So here is another lesson I have learned since starting this renovation. Try very hard not to schedule it around major public holidays. The last post I made was on the 28th of December (just after Christmas). Not much got done until about the 7th of January when these photos were taken. We had Awal Muharam and New Years, and things just DID NOT MOVE. Frustrating beyond frustrating. Again, breathe, again, think of patience. I just want to go home!
It looks like I wont be able to move in until after Chinese New Year (Jan 26/27) in part because there are little bits and pieces still to be done (more on that later) and in part because my family is coming to celebrate M+B's wedding -- and so I wont be able to concentrate on a move until after they leave. And of course, they leave a few days before CNY, and so I will have to wait until the movers are allowed to move (no moving during public holidays if you live in a condo!). Heh.
Dont get me wrong though, I am so very excited that things are starting to take shape. Some better than others, and I still have the pesky issue of the wooden window frame to deal with. But its starting to look real. As I was preparing the photos for these posts (another one is coming up right after this one!) I scrolled back to what it looked like before... and its MUCH better now! Its a good thing to keep reminding oneself.
Here is another lesson I learned: remember to keep your "look book" with you. I decided on teak wood skirting board to match the floors. Silly choice really. An added expense I didnt need... And when I finally found my "look book" I realised that I had made a note to say that my skirting boards should be plain white (to match the walls) and cheap. Unfortunately, I forgot this, and in my total lust frenzy over the floor (which is still the sexiest thing I have seen in a while!) I decided on teak to match, when I could have just matched the walls for much much less. I love the skirting boards, but really, I didnt need them to be teakwood. Oh well, you live and learn.
So the skirting boards are in (FINALLY) -- even though even that had issues. I came to check them out just before they were installed, and realised that they were like 5 inches high! Waaaaay too much, so I insisted on as small as possible, which turned out to be like 3 inches. Still too high for my liking but if I had wanted anything smaller, it would have had to have been made for me... and I just didnt want to wait.
The skirting boards seemed to be the cue for Mr. Soo and his guys to start beavering away with the various wood pieces. Here are some photos from the 7th of January:
It looks like I wont be able to move in until after Chinese New Year (Jan 26/27) in part because there are little bits and pieces still to be done (more on that later) and in part because my family is coming to celebrate M+B's wedding -- and so I wont be able to concentrate on a move until after they leave. And of course, they leave a few days before CNY, and so I will have to wait until the movers are allowed to move (no moving during public holidays if you live in a condo!). Heh.
Dont get me wrong though, I am so very excited that things are starting to take shape. Some better than others, and I still have the pesky issue of the wooden window frame to deal with. But its starting to look real. As I was preparing the photos for these posts (another one is coming up right after this one!) I scrolled back to what it looked like before... and its MUCH better now! Its a good thing to keep reminding oneself.
Here is another lesson I learned: remember to keep your "look book" with you. I decided on teak wood skirting board to match the floors. Silly choice really. An added expense I didnt need... And when I finally found my "look book" I realised that I had made a note to say that my skirting boards should be plain white (to match the walls) and cheap. Unfortunately, I forgot this, and in my total lust frenzy over the floor (which is still the sexiest thing I have seen in a while!) I decided on teak to match, when I could have just matched the walls for much much less. I love the skirting boards, but really, I didnt need them to be teakwood. Oh well, you live and learn.
So the skirting boards are in (FINALLY) -- even though even that had issues. I came to check them out just before they were installed, and realised that they were like 5 inches high! Waaaaay too much, so I insisted on as small as possible, which turned out to be like 3 inches. Still too high for my liking but if I had wanted anything smaller, it would have had to have been made for me... and I just didnt want to wait.
The skirting boards seemed to be the cue for Mr. Soo and his guys to start beavering away with the various wood pieces. Here are some photos from the 7th of January:
Mr. Soo's main man putting in the front door, which is antique teak wood. Its lush. It still needs its peephole, and handles and locks, but its perfect. He sold its twin for double what he sold it to me for. You cant see the details, but each row of squares is actually a mirror image of each other. Does that make sense? I might try and see if I can put the Tibetan door knocker on this door.
