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Thursday, June 28, 2012

How to make Your Home Elderly Proof: Part 1 - Making Your Home User-friendly

 

How to make Your Home Elderly Proof:

Part 1 - Making Your Home User-friendly

Interior design is meant to increase the quality of our life. Thus planning for a renovation without considering the needs of the elderly members will be detrimental. Unfortunately, I have seen too many young couples who are too caught up with constructing their “dream” home that they have sadly sidelined the needs of their aged parents or grandparents.

In fact, I am very disheartened to see that so much emphasis is placed in the look and feel of the home design that they forgot that a home is ultimately where our loved ones live in. Don't these couple know that their aged family members have feelings and specific needs too? To me, it is ironic that a house is so stylishly and modernly furnished and yet, our loved ones faced difficulty living in it.
Why is making a home elderly proof so important?

In addition, these couple fail to realize is that by making their home elderly proof also means that their senior family members get to maintain their independence and this means a whole world to them. In fact, the elderly prided their autonomy very much and want to move around the house with minimal assistance.


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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Renovation Loan FAQ

Renovation Loans FAQ


1. Is it advisable to take on a Renovation Loan?
As pointed out in my Will Renovation Raise your Property Value post, it is not wise to view renovation as a return on investment (unlike Study or Home Loan). Thus, I will advise you not to take on a Renovation Loan. However if you have to, keep in mind to keep the loan amount small and manageable. 


2. What is the minimum and maximum renovation loan amount?
Minimum loan amount: SGD $10,000
Maximum loan amount: 8 times of your monthly income or SGD$30,000 (whichever is lower). 


3. What is the minimum and maximum loan tenure?
Minimum loan tenure period: 1 years
Maximum loan tenure period: 5 years


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Monday, June 25, 2012

Francfranc @ Vivocity

Francfranc @ Vivocity

  
So what is the fuss about?

Why? Simply because Francfranc:
1. is a Japanese lifestyle home furnishing concept store;
2. opens the largest flagship store in the world (and the 1st in Southeast Asia) @ Vivocity
3. occupies 20,000 sq ft - yes that is right - 20,000 sq ft!
4. is designed by Yasumichi Morita, an award-winning designer & president of Glamorous Co., Ltd
5. features gigantic chairs and a polar bear - ok please ignore the last point. :P


What goodies does Francfranc carry to pimp my house?

Francfranc offers a wide selection of products ranging from furniture, home interior furnishings such as carpets, home appliances like speakers and kitchenware such as silicon steamers, home and interior accessories and health and beauty products.


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Friday, June 22, 2012

Glamourpuss life

glamourpusslife.com


I have covered Wacky Kitchen Tools last year, thus today I shall write about  exquisitely designed Kitchen and Gardening Tools that simply melt any woman's heart.

Before I start to bombard my blog post with delicious looking product photos, let me give a brief introduction of glamourpusslife, an online lifestyle store.



So what is the fuss about?
Glamourpusslife was started by Daniela sometime back in 2007. Glamourpusslife is an import and marketing company which focus on glamorous, fun, flirty and fabulous gifts for Women.

Yup that's right, male readers take note, if you ran out of things to pamper your women, this is the place where you should shop! And for general readers, this is a good source for house-warming gifts especially for female hosts.


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Whimsical Home & Decor Inspiring Ideas



Amazing Whimsical Home & Decor Inspiring Ideas


Definition of Whimsical:

“ Erratic; unpredictable; playfully quaint humorous or fanciful, especially in an appealing, endearing and amusing way. ”

Here are some really amazing design inspirations* for your interior design needs. 
Enjoy! :)

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Amazing Whimsical Interior Design Ideas



Amazing Whimsical Interior Design Ideas


Definition of Whimsical:

“ Erratic; unpredictable; playfully quaint humorous or fanciful, especially in an appealing, endearing and amusing way. ”

Here are some really amazing design inspirations* for your interior design needs. 
Enjoy! :)

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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Amazing Bedroom Ideas - Part 3

Some Amazing Bedroom Ideas...

Part 2




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Monday, June 18, 2012

Amazing Bathroom Ideas - Part 1

Some Amazing Bathroom Designs

from pinterest.com



Custom Interior Waterfalls


Fancy Shower!


LED tap which changes color with temperature

from digsdigs.com

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Smart Faucet

Smart Faucet
by iHouse

Ha! Old habits die hard....next is a high-tech faucet that is both stylish and functional. With its sleek form and state of the art design,  the high-tech smart faucet by iHouse certainly jazzes up any boring bathroom! :)


What is so smart about this stylish looking faucet?


iHouse Smart Faucet features a face recognition system and turns on the water automatically to the preferred configurations (i.e. temperature, pressure, flow etc) for different individuals. This is very useful if you have multiple inhabitants in your house and saves the hassle of having to remix the water to the desired temperature and flow every time you use it. It even allows for you to check your calendar, access email and so on through a touchscreen interface.

Furthermore aside from its sleek stylish form, its LED light changes gradually to show the varying temperature with blue for cool and red for higher temperatures. The video below show how it actually works. However, unfortunately it is not in English. :(



My Verdict? Having automatic water temperature and pressure function allows you to shave off some time from your hectic schedule. However I doubt its email and calendar feature is very useful due to its limited screen size.
Furthermore, I am not sure whether if this Smart Faucet is smart enough to premix the water settings according to the different climate seasons. However if it does, it is worth an investment.



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Smart Coffee-table

Smart Coffee-table

I have covered Smart Glass, Smart