Can you tell more about it? Is it like tint your window?

Hi there, glad you asked.
Tinting the windows is one the many things you can do.
Primarily it's about insulation, to keep the heat from going in.
Like installing layers of insulating material in your walls and ceiling/roof.
If you can plan all the way from the blueprints stage, then you can do things such as placing the fridge and stove, and keeping windows to an absolute minimum.
The most extreme measure is to keep the whole house airtight and installing a ventilation system (not air conditioning).
Just to give you an idea of a range here. There are more things you can do, especially if you are doing major renovations.

I see some residences (be it condos, landed) come with full height tile for wet kitchen. I suppose that has some practical reasons, but this look seems dated (to some). What do you think of this trend in future?

Hi Ehwee, need your expert advice on the placement of the lightings for both of my bathrooms.

I plan to install at least 2 ceiling lights in each of my bathrooms.

(i) Master Bath - will have a rain shower water heater. But I have concerns that the rainshower head will block the light above and create a shadow while showering. Also, what kind of light i should install for toilet?

(ii) Bath - how should i place my ceiling lights? the basin is in the middle and any light above head will create shadow on face :S

Appreciate you can advise me on this, thank you in advance.

if you wish to ensure there is sliding doors in dining area that can access to outdoor garden and natural light and wind blow, I will suggest you don't place the store room on the exterior wall boundary.

Instead placing the store room next to the guest bedroom adjacent to the new wet kitchen will allus tow a good and confortable dining area with natural garden in sight.

Bonus tips for you:

why not placing a island full height cabinet as divider between living and dining area instead of partiton/ wall. This will make better use of the space and also create a better traffic flow around the areas.




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Hi sifus sifus sekalian, I am looking for a house and currently have my eyes on one subsale unit that is at a good area and within my budget.

I know all reno is possible as long as you have money, but I just wanna ask some opinions on whether or not I can do the following reno affordably (even better if I can get a rough cost).

This is the original layout of the house.



This is the current layout of the house since the owner's original reno.


I want to know is it still possible to have an open kitchen concept in these kind of "traditional" layout. If so, how would you do it?

Also, is it possible to remove the current toilet and move it somewhere? (Are toilets super hard and super expensive to move?)


This is what I can think of right now.


Any ideas and suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks ehwee for designing my master bedroom.. /k please dont forget TS do provide ID service for an affordable cost.. Do engage his service if you find him helpful in your design.. I bet you wont regret it..

Thanks t3n for engage us for the Master Bedroom design, you have a good sense of design taste too I reckon while communicating with you on the design theme, hope you enjoy the renovation outcomes! 🙂

Bumping this Q

i'm trying my luck here to ask if anyone can give me an answer...it's the first time i'm engaging interior design and i feel the process is kinda slow, almost 1.5 months already and i've seen the proposed picture of the design and should be moving to detail design now...my house is a double storey house so just wondering from start until the final layout confirmation, typically how long does this process last? just want to know the estimate duration of this overall process... before the actual renovation starts... thank you!

you are right, RM150k quite sure not enough if you're talking about the whole house....
it also depends on the material you use and the price can differs quite a lot i guess...so really best is to ask your contractor/ID and also confirm the material used...
tiling, wiring itself also i think can use different quality of tile/cable...and plumbing side also same...

For double storey house the initial design process which includes space planning layout and 3d design visuals will normally tools about 7 to 9 weeks. The timing actually depend on how well and efficient the communication process between owners and designer as well. If owners can't make up their mind on what they actually prefer or the designer can't present well their ideas to the owners, this will prolong the design process.

The design detailing process will take another 4 to 6 weeks normally.

So since you designer is moving to detail stage, I would say the 1.5 month you have is reasonable.

wow! thank you so much for the inputs... didn't really expect this process will take such a long time...i think i cannot see the behind the work scenes... good sharing from you...thanks again...

Btw.... detail design for a particular area... such as living room, kitchen, bedroom... those one by one take how long? My designer seems to be giving me 1 area drawing every 1 week plus... really need to take so long to do? I see the drawing also not really that complex so i am curious as sometimes there are a lot of work behind the scenes and i really want to understand if this is true... thanks!

Helo, wanna ask how important isit to have a gradient for drainage pipe?

contractor told me that its not that easy to clog , as the pipe being 42mm dismeter and short length ( total about 11m with 2-3 bends ( like a U shape ) to manhole.. and also limitation of few parts of the ground, floor too keras to hack through ( ground floor )

But based on what i read online drainage suppose to have gradient running at 1/80 or 1/110

Question: Is it okay to accept a deal with a renovation company that they help u renovate and u provide your house as showroom for x months? What's the area that need to pay attention? Like workmanship, contract terms, price?

Hello Ehwee,

May I seek your professional advise on the layout below. Also attached my drawing first draft (I am not ID)

1. possible to have standalone island instead of L-shape
2. would like to have larger bathroom for guest ( combine 2 into 1 without hacking the maid room)
3. is it better to have sliding door in between dry and wet kitchen ?
4. image 4, advisable to elevate washer's placement (25cm from the ground)

Hi,

For end lot house (22x75ft) with extra 5ft land (side of the house) - not planning to do the extension, looking for ideas what we can do with this extra land such as landscaping. Am thinking to put artificial grass and probably have water feature / pond with fishes (along the fence wall). 5ft land is too small to have chilling area (table with chairs).

Thanks in advance.

Sorry for late reply, here are my suggestions for you.

1. possible to have standalone island instead of L-shape
a. yes, it's possible, you will just need to re configure the dry kitchen cabinet setup in order to allow a better 3 ft clear traffic corridor around the island as shown on my quick diagram

2. would like to have larger bathroom for guest ( combine 2 into 1 without hacking the maid room)
a. yes, possible too, just you will need to remain the existing piping box up wall that is catered for rainwater downpipe and sewerage piping upstair normally. you might need to opt for folding door for the small toilet at wet kitchen if you wish to remain a small toilet there.

3. is it better to have sliding door in between dry and wet kitchen ?
a. not necessary as if base on the existing space around dry and wet kitchen, normal swing door will have the same function, just of course having a sliding door will definitely make the area looks good!

4. image 4, advisable to elevate washer's placement (25cm from the ground)
not sure where you put the washer, may be can have 50cm if you actually want to keep the washer protected from flooding, cheers

Hope this help!




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I suggest you look for gardener or landscaper pro for advise, as I am not expert on this area.