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A Soho in the East
Last Post 07 May 2013 01:31 AM by turnerdhr. 320 Replies.
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iheartrae13
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:13
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| 28 Mar 2012 12:15 AM |
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Sorry to add on, I also notice you have a skirting like thing in the twins bedroom. Is that the electrical "piping?
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wordsworth
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:232
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| 28 Mar 2012 11:21 AM |
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Posted By Sygnur on 27 Mar 2012 07:12 PM
Wordsworth, may i know why do u choose vinyl instead of laminate? How can we tell the difference? Are u one of the few who use vinyl for residential use?
The answers to all your questions are:
(1) Why not? It's better after all. 
Like I told iheartrae before, during the design process, I was trying to choose between tiles and vinyl. But, in the end, I decided on vinyl, simply because it looks and feels more like real wood (which is the look I'm going for), and it's nearly as hardy as ceramic tiles. It also requires no special care and regular floor cleaner is more than sufficient to keep it clean.
I was first introduced to vinyl floor planks by a friend of mine who floored her entire penthouse apartment (more than 250 sq m) in wood-like vinyl planks (i.e. she overlaid the existing homogeneous floor tiles given by the condo developer in vinyl, because she thought the tiles were really ugly). The interesting thing is that for the longest period of time I always assumed it was real wood (or at the very least, engineered wood) because it looked and felt so real. I also assumed my friend was a very indulgent parent because she let her son and daughter ride their little electric cars and kick scooters round and round the living room - something which would ruin a real wooden floor! 
But it was only on my fifth visit to her place that I finally asked why the floor was so pristine (and scratch-free!) despite that fact that her kids ride around indoors all the time! That's when she and her husband told me all about vinyl flooring, and why they chose it (they have two active kids and vinyl is much cheaper than high-end wood-like tiles!).
And I found out that she was right. While hunting for wood-like floor tiles, I only found one company that sold tiles that actually looked (from a distance anyway) like real wood. This was GF+A along Mohamed Sultan Road. They have breathtakingly beautiful tiles (their Ginza collection is especially nice!) but their prices were also equally breathtaking! 
Lots of places sell cheaper wood-like floor tiles, but quite frankly I felt that they were hideous and looked utterly fake (most looked like cheap photocopies of second-rate laminates that had been printed onto the tiles), and no one would have believed that they were real wood. And they felt really fake too - hard, cold and usually flat (only the more expensive ones had anything that even vaguely resembling wood grain). Urgh! 
So, in the end, I figured that vinyl was the best choice for us: it looks real enough to fool the casual viewer, it feels nice underfoot (firm but not cold), and if it's hardy enough to survive seven years of abuse by my friend's kids (and she throws big parties in her apartment at least six times a year as well!) without even a single scratch or stain showing, then I'm sure that my much gentler little darlings (and my much quieter lifestyle!) won't do much damage to it at all.
(2) Walk on it. You'll feel the difference right away.
Vinyl absorbs sound. Laminate amplifies it.
Vinyl feels study underfoot and won't shift, no matter what. Laminate will sound and feel hollow, and may shift if not properly installed (Saw that once in a flat that I was viewing, which was up for sale. They had cheapo, poorly installed laminate that had huge gaps between the planks. I could actually see the concrete screed flooring underneath! Urgh!).
(3) Um, obviously, yes. 
Vinyl flooring is still not common among many homeowners in Asia, as it tends to be associated more with commercial premises.
But it's fairly common in the West (I recently found out that my aunt, who lives in Texas, also has it in her kitchen) because it's tough and waterproof. And it's so easy to install that a lot of homeowners in the West also like it because they can install it themselves (labour is really expensive in the USA, obviously!) and simply lay it over their existing flooring.
Not sure why it hasn't taken off in Asia... |
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Sygnur
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:229
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| 28 Mar 2012 01:20 PM |
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Wordsworth.... Thanks for ur detailed answer.... At least now i have a better understanding the difference between both materials. Coming from someone who is having it in residential housing makes me more confident to convince others that vinyl is the in thing to do.. Hehe... If only i knew about it before i exercise OTP( option to purchase) from hdb for flooring. Hubby kinda reluctant to do it now.... Maybe 5 years down the road...
Anyway, a colleague of mine intend to change her flooring( currently it's terazzo flooring and badly damaged), so would u be able to share ur laminate contact? Appreciate so much...
Incidentally, i have twins too, boys, turning 3 this year. |
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wits99
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:6
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| 28 Mar 2012 02:24 PM |
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@import url(/providers/htmleditorproviders/cehtmleditorprovider/dnngeneral.css);
Posted By wordsworth on 26 Mar 2012 06:30 PM
Posted By wits99 on 25 Mar 2012 05:56 PM
wow, u have got yourself an amazing HDB flat with such exotic layout.
