A Tribute to Reiki Sanctuary, The Third Year - Part One Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Monday, November 07, 2011

If you can’t write it down, you probably can’t pull it off.  It’s hard to go bad when you do good.

I have never really written a proper article to thank Chiauw and to show her our deepest gratitude.  The person, the ID and a friend who contributes to make what Reiki Sanctuary to be what she is.  To make Reiki Sanctuary a sanctuary for souls to grow.  To enjoy for the blessed comfort and deep peace.  To unite and re-unite life with love, serenity and tranquility. 

To thank her to make Reiki Sanctuary to be a renovator's delight - and a beautiful home with all the right qualities that please our senses.  Chiauw, indeed, has done an excellent and wonderful transformation.  She makes a remarkable change to an old 23 years simple 5-rooms old flat to serve us with better function and condition.

Three years have passed and there are still people (mainly readers from a renovation forum) who would ask me to recommend her to do their homes.  There are still families and friends who come to our place and never stop complimenting on the good renovation works.  On the choice of materials, the choice of design and the choice of renovation organization.

Looking back, Chiauw does a very good job.  She incorporates our lifestyle and our needs and blends our idea of a home, which is highly aesthetically pleasing, with her wide scope know-how.  She transforms Reiki Sanctuary cosmetically and structurally.

Perhaps, I should record it that Reiki Sanctuary is an architect-designed.  It is modern and contemporary residence and not an ID created.  This is what Chiauw stands for and this is what Chiauw has been telling us.  It is, undoubtedly, a fact.

She is a trained and talented architect and not an Interior Designer per se.  It is her architectural job that allows her passion for interior decorating to be superbly crafted with high quality finishes throughout.

Reiki Sanctuary has been architecturally designed to maximise into a modern living space and style.  It is classic and timeless.  Undeniably, Chiauw is very knowledgeable and resourceful.  She thinks of all possibilities and very meticulous in carrying out with details.  The end result is to make sure that we live in a practical home, where house chores are made easier.

She puts through the most rigorous quality controls to ensure that Reiki Sanctuary is faultlessly built.  We see it all through her supervision with the plumbers, the electricians, the joiners and everyone that's involved with the renovation.  She makes sure even the tiler, the plasterer and the painter is dedicated to the finest finishes.

She designs Reiki Sanctuary to the very millimeters.  Every single area of our home is a true custom design.  The aim is to deliver the function with the look we love and be perfectly suited to our dream house.  She uses all her experience and expertise to guide us through the maze of design options and create the sanctuary that we desire.

Buying a house is only the first step in creating a home.  It is an heavy investment.  It is a manufacturing capital growth.  Here in Singapore, a well renovated public housing flat sells with higher cash over valuation (COV) on top of the value of the property.

Though it is not intended for us to 'buy-renovate-and-sell' Reiki Sanctuary, she is a home that will house us for many more years.  Still, we must provide for provision for our old age.  We have to factor in our lifestyle and how we want to live comfortably in 10, 15 or 20 years ahead.

Choosing Chiauw to do our renovation is a blessing.  She educates us.  She allows us to make informed choices.  She helps us to solve problems and fixes our decorating dollars wisely.  It is not about how much we spend, but importantly, Chiauw presents it stylishly.

Her wide knowledge on renovation hardware, building materials and supplies helps us to know what are available in the market.  She shows us almost everything, from the expensive high quality to the average.  At the end of it, the intention is for us to know that there are many options to choose from.

Our experiences with Chiauw, therefore, qualifies it into a renovation tip on 'How To Choose an Interior Designer'.  The end result speaks itself - the compliments are testament to her dedicated works.

Though my tips here are not extensive and exhaustive, I hope they provide sufficient basic knowledge.  Here, I will not highlight the importance on chemistry (between IDs and home owners) as it is personal and varied.  Chemistry should be the first thing to strike in the selection for a good ID.  Chemistry should include on communication, the ability between ID and home owner to collaborate and understand on a common language.

Once chemistry is established, there are other considerations.

I must add that the following tips are strictly based on personal satisfaction and our heartfelt appreciation for Chiauw.  Though not limited, it is to serve as a guideline for other home owners to consider before finally engaging an Interior Designer.

How To Choose An Interior Designer

01.  Certification

There are many interior designers or decorators but very few can qualify for the highest standard of Interior Design.  Those who met the qualification should not only be able to design but also able to understand building codes and project management.

Designing a new home is often a daunting task.  Many home owners have lots of ideas but they are like jigsaw puzzles span all over the head.  They need a good Interior Designer (ID) to help solve these puzzles and able to unite the pieces into a vision.  A good ID with proper certification, either by qualification or years of experience, could easily do it.

Never too shy to ask about their qualification and their experiences.  In fact, it is good to ask to let them know that you are really searching for a qualified person to help solving your jigsaw puzzles.

02.  Design Process

A good ID should have a wealth of experience and knowledge about constructing beautiful homes.  On top of that, ID should be able to tell how to live in them and to provide invaluable addition to the design process.

