, to make your home seem bigger and brighter, go with off-the-rack mirrors that can be cheaper.

Design: The Scientist

Will you be going for an open-floor plan? Why or why not?

Original post 7 Real Reasons Why an Open Concept Home May Not Be Such a Good Idea appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

With 2019 drawing to a close in less than three months, we take a look at the interior design trends we are currently seeing appearing quite a bit in Singapore homes. Will these trends take off next year in a big way? Only time will tell.

1. Curved arches are everywhere

Curve is having a big moment as the curved arches we are seeing in Singapore homes can attest. Once popular in older homes, they are making a major comeback even in modern, contemporary interiors, often serving as a point of interest—sort of like an alternative feature wall.

Design: Dots ‘n’ Tots Interior Design

There are various curved arches to consider. Include decorating details or go with a segmental arch (see above) if want a traditional or stately feel to your space. But if you want a more modern look, a clean, round arch is your answer. Consider also the pseudo three-centred arch (see below) for a more retro vibe.

Design: Starry Homestead

Below, the curved archway here serves as a transition into the private spaces of the home. The inside of the arch is painted dark green to match the walkway and for visual interest.

Design: Goy Architects

2. Another curve revolution: curved counters and tables

Besides entryways, we are also seeing plenty of curves on the ends of counters and tables. We think this interior design trend might be an offshoot of the ever-popular mid-century design, which favours gentle, organic curves.

Design: The Monocot Studio

Design: Three-D Conceptwerke

From breakfast nooks to vanity counters, these curvaceous features are a great way to soften the edges and break up the visual, especially if you have a lot of clean, straight lines in the area. Pluses: they are a lot more kids-friendly and they take up less space than the standard ends.

Design: Distinctidentity

Design: The Local Inn.terior

3. More homeowners are furnishing with rattan

Designs: Adroit ID

Durable, lightweight and versatile, rattan is a great way to inject a laidback, bohemian appeal to your space. But it works in a variety of interior styles as well, including Scandinavian or modern mid-century. One of our favourite sources for rattan furniture is Second Charm, who also does custom ones if you need your furnishings to fit exact dimensions.

Design and Interior Styling: Styledbypt
Design build: DB Studio

Design: Eightytwo

4. Grooving along with vertical groove lines

When it comes to good interior design, it’s all in the details. And it seems surfaces here are getting all the attention. From bedroom and living room walls to vanity cabinets and kitchen islands, homeowners are loving the vertical groove line detail on them.

Design: Rockin Spaces

Designs: Authors • Interior & Styling (left) and The Scientist (right)

And why shouldn’t they? They add textural interest and a graphic statement without being over the top and they give a touch of modernity to any space. A little groove detailing goes a long way, as seen below.

Designs: Authors • Interior & Styling (left) and D’ Initial Concept (right)

5. Tile trend: mermaid tiles

You might know them otherwise as fish scale or scalloped tiles and you would have probably seen them somewhere. Place them right-side up (curve edge down), the other way around or even sideways, all of which will give you a different feel.

Design: The Local Inn.terior

Design: Linear Space Concepts

We think this trend isn’t going to be as enduring as some of the ones we’ve mentioned here, but it’s an interesting alternative to the more ubiquitous hexagon tiles if you’re looking to add interest to your space. If you are keen to keep things timeless, go with neutral hues rather than patterned.

Designs: Cozyspace (left) and The Scientist (right)

6. For a touch of whimsy, decorate with a neon sign

If it seems current interior design trends are evoking some kind of nostalgia, you aren’t wrong. Number 6 are neon signs, which feel very retro. Commonly associated with karaoke bars and night clubs, and more recently hipster joints, they are slowly making their way into home interiors. Neon signs are a great way to make your home truly personal since you can customise it to say whatever you want, be it a family motto, a cliché phrase or a tongue-in-cheek jibe.

Designs: Adroit ID

Designs: Fuse Concept

We like them especially in industrial themed homes, but they can work in other casual styles as well. Go with a colour that contrasts with your wall if you want your signage to stand out, or keep things in the same hue if you want a subtler décor.

