.. to the Drawing Board 9 Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, June 29, 2008

These were the geometrical drawings that we discussed yesterday:

Heaps of Geometrical Drawings

These drawings were the finalized concepts for our electrical socket powers and lightings, plumbing pipe run and layout plans for floor tiles and teakwood given to all the contractors.  Chiauw had invited few contractors for different works and they were at the site for briefing.  At the end of the briefing, each was given the drawing and we hope that they will adhere to them closely.

On Monday, the joiner, Uncle Chong will start to lay planks in the living and dining area to protect the floor tiles that we intend to keep from the previous owner.  Uncle Chong has also been awarded the task to dismantle the kitchen cabinet and the built-in wardrobes.  He will also be the man that will install our architectural woodwork - doors, cabinets and other wooden fittings.

Meanwhile, Chiauw will be going down to HDB Town Council tomorrow to apply for renovation permit.  We will then know the start date for the wet works including the demolition of walls, hacking of floor tiles, waterproofing, screeding and tiling.

I guess, to let an architect design our place gives us a different approach and it would be different should we have engaged an interior designer.  With an architect, we are at a freewill to pick and choose our contractors for different works around the house.  Also, every structural aspect of the house is re-constructed, from the marco level of how to integrate into our lifestyle to the micro level of construction details.

Chiauw engages the design process to give Reiki Sanctuary the sense of form, texture, structure, materials and the pragmatic elements such as cost, construction limitations and technology.  At the end of it, she wants to provide us a home that is functional, economical, practical with artistic and aesthetic aspects.

It is hard to single out a house theme and style for Reiki Sanctuary.  From the start, we do not want to narrow down to a specific theme but we want consistency throughout.  We want clean and modern finishes, yet warmth and cosy and a sense of spaciousness.  We believe Chiauw has able to give us that.

We left Reiki Sanctuary to head down to another light shop along Balestier Road.  Chiauw wanted us to look into the ceiling lights and the specific type of warm light that we want to deploy all around the house.  And hopefully, we can find the hanging light for our dining area too.  We didn't get to find our dining light but managed to select the frame for the ceiling light and chose the code for the warm light.

We are not in favour of halogen lights but we have no choice.  Firstly, we want the false ceiling not to exceed certain height so that ceiling-floor height is maintained.  And only halogen frame fits our design.  Secondly, halogen lights emit more heat, though it is possible to use a dimmer.

The Spain Ceiling Light Frame - using halogen bulb:

Halogen Bulb Frame

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The New Day Has Come Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Friday, June 27, 2008

The new day has come!

We waited exactly three months and 12 days to get the keys to Reiki Sanctuary.  And when it is finally here, the wait didn't feel that long.  It feels that time moves rather fast.  We are yet to finalize the design nor have we decided on the contractors. 

There are still things that we have not purchased - the air-conditioning system, living room sofa, dining table and lights, TV and many many other things.

Electricity and water supplies start today.  It is a transfer from the previous owner down to us.  As such, renovation can actually starts anytime.

Mr Monteiro, the previous owner, moved out yesterday.  He was able to renovate his new 3-rooms flat in about two weeks.  Am glad and happy for him and his wife. We had arranged for the handover and inspection at 11 am today and agreed that it should be done without the presence of the house agent.

It is such a great joy to see our new house.  Mr Monteiro does a very good job - he had really cleaned the house!  What left are the fittings and build-in cabinets.  Geez, and all the interior of the cabinets are clean too!

Earlier, we did a simple cleansing and blessing in the house.  It was a similar act that we did when we got Hertford too.  Basically, it was just the sprinkling of rice and salt all over the house.  Importantly, we needed to verbalize and internalize positive thoughts and prayers as we moved from room to room.

Some pictures of the house today:

The main door

We will hack away the wall next to the door and replace it with a glass sliding door.  It will also be the entrance to the kitchen.

Main Door

The Dining Area

Anybody wants the dining light?

Dining Area

The Master Bedroom

We will tear down the build-in wardrobe.  The toilet will be open and extended.

Anybody wants the ceiling lamp?