In the case of Chiauw, she interviews us at the start even before we get to ask about her expertise.  She asks about our lifestyles and about what we actually want in a house.  She leaves us with interior books so that we can have better ideas.

Basically, the objective is for her to conceptualize all that we want for a home.  She goes to the extend knowing which drawer or shelves we will put for sugar and the cooking oil, the tshirts and undergarments, the towels and bedsheets, the brooms and vacuum cleaner and etc.

A good ID should be able to tell home owners the function of each room.  When we ask Chiauw to design us a suspended TV Console in the Living Room, she knows where to place and hide the electrical sockets, yet conveniently located.  When we tell her that we want an L-shaped kitchen cabinet, she makes sure the height of it will not strain our body when cooking or washing the utensils.

These are details that many home owners overlook.  A good ID should highlight them right from the beginning.

03.  Budget

Explain the scope of the renovation and how much home owners are willing to spend upfront.  A good professional ID should be able to accommodate and making adjustments to fit budgets and expectations.

Chiauw uses a combination of fee structures.  There is a fixed fee to develop the initial plan and then cost plus to execute it.

04.  Style And Design

Good IDs should be able to accommodate home owners' tastes even if their personal style is completely different.  That said, there are IDs who have unique approaches that may not mesh with home owners.  Communication is critical when this happens.  Get them to tell the advantages.

Chiauw insists that at certain places, particularly in our kitchen cabinet, she wants to block off dead ends.  We are glad that we allow it.  Her rational makes sense - at such dead end area, cleaning is indeed a difficult chore.

A lot of psychology goes into design a functional home.  Good IDs must anticipate it and bring their talents to the project.  They should be able to contribute to the design process and adds tremendous value for home owners.

A good design is when IDs can provide with the highest quality home design, exceeding home owners' expectations, creating designs to enrich the occupants and producing unique solutions to inspire.

05.  Contacts And Management

Good IDs will be able to inform home owners on the renovation projects.  They can list down, and they should have sets of different sub-contractors to carry out the different tasks.  They should also know how to manage the different subcontractors.  Get them to share their lists of contacts for each task.  Get them to share on their workmanship.

Good IDs will hold your hands throughout the process.  They will bring you to source for materials.  They will advice on their practicability.

The best ID is the one that is transparent with the prices quoted from the different sub-contractors and suppliers.  Chiauw does not deal with payments.  She provides us with the tender prices from contractors and suppliers.

She carefully watches the sub-contractors' works and scrutinise all items purchased.  If we are not happy with the job or with any particular item, she makes sure they correct it at no extra cost to us.

06.  Timeline

Good IDs are able to tell home owners on renovation schedules.  They can give you an estimated time of delivery and hand-over date.


07.  Portfolios

It is important to see the many works of your selected ID.  Also, get the ID to show the works of his/'/her sub-contractors.

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The Celebration Of Life - Part Four Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Everybody loves a clean house but nobody likes the maid




Cleanliness is a learned behavior as laziness tends to be.  Perhaps, it is just our nature to be untidy, messy and unclean.  The bad thing, we are only taught about cleanliness, and to be neat and tidy, when we have passed through the initial psychological learning stage. 

Our developmental stage as kids and through our adolescent, our parents tended not to instill in us the habit of clearing the mess we did.  They allowed us to be disorganized and seldom demanded for us to put the things back in order.  They would not scold if we refused to sweep the floor nor not wiping the milo stains that we spilled nor when we chose to leave the bed undone.  They  would not reprimand when we left the dirty plates unwashed in the sink.

Hence, we grew up taking for granted that house-cleaning had to be somebody else's job.

---

I really like to say it again, "Everybody loves a clean house, but nobody likes the maid".  And, the same notion applies where "everybody loves a clean house, but nobody loves to 'maid' it".  Okay, okay, it is not everybody but almost all.

Hopefully, this writing will bring light to the way we see ourselves and how we treat another human being.  At the same time, it is about a mirror reflection, hopefully to shed some light as to where and how we place our mind and soul.


Everybody loves a clean house but nobody likes the maid

I have always felt, and with respect to those who have maids, that they (the 'Employers' in general) don't really have much compassion for their 'Employees', the maids.  Almost everywhere I see, almost everywhere I hear, the same thing is happening.

Eckhard Tolle refers to it as collective insanity.  Somehow, there is a belief there aren't good enough maids deserved to be appreciated and there are just too many generous and kind employers around.  Yes, I am being sarcastic here.  Fact is, I have heard too much of it.

To most, a maid is just a maid - an employee that is being paid to do the domestic works with minimum social interactions being adhered and developed.  Ironically, as much as she lives in and within the Employer's household, she is unlikely to become and to be fully accepted as one of the family member.  A line is usually drawn; there is the employer that needs to be served and there is an employee that is being paid to do the house works.