And the ID plans were great too.
Mind shedding some light on your ID firm & contractor details?
If possible, maybe a little info how much had is all these amazing work cost you so far.
Becos, we are also looking out for a old resale flat and with ambitious reno plans but not sure how far we can go based on our budget.
I'll try to PM you the relevant info next week. This is a hectic week for us! Moving in and all that... Whew!
Sure, good things are worth to wait.
^_^ |
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iheartrae13
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:13
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| 28 Mar 2012 04:05 PM |
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Hi wordsworth,
Congrats on moving in!!
I guess it will be an easy task for you to unpack as everything already has a place in your well organized home. ;-)
Thanks for your ever detailed and sincere reply on quries posted to you. I understand you have your own home based firm but becos of your patience and well written english, many a times i mistake you for a teacher, until I remembered there is a "SOHO" in your thread.
It's a pleasure to read your posting. ;-) Pls contd to post more.
thanks, rae
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adidaem
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:59
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| 04 Apr 2012 12:03 AM |
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Hey WW, how are you enjoying your new home? Am one of the many (including all you silent readers!) waiting to see your pics, don't make us wait too long k? |
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wordsworth
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:232
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| 04 Apr 2012 05:57 PM |
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Posted By Sygnur on 28 Mar 2012 01:20 PM
Wordsworth.... Thanks for ur detailed answer.... At least now i have a better understanding the difference between both materials. Coming from someone who is having it in residential housing makes me more confident to convince others that vinyl is the in thing to do.. Hehe... If only i knew about it before i exercise OTP( option to purchase) from hdb for flooring. Hubby kinda reluctant to do it now.... Maybe 5 years down the road...
Anyway, a colleague of mine intend to change her flooring( currently it's terazzo flooring and badly damaged), so would u be able to share ur laminate contact? Appreciate so much...
Incidentally, i have twins too, boys, turning 3 this year.
Wow! Twin boys! I salute you! 
I got my vinyl flooring from Formica (sourced through my contractor - who apparently had to set up an entirely new account with Formica, so that he could order my flooring, because he never had a client who wanted vinyl flooring before! ). Your colleague can just google them for their address (their showroom is somewhere along Sims Avenue) and check out their range of vinyl flooring for herself. |
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wordsworth
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:232
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| 04 Apr 2012 06:06 PM |
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Posted By iheartrae13 on 28 Mar 2012 04:05 PM
Hi wordsworth,
Congrats on moving in!!
I guess it will be an easy task for you to unpack as everything already has a place in your well organized home. ;-)
Thanks for your ever detailed and sincere reply on quries posted to you. I understand you have your own home based firm but becos of your patience and well written english, many a times i mistake you for a teacher, until I remembered there is a "SOHO" in your thread.
It's a pleasure to read your posting. ;-) Pls contd to post more.
thanks, rae
Whew, after a week, most things are unpacked but I'm just too tired to post pictures yet. Give me a few days to recover...
Fortunately, everything was labelled and easy to find but most of our stuff had been in storage for slightly over six months, so clothes, towels and bedsheets came out smelling damp and moldy (and occasionally a bit yellowed). Our furniture was dusty (there was a lot of sneezing going on in the first few days). And some of our books were in less than pristine condition (in ideal circumstances, books should never be squashed together for long periods of time as this will damage their spines and covers). So, we've had to do a lot of cleaning over the last couple of days.
Ha! Ha! Yeah, people always tell me that I sound like a teacher. I'm a volunteer reader at my daughters' pre-school and on mornings when I'm at the school to conduct a reading session, the other parents always mistake me for a teacher. Yikes! |
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robineun
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:190
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| 04 Apr 2012 06:12 PM |
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Congrats    !!! You definitely deserve a good rest. We look forward to your newest pictures after you have fully recovered!
It has been great following your renovation journey! |
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wordsworth
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:232
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| 04 Apr 2012 06:29 PM |
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Posted By adidaem on 04 Apr 2012 12:03 AM
Hey WW, how are you enjoying your new home? Am one of the many (including all you silent readers!) waiting to see your pics, don't make us wait too long k?
Akan datang... Very tired, lor.
Anyway, I cook breakfast and dinner daily, so for everyone's enjoyment here are some pics that I took of the food that I cooked over the last couple of days...
Breakfasts
Omelette stuffed with sauteed mushrooms and smoked ham, with a side salad of baby greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
Scrambled eggs with cheese and onion, pan roasted cherry tomatoes with sea salt and finely diced nori, and home baked sourdough bread.
Homemade parmesan, garlic and sundried tomato bread rolls baking in my oven. Great with a pat of butter and a cup of tea. The breakfast of champions! 
Dinners
(From left): Pan roasted parsnips, potatoes and carrots with rosemary; roast chicken stuffed with apples and garlic (my signature dish! ); sauteed baby asparagus with bacon.
