renovation - closer and closer - but not done!

So these photos were taken this last Friday. I think Mr. Soo AND Mr. Eng Hoe finally accepted that we had no more time left. Or may be they were playing a strange contractor-esque game of chicken, and someone blinked. Whatever, things are now moving regularly.

This is what used to be my storage room. I used the Light and Space paint in here - and its really brightened the space. I also put in a ceiling, so that all the pipes and ugly bits are covered up. This is now my washing room. Hooray! All ready, and connected. :)

In this view of the living room, you can see the AMAZING ceiling fan, the light fixtures, and the booksehelves. They were also the same jaundice yellow colour, but Mr. Soo had successfully resprayed them.

Here is a typical example of a Mr. Soo-ism. The two bookselves were supposed to be: 1 short and wide, 1 tall and thin. Anyway, he asked me the positioning of the bookshelves, and asked me if the shorter one was inside or outside. I of course was thinking, shorter one ='s wider one, but that is in another world from Mr. Soo. So I said short inside, tall outside. But when I looked at this picture, I realised they were both the same height, and he was talking about WIDTH! Heh. Soooooooooo I had to call him and ask him to move them around again, which he was happy to do. In his typical Mr. Soo way, when I told him that the wide one was supposed to be much shorter, he said, "But I thought you had so many books, you needed taller shelves!" Heh. So I have 2 floor to ceiling bookshelves, which is not what I wanted in the first place, but which I can certainly live with!

So this is the ceiling fan. Its beyond incredible. Its an original GEC fan from 1930's, all original parts, completely refurbished and fixed. Mr. Eng Hoe was so enamoured with the fan, he called me in to see it as soon as I arrived. I have to say, it makes a HUGE statement. Its gorgeous. When I asked Mr. Soo if he had anything like it, he hemmed and hawwwed for agesssss. He kept saying he would look, he would look. He finally found it, but it took another month or so to send it to be fixed. Even then, he didnt bring it. It was because his artists mind was still working it through, and I should have trusted that. Finally, he called me up and told me he had realised that the fan was steel - and he thought it would look best stripped of paint and down to its metal work. Did I agree? Does one disagree with an artist? He knows best how something he loves should look, so I said, I trust you, whatever you think is best. And the results are PHENOMENAL. I LOVE this fan. Total lusty adoration.

Close up of the original tags on the fan. The body is steel, the blades are aluminium. Of course, the bit that attaches to the wall takes special screws, and Mr. Soo forgot them (!!!) so that will be done on Monday. Meanwhile, the fan is fantastic (couldnt resist!). The one thing is that it only goes one speed - so its either off or VERY fast. Might ask Mr. Soo if his guys can adjust that to something a tad more gentle.

Incredibly elegant antique wall lights (one of a pair) in the livingroom, also from Mr. Soo. I was visiting his warehouse one day and saw them squirreled away in his office. I asked him if I could have them for my living room and he said no! He loved them, had just acquired them, and didnt want to part with them (yet). He is like that... Anyway, I kept pestering him for them, and finally he agreed. The metalwork was originally painted black, and he stripped them down to steel. I think thats what inspired him to re-look at the ceiling fan as well. They are really lovely - a beautiful delicate elegant but non intrustive glass and metal light - exactly what I wanted here!

A view of the bookshelves and the filing cabinet. Nice, but they will be switched around in the final take.

The swing door to the bedroom. I decided on swing doors to the bedroom and bath. I live alone, and though my friends arent happy (how are they going to poo in my house!) its what I really wanted. It divides the spaces but also keeps the air flowing and lightens the feeling of the space. Its so pretty! The bathroom door is the same (see below). These were made for me by Mr. Soo from some old kampung house doors he had. He is currently making the centre piece for the doors - it will be a delicate latice work. I look forward to seeing them finished! Hope it wont take another month! Heh ;)

Oh, and you can see a glimpse of the bed through the door!

My bed! Solid teakwood, mirror grains, absolutely phenomenal. As you can see, the four posts can also take a four poster frame, but I decided against this as the space is too small. Its higher than my old bedframe, and so much more beautiful. I described to Mr. Soo what I was looking for, and he said that he had something like that in his wife's mothers house in Ipoh (I think). Again, it took yonks for him to actually go and get the damn thing, but I think you will agree - its worth the wait. SO beautiful!!!

A close up of the bed frame. Isnt it stunning? I do love my Mr. Soo! ;)


Bathroom swing door, also awaiting its centre piece.

And Mr. Eng Hoe has been at work too! His wireman was in to do all the lights and fixtures, and the bathroom is finally coming together! This is the rain shower, hand shower and tap. Very minimalist, but its what I needed for the small space. They also installed the air extractor fan.

My toilet and sink are finally in! Hooray! Now the workers can have a wee when they need one ;) The toilet is dual flushing to conserve water. I chose rounded shapes because I wanted a feminine feel to the fixtures because the bathroom itself is quite masculine in feel. Unfortunately, the ceramic pipe cover for under the sink did not fit, and the store did not have anything that would. Mr. Soo took one look, and agreed to do a wood cover from chengal wood. Mr. Eng Hoe asked him if he could really do that, and Mr. Soo replied, if I want to do something, anything can! Its quite a good philosophy of life!

I am back at the flat on Monday, and will take more photos to post then.

Tell me what you think!


PS - Mar, I agree, I could EAT the floor too! Tell my nephew I love him.