No, I am not arguing in favor that she has to be A family member but common courtesy should not be totally disregarded.  It is all about how we treat another human being.  Does not an individual be accepted to be closer when she is staying under the same roof?  Or, does not we feel estranged when we alienated her presence?  Somehow, the paycheck has become an exchanged for 'slavery'.

The other day, I overheard an Employer Ma'am said, "I hired you here to work, not to have Ah Ma fall in love with you and make you family.  I have to go out to work so you can get your pay every month!"  Wow!

Thing is, if ever a woman can choose on the kinds of any decent jobs that can bring in hard-earned money to buy food, shelter and clothing for her family, becoming a maid is hell of a Hobson's choice.  Maids are usually at employers' whims and fancies.  Their status, for their dignity as human beings, is often treated with little respect and little empathy for the hard work they put in day in and day out.  And mind you, houseworks are usually 24/7 365 days needing attention at all times.

Granted that many employers feel there is already an exchange of energy when hiring a maid:- that the maid is paid and being paid fairly and adequately.  Hmm, is she?, I wonder.  Hence, the only thing she should own in return is gratitude and not complaining?  Afterall, many Employer Ma'ams and Sirs would think, the maid is already getting free bed and board, free food, free rides and the occasional free clothes on top of the salary that is tax free.

The maid's role is just to finish all the typical domestic chores from cooking, ironing, washing, cleaning the house to taking care of the elders and the children.  Ah, and to many of us, these chores are simply just simple!  No need to think (easy job), no need to plan (easy job) and does not need much physical endurance (how can it be tiring?!).  While the employers are the 'bread-winners' that can sleep late and waking up later than the maid, the maid hardly gets her eight hours of rest daily.

I am amazed at how we have become fixated with the roles.  When we think we can afford to hire a maid, many of us forget the main humanitarian possibility that another poor woman may have to earn an income for her family in return.  Somehow, the maid is made to serve many 'Employers' within the household.  The children automatically become the sub-employer and so are the Employers' fathers and the mothers.
 
These children and the elders will no longer be cooking, ironing, doing the laundry, washing even the cups or lift the brooms to clean their own bedrooms.  Children are made to think they now owned a slave to do everything for them.  I have seen some children that don't even know how to bring their plates from the dining table, after they have finished the meal, and  wash that one plate.  And, some elders that cannot even move an inch of their hands to reach out for the TV remote control!  Unconsciously, we have turned ourselves to be some sorts of high dignitaries or Kings and Queens.

How many of us actually allow the maid to eat together with the whole family?  No, she has to eat our left-overs and her rightful place to eat is only in the kitchen.  Our dining table is too expensive and only meant for others but not the maid?  The other day, I overheard another disgruntle of a  Ma'am that feels her maid eats more than her! 

Do we watch our favourite TV shows together?  While we become (more) complacent, the maid must continue to make sure that the house is prim and proper.  That, the house is kept round the clock tidy, neat and clean.  We can become lazy but not them?

While we may complain of not getting enough annual leaves, we simply unable to pass down the same benefits to our maids.  We may demand for medical leaves for a headache but the maid can only have an hour's nap before resuming her duties.  We feel we have the rights to rest - perhaps, cos we think our job is nobler, but we grunted our reluctant approval when a maid asks for a day's off.

No, I am not advocating that the maid should work lesser hours than her employer and neglecting her main roles.  Nor should she treat herself as the "sir" or "ma'am" in the houe and ignoring all the dirty bowls-and-plates in the sink. 

But!, does not anyone think that, the minute we think we can afford a maid, we relinquish all kinds of domestic works?  We don't even know anymore as how to dish out a simple maggi? Fry an egg?  Iron just a clothes?   These simple tasks are automatically transferred to the maid, even while she is probably ironing clothes or washing the toilet at the time of request. 

Hmm, somehow, we become an OCDs overnight that all things in the house must be tidy, neat and clean but for the wrong reasons. A maid should be taught to do the things correctly. We have our own ways of arranging things in the house and the degree of neatness and cleanliness. We cannot assume a maid, and just because she is called a maid, should know everything related to house cleaning and maintenance. Just like our parents who didn't teach us when we were kids, the maid will just take for granted should there be no directions.


Everybody likes a clean house but nobody loves to 'maid' it

If doing house work is ever so easy, requiring not much a physical thing,  why aren't we doing it?  Why do we always find excuses not to clean and mop the house?  Why can't we stack our things neatly but to leave them disorganized?

Thing is, everyone loves a tidy, neat and clean house but we would prefer it if somebody else does the job.  Housework, somehow, is such a chore that can easily tire us.  It consumes much of our time when we can channel our energies to do other productive things instead.  But, are we that busy everyday? Try sit back and answer that question honestly.

When we can think and feel all of that, where then is our empathy?  We make a fuzz after a day of house cleaning that our body aches.  But, it is another story when a maid is taking a break.  We conveniently forget that a maid is another human, just like us, and that her body aches too.  Aren't we listening to our self hypocrisy?