Design: Linear Space Concepts

Design: Unity ID

7. On the lighting front, glass ball pendants

Speaking of lights, minimalist glass ball pendants are trending on the lighting front. It might be our recent obsession with curves, but it’s a classical shape that will definitely endure for ages. They come in all sorts of designs and they work well in a cluster if you are using them in a larger space like over your dining table.

Design: Eightytwo (left) and Rockin Spaces (right)

The clear ones look pretty, but if you don’t want your lighting to be too glaring, get the frosted pendants. To get on trend, choose a soft gold or a brass finish for an elegant addition to any room.

Design: The Scientist

8. In a state of irony, concealed entrances are appearing in homes

Always wanted a secret doorway in your home because you read too many adventure books growing up? This trend might be right up your alley. Concealed entrances are making a regular appearance in homes here for sleeker and more seamless interiors.

Design: Authors • Interior & Styling

We have seen entrances to en-suite bathrooms concealed and made to look like they are part of the wardrobe, doorways into bedrooms hidden for privacy from nosy guests, and entryways into other rooms cloaked behind feature walls so that they won’t interrupt the overall interior design.

Design and Interior Styling: Styledbypt
Design build: Clover Space

Which interior design trend will you be following for 2020? Let us know in the comments.

Original post 8 Interior Design Trends in Singapore that Might Take Off in 2020 appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

Eclectic style is the mix-and-match of interior décor. In art, eclecticism refers to the borrowing of various art styles to create a piece of art. This stream of art puts a lot of emphasis on the combination of distinct elements that leads to a brand new idea.

So basically, it’s a mix-and-match kind of art.

The resulting effect is often one-of-a-kind and brings a breath of fresh air to the existing scene of design.

For example, mixing a French Country style, an Asian style and a Scandinavian style to create a unique design. Also, adding retro elements to a Modern design to create something nobody has ever seen.

The keys to eclecticism

Eclectic design is not a random mix of objects, that’s just thoughtless!

Eclectic design demands a visually unified atmosphere in the interior. Always follow this rule when trying to incorporate different elements in one space.

One of the ways to do to create a unified atmosphere is to control the palette. You can mix vastly distinct materials like wood and plastic given that their colours are compatible.

Alternatively, control the materials and styles of the furniture if the palette is going to be contrastive.

There is no design in a thoughtless mix of items without a thorough matching process.

Theme colours

In an Eclectic design, you can make liberal colour choices. Although colours tend to be muted in this type of design, retro colours are also possible choices.

If you are not going for a wild mixture of colours, set yourself a theme colour and think about how to accentuate this colour.

Black and white always get along. But contrasting colours, for example, blue and yellow, can give the space more vibrant and make it visually interesting.

Another way to design the palette is to use a neutral tone as the base colour, then add saturated colours as accents.

Simple walls

Most designers opt for a simple plain wall for eclectic designs, as if the walls are the canvas and the furniture is the brushstrokes. Exceptions are rare for this type of design.

This is because a visually captivating wall is likely to make the space look messy. Special furniture also cannot stand out in a hectic-looking background.

Unless you are going to an extreme look, for eclectic designs, a plain background is going to make the space feel more comforting and homely.

How to choose your furniture

The possibility to mix-and-match is free and unlimited.

Careful not to make the space too messy. Working on unifying the sizes, materials, colours, and styles of the furniture.

For example, when two chairs share a similar shape and style, even when they are in contrasting colours, the combination can still look good.

If you are a fashion fiend yourself, mix-and-match shouldn’t be difficult for you.

How to mix-and-match well

Stick to the decided palette closely and you are safe to explore various styles and shapes.

For example, two sofas that have very contrasting colours can go well together if they share a similar style.

How to create the best match of furniture? That might be the result of multiple trials and an active imagination.

Items with a lot of presence

The more direct way to dispel the boredom is to bring in a item with a lot of presence. For example, a wall full of pictures and photos, a delicate room divider, or a substantial piece of art.

Since these items are full of character, they tend to display the home owner’s personality. Therefore, use them sparingly.

Too many of these items will make any special object lose their uniqueness.

Conclusion

The strength of Eclectic design is its flexibility and freedom. It makes decorating the interior a fun thing to do.

