1.1 Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences

Hello I'm back. This time I'm going to blog about my ID selection process, follow by the remaining renovation processes on the subsequence blogpost. As usual I will try to make this post as informative and fun as possible so everyone can take away something from here.


Alright LETS START OUR ID SELECTION JOURNEY =))


We first embark on our journey by visiting one of the ID EXPO Fair in November last year 2013. WTF right so kiasu don't even know when can collect key to our home go disturb ID already.. Hahaha.. If you've no idea where to start then probably visiting such fair will warm you up just fine because:

1) There're a lot of IDs available.
2) You can get a lot of design IDEAS from different IDs at a single location
3) You can look at and study their recent work

*Useful Tip 1*
"The general rule of thumb here is just take note of the three pointers above and nothing else! Do NOT rush into committing on the spot!"

Image Creative Design

The first and one of the worst ID firm that we met is this guy I forgot what's his name already from Image Creative Design. He sat us down and talk a tons of crap which 80% of the time I don't know wtf he talking.. so the next moment he try to draw something. I look at the paper "WTH is this?!" Then he goes "Oh this are just some simple sketches. We running promo now. All you need to do is put $1k deposit now and we will draft 3D for you already! That will be much clearer.." Of course since this is the first ID that we went, we confirm want to shop somemore la where got so stupid commit to this idiot. What piss me off is after we refuse to place the deposit he kept trying to schedule an appointment with us to his showflat! I asked him for what? He said want to show me some material and some what "line". Who want to waste a weekend go see your what stupid line sia! What a total turnoff! Really feel sad for this company hire such a ID man..

Linewerkz Pte Ltd

After wasting close to 1 hour at our first stop.. we carry on walking and pass by Rest & Relax.. We asked a few question while admiring their showroom there.. They abit yaya papaya so NEXT!~ As we walk down a bit more, we drop by this booth by Linewerkz. Looked at their portfolio, quite like their design so we decided to seat down with this ID by the named BING. He is very friendly, down to earth, sincere and most important of all.. The communication is there.. This guy is able to listen, understand and illustrate out what we wanted. YES. He told us he could use freehand to sketch out the design for our living and master on the spot and it's FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.. Just need to give him about an hour! Wow power leh this guy who don't want sia! We onz him la.. We say nvm u slowly draw we go out eat Burger King later then come back see what you've for us.

Swee la! We happily hopped our way to BK.. Slowly makan our mushroom swiss.. song alr.. then slowly hopped our way back to his booth in anticipation of what he drew for us. Honestly at first I still think cannot be la.. maybe he wanna troll me.. When we reached he was already standing there waiting for us.. Seated once again, he pulled out two drawing to show us while explaining what he intend to do. WAHHH!! JIN SATKI LEH THIS GUY!! Maybe I suaku la but I am super impressed by his drawing and it really make me wet already loh! While he was illustrating to me with his drawing I'm already dreaming about what my living room how swee it will look like bla bla bla! Ok In short, he not only is able to put what we wanted into perspective "demonstrate that he understand what we wanted", he also input some of his idea in "exactly what you need to look out for in an ID if not might as well engage contractor". No matter how impress we are with his ART, it's still too early to commit la.. However he scored another appointment with us because he did another thing right.. HE DID NOT HARD SELL US INTO PLACING THE STUPID DEPOSIT!

*Useful Tip 2*
"Parking at EXPO is fking expensive!! Make sure your cashcard enough money cause you will probably spend half a day there.."

More Research

And so, we went back and carry on our research on ID firm. Found two company quite interesting via Facebook. Visited there webpage to look through their portfolio and emailed them. Here's a sample of my email. Feel free to use and improvise if you want. =)

** Email template **

Hi XX,

My EC will TOP most likely end of Q2 2014. So I am currently looking for a interior design firm that I am comfortable with. I'll like to find out more about your services and offering. However, prior to meeting up, could you prepare some projects or a draft sketch based on my below requirement? As I believe this will very much speed things up a little.

My wish list:
- No need to renovate studio.
- Area that require renovation; Living and two bedrooms
- Theme: XXX
- Color scheme: XXX
- Prefer elements: XXX
- Special feature: XXX
- As much storage as possible
- Budget $XXk *Optional* I will touch on this in detail later

Hear from you soon. Thank you

Regards,

Ben Teo

Mong Design Studio

Shortly after, we fixed an appointment with Mong Design Studio and was greeted by their Art Director Maena. She is truly a veteran in this trade. She know her stuff really well and is very professional. During the discussion, my wife was thoroughly impressed by her. WHY?! Because she dare to GAN me.. She dare to rebuke some of my idea tactfully.. it's like someone telling you "Don't be lame la.. Your idea is impractical and stupid as shit" in such a manner that you hear already still can smile like one gong cb.. After the hour long session, without a doubt we schedule our next appointment to go through the quotation and some drawing that she told us she will exceptionally draw for us which she normally wouldn't.


*Useful Tip 3*
"Look for an ID that dare to oppose your idea and at the same time propose to you something better. That's what we pay them for. Remember a "Yes to all" ID is no different from a contractor."

Su Misura

The next ID firm that I've emailed and want to share is this somewhat ATAS firm call SU Misura. Apparently from what I've gathered from their website. Their Design is machiam those showflat standard. Immediately give you the confidence that your house will confirm be SWEE SWEE in their hand. Trust me unless you are damn rich or want to act ATAS then look for them loh.. Just so that you can have a feel of what I am talking about. This is the last email from them.

"To give you a better idea of our company's practice, we have a design fee of
minimum $15,000.00 or 10% of build contract, on top of the build contract
for the renovation works. You can sign the design fee first, and we will
develop our initial design concept to give you a more accurate quotation for
the renovation works. We will give you a rough estimated sum for the
renovation works before you engage our design services."


I seriously don't know WTF they talking cause my England not very good. But how I read is at such
"Sorry to inform you we think you are abit not rich and so in order not to waste our time, can you pay us $15k first then we talk. This is also to ensure that in the event you couldn't afford to engage us further we could forfeit those money take it as wasting our time compensation... OK NEXT! Any Sentosa Cove customer? Anyone?"


Alright. I will end this blog post here. For the coming blog post, I'll be sharing on what to expect from second appointment, explanation on what to look out for in ID quotation, my experiences and encounter with a few more firms and some more tips and lobang! Till then! =)

*Useful tip 4*
"Click on ID firm name to open up their website. =)"

**** Updated *****

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 2)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 3)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 4)

Pre-Renovation Review