A lot can be said about disorganized, disarrayed, messy and unclean people.  Their environment speaks loudly about their personality.  I am not claiming that their personality can be necessarily a negative one.  Nor, here am I saying that a messy house reflects on one's messy state of mind.

While we seek for everything clean, we are actually striving towards mindfulness for love, peace,  hope, courage, determination and inner strength.  We want to achieve for the ultimate sources of success in life.  But, why is it hard for us to spend an hour or so daily to organize things in the house?

We easily gloss over the untidy state in which we live with excuses that 'One day, I might need that', 'I am so attached to these stuffs', ' I won't be able to find anything if it is moved' or 'I have no time to clean up'.  Ultimately, we convince ourselves that clutter is synonymous with cosy and it is the inevitable result of creative nature.

The duality where we love clean things and our laziness towards them is our gap for compassion.  We lack the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy.  We lack the greater social interconnectedness and humanism.  My belief, if we want to generate love and positive thoughts, it has to start from within us.  Our soul, and heart, has to be clean.

There should be a balance to achieve a good quality of life.  We should live a life bringing about mental peace and physical comfort.  When our environment is clean, we just feel clean.  So is the need of a soul.  We always find comfort in good souls and we always feel pleasantly inviting entering a clean house.

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Little Story

Hertford - The last few weeks before moved out

Up till now, I can never forget my reactions towards Chiauw during Reiki Sanctuary's renovation in 2008.  It was my worst bad behavior.  Chiauw had helped us tremendously.  Her service was professional and very thorough.  She had our best interests.  She made a good ID and was very kind towards us.  I will definitely be using her again when another abundance comes.

Looking back, it was the day when Hertford turned into such a messy and untidy place.  We were all stressed up then.  We lived in her energy for almost three months before moving out.  Slowly, her untidiness and messiness clouded my emotions and mind.  I breathed her energy and soaked in the disarrayed vibrations.  Unfortunately, the incident just had to happen where I burst out at Chiauw over a small thing.

More Mess!! Untidy Environment, Untidy Mind?

This is my story.  What's yours?

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Cleanliness and neatness in one's home bring about mindfulness in our thoughts and actions.  We should be mindful at every step not to cause any kind of inconvenience to any person in any ways.  Though there are no known scientific studies to link a tidy house to a tidy mind, Donna Smallin (an organizing expert and author) claims the rewards of an organized home are huge:

-  Imagine having more time to spend with the people you love
-  More energy for the things you want to do
-  Less stress
-  More money in your pocket
-  Better self-esteem
-  A simpler life

Here is an interesting site - A Tidy House Is A Tidy Mind for further read.

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Renovation Tips - Part One Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Wire Management for TV Console

Our renovation journey had been educational and, thanks to our meticulous ID - Chiauw, we picked up lots of valuable insight.  Her motto in serving to educate her clients, let us to become well informed with market products, brands, quality and useful renovation know-how.   Of course, this comes with a price but, looking back, it will be a lifelong lesson.

We were not an easy client too.  We expected quality in workmanship; superiority yet affordable products and a result that exudes elegant aura of stylish home.  Reiki Sanctuary is an old HDB with lots of restrictions.  From the limited air conditioning electrical consumption and condensor weight to the height floor-ceiling limit.

One fastidious aspect that we needed her to propose was for the wiring management system that must be functional, affordable and provided an attractive solution.  We wanted a seamless installation.  To accomplish result where wires and cables 'disappear' into the walls and ceilings.  We wanted an aesthetically appealing wire management that will integrate well with our home decor.

Where we used to stay, in Hertford, we were able to conceal the wires.  Most of them were embedded into the wall.  With such wired definition, it made the mess for electrical wired trunks less visible and, needless to say, is more pleasing to the eyes.  However, the setback of not having a proper floor plan and a good drawing for the electrical chart, it can be a nightmarish shortfall.  It would be a guessing game to point how those circuitry electrical wires were run.

HDB, on the other hand - particularly old flats, has strict regulations.  Electrical wires are not to be concealed into the wall.  The whole circuitry is exposed.  Therefore, In designing Reiki Sanctuary, it became a challenge.

In my previous entry Timeline - In Perspective, I wrote that life is beautiful.  In a reciprocal respect, with all the days brainstorming to minimise the exposure of wires and to manage clutter in a workstation/tv console in Reiki Sanctuary, she turned HDB's restriction towards an acceptable trimmed and undiluted 'wired' sanctuary.  We managed to conceal, probably, ninety percent of the design of an effective electric circuit around the house.

Achieving Hidden Wire Management System for TV Console
The First Step - Circuitry Routing

Identify your desirable lifestyle for each room and the electrical gadgets/devices that will be housed therein.  With your floor plan, go through each room and plot the number of socket points/SCV/Telephone line.  Get the electrician to fix them before the commencement of carpentry works.