MBR from Entrance

The MBR Wardrobe

We will hack away the wall next to the build-in wardrobe and extend MBR out to the next room.

MRB Wardrobe

The Walkway/Corridor to the 3 bedrooms and Store-room

We will hack away the store room and part of the walls of MBR and Bedrooms.  Will reconstruct a new door for MBR and Guestroom.

Walkway To Bedrooms n Store Room

Guestroom

We will re-position the door of Guestroom facing the Dining Area.

Guest Room from Dining

The Balcony

It will have an outdoor feel with wooden planks floor.

Balcony

The Kitchen

The island hood will be at where the light is now.  We will have an L-shaped kitchen cabinet.

Kitchen from Dining

As you can see, the house is like sparkling clean!  We appreciate what Mr Monteiro and his wife had done.  Thank You!  And may God Bless the two of you!

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Let This Be My Prayer Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Thank you for all the comments. 
Thank you for all the care. 
Thank you for the silence. 
Thank you for just being there.

I have received few comments/notes from friends encouraging me to pen down my metaphysical thoughts and emotions in this blog.  About the same views I usually express in my daily social interactions.  About how I feel over certain issues and providing them with life choices.

The thing is - just as in the poem, 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, this blog is about the joy of setting up a new home.  About a farewell to Hertford.  About moving on and letting go.  About celebration of an end and the embracement for a new beginning.  It is about taking that one road less traveled - afterall, how often do we get a chance to move, which will make all the difference.

The opportunity that lies ahead signals a change in path.  This blog intended to serve and describe my new learning curves that will make for a fulfilled experience.  There is just so much to learn.  Knowing Chiauw is a blessing and in all those 'branded stuffs', they are namesake that we are getting at a lower prices.  Chiauw is the link that provide us with such luxuries, yet non-exorbitant, and will only make Reiki Sanctuary fulfilled with little abundance that comes alive.

When I started this blog, I mentioned that it will be the end of an inert energy and to be proactive with the new environment.  It was about the time to pack and leave behind the actions, the interactions and the thoughts of yesterday.   I let the significant moment to pass and to be just an observer.  Afterall, my energy will be channeled towards the start of Reiki Sanctuary.

There is still love and for what I believe, for what I want to provide and give.  It will never stop - for I love peace and joy too much.

Perhaps, I am the imperfect perfectionist and I would rather speak when it is sought. 

Perhaps, it is just not the time to voice loud. 

Perhaps, it is about an energy just to observe.

-- My prayers are for you --

The Prayer

Josh Groban Ft Charlotte Church

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.. to The Drawing Board 9 Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Monday, June 23, 2008

Here is the final layout for the socket outlets in Reiki Sanctuary - there are 52 points all throughout the house! Hmm, not sure if that is just too many but definitely it is something that, we think, is properly taught off. Every electrical appliances and gadgets in Reiki Sanctuary will have their own 'house'. 

We are trying to do away with extension cords and electrical power extenders in the future.  Basically, we want a neat and tidy wiring system and that each home appliances and other electrical gadgets in Reiki Sanctuary have its own dedicated socket.

Personally, we find it effective (and perhaps, cool) that no two electrical gadgets will share the same one socket (just like when we were in Hertford). Perhaps, it will be more cost effective too and lessen the worries of power surges.

Electrical Points

As HDB does not allow conceal wiring, it is important to lay the wires carefully.  Chiauw promises to work very closely with the electrician and to 'hide' as much of the electrical wiring.  We will be using white Legrand Mallia series:

For Lighting Switches:

Legrand Mallia 2 rocker switch

For Cable and Telephone:

Legrand SCV-Telephone Socket

For Socket Outlet:

It will be nicer and neater if only we can conceal the wires and to use this socket:

Legrand Socket for Conceal Wiring

*Sigh*, unfortunately, we have to settle with this type of double socket:

Legrand Mallia Double Sockets

Chiauw is going to hide lots of such sockets either inside a cabinet/console and to use a waterproof switch socket and isolator.