Small lantern, in front of the front door. I got it at KDK in Puchong - cheap and simple. My kind of style. What I like about this house is it mixes some expensive pieces with some simple inexpensive stuff. Its a good synergy.
This is the living room. I still get shivers of delight looking at that floor. On the right, the bookselves, on the left, the tv cabinet, and the couch. I am sooooooo unbelievably excited to see them unwrapped, but I know I have to be patient (again!) until everything is sorted properly. Otherwise, dust and dirt, and we dont want that!
The light switches. Obviously, still some clean up work to be done here. These were the most innofensive I could find. Interestingly enough, I found some fab switches that I loved about six months ago. I decided not to purchase them at that point, but go back to get them. When I went back, of course, they no longer stocked them! This is a lesson about renovation in Malaysia - if you see it, and like it, BUY IT! We have a real paucity of choice in everything - from upholstry to paint to lighting switches. When theres something out there thats good, if you dont get it immediately, it will never be available again. Heh.
What I like about these lighting switches is that they have been lowered just a tad for my height. Its one of the benefits of renovations - you can choose where you want stuff.
What I like about these lighting switches is that they have been lowered just a tad for my height. Its one of the benefits of renovations - you can choose where you want stuff.
The absolutely gorgeous 100 year old oak filing cabinet. I asked Mr. Soo if he had anything wooden for a filing cabinet (I had a basic metal one) and he said yes... and took a couple of months to find it! I adore it though. What is so cool about this cabinet is that each box/drawer detaches and is moveable. Its perfect! Worth the wait, and if you look closer, you will realise I have a bit more waiting to go ... the top box of the filing cabinet is still missing, presumed somewhere in the labyrinth that is Mr. Soo's warehouse. I know I will get it eventually, just have to do a bit of chanting for it to come to me ;) In this photo, you can also see the skirting board. It fits perfectly with the floor, but it could have just as well been white.
A tantilising view of the upholstered arm chair. If youve been reading this blog, you know that the arm chair and couch were upholstered in Ahimsa Peace Silk. It looks fantastic from what I can see under the plastic wrapping. I want it unwrapped NOW! (Its like Christmas or my birthday -- I just have to learn to wait!)
The darned wooden windows. Still waiting a response from the Condominium's Council and Management ... I was supposed to hear on Friday, but the Building Manager had a motorcycle accident. He is fine, but was so flustered, he couldnt deal with it. Patience, patience.
Mr. Soo cant quite believe me. He installed the bedroom built ins and as soon as I saw them, I said that they were YELLOW. He used solid Ash wood (from a factory that had gone out of business) and lacquered to my specs. The actual cabinets and the bookselves are gorgeous. I tell you, these pieces are SOLID. Mr. Eng Hoe (the other contractor) was impressed by them ... All handworked, hand sanded, wooden pegs instead of nails... but Mr. Soo had asked me if I wanted them the same colour as my kitchen. Under the kitchen light, those cabinets look darkish, but not too red, so I said yes, but in the bright sunlight of my bedroom, the same colouring looked jaundice yellow. No way no how could I live with that. Because Mr. Soo loves me .... he agreed to respray the built ins there and then. But you can tell from this pic that he wasnt that pleased with me. Heh.
Mr. Soo figuring out how to deal with the built in cabinet's colours. What we eventually agreed upon was that he would spray the outside, and leave the inside as is. Not a bad compromise. Again, Mr. Soo is one of the kindest, most patient of men. A real mensch. But he works slow, because each piece is personal to him. He also loses the notes and measurements, and so sometimes you find that things get switched around... but I always love the finished product. Especially since he will do everything in his power to make it right!
My bed under cover in the bedroom!
Aircons have been installed, thank goodness.
This is where the sink should be! Heh.
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