This round is refreshing in that we are now actively seeking out IDs to visit:
A&D Interior @Upper Serangoon
Feedback: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3328
Actual: http://lovenest.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/1-more-to-go/
http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3328&st=0
This was a popular choice in the forums in many of our readings. They also had some interesting ideas which we thought could be a good fit. In dealing with our wardrobe space issues for the MBR, Johnny from A&D suggested erecting a false wall in the middle of the bedroom just outside of the wardrobe solely for the purpose of mounting our room TV.
In our earlier discussions with other IDs they (and us) were always thinking of making use of the wardrobes to mount the room TV, which somehow makes it feel like we are making full use of the wardrobe.
This solitary wall mount intrigued Barney and made the two duo more accepting towards the idea of the false wall mount being used solely for the purpose of mounting the room TV. Barney remembered seeing this setup in one of the showbooths at Expo previously and thought it cool, albeit, wasteful in terms of space and materials.
The showroom also had a setup of long rectangular tables perpendicularly against tall dark tinted mirrors. This was the real thing that we have seen in many of the ID magazines. Large mirror in the dining hall became part of the standard required items.
A&D wasn't that expensive despite the feel the firm gave us. But it was still stretching our budget by quite a bit, and provided if we did only one of the toilets.
Hulk Friend @Thomson
We visited a friend of the Hulk whom, with several like-minded friends, run a small cafe slightly off the beaten tracks somewhere in Thomson.
Not only are we treated to a relaxing afternoon (a rarity these days) with good company, we were served good food as well. Hulk friend's advice: don't read too many ID magazines or we'll get more and more confused and messy. It's quite true to a large extent. However, being the curious little critters we are, we couldn't resist flipping through pages and pages of ID magazines (especially when we had Cookie Monster pass us their stash of Homestyle magazines gotten from a mutual friend who was somewhat linked to the magazines' publishers).
On our second visit, Hulk's friend started to pen down some ideas of hers. Eventually, her own busy schedule and her semi-retirement state (from field of ID) made it challenging for her to take on our job. But we did take away some points which we evenutally did implement in our final design.
United Team @Thomson Plaza
Fascinated with the wallpaper featured in the showroom, we walked into their office. Initially, the "team" looked occupied and we decided to move on to Wide Angle first. Subsequently, we did come back here to talk to a young lady. After hearing our requirements, she confidently boasted that she would be able to make it within our stated budget.This was not the case, however, when we received her email a week after. Attempts to meet up did not bear fruit as she was either too busy or seemed disinterested. This ID was dropped off our list without much consideration.
Wide Angle @Thomson Plaza
Oh we finally bumped into a man who was gentler in speech than Barney! Richard was big on wallpapers and proposed a dark, mysterious theme much alike its showroom and adverts in the magazines. Despite throwing in some freebies (they were linked to some art clock/carpet shop in Novena), we still found their prices a little steep.
However, we did affirm that we wanted a large dark mirror at our dining area similar to what they have done for their clients.
Intra Design @Bedok Central
Feedback: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1557
Actual: http://renotalk.com/forum/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=62&
Intra Design was widely acclaimed as having one of the better workmanship in the carpentry and design. And the cost shows.
With the help of Cookie Monster and Kiddie Snack, we made an appointment with Mr D. Boy, he was loud and proud. Hahaha..and his attitude shows. Intra Design does not give a breakdown of the costs, but from what we understand, they take in a lump sum of money and usually do a good job with it, supplying quality materials without even being asked for it. E.g. German soft closing hinges (which Cookie Monster thought was some cheapo brand from China :P), ability to choose almost any tiles without having to top up the costs, designer electrical switches etc.) Barney also noted the designer watches Mr D wears and thought that this young beng must be earning wallops and wallops of cash!
Mr D's coordination is usually rather seamless and he is efficient from what we hear. Cookie Monster recollected his experience: "D asked all the workers to come up to my apartment one day, and lining them up, did a short introduction. One by one, each was told his tasks and off they went to start work." D also takes the initiative to MMS updates to Cookie Monster as and required.
However, that lump sum was also way beyond our budget, so Intra Design did not stay on our list long.
Earnest Interior @somewhere near Woodlands/Yishun
Feedback: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10147
Actual: http://membina.blogspot.com/
http://blog.shoutz.com/clemvondream/
Cookie Monster and Kiddie Snack told us that they had visited Earnest Interior as well, and they might be able to fit our budget better. Cookie Monster observed that Frankie was meticulous in his proposals (sometimes to the extent of being too careful and too detailed :P). Earnest Interior did get some good feedback from the media recently, and were proud to splash it over their website. Their showroom was tucked in the middle of nowhere at some furniture outlet. Going through a furniture showroom, we were then led to their office.
Barney and Hulk did learn about some design and material considerations in their discussion with Frankie. However, in the end, our budget restrained us in the things that we could do with Earnest, and we found some of their proposed designs a little too conservative. Too bad Frankie, but you are one of the nicest chap that the duo had met.
Boon Siew Interior @Bishan Central
Feedback: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5460&st=0
Actual: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=338&
Barney's new neighbour just started to show their presence, and from the renovation notice pasted near their front door, Barney noted that it came from an ID near Hulk's place. So we decided to do a bit of reading up on Renotalk. Feedback was rather positive (with some complaints about a firm with almost the same name) and it seemed like they could perhaps fit into our budget. So we decided to meet up with Mr Low.
Mr Low was every bit..a modern uncle(?). He seemed knowledgeable about renovation in general and could tell us very detailed processes like painting and sealants, as well as carpentry work. Furthermore, he was able to do most of what we had asked for within our budget..with air conditioning to boot! This made Boon Siew one of our finalists in this race to engage an ID.
In the end, after comparing the initial sketched designs, we found that Boon Siew could be a bit too conservative for us, and so was eliminated.
[Update: Look at the "Actual" link for this firm. We could be wrong about Boon Siew. They could be rather daring and have some pretty nifty ideas too.]
This is one of the most popular ID firms in the Renotalk forums as of the writing of this post. Seems like they are doing some good business eh? So I don't think I'll need to link any feedback or actual houses being done up for this post.
We have made an appointment with Mr K on a fine Saturday morning. Mr K was polite and friendly; he even had to rush back to his showroom at Upper Serangoon :P
The Ideal House quote was one of the best we've gotten, and Mr K seemed to have plenty of lobangs from solid surfaces to sanitary equipment like sinks (we liked the round soap-dish-like sink at the showroom). Needless to say, Ideal House made it to the finals in our list. They were running a very close second to our final choice.
We've gone up and down Balestier a couple of times but never seemed to have the opportunity to enter this uniquely designed showroom. Cookie Monster passed the contact of this lady designer to Barney, and it resulted in a session with Art Trend. Despite the trendy outlook of the showroom, Art Trend didn't produce a high quote.
However, by then we have already started talking to our final choice and gotten quite excited with him. So Art Trend had to go.
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