Enter the New Beginning - The First Step Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The D-Day!  Officially, today is the moment when our HDB application will finally be processed where all the necessary documents will be submitted and entered into HDB system.  It will also bring us nearer to the New Reiki Sanctuary.

We didn't have a good sleep - perhaps, it is the anxiety built up waiting for this day.  We woke up at about 6.30 a.m. - a little early for a non-working day for us, though the appointment was scheduled at 9.30.

Strangely, when the long awaited day is here, we greet it with a duality of emotions - of joy and sorrow.  We didn't talk much to each other for the early part of the day.  Silence makes it easier for us to reflect our inner emotion, to deal with it individually.

20 years ago, we bought our first property and it had served us well.  We didn't expect to move out.  We didn't expect to make a big change.  We always feel that we can live here a little longer - at least for the next few years till one of us reach 55.  Then, it will  be the time where we ought to plan for our retirement.

The wind of change comes and our energy is forced out of its inertia.  Change is inevitable especially when Mother Earth takes new position in her universal alignment.  It is said that this new position affects all of us mentally, physically, emotionally and, importantly, spiritually.  We are glad of the integral part and, in its sweet awareness, it is about living with the gush of overflowed abundance.  We just need to honour, grab and embrace them all.

At HDB Hub, we bumped into few people that we know.  Just like us, they are going through the HDB transactions.

Universal change, Gaia awareness.  It is here for real now.  Meeting those people shows the synchronicity of a big event coming.  We just have to be aware of it.

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Yay! The Shopping! Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Saturday, April 26, 2008

For the second section of our weekly meeting, Chiauw brought us to few shops along Balestier.  Primarily, she wanted us to 'feel' what was available so that she could finalize our home concept.

Our first stop was to three tiles shops.  Surprisingly, we liked nothing!  Actually, Chiauw expected that.  Next, she brought us to two bathroom shops to look into bathroom accessories.

Though it was tiring at the end of the trip, it was a good experience for both of us.  At least, Chiauw understood our taste now and it would make it easier for her to move on to her second task - putting all the small details of ideas into a bigger picture.

There would be more field trips in future.  We needed to see the 'wood' for the bedrooms, lightings, kitchen accessories .. and the list would go on.

When Chiauw was sending us home, which was about 9 pm, she voiced out the purpose of going to those three tiles shops.  She wanted us to feel and see the 'low range' before introducing us a better ones next saturday.  Ah, let's see.

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The restlessness Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Thursday, April 24, 2008

It has been a busy week.  It is good to be busy too as I can, finally, not dominantly think about the new house.

It is often said that happy times come and go fast.  And that, time moves quickly.  But not when we have to 'wait' - it feels sooooo loooooonnnnnggggg that time just halts.

It is the waiting that one gets restless.  And I am just feeling that.  It makes it worse especially when I am not completely 'recovered' from the 'low' Hertford energy.

We are waiting for the day for our HDB application to be processed - and HDB is only scheduling our First Appointment next Tuesday, 29th April.

Thank God that Saturday is coming - that I will be cracking my head when meeting with Chiauw again.  We plan to start going out to 'feel things' - she is going to bring us to few tiles and sanitary shops.

Looking forward ..

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Designer Wannabe 2 Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, April 20, 2008

And as usual, after the discussion with Chiauw, I would be back to my computer and trying to develop the 3D image.
Based on the last discussion, the 3D will look something like this:
Kitchen

3D Kitchen From Living Room

I am trying to see if grey cabinets will match with the black flooring.  The black tiles that we will source, at a much later time, will be solid black.  Chiauw likes to go for shiny black but she is worried that it would be slippery for us.
The washer-dryer washing machine will be placed inside a cabinet, next to the fridge, with a door.  When the door is closed, people will not know that it is inside there.
We have not decided what colour to go here other than the black floor.  We also would want the cabinet colour not going far difference from the misty silver colour of the fridge - which we will bring from Hertford.

Living Room:

Living Room from Entrance

Nothing major will be done here.  We are keeping the white ceramic tiles from the seller, which still look good.  The only thing would be the 'floating' tv console.
As for the balcony, where it will be the only 'Allowed Smoking Area' section of the house, it will have an outdoor feel.  We might want to put dark brown planks, daybed, little fountain and big plant there.

Walk-in Wardrobe n Study Area:

Walk in Wardrobe

This is the the double back to back WiW and study area.  This is not the colour we going to use - too lazy to edit the Home Design software.

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.. to the Drawing Board 2 Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Friday, April 18, 2008

Saturday is where we look forward to see Chiauw.  It is always a joy to sit down with her and discussing about the house plan.
This time, we go through the MBR plan again and paying attention to the toilet.  Chiauw is for an 'open' toilet concept - meaning, there will be no door.  She says that it is a contemporary trend for modern interior.  She senses that we are uncomfortable with the idea but willing to take that option.
The idea to expand the MBR toilet is a good idea.  We feel that the current area is a little too small.  Guess, the size area for all old HDB flats, of more than 20 years, is not as big as the newer ones.  Chiauw needs to think how to cover all those pipes in there.  We will also be glass-boxing the window and put an exhaust fan here.
Also discussed is the Kitchen area.  We want an L-shaped cabinet where an island will be built to hold the electrical hob, facing the window.  It means that we need to source for an Island Hood.
We suggested areas for our refrigerator and Washer n Dryer [2-in-1] machine.
Chiauw suggests that I start to plan to organize the kitchen cabinet - what and where to put what.  We plan to get into the detailed design next saturday.