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About Oak, again .. Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, June 22, 2008

We have decided to drop off the idea of having oak wood for all the bedrooms floor.  After considering the yellowish-orangey matured colour change of oak, and most temperate woods such as ash and maple, we decided to go for a tropical wood Teak instead.

We do like oak cos it is real hard wood, nice and light.  We are in favour of wood of a lighter shade as it will make the bedrooms brighter and spacious. This is an important criteria, other than providing the bedrooms a wood cozy feeling which we both like, we do not want to turn the rooms dark.

Oak before it matures [if only it will stay this forever]:

Solid oak

As teak is a tropical wood mainly native to India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina and Indonesia, Chiauw feels that there will be consistency and non drastic in the colour change down the years.  It will not be as yellow-orange as compared to temperate woods.

The matured colour of oak under our local temperature - which is too much for us:

Oak Matured Colour 2

We will settle for teak.  Guess the next question will it be Indonesian or Burmese teak.  As opposed to lay the longer strip, we will opt for the shorter ones as to keep the smaller uniformity of the different teak shades and grains.  Teaks have different machined showing blotches and streaks of various shades with straight grain, sometimes wavy and texture coarse and uneven ring porous.

Therefore, the wide spectrum of teak with smaller stripes is evenly dispensed.  We intend to keep the floor semi matte.

A picture taken from a friend's place with semi-matte teak - short stripes:

Teak wood 1

[PS:  It is not so dark as we saw it.]

Though we feel that teak may be a little dark for our liking, it would be a better choice in the long run.  Guess, we can only hope for the best.

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Great Singapore Sale 4 Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, June 22, 2008

We set off early yesterday to finalize purchase for another section of the house.  Suddenly, we felt an urgency to get most accessories as we expected the renovation to start on the first week of July. 

The contractors will give us their quotations early next week and we are to decide for the right one immediately.  Plus, we will be collecting the house keys on Friday 27 June. 

We intend to activate Singapore Power services either on friday afternoon or saturday morning.

Yesterday, Chiauw picked us at about 10 in the morning.  We planned that we should settle all the sanitary accessories for both the MBR and Guests toilets so that we can focus on something else there after.  We headed to Home & Bathroom at Balestier Road where we purchased these items:

01.  Metris-S Mixer Taps for MBR and Guests Toilets:

Hansgrohe Metris-S Mixer

02.  As the water pressure in the house is not strong, we could not opt for Rain shower.  Instead, we chose Hansgrohe Shower Head:

Hansgrohe Shower Head

03.  Hansgrohe Wall Panel Sliding Bar:

Hansgrohe Wall Panel Sliding Bar

04.  Hansgrohe Metris-S Shower Mixer:

Hansgrohe Metris S Shower Mixer

05.  Hansgrohe Focus E Kitchen Sink Mixer:

Hansgrohe Focus E 360deg Swiwel Sink Mixer

Next, we went to pick the black tile for our kitchen.  Since, we had decided to go for black gloss, it was easier to choose.

High Gloss Black for kitchen floor:

Black High Gloss Tile

We then went to a natural stone maker at Geylang to choose the chiselled tiles for the feature wall in the shower area.  We picked a design and Chiauw will need to do some modification to oil stain the tiles so as to make it glossy.

After that, we dropped by LightCraft lighting showroom at Jalan Sultan to look for the hanging lights for our dining area.  It was a big 11,000 sq ft showroom space with three levels.  Perhaps, we are fussy and with so many lightings, we could not find one that we really liked.  However, we are keeping these two in mind - they do not use the energy saving bulbs:

01.  An 8-balls Hanging Light

Eight Pendant Balls Light

02.  A 6-balls Hanging Light

Dining Light - 6 Balls

Our biggest purchase yesterday was LG steam direct driver washer dryer WD-14370RD.  This washer dryer is supposedly a 'go green' environment friendly machine with less water and energy consumption.  Its washing capacity is 9 kg and dry capacitiy is 5 kg. 

At Harvey Norman, we saved S$500 and awaiting for a call from the salesguy to confirm if we would be entitled for further free gifts from LG.  We paid $252 for 5 years extended warranty.