Chicken, shiitake mushrooms and tau kwa stewed in soya sauce and lightly scented with star anise and cinnamon.
Steamed broccoli with an almond, garlic and butter sauce.
Chicken curry a la Wordsworth! A light chicken curry with potatoes and carrots. The creaminess that you see in the picture comes not from coconut milk or evaporated milk, but rather, pureed steamed cauliflower! Yup, that's right, cauliflower! It gives the dish a creamy texture and taste without the calories or guilt. |
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robineun
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:190
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| 04 Apr 2012 06:41 PM |
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Wow yummy - you can start a food blog :) |
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galaxy
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:285
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| 04 Apr 2012 08:31 PM |
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Wow! Your home cooked food look so good that it inspires me to want to try out new dishes. Must try cooking curry with the puréed steamed cauliflower so as to eat without guilt. |
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ntforum
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:21
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| 05 Apr 2012 11:49 PM |
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Hi WW, I really like your idea of using pureed cauliflower to thicken the gravy, something that never cross my mind. I will try it out next round. I also like your simple but delicious looking omelette with sauteed mushroom. Which brand of balsamic vinegar are u using and did u add any olive oil or lemon juice to your salad? |
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ntforum
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:21
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| 05 Apr 2012 11:50 PM |
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btw, I like to grill chicken but unfortunately not finding it tasty. Can share your recipe? Tks . |
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Sygnur
I'm a toddler Shroomy!
Posts:229
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| 09 Apr 2012 10:26 PM |
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Wow.... I really enjoyed looking at those pics... Especially those homemade breadrolls.... Maybe, after dust has settled, u could share all those yummylicious dishes' recipes....
Anyway, thanks for the info regarding the vinyl flooring.. Will convey the message to my colleague.. |
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iheartrae13
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:13
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| 10 Apr 2012 11:53 AM |
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I spoke to several ID and contractors and seem that they do not recommend the use of vinyl flooring for home...most gave a big disbelief expression and comments like,
1) it's so thin, only less than 5mm, try laminate as it is at least 8mm
2) it's not suitable for home and only for commercial place
3) this particular ID highlighted that it has the sticky feel over time (becos of the plastic material?) and it's popular in western countries as they wear their shoes at home.
I'm not sure if they r adverse to vinyl floor due to their lack of expertise on this particular flooring or simply becos they do not know how to install them?? sigh... cos my main aim is to cut cost of renovation since vinyl floor can be overlayed.
So i called up formica, one of the supplier of vinyl flooring. Cost is $4.85 psf (includ material and installation) . I raised my concern to him and he assured that so far there are no formal complaints on their vinyl floor used in residential area. Things I wish to highlight in the conversation is:
1) He estimates the lifespan of the vinyl floor is 5yrs in a retail shop due to the high traffic. This is jus nice for commercial use as they usu. update and renovate the store every 5 years or so. For home, it will definitely be much longer since less traffic volume and home owners usu take good care of it.
2) NOT suitable for constant dragging of heavy furniture (like a warehouse) as it will wear off the vinyl.
3) Formica use waterbased adhesive to adhere to the flooring, unlike the ones used for cupboard laminate. Guess less fumes and smell.
4) For house renov, he recommends to lay the vinyl floor last as I highlighted what is the solution if wall paint splatter onto the vinyl floor. So I'm not sure if there is any remedy if marker ink accidentally stain onto the floor. But since it comes in pieces, he suggests to just change the affected pieces, but that will depends on the availability of stock...so good to buy more for such future change (homogenous tile owners also keep extra tiles for the same purpose)
I have not seen it in the home until I come across WW's thread and her beautiful home. I went to Comfort furniture and they installed in their 2nd level showroom...it's really beautiful...
Now my main concern if it feels sticky over time...decision decision....sigh...
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spiffysue
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:1
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| 15 Apr 2012 04:37 AM |
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hi WW, could you PM me the contact for your contractor? he sounds awesome. thanks so much!
p/s: if you don't mind sending me the cost breakdown, that wld be great too :)
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wits99
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:6
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| 15 Apr 2012 07:50 PM |
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Hi there,
Mine sharing information like Cost of Reno, ID & Contractor info?
Cheers.
@import url(/providers/htmleditorproviders/cehtmleditorprovider/dnngeneral.css); |
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raybee
I'm a baby Shroomy!
Posts:3
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| 24 Apr 2012 01:03 PM |
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Wordsworth, I absolutely adore this renovation project. Very well done! May I ask where did you get the solid nyatoh bi-fold door from? Can you PM me the price and contact? |
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lieblingsg
I'm an expert adult Shroomy!
Posts:10307
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| 04 Jun 2012 12:21 AM |
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Wordsworth- I promised to show you the library I designed for my friend. The reveal.  |
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