Example of Wire Management in Living Room:

Electric Circuit-Route Plan

Speaker Wire Routing in Living Room

The Second Step - Carpentry Designs

Work out a systematic and functional carpentry design and decide whether the electrical gadgets/devices will either be hidden or exposed.  It is good to know the dimensions for these gadgets/devices and, importantly, to provide allowances for the connecting cables.

Go through with the carpenter on the exact location of power points/SCV/Telephone line sockets and the gadgets/devices.  Indicate to him that you want these sockets to be concealed inside the cabinet. 

The carpenter needs to know the exact location of the sockets to ensure right cutting for socket mounting.  It is good to have a good drawing to show the configuration and routing as how the cables will run. 

For the top of the console, design a subtle 'opening'.  This opening is meant for easy routing of wires/cables.  You may want to have a hole [inside] at the bottom of the console for cables to subwoofer.

Example of TV Console [or rather, pictures say thousand words]:

Living Room TV Console

MBR TV Console

Interior - Box and Hole for Wires

PowerPoint Socket and Box

Hole for Wires

Removable Box-up

Exterior - Opening for Wires and Cables:

Top of TV Console

End Result - Top of TV Console

Cabinet Wire Management

End Result - Top of TV Console

End Result - Top of Extended TV Console 

Living Room Extended TV Console

MBR TV Console - Mohair Opening

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Uninvited Stress, Chaos and Change Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Monday, October 06, 2008

Last week ended with a note that Chiauw would bring us to the site this morning.  The objective was to decide for the placement of the towel hanger and toilet paper holder.  Chiauw just wanted us to decide where we would want to hang them in the two toilets.

We felt it would be a good idea to go down with Chiauw.  That we would be able, at the same time, to discuss some other issues and any other problems, if any.  In question, we also wanted to get a firm handover date.  When we first engaged Chiauw, early this year, she told us that renovation would normally finish within two months.  She was confident that we could move in early September.

Our renovation has stretched far too long.  It is into the fourth month.  An average renovation for a resale HDB would normally take about (maximum) three months.  Since we could not move in early September, we have actually re-scheduled it for today.  Obviously, we underestimated.

Chiauw told us, last week, that she will pick us at about 9 in the morning.  We waited.  By about 10, we decided to call her.  It was bad timing.  She was in the middle of a heated argument with Uncle Chong.  It seemed that Uncle Chong was angry that she changed some details for our kitchen.

Honestly, we felt that the tension was uncalled for.  We had already mentioned to Chiauw not to change any more drawings.  A change would, definitely, delay any progress.  We would accept technical variations as long as there are no large disparity.  We just wanted things to move on.

The arguments, which yet to come to any conclusion, were about our kitchen:

Problem Areas in Kitchen

Perfection Number One

Island Hood Area

Chiauw insists to rectify this area.  Though there is an ample space for a door between the cabinet and the island hood in the drawing, Uncle Chong mentions that it would not be possible.  We have agreed just to close the cabinet, or even boxed it up.

Chiauw feels it will be a wasted area.  But to us, it is just too small for anything and willing to forgo it.  She feels the aesthetic would not be right not to do anything there.  She suggests a rod where we can hang ladle, pots and pans but we strongly disagree.

Perfection Number Two

Kitchen Entrance (From Dining Room)

The right wall, from Dining to Kitchen area, is not even where there is a difference of 30 centimetres between the top and bottom.  Uncle Chong had mentioned this structural defect to us last week and the discrepancy can be obvious for a sliding wood framed glass door.

As this defect is only known now, we decided to go ahead with it.  To change to a full glass will require another system and it will take more time.  Chiauw, however, feels that Uncle Chong can do something about it.

Guess, for now, we just have to pray - as we are still not sure how they are going to be corrected.  As far as we are concerned, we have already told them what we wanted.

May Peace Be With Them!

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For The Record ... Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, September 28, 2008

I must have the vision to see my potential
and faith to believe what I see.
The courage to act with conviction
to become what God meant me to be.

Surely there must be something for the delay.  Surely there must be something for the hiccups.  For all that is to be, we can only put our focus, our desires and wants, as promised yesterday.  We want all jobs that were discussed yesterday to finish as scheduled:

29 September, 2008

-  Chiauw must contact Blum to enquire for Blum Aventosen system.  The size of our top hung kitchen cabinet, according to Uncle Chong and Daniel [from Formwell]  is too big.  As such, the Blum Aventosen may not be able to take the weight.

Until Chiauw can get the confirmation, the top hung kitchen cabinet project is temporarily suspended.

-  Uncle Chong must start with the rest of the kitchen cabinets.  He must submit measurements of drawers to Daniel of Formwell by 30 September, 2008.

30 September, 2008

Daniel should have received the measurements from Uncle Chong. 

03 October, 2008

Uncle Chong is to finish all the wood works in the Guest Room.

08 October 2008

-  The Master Toilet must finish.  The parquet guy must have installed the woods for Uncle Chong to erect the vanity top and drawers.