In a way, this style of design is to realise the home owner’s ideal world. There are no strict rules; you can unleash your personality freely with this design.

HKDecoman, now going global as Deco-Man, is a Hong Kong-based renovation platform which provides professional consultancy services and pioneers in the development of A.I. homeowner-engineer matching. We aim at educating the public about the art of home renovation and have our eyes on transforming the traditional renovation industry, bringing standardisation, transparency, convenience and automation to the business.

Original post Eclectic Design: The Freedom to Mix and Match appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.

A bad quality kitchen means bad quality food, which in turn means bad quality of life for homeowners. Learn to avoid this snowballing disaster with the following tips!

As one of the three most important areas of any home, the kitchen has great influence on the overall wellbeing of the people that frequently use it. Of all the appliances typically in that area of the house, it’s the stove that is of the highest importance. Where it’s located can be the difference between dining pleasure and a disaster served for dinner, figuratively speaking!

Yet a lot of people commit placement errors with the stove, and with modern kitchen interior design, we have gained even more creative ways of making our kitchen look good, yet have bad Qi. Here, we’ll be looking over a few stove issues in Feng Shui, and how you can easily rectify them for a better Qi-licious experience.

1. Kitchen Sink Next To Stove

Placing the stove right next to the kitchen sink may seem harmless, but in Feng Shui this results in a Fire and Water Clashing, which comprises the health of everyone living in your home. If you can somehow extend the distance between the sink and stove by about 1 to 2 feet, you’ll immediately resolve the dilemma.

Do note that the Fire and Water Clashing can also transpire if the sink and stove and directly opposite each other. In this case, you can rectify the situation by installing a console or island between the two kitchen features to avoid the Clash.

2. Stove On Island In the Kitchen

While a ‘stove island’ is aesthetically pleasing, a stove in such a spot comprises the quality of food you cook, naturally affecting your health adversely in the process. The stove should always be in a stable location.

With it on an island – and therefore in the centre of the kitchen – it will be exposed to Qi from all angles, which isn’t ideal from a Feng Shui perspective. When thinking of stove placement, always ensure it is located against a wall as it provides stability, Feng Shui-wise.

3. Stove In Front Of Kitchen Door

Be sure when you walk through your kitchen door that the stove is directly in front of your view. When the stove is in front of your kitchen door – or any door for that matter – this creates a Qi ‘bombardment’ problem similarly experience at the head of a T-junction. The Qi with rush through the door and hit the stove and thus been inflicted with Sha Qi, or negative energy. Thankfully, all you need to do is just move the stove elsewhere, and problem solved!

4. The Kitchen Stove Next To Bed

This setup is the perfect one for those living in cramped units… or if you’re generally just too lazy to move around much. Still, a stove next to the bed means that an excessive amount of the Fire Element in impacting your sleeping space.

As a result, you probably won’t feel too rested despite getting so-called enough sleep. Ideally, you want your cooking space and snoozing space to be clearly separated. If having a stove in the same room as your bed is unavoidable, the next best thing you can do it to either place them as far away as humanly possible or to section the cooking area off with a divider of sorts.

You probably can tell that solving these potential stove problems is actually rather simple; you can even rectify some of them without spending anything except a little time and effort. Since it’s so easy, you might as well take them into account for an elevated kitchen Feng Shui experience!

For more information on interior Feng Shui (and all things Chinese Metaphysics), visit store.joeyyap.com to peruse our wealth of resources on the subject.

About Joey Yap

Joey Yap is the founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics – an education institution for Feng Shui, BaZi, Qi Men Dun Jia, Mian Xiang, Yi Jing, Date Selection and Face Reading.

He is the best-selling author of over 172 book titles published in 7 different languages worldwide and engages with students in more than 37 countries. He has conducted professional consultations for a wide range of clientele from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany and all of South East Asia.

For all things Joey Yap and more, connect with us on www.instagram.com/realjoeyyap. For further enquiries on one-on-one consultation, please email info@joeyyap.com.

Original post 4 Ways The Kitchen Could Eat Up Good Feng Shui… 
And What You Can Do About It appeared first on Renonation.sg. Renonation.sg - It's where renovation begins.