LG Steam Washer Dryer WD-14370RD

LG Steam Direct Washer Dryer

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Into The Future Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Friday, June 20, 2008

Now that the Master Plan 2008 has been announced by Urban Redevelopment Authority, let's explore a little further into the development of Jurong Lake District and Jurong Gateway.

The next 10 to 15 years will see dynamic transformation in the West.  The key development, Jurong Lake District, which will become the main commercial and recreational hub in the region.  The Jurong Gateway will offer an excellent mix of office, retail, residential, hotel, entertainment, F&B and other complementary uses.  Lakeside around Jurong Lake will become a major leisure destination focussing on edutainment and entertainment experiences.

New housing will also be built in attractive and familiar places, and the mature estates will be enhanced.  This will, probably, include Reiki Sanctuary.

What's in store:

Located around the Jurong East MRT Station, the new plans for the
70ha Jurong Gateway is to develop it into a vibrant commercial hub; the
biggest outside the city centre.

Something for Everyone

Here,
you will find an excellent mix of office, retail, residential, hotel,
entertainment, F&B and other complementary uses. This will be an
appealing environment for company HQs, business services and companies
in the science and technology sectors.   

There
will be land at the Jurong Gateway to house at least 500,000 sqm of
office space and 250,000 sqm of retail, F&B and entertainment uses.
At least 2,800 hotel rooms will also be developed to cater to business
travellers and visitors to the leisure destinations around the lake. To
add vitality and create a “live, work, play and learn” environment,
1,000 or more homes will be introduced around Jurong East MRT station.
This will offer people the option to live and work in the same
vicinity. Land will be released in tandem with market demand.

Seamless Connections, More Greenery

From
Jurong East MRT station, pedestrians can walk conveniently and
comfortably to most developments and public facilities around the area
and to Jurong Lake through an extensive network of pedestrian links and
landscape malls.

They can also experience lush
greenery with new landscaped open spaces and park connectors introduced
at the street-level. Skyrise and rooftop greenery will also be on many
of the buildings in the area.

Key buildings a

feature can enjoy scenic views of the lake. For example, buildings
around the Jurong East MRT station will step down towards the lake,
allowing more to enjoy panoramic views of the lake.

Shop and Dine By The Lake

Jurong Lake District - ShopDine

A new waterway can be created to bring the lake closer to Jurong Gateway.

Imagine an intimate street-based, low-rise development on the newly created island by the lake.

There will be F&B, retail, boutique hotels and entertainment. This will be the natural place for business get-togethers or after-work dinner and drinks, as it will be an easy 10-minute stroll from Jurong Gateway via the landscaped, sheltered walkways.

Jurong Gateway will be integrated with Lakeside by pedestrian links and
a continuous mall with lush landscaping. This begins at the concourse
of Jurong East MRT station and runs all the way to the proposed
lakeside village at Jurong Lake.

The upcoming developments include:
-  New Big Box
-  New Jurong Entertainment Centre
-  New Science Centre
-  New Jurong General Hospital and Community Hospital
-  New Gold Resort Hotel in Jurong Country Club
-  New Waterfront Boardwalks and Wetlands at Jurong Lake
-  Improved Jurong East MRT Station and Bus Interchange

Jurong Lake District 1A

Jurong Lake District 2

Enjoy the video:

Jurong Lake District

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A Visit Back To Reiki Sanctuary Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Thursday, June 19, 2008

Today, we had our contractors down to the flat for an inspection.  It was a little weird - as much as we dared not move around too freely and inspecting every corner, the previous owner [Mr Monteiro] passed a remark 'go ahead, do whatever you need to do - this is already your house'. 

That was, indeed, very sweet of him.  It made sense but still we should respect the situation since he and his wife were still residing there. It only proved that we had bought a blessed home. And, it was made possible for us to find one as he decided to downgrade due to old age.
We felt that we should, at least, give them the last few days to savour the place.  Afterall, they had been staying there for 23 years.  They were still in the middle of packing and there were still so much more to pack.

While Chiauw was busy attending to the contractors, I found out:

01.  That I had been to this house before.  Mr Monteiro showed me a photo taken during a Christmas gathering some 18 years ago with ex colleagues.  Geez, and I could not even remember about it - not the slightest memory.

02.  That the water pressure in the house is not strong enough to install rainshower.

03.  That Mr Monteiro had called some transport/mover services that I had earlier recommended and chose Citimap Transport Services.  We would probably use the same one.

04.  Mr Monteiro will move out on 26 June.

05.  That we will be getting our keys on 27 June 2008.

Some exterior pictures of the New Reiki Sanctuary:

The lift landing on the ground floor:

Lifts Landing on Ground Floor

To the right, there's an overhead bridge that links Jurong East and Bukit Batok:

Overhead Bridge to Bt Batok

The spacious recess area between two units from ground floor.  This is what we like and was one of the reasons why we bought this place.

Recess Area from Ground Floor

Lift Landing to Stairs

The spacious main entrance:

Main Door n Gate

And this is the rug that Mr Monteiro will leave behind for us.

Main Door Rug

The Park as seen from Balcony:

Park from Balcony

The Car Park from Dining Room:

Car Park from Dining Room

A far view to a friend's flat [taken from Study Room] which is just across the highway and diagonally opposite the block:

Ah Hong's Flat

Such a serene and tranquil afternoon visit.  The area is quiet.  Though it was hot afternoon, I didn't feel hot entering the house - and that's a good sign.

Hopefully, we can start renovation on the first week of July.  Yay!!!

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The Renovation Educational Tour Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I believe that once the renovation is completed, I would have learned a lot about interior design.  It is a good thing that we engage Chiauw and that she takes us in as her client. 

Through her vast architectural knowledge and a designer's know-how, she puts no limits to impart the knowledge to us.  It is her principle to educate all her clients to be well-rounded and well-informed.

I admire her principle - that, at end of any house renovation, her clients have a complete knowledge about renovation. Her clients are to be well informed of all the different markets, brands, prices and so on. She feels that each client is not short-changed after the handover.

Chiauw invites me to go along with her to Sungei Kadut to meet with a Product Manager from Formwell.  Basically, she wants me to be exposed with the high quality furniture decorative surface materials and fitting components for cabinet doors, wardrobe system and furniture door system.

Formwell Products:

Brochures for ColumnPlus - Lifestyle Display & Storage System and Frontali - Aluminium Frame Cabinet Door for hinge opening, sliding and folding application

Brochures for Frontali Series 6000 - sliding door for cupboard and wardrobe application; Frontali Series 7000 - tall sliding door big wardrobe and Frontali Series 8000 - sliding door system for passage and partition walk-in application.

After Formwell, we visit Kenwood Industries.  Chiauw wants me to see the bigger pieces of oak woodenware so that I can have a better picture of it.

Oak Wood

Next, she brings me to a church in Bukit Batok to show the matured effect of oak wood.  In this church, it uses alot of oak and I would be able to see the matured colour under our tropical heat.  Generally, all woods will undergo color change and it is important that I am comfortable with the effect.

What I see is not pleasant - somehow, it is too yellow and not to my liking.  This is how it looks like:

Matured oak colour

[The real colour is more yellowish - there is a tinge of orange]

Conclusion:

01.  Definitely, we will be using some of Formwell products.  I like the high gloss solid surfacing for the kitchen cabinet and the sliding wardrobe system.
02.  Oak is definitely out!  We might consider to lay teakwood as it is a tropical hardwood.  As such, the colour change is very minimal.

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The Preview Opportunity Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, June 17, 2008

We were shown a house which Chiauw had just finished with the renovation works.  It was an old unit in Lorong Kismis - with only about 80 sqm.  Basically, Chiauw wanted us to see the contractors' works and the design for the wardrobe inner structure.

The inner design of our walk-in wardrobe will look something like this:

Drawers

Hanging

As our unit is old and, according to HDB, that there's an aircon amp limitation, we are considering a ceiling fan for the study area.  Initially, a friend recommended us to get Relite Hugger.  Chiauw is now suggesting for this one as it is slightly cheaper:

Ceiling Fan

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