Master Toilet Floor

-  Daniel is to deliver all the glass kitchen drawers to the site.

10 October, 2008

Uncle Chong must complete all works including wardrobe at Dining Area.

As I advance confidently in the direction of my dreams
And endeavour to live the life I have imagined,
Success will come to me unexpectedly in common hours

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Dust In The Wind Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, September 28, 2008

It is somewhat surprising that, until a crisis happened, so much can change.  Complacency springs out of the pages and new events are quick to present with achievements.  A crisis should not be taken negatively.  Yet while it is often true that it stirs the emotions, generally hold with ill feelings and effects, it has to be recognised as one of the most telling contributory factor in any eventual victory.

An effective change is said to produce result after a crisis.  It proves to be effectual in bringing actions.  It jolts every molecule out of our system.  It brings higher vibrational consciousness.  It sets for deeper awareness.  It mobilises the inertia of an entrenched bureaucracy.  All decked out for the soul to learn the energy alternative out of comfort zone.

Yesterday, we received an early morning call from Chiauw.  She informed us that she had arranged a meeting with Uncle Chong and few other trade contractors at 10 a.m. at Reiki Sanctuary. 

Hmm, how an event - from our email yesterday, can accelerate a straight line motion for actions.  When we arrived, there were 12 workers already busy doing their own stuffs at different places throughout the house. 

In the Living Room, where it was converted into a mini conference area, there were Chiauw, Uncle Chong, a personnel from Formwell, the electrician supervisor and painting foreman.  Later in the day, the parquet and glass guys came to get briefing from Chiauw.

All eyes were drawn to these drawings:

Design Drawings

More Design Drawings

We greatly appreciated their attendance.  Though the meeting was filled with angry voices at times, more often between Chiauw and Uncle Chong, it ended with one common understanding and goal. 

The understanding that renovation works in Reiki Sanctuary were long overdue.  And a goal that there must be, and should have, a date for everything.  It was a good day for all of us.  It was a day to achieve an optimal result.  Surprisingly, the workers worked a full day on a Saturday.

Do we work better under stress?  Looking at the many achievements in one day, the answer was probably 'Yes'.  We were glad to be there.  Though we didn't fully participate in the meeting, as it was rather technical, our presence was either to confirm certain details and to go ahead with the works [despite some technical site problem] or to drop off an idea. 

When we were not participating in the meeting, we managed to interact with the workers.  Their works will determine the outcome of higher quality that we anticipate.

By four in the evening, we saw transformation.  Pressure can really work wonders!

01.  Balcony area cleaned up and surrounding walls going through final coat of paint.

Balcony - Wall Light n Paint

02.  Guest Toilet's lights fixed

Guest Toilet Lights

03.  Living room walls had the final coat of paint.

Living Room Final Paint Coat

04.  Master Bedroom lights fixed

Master Bedroom Lights

05.  Master Wardrobe glass door fixed.

Uncle Chong will change the shelves into a hanging area next week.

Master Wardrobe

06.  Master Wardrobe inside Study area fixed. 
Uncle Chong will also change the shelves into a hanging area next week.

Master Wardrobe In Study Area

07.  Master Bedroom TV Console rewired

TV Console in Master Bedroom

Recycled Wardrobe and TV Console

08.  Sliding Door in between Master Bedroom and Study Area fixed

Sliding Door

09.  Master Toilet's lights fixed

Master Toilet Lights

10.  Wardrobe in Study area fixed

Wardrobe in Study Area

11.  Study Table

Chiauw forgot about the top hung study cabinet.  Uncle Chong will have to remove the shelf and to install a cabinet.  Chiauw must hand in the drawing to Uncle Chong by Monday.  As this modification is last minute, the cabinet has become low priority.

Study Table and Window Low Bench

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Fireworks Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Saturday, September 27, 2008

It started with the truth.

Yesterday, the first thing we did when we reached home after inspecting the site was to send an email to Chiauw.  Our intention, and for the very first time, was to express our disappointment.  We decided to express the truth.  That we didn't want the renovation progress to drag any further.  That we wanted Chiauw to commit to us a handover date. 

We felt by putting the pressure on Chiauw, it would cause a chain effect.  She would call Uncle Chong and to insist for his completion date.

On our part, and based on the earlier committed schedule, we have confirmed the deliveries for Thursday and Friday.  We have scheduled our move on 6th October and we are supposed to hand over Hertford on 8th October.

Looking at the situation in Reiki Sanctuary, there is no way we can achieve the deadline.  There is no way that the deliveries can be done as there would just be no clean area to place all the bulky items.  Even the Master Bedroom, which was supposed to be completed by 20th Spetember, was in a big mess.  The parquet floor was still covered and dusty.  There are still no lights inside the room.  There are still no proper vanity and sanitary.  The wardrobes are with no doors.  The sliding door separating the Master Bedroom and Study area is not fixed.  And the study top cabinet is, conveniently, forgotten.

