It’s been a while since my last update on getting the keys to our BTO flat! Read this post if you haven’t! We’re getting quite excited seeing the place come together. It’s been 7 weeks since renovation started, and we’re probably 50% there. I remember hacking of the kitchen walls started on 1 November and it’s now the 20 December. Progress is not the fastest cos our ID got our permission to wait for his preferred carpenter (his booking was full) and we’re not in a hurry to move anyway.

We have known since the start that we engaged Space Atelier because of their designs. There are so many IDs in the market but how many of them are designers? We didn’t want a renovation coordinator – to us having someone who’s savvy in coordination IS important, but secondary. We have met “IDs” who ARE very savvy, who can negotiate super well with contractors, can click with owners, can promise you a lot, and who are sincere in their jobs too. But we didn’t click in terms of designs, because quite simply, it’s not their background.

To be honest, our ID is not the most detail-oriented guy in the universe, but we are, so it’s something that we can let go a little. What’s important to us is that he’s not the kind of person who will inflate costs and over-promise. He’s a young designer, sincere and not out to cheat your money. Can be a bit muddle-headed though, but he has qualities that we appreciate. Thanks for handling our renovation, Space Atelier, can’t wait to see our completed home!

CBB is starting to love looking into the mirror…. I wonder who she takes after?

Here’s list of the main things we’re doing:

And here are the pictures!

CBB playing peekaboo with her two front teeth!

Our oven, hob and chimney hood are from Rinnai. I will be writing about their inner flame technology soon! The Crestar fan is for our main bedroom, which also has a false ceiling – so we can only afford up to a 32″ fan in the room (but Crestar doesn’t have 32″ so we got 30″).

Basic lights from sglightings. Not super alot of selection, but all the basic stuff plus reasonable selection is available there. I think you will like it if you’re going for the Scandinavian or industrial look. Pricing is great and transparent. We saw the same bedroom light selling 3 times the price at other lighting places (not kidding, $65 vs $195 at Chelsea Lighting at Jurong East). Our dining and balcony lights are from Design Light from Jalan Besar Plaza. Love that place too.. super good service and price. We got our crystal lamp for the dining area for $298, at a 51% discount!

Sanitary items from Hoe Kee. They didn’t have the colour for the Blanco granite sink we wanted, so we got another brand from a store in Tradehub 21. This is the Grohe rainshower that Jason can’t wait to bathe in.

The living room and balcony view:

By this time, CBB has fallen asleep:

My subway tiles for one side of the kitchen:

We’re considering installing solar films for our windows to keep the heat out, and will be having day and night curtains for the living room and bedrooms. For the balcony, we’re still looking at installing a child safety rail or barrier. Furniture shopping is the last on our list. I don’t even know what to do with the other two empty rooms yet! If have any recommendations or wish to feature your product or services, contact me! Can’t wait to see the final product although I already feel sucky that I have to move out of my aunt’s place. I have stayed with them forever!! Waaaaah!

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After four long years, we have finally gotten the keys to our BTO flat! *throws confetti*

We first balloted for the BTO in April 2012. At that time we only knew we were not young anymore and just wanna faster get a home. Coincidentally a new premium BTO – Skyline – was coming up in Bukit Batok, two streets away from my aunt’s place. Sounded perfect! So off we went to submit our application. Imagine our joy when our first ballot attempt was successful.. we were invited for flat selection but all the top floor units with balcony were taken up. The tallest block goes up to 38 storeys! Standing high indeed. But when it came to our turn, the only unit left that comes with a balcony was at a super low level. Yes quite FML thinking back but it’s ok, if got fire we jump down also won’t die.

So we waited! You know some BTOs complete way ahead of time like 1-2 years ahead. Or at least a few months ahead. Ours? Totally on the dot according to the estimated completed date. So we waited a total of 4.5 years for this.. plus we were also one of the last few to collect our keys.

We made an appointment with the HDB officer last Friday at 2.30pm. Took a number and waited. And took some selfies since baby girl was in a good mood!

Pardon my ugly roots. I will fix it.. when.. I dunno..

With her favourite person in the world.

CBB was super smiley that day.. she knew we were taking our keys or what?! Haha. The HDB customer service officer explained a few items to us, like the dos and don’ts of renovation, plus confirmed some money matters, like how much bank loan we took and the tenure, etc. The only thing we paid that day was a $55 conservancy charge (haven’t even move in have to pay already wtf). Our law firm settled everything else for us in the form of cheque. And within 20 minutes, tada!

(The eyebags are real.)

We also went one level up to open our SP services account. Just take the escalator in the middle of the main lobby and SP services is at your left as you reach level 2. SP Services didn’t collect any money from us that day.

From just dating to married, from er ren shi jie to now with cbb, our flat is finally ready! Quite surreal! Michelle my da sao picked us up and off we went to the new place! I’m gonna be sharing photos of our flat first, followed by the beautiful surroundings.

Super love the tuquoise tinted full length windows and the shiny tiles:

Our super tiny balcony (with cigarette butt somemore who is the culprit confess!):

The kitchen (we’re gonna hack the walls) and service yard:

Bomb shelter:

The passageway leading to the rooms:

Bedroom 1 and 2 and the common toilet:

The main bedroom (sorry not enough space to stand to take good photo) and toilet:

My first thought upon stepping in was: Need to be so small ma?! Yes the flat is smaller than I imagined but I guess that’s the case for all new BTOs now. We also decided to engage an interior designer since I honestly can’t manage with cbb still so little and I’m going back to work really soon.

After meeting with a handful of ID firms, we decided to go with Space Atelier. Their designs are fresh and contemporary, the quotation is reasonable and we are very impressed with their service and portfolio on Qanvast. Looking forward to receiving the 3D drawings. Hope everything goes smoothly!

Next step would be to do the defects check (our ID did this together with us). I stayed home with cbb that day cos of the dust and all, but Jason said the number of defects was ok and not overwhelming. I’m super in love with our surroundings!

View from our balcony:

Linkway from block to garden/greenary/playground:

Kena photobombed by my nephew Aegon.

Can’t wait to set up our new home! It is empty for now but it is already slowly filling up with love :) Hope we don’t exceed our budget when it comes to spending for electronics, kitchen appliances and furniture (and curtains!) for our living, dining and bedrooms. If you wish to feature your product or know of anywhere I can get good deals, get in touch with me. Watch this space as I share our home renovation journey!

The post Getting the keys to our new BTO flat! appeared first on Budgetpantry | Singapore Mummy Blog on Food, Recipe & Baby.