Smoothing next...

HDB has put the sand and cement inside the house, wonder when will they start to smoothen the floor.

More pix

Passway from MBR

Toilet View

More Toilet Views

Back of Kitchen

Pix of a empty house

As promised, pix of our new place.

This is the view from my living room

View from the Kitchen

Living Room

Master Bedroom

One of the bedroom door

Yo Ho, keys are IN

After months and months of waiting, finally went down to HDB to collect the keys to our future beloved home on 11th Dec 2007.
In the morning, walk over to HDB branch office to submit the application for cement screeding (they call it smooth flooring). Still have not check for any defects yet, will do so during the weekend. Of course with pix too.

FInally

and it about time. HDB has asked us to go down to sign the lease agreement for the flat on Oct 4th.
Best of all, we get to take back our deposit, which will go into good use of course.

Shishi-Odoshi - The Japanese deer scarer

The Shishi-Odoshi was originally used by Japanese farmers to scare away deer and wild boar from the rice crops, and later became part of many Japanese gardens. The regular hollow knocking sound combined with the sound of running water complements the serenity of Japanese gardens today, As water flows into the end of the Shishi-Odoshi the pivoted length of bamboo becomes full of water. The weight of water then causes the pivot to tip forward, emptying the contents back into the pool, whilst the hollow rear end hits a conveniently placed rock when it returns to its primary position. This causes the regular knocking sound which is very effective at scaring away animals.

This will be an interesting additional to my japan themed living room, even thought I have no space for a garden, maybe just a small indoor one. Here a video for a better understanding...

new theme for study room...

Psychedelic themed room :)

Been awhile been i blogged. Have been in progess of submitted the documents to HDB for approval. Finally got the approval last Fri. Can start deciding on how to reno...

As I have got a few themes in mind, i had decided why not do it all at different parts of the house. Let's see...

For the living room, dinning area, study, the theme is japanese-infused or Wabi-sabi (Japanese philosophy that embraces a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete)

For the master bedroom, I want to create a Europe-style resort theme since we had bought a 4-posters bed frame.

For the kitchen, my wife decided it to be of English Country.

Time to get some quotes on the idea! Reno coy, here I comes...

3D software - FREE!

Found a really good software for creating 3D drawings, best of all it's FREE!
It called Google SketchUp, which can be downloaded here Sketchup Google Software

Have sketched and uploaded the floorplan, here a pix

To 3D warehouse download link

some more research on theme

- Details in Japanese design are thoughtful, simple, minimal.
- Ornamentation is missing from furniture and architectural details.
- Furniture is kept low to the ground, imparting a sense of comfort and stability .
- Horizontal, rather than vertical, lines are emphasized.
- Natural light is the main source of illumination. Light fixtures are recessed , concealed, or minimal.
- Natural materials such as stone and wood are used for a pleasing, low-key look .
- The color scheme is muted, such as grays and greens found in nature, mixed with warm woods.

Some samples pictures here

creating a theme...

I wanted to create a japanese infuse theme for the living room... search the web for info and this is what I got... let see how i can incorporate these in

Geting the look
Use screens to divide and conceal. There are lots around from the high street to catalogue companies to exclusive oriental shops. Alternatively, make your own from a simple wooden lattice construction. You shouldn't be able to see any nails. In traditional Japanese homes the screens are placed on sliding wooden tracks. Attach and staple gun translucent paper to your wooden frame. Tracing paper will do the trick but might not last that long. Paint the frame black or leave in plain pale wood. Screens can also be made from bamboo and cane. Garden suppliers often have suitable ones.

Flooring - should be tatami mats. These are best described as half seating, half flooring. You can buy them but they are quite pricey. To imitate the look, buy cheap mats, the sort you get at seaside shops. You could have paper flooring as well. Remember to leave your shoes outside.

Colour schemes - muted and neutral but with accent colours of red, black, occasionally yellow (this is more Chinese) and the green of sushi. You could paint a whole room in a vermillion red with a lacquered finish - apply lots and lots of varnish or use a specialist paint and work in a well ventilated room.
All furniture - low-level and kept to a bare minimum. Go for a futon in the bedroom, or just a mattress on the floor. For tables, put low school-type benches either side of the table. Black ash furniture is just right. There is still a lot around thrown out from the 1980s. Also look for lacquered furniture. Real pieces will have beautiful intricate inlays of mother of pearl and gold and silver. Paint your own with a high-varnish spray paint.

Lighting - very important in the Japanese home. Light is diffused through paper to give a warm glow. Place lights behind your screens to achieve this. You can't go wrong with a simple white paper lampshade. Chinese lanterns are more heavily patterned than Japanese with tassels and calligraphy but you could mix the two looks.

Japanese table settings are very organised. Use bowls rather than plates, with a long runner down the centre of the table. Craquelure ceramics are very Japanese in long slender shapes in greens and black.
Hang a kimono on the wall as a piece of art. Traditional Japanese ones have a deep blue indigo dye or black and white.

Display one single spray of orchids, miniature bonsai, pebbles, twigs, and tortured willow. Use fine grey gravel round the top of pots and plants and look for bamboo accessories.

resource collection....

Went to the library, wanting to get some ideas or theme of what to do for the new place.
Guess what, there are tons of resources, going from furiture, colours and even lightings.

Have to read thru, to get a final grasp of what i really want to create... a UTOPIA!

Creating a utopia... in a HDB!

It all begins on June 25th. Our queue number was 0391. Appointment was at 4pm.

We were called in close to 6pm, made a selection (trust me, it agonizing!). We got in! Hurray, new address is at Jalan Membina. Just in case you do not know, it one of the hottest propety in a public housing estate in the whole of Singapore.
see TODAY online

Paid the deposit, were educated on the various taxes, stamp fee, etc. Lets hope everything goes well with the delivery of the house.

1st step of creating a UTOPIA begins...