The Female Fireworks

Within half an hour after sending the email, Chiauw called us.  We accepted her apologies.  She admitted that she forgot about the study top cabinet and there was no drawing given to Uncle Chong to construct it. Next, she shared with us her working problem with Uncle Chong.  She told us that she could not get any other trades to do anything until Uncle Chong completes his part.

On our part, that issue had settled in the previous meeting.  What is important is the question of responsibility - who should shoulder what?  We suggested that that she should call Uncle Chong and passed him about our concerns.

The Male Fireworks

Next, we had to handle Uncle Chong.  Chiauw had called him after her conversation with us.  She must had mentioned for a meeting.  He called us to refuse a tripartite meeting and insisted that it would be best for him to contact us directly. 

Perhaps, it was a better choice.  There were just too many unpleasant remarks made about Chiauw's modus operandi.  Before we could get him to commit the completion date, we had to listen to all his disappointments with Chiauw.  Not to aggravate the situation, we just listened.

Guessed Uncle Chong just needed to let off his steam too.  At the end of it, we managed to get him to verbally commit us the completion date.  Though we were not fully happy, we told him that we just have to accept the few dates.

The Aftermath

Other than getting some dates, our problems are not solved.  We are still back to guessing game.  For now, we are targetting 20th October.

We need to re-schedule the deliveries.  However, we are just wary if the mover can accommodate us on the 20th.

We wonder if both Chiauw and Uncle Chong understand our problems - that the longer we are to stay in Hertford, the more rent we have to pay.  This is an unnecessary expense and we could actually use it to get better things.  How about Reiki Sanctuary's neighbours?  How long more must they endure the noise, the dust?  How about our other plans?

A thought did cross our mind.  Should we get compensation should the project is delayed again?  Perhaps.

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.. and The Joins Stained .. and The Big Sacrifice Awaits Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Thursday, August 07, 2008

We almost lost Uncle Chong - the principal joiner of Reiki Sanctuary.  To us, and also Chiauw, Uncle Chong is a meticulous joiner.  We have seen his works and he takes extreme care about details and kinda fussy to technicalities.

Wardrobe done by Uncle Chong in another project:

Wardrobe n Drawers Done By Uncle Chong

Ah, it sounds almost like Chiauw!  And, indeed, when we put the two of them together, they often engage in friendly arguements - always!  Uncle Chong is the practical guy who needs a detailed drawing so that he can exercise precision with the final products.  Chiauw, on the other hand, is very architectural and she needs exact measurement before she can lay the final products into a drawing. 

As the renovation is slowly taking shape, and new ideas or site technical problems cropped out, Chiauw feels the joinery drawings can only be finalised when all the wetworks are completely done.  But Uncle Chong insists on a drawing now so that he can start with all the wood works. 

And so, the drifts have started *sad*.

Uncle Chong has been awarded with our joinery works right from the very beginning of our renovation project and had been briefed on layouts for the whole house - the location, the type of wood and wood finishes.  We have a lot of joinery works in this house, even the TV consoles and bed frame and its side tables are to be customed made by Uncle Chong.  Simply, Uncle Chong understands our basic requirements.

We like both of them.  We strongly believe that each one of them will give us the best for Reiki Sanctuary.  But, right now, we are smacked in between.  Uncle Chong wants to quit and Chiauw is not going to heed.  As long as Chiauw is not going to give him the final drawings, Uncle Chong cannot deliver the goods by early September.

Chiauw, however, strongly feels that she can only finalise the drawing by end of this week when all the false ceilings and tiles/teakwoods are completely installed.  She feels that Uncle Chong can already start with the small parts based on the earlier drawings for the doors, kitchen cabinet drawers, study area etc.  But Uncle Chong has a different work style - he prefers to focus on one project and complete it before he takes on another one.

We have no choice but to interfere in their differences now.  As much as we want to move in by the first week of September, we are now making big sacrifice to move in on the third week [earliest] or end of September [latest].  We hope this will give them back their many years of business relationship.  We feel that the only way not to stress the two of them anymore, we have to extend our deadline.

Definitely, we will suffer some inconveniences especially when many things have been arranged for early September.  Now we wonder, will we be compensated?

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Predicament Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Wednesday, June 04, 2008

We are not sure whether we should accept Chiauw's suggestion to meet this saturday.  We understand, through sms, that her brother is still unconscious, though he is making small progress.

Not that we doubt she will not give us her best, but we wonder whether we will stress her more.  Yes, there are still many things to discuss and finalize but these things, in our mind, can wait. 

A life is more important.  Plus, we can only start the renovation in July and to move to the new house early September.  Hence, we have about a month plus to sort things out.

But on the other hand, it would be good that we take Chiauw's mind away from her sadness.  It is, and can be, very stressful for her just to see  the brother in such a condition for the last few weeks.  Perhaps, to steer her away a little will do some good.

We will honour her decision.  Meanwhile, we decided not to give her stress.