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Dedication: Hertford - You Will Always Be Remembered Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Thursday, April 17, 2008

Both of us realised that we are going through anxiety stress over the
last few weeks.  It is only natural.  Uprooting is never an easy thing
to undergo, especially when we have spent 20 years in one place.
For the last few days, I started feeling sad - not because I am troubled.  I always believe that every house has a soul and when the occupant/owner has invested a lot of energy into it, it is only natural that this soul feels 'abandoned'.  The soul knows that we will move out.
I am sensitive to the energy around me.  Naturally, the 'sad-abandoned' Hertford energy gets into me.  It is not an anger energy but a very subtle universal energy that is wishing me, on this separation, the joy to move on.  While this energy is soft and subtle, the psychological thought of moving out is harder.
Hertford is my hide-out.  My sanctuary.  I am always very comfortable staying in the house without going out, sometimes even up to a week.  Change is constant and year 2008 marks a year that we are shifting gear and changing new phase in our lives.  It is, with the GAIA vibrations, an inevitable energy shift for the two of us.
Pictures of Hertford:

The Main Building

Hertford Main Road

Hertford - Car Park Area

Hertford from CarPark

The Unit Layout

2D Layout

3D Layout

Inside The House

Living Room Sofa Area

Living Room TV Area

MBR Bed

MBR TV Area

MBR Toilet Entrance

MBR Vanity

Study Room

Guest Toilet

Kitchen Sink Hood Area

Service Yard Entrance

I will never look back regretting to live in Hertford.  It was a place where my spirituality took to a higher ground.  It filled endlessly with love and compassion.  It was a place, a house, that developed our character, our vision, our committment.  And there's nothing that we can trade that with something else.

Today, I shall give my gratitude to Hertford.  You have sheltered me.  You have sustained me.  You have made me to grow.  In you, I learned to trust life.  Thank You!

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Homeworks Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Wednesday, April 16, 2008

These are books from Chiauw.  We are supposed to go through them and get a feel of how we want the kitchen, bathroom and overall interior of the house will be.

Book: Modern Interiors

.. and more book ..

Book: Ultimate Kitchen

and more ..

Book: Ultimate Bathroom

We are told to check online for kitchen culture and blum too.

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Designer Wannabe Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Chiauw, as an architect, works and draws her design mainly in 2D geometrical drawing.  Perhaps, it gives her a clearer perspective and probably, it makes it easier when she needs to explain her concept to us. 

This works fine with us.  Guess, as a layman, it helps us to understand the different elevations.  At the same, it will be easier for her to calculate on the costs later.  She promises that a 3D drawing will be drawn when all concepts are finalised and just before we are going into renovation proper.

However, as picture speaks thousand words, I can't help it wanting to visualise her concept in 3D drawings.  Everything happen for a good reason.  In my eager anticipation, it makes me to learn a new computer software - Home & Design.

Been spending few hours just to understand the software and managed to come out with the modified layout of the house which was discussed last Saturday.

2D Modified Layout

3D Modified Layout

Master Bedroom [MBR]

01.  Store room between MBR removed
02.  Part of wall along MBR removed
03.  Re-position MBR door [entrance]
04.  Extend MBR toilet
05.  Erected walls of 500mm to extend MBR toilet
06.  MBR toilet without door - open concept

Suggested Flooring:

MBR - Wood
WiW + Study - Wood
MBR toilet - Black tiles

07.  Wall on right of main door removed
08.  To create sliding door to the kitchen from Living Room
09.  To create sliding door to the kitchen from Dining Room

Suggested Flooring:

Kitchen - Black tiles
Kitchen cabinet - yet to decide

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.. to the Drawing Board 1 Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Friday, April 11, 2008

Chiauw was here to discuss about the layout this afternoon.  We spent about 4 hours going through our needs and how we would want the house turns out.  She suggested, and educated us, on the various home themes.

Frankly, I could not come out with a specific theme cos I just want the house to be practical and functional yet modern, warm and cosy.  What is important will be the workmanship, the eye for details and the quality that we will be putting inside the house - from tiles to wardrobe and colours.

Chiauw started with asking about our lifestyle.  She wants it to be reflected with the design.

Working with Chiauw is fun and easy.  She allows us to express our priorities before she puts in her professionalism to explain the feasibility of any idea - from an architectural view and her years of designing experience.  A common cord strikes between us when I told her that I am a very particular and meticulous person - that every thing, living or non living things, in the house must have a place.

To me, it is about giving ownership to everything in the house.  That everything inside the house must get a recognition and comfort.  Just like the fork and spoon that feed me, the sofas and dining chairs that comfortable seat me, the clean hand towel that wipes my wet hands - they deserve to have a proper place, a proper compartment.

The last thing that we agreed today is to hack few walls.  Basically, we want a bedroom free of wardrobes, a walk-in wardrobe and study area, lots of wardrobe and island hob in the kitchen.
 

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Some Pictures Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Friday, April 04, 2008

We went down to the new house on 29 March.  Chiauw wanted to look at the architectural details and to finalise on the measurements.  Spent about three hours there.

She took some pictures:

01.  Living Room

Living room

Haha, sorry, we are camera shy.  Here, chatting with the seller who also happened to be my ex-colleague back in the early 1990s.

02.  Dining Area

Dining room left

03.  Balcony

Balcony window

This is the right side of the balcony.  It will be our smoking area.

04.  Master Bedroom

Mbr

The toilet door is closed.

05.  Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1

This room would probably be the study room and Walk-in Wardrobe [WiW] area.  We plan to knock down the storeroom that sits in between this room and the master bedroom.

06.  Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2

07.  Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen 1

Hmm, rather impressive, right?

The seller, Mr Julian is house proud.  We notice that every part of the house is taken care off - though, some may not be our taste.  Overall, it is the energy of the house that we are in love with and, for us, that is the most important thing.

Chiauw likes the place too and she is very keen to transform it into something modern, simple and functional for us.

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