First look at some of our IKEA stuff.

Got to thank my cousins, Lavin and Tina for their contribution to my storeroom...Racks!! They had wanted to sell them but gave it to us FOC. Not easy to keep it so well maintained with every screws still available.

Best of all, the rack is expandable so I can get another portion to join up to a longer one to fit all the stuff we're going to put in the storeroom, our bomb shelter. Can't find any new house without them nowdays. Some people spend lots of money to cover them up but for us, we went for the simple painted door look to blend into our walls.

Picture above shows our new panel curtain rails. We intend to hack off the wall for another window so we'll install the curtain there first. After doing that, we'll have to pray hard HDB guys do not come up to do any inspection as its illegal to add any windows in govt. flats (unless, maybe, approved by HDB and a Pro. Engineer, which should cost a lot)

Well, now the truth and only half the truth (picture below). Instead of windows, we have in place bookshelves, BILLY series. Only $99 each for the white coloured one. And instead of doors, we'll use panel curtains as doors/ covers. Yet to be put up..stay tuned for that.

Please note that it is almost impossible to cash and carry these damn bookshelves by yourself. Due to its weight, it takes at least two person to carry them long flat packs. So buy lotsa stuff at one go and have them all delivered to your doorstep for only $40.

Shoe storage below also from same place. Whacked, drilled, hammered and installed by yours truly. **Lesson: When drilling walls, please use the correct masionary bit with a hammer function drill. And when drilling, just WHACK it! Much faster that way.**

It also is table top to place keys, coins, letters etc. We're considering getting another one. Heng my wife does not have any shoe fetish or collect shoes.

Kitchen almost done..

Took some of these photos quite long ago but did not post them up as there were some rectification works to be done and I wanted to show the whole kitchen in one post.

Stainless Steel double sink c/w tap, supplied by Ah Low, one big one small. Nowadays, small kitchens cannot afford to fit too big of a sink and with a solid surface, its not neccessary. All chopping and cutting can be done on the solid surface.

Gourmet Hob and Hood from Bellari (www.bellari.net). We got a sliding hood so that it will be flush with the rest of the capentary when not in use. Some houses nowadays would rather do away with it as most working couples will not be cooking anyway. Ah Low installed our tempered glass

According to feng shui, the position of hob in the kitchen is critical. For more info, pls consult your own feng shui master. Shall not elaborate on it as each have their own style.

The breakfast counter we wanted and we got it! Wine "cellar" done up to make full use of the space as that space would have been lost as it's at a corner (from the inside)

We've yet to purchase our high bar stools but have already found a source.

We settled for a U-shaped design but gave up some walking space for more capentary and our breakfast counter. Stainless steel pull-out racks is a good storage idea for canned food as shown above. Another good idea is those used for corners. Can get a look of those at hoe kee or ikea, I did not take any photos of it..paiseh.

Lastly, I regret not asking IKEA for a quote for the kitchen. Their quality is rather good and they've got lotsa ideas, plus it comes with 25 years guarantee. My cost saving friends may want to do that in future.

Nothing is perfect..

Yeah it's yet another month less for count down...

By the way, we should be moving in soon after CNY 2008 so stay tuned for the house warming date.

Like every project, there's bound to be cock ups and our house reno is not spared. So far there are a few and here's some photos of them. Of cos, those done wrongly got to be rectified, else don't pay contractor the balance loh! hahaha..*evil smile*

Thought Ah Low was joking with me when he gave me this black solid surface (SS) with my white SS. Somemore it had a non-drip all round..wah biang eh..Pls note how ugly it is. Anyway, it was the SS guy's mistake and was quickly removed and replaced with the correct one.

Next, see the masking tape "X"? Those were put by me and fp to denote problem for Ah Low to headache over. Direction of pattern on laminate not uniform ie. wrong direction. Best was an oversight on my part. Notice how close the sub woofer is to the base of the hanging tv console? Thanks to the wonderful engineers from LG who put in their catalog the dimensions WxHxD as DxHxW and I had to remove the original legs to a much shorter one. Hope it doesn't cause any damage to the sub-woofer. REMINDER: Always take the things of out package to measure!!

IKEA's Billy bookcase - cheap and nice. However, they giam on the laminate. Only one side is laminated. During assembly I didn't notice and by the time I flipped it over, I already nailed it in. Bo bian liao loh. Fun to assemble but rather cheap to let them assemble it for you too! Pls be careful when assembling IKEA stuff, I got to know that I'm not the only one who assembled the same things wrongly. Another one of my friend kana same thing...you know who you are. =)