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My Spirit Flies To You Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Friday, May 30, 2008

We are glad that we decided to give Chiauw a call.  She is back in Singapore.  Unfortunately, we also learn that her brother is in Intensive Care Unit from a brain surgery. 

It seems that a blood vessel burst. Our prayers are now with him .. for his strength, for his recovery

We feel sad for her.  Hope everything will turn out well.

Chiauw, as usual, wanted to talk about the home renovation but we dismissed the topic.  Guess for now, what is more important is for the brother to regain consciousness and recover.

Our prayers are for Chiauw, her brother and family.

Brain Music

Reiki Music

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Thank You, Chiauw Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, May 04, 2008

What we learned today pleases us tremendously.  We feel very lucky to come in contact with Chiauw.

When we first approached her, she knew that we were in the process of choosing an Interior Designer [ID].  Her presentation was very simple.  She quoted us her professional fee and how the renovation process will take place.

Of cos, as any customer, we need to know her years of experience and design successes, basically her portfolio.  We only saw one of her home renovation works.  We actually like it.  It was very clean-lined, modern, spacious, elegant and very meticulous with details.

Today, on our way home, we overhear her telephone conversation with one of her good friends.  We learn that she has rejected doing renovation for this friend because she has taken us into her portfolio.  To her, she has more than enough projects to handle for now. Should she take her friend, she will not have quality time to spend on all the clients at hand now.  She believes that she must gives and provides attentive service to all. The good thing is, she does know her limit and should not over-stretch it for the sake of money.

Though her friend has her own ID now, she volunteers a lot of renovation advises to her.  We can feel her care and concern when she speaks to her.

Currently, she is on a major hotel project handling about 180 rooms.  And that, it is like having 180 clients because she needs to give details to all the 180 rooms.  Wow, and that's alot!

Chiauw is very committed and honest.  She has proven that to us from day one these values.  We have spent a lot of time - not only from the  brainstorming sessions on our home concept and design -  but also to visit shops for the last few weeks.

She spends a lot of time with us just to make sure that we will get a nice and beautiful home. She provides us with lots of renovation knowledge, the industry and the materials.

Chiauw is just different from many IDs. We truly believe that she is above them all. Her values and her experiences make her stand out.

Thank you, Chiauw for taking us into your portfolio.  And, we feel very lucky to work with you.  We are confident, with your expertise and professionalism, this new house will turn into a beautiful Reiki Sanctuary.

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Yay! Shop shop shop Written by : Reiki Sanctuary Date : Sunday, May 04, 2008

Ah, shopping has no longer become fun! - still, we are excitedly looking forward  to do more of it.  Such a human irony, I guess.  People like to shop and shopping has also become such a therapy to many.

New home owners tend to enjoy retail therapy.  Not to be used in a negative term, it is a period of transition - perhaps, it fills the anxieties and comforts any stress.

We start to realize that with so many choices, it comes with stress too.

Important to Chiauw, she wants us [and all her clients] to be well rounded and well informed.  That, when the renovation is completed, and when we look
back in the future, there will be no regrets.

The one thing that I like about Chiauw is her honesty and integrity in carrying out her professional duty.  She is bringing us to so many shops - not to get us to confirm purchasing of the items, but to get us be aware of the wide range of stuffs available.  We just need to tell her 'ah, this is nice and we want it'.  She will take note of them and will take care, through her contacts, to confirm the purchase later. 

So far, all the this is nice and we want it quotations have come back to us.  Still, she often says that she is not satisfied with the quotes and will outsource with few more from  other contacts.

We went to two big floor tiles suppliers - one in Changi South and another at Defu Lane.  We like the tiles from Changi South but they are dearer.  Chaiuw has forewarned us before our trip there.  We almost wanted to make a reservation for a particular tile.

Samples tiles from the shop in Changi South:

MBR Tiles Combo C3 BuildersMart A

The Black tiles are being reserved by someone.

Not sure where we want these tiles to be in Reiki Sanctuary. We felt the black will be for the kitchen flooring but it will be too smooth and, hence, will be slippery.  Definitely, not a good idea as we grow older.

Other choices:

01.  Black wall and grey floor for MBR toilet
02.  Grey floor and white wall for guest toilet

Sample Tiles from Defu Lane:

MBR Tiles Combo AA

Combo [choice A] for MBR toilet.
We may choose the black for our Kitchen provided there is a bigger piece.

MBR Tiles Combo B1 A

Combo [Choice B] for MBR Toilet.
Gosh, it was not easy to find a black and white coloured tiles.  We spent more than two hours in each shop just to find the right black and the right white.

And the sourcing for tiles continues ....

The Kitchen Sink

Found this in one of the shop on our way home.  It is a must buy.  Chiauw approved it! and I like it very much!  Haha, looks like this is the only item, confirmed, and purchased.

Hmm, now the colour concept for kitchen - floor and cabinet, needs to change.

It is a big white ceramic bowl of 560mm x 905mm with depth of 255mm.

AstraCast Double Bowl Ceramic Kitchen Sink

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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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