1.4 Interior Design Selection Final Episode

Hey what's up man.. Finally got some time and inspiration to blog.. Super busy week again.. gonna be super busy all the way till CNY! Heng I buy all my clothes online liao sibei song ah.. all the items ship right to your doorstep don't need to go squeeze with the crowd hehehehe..

Renotalk Forum

Alright peeps what I'll mainly focus in this blog shall be the some of the research material available and step simple guide of the whole ID selection process. Ok I found this forum damn solid. If I'm not wrong it's the most informative forum with regards to renovation in Singapore. It have quite a fair bit of information in there so do take your time to read them. Especially for those ID that you are currently considering and there's a thread discussing about them already swee swee can go in recee other people fk up experiences lo.

*Useful tip 8*
"Some comment is knn by troll one so must take it with a pinch of salt.. How to identify troll ah? Well if u see he only got one post and only just join.. most likely he is one.."

And so I eliminate Linewerks from my list after reading some of the really cui review about the firm.. Sorry man Bing u r a good man I'm sure God will reward u in other way la.. All the best to you man.. I keep on reading through most of the thread.. As I read their comment I open up their website to look at their work as well. Quite ironically, Summit Design Studio I can say got the most ugly website and layout I've seen so far but their reviews are astonishingly good and most seem quite credible. That's the only reason why I decide to meet up with them. Refer to Part 3 if you wish to know how the meet up with them went. As promised they were suppose to get back to me by two weeks but still never heard anything from them so I go to forum and gan them.. Anyway this forum hor is sibei funny one leh.. I tried to post a new thread twice to ask for review about other ID firm such as Mong Design Studio - The one that is on the top of my list but the admin like MIA sia.. I never see my post created one loh also don't know why they don't want to approve leh.. And after I gan SDS hor.. Someone PM me this..

Anyway I also don't know this Renotalk is kelong anot one la.. What I know is I'm like Stone Cold Steve Austin DTA one.. Don't Trust Anybody.. I trust my own instinct and guts feel..

Shortly after Ken from SDS contacted me. We meet up at his studio once again. Similarly he show us his color sketches and we are really happy with it. The design and color scheme is as per what we wanted, there's some additional detail created by him and most important of all.. The quotation is really reasonable.

The Final Comparision (In ranking order)

1. Mong Design Studio - No doubt they are on the top of our list. They gave us the confidence that our house will be in good hand with them. Their work is really awesome. Their website look quite professional too. We tried corresponding with them a couple of time and they have tried to offer some additional discount. Final quotation $48k. Include everything except some minor work value at around $2-3k

2. Summit Design Studio - What put them in the second place is mainly due to their Quotation. However if we set aside pricing, some of factor that attribute to their placing here is due to their review in forum, we like their design, we felt comfortable talking with him and the chemistry is there. What is holding me back is the dodgy renotalk forum, their unorganized ugly website and their studio location (wtf I really scare my id go find Vietnam Cai every night and anyhow do my project)... Final quotation $30k. Include everything except electrical cost estimated ard $3k.

3. Third Avenue Studio - Everything is almost perfect about his firm except their quotation which is really on the high side. Design Fee $5k.. others FOC.. Painting work $4k.. others $2k.. Enuff said.. Final quotation $42k. Exclude a great amount of carpentry work in the living room and master room. Strong emphasis on Design rather then functionality.  

The rest of the firms, I'm sorry you are eliminated. Better luck next time...

After much consideration..

Discussion...

Calculation..

Ladies & Gentlemen..

I proudly

Present to you... (Drumroll)

The winner for 2014

For The Super Kiam Ka Na Ben Teo RiverParc EC only but Machiam Renovate Milliondollar Sentosa Cove Project..

..

Goes too...

...

SUMMIT DESIGN STUDIO!!!

Our Modern Resort Theme Sketch by Summit Design Studio

As much as I hate to admit I am one customer that want cheap, want good, and want big big boobs! Summit Design Studio is able to give us what we wanted.. and everything is factored in within our budget giving us some allowance for some possible adjustment in the future. There're just so many positive reviews about them in the forum. So you see consumer nowadays is all v savvy one.. social media is a very important platform that all firm should leverage on and at all cost try not to screw themselves up online.. Honestly if we have more budget or there're available review with regards to Mong Design Studio we might straight away without a doubt picked them instead.

Since we've come to the end of the ID selection blog. For the benefits of anyone who have yet to start or have no idea where/how to begin. I'll be providing some step by step guide below.. hope it's helpful.. Have FUN ID shopping!

STEP 1: Select your desired "Theme"

Eg. Modern Contemporary, Tropical Resort, Modern Zen, Mediterranean, Simplistic etc..

If you are unsure of what "Theme" to go for or what type of theme you really like. Go download this really awesome app called "Houzz". Do play around with the different Theme in the "style" tab and I am sure you will be able to figure your way out from there.

Sample of Interior Design from Houzz

STEP 2: Look for Interior Design Ideas for your selected "Theme"

You can either do it online or using application. Let say you like "Modern Rustic" theme, just google for "Modern Rustic Interior Design" you will be able to find tons of result under the "images" tab! Just copy and save down for your future references. Another website you can go to is "Pinterest"... just go to the website and search your theme.. there will be tons of pins available there too! Another way will be browsing as much portfolio as possible from varies ID firm website. Again you can get a lot from ideas from the Houzz application. You can read up some Home Décor magazine too.


Modern Tropical Interior Design. The Theme I am going for.

STEP 3: Figure out your Priorities.

Eg. I want more storage space. I want smart feature like transformable bed or sofa. I want to have the SEA Aquarium in my house. I must have the night safari feel when I jiggy-jig with my wife in the room. I want to be able to fit 50 guests in my living room etc..

Example of Die Die I wanna showcase my SEA AQUARIUM!

STEP 4: Color Scheme

Eg. Are you going for warm color or dark color? Color scheme is very important. For most theme, try not to mixed more then two colors in your design. Having a clear understanding of what color tone you prefer will enable you to carry out your research better.

STEP 5: Work out your Budget

If you've read my previous blog, I've mentioned before all the other hidden cost such as electrical, curtains, furnishing, appliances could quite easily take up a large portion of your budget like $15-30k range. So remember to factor this in while working out the budget for your ID.

STEP 6: ID Hunting!
Once you done all the above step 1 -5. I can say more or less you can start to hunt for your ID liao la.. Just drop them a email. Feed them with all the information. Can refer to my first blog here for my email template. Alright guy I hope my blog is able to help you and make things a lil easier and fun in your ID selection journey. I've enjoyed my journey so far and I guess you will too! Especially if you are virgin too like me.. first time is always full of excitement one.. and confirm you will bleed too... erm I mean wallet bleed la..hahahha.. Till next time!!!

Links to my previous blog:

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 1)

Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 2)
Interior Design For My Humble Executive Condo Riverparc Residences (Part 3)
Pre-Renovation Review *New*