Renovating the home Part 3

It is time to 'showcase' some of the photos that hubby had last promised.

This is just the messy stage that every home owner will get, especially the hacking part.

While going through the design stage, it is also the time to take a look at the newspaper - discount!

Newspaper is your good friend if you are looking for discount for toiletries, electronic, air con etc...

If you do not subscribe to Strait Times, ask your friend for help, or the best part: make full use of your company newspaper.

Get the measure right

While renovation is starting, it is the time you make a trip to purchase the items. If you are uncertain of the size, take a photo and measure it first. You won't want to buy the wrong items with deep regret.

Having the mindset of what to get in the shop save everyone's trouble. The main focus is to get the correct item for your house. So far, The Ongies did not received any bad attitude service from the store.

If you are not going to purchase from them, just ask for pricing and walk away. It is important you save all your time. And also remember to do research online because you have the idea of what you want right from the start - that again, save you a lot of trouble, unless you are uncertain.


Beside getting discounted items here, you can opt to go Johor Bahru to seek for the items you wanted.

Given the short renovation timing, and worried for the big items to arrive in good condition, they decided not to ship in bulk items from Taobao. Of course, you can opt for that if you do not mind waiting and always remember to get a good forwarder to help you inspect the items.

Before hack moment

Now, let's see some photos before the start of hacking and the on going process (which, everyone is waiting till your neck is long!)

 After seeing the photo, some of you might have the "WOW" feeling.

Basically, hubby also have the feeling too.... (renovation cost is totally.... *wow*)

Well, let's go into the concept that The Ongies is thinking when they wanted to renovate the house.

One of the worst headache for this area is the air flow and brightness. Therefore, the old style fashion hard wall must be hacked off.

The previous owner had made this area open concept. But part of that area is going to be study room, so they have to seal it up and redo the entrance to the kitchen. (which is the original layout)

Another look from the future study room. The current position is suitable for dining area.

Another view. Yeah, the 90s fashion (semi circle with down light) It is so retro

Wall need to be hack as wifey call this: Harry Potter house. They prefer open concept for storing some stuff.

The nice and cosy area in future. (Stay tuned - Hubby wanted to keep it suspend. So do check this blog out)

Another view from living room.

Balcony area. One of the great place to hang your laundry because of the SUN!

Morning sun is good. It does not matter whether if it is West Shine. Light to the house mean brightness.

The aircon to be take down.

The kitchen area.

The old ways of kitchen - solid top all the way.

Even the sink is also solid top

The ugly toilet

Nice concept, but this will be the overall change soon.

The wall that hubby had mentioned - hack off to have more air and light into this area.

Another view to the stair case

To the common toilet

Common toilet

Common toilet (everyone say it is big and long)

Bedroom 1

Another view of bedroom 1

Another view of bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Another view of bedroom2

Masterbedroom toilet - everything go away

Masterbedroom toilet - solid toop again

Spoil window

The old design for the tiles

The MBR

The MBR

The MBR

There you go.

These are the before hacking and dismantling of items.

The ideas

As feng shui master had told them, the kitchen consists of fire element and it is required to blocked off. Hence, the ongies had been thinking of ways to stop the fire going round.

The new layout -
kitchen entrance to the balcony is like a cycle going in circle. It must be stop by using something solid. 
Therefore, they had thought of an incredible ideas which will be unleash in the later part of the renovation.


One of the greatest headache for this house is the wall - rock stone effect done by previous owner.
And the only way to deal - plastering the entire house!

If you can live with it, why not?

But remember, most of the cornice for this house have to be taken down, and those wall behind the cornice will be smooth wall because it is hidden.



The priority to be done will be the tiles and walls.

All wet areas (toilets and balcony), inclusive the kitchen had to be hack off and lay over new tiles.

The Ongies decided not to hack off the floor tiles in the living room and bedroom because the cost is one big factor. After considering, they decided to go for vinyl tiles.

Hacking is not the one that cost you a lot, but the tiles. As the area is big, the cost of material on tiles will eventually go very high. Furthermore, the existing tiles condition is very good, so relaying the vinyl tiles will not be a big problem.

If you bought a resale flat and wanted to relay the tiles, make sure it had not been done before. Because HDB only allow re laying ONCE.

Check out the next post on the aftermath - dismantling stage!

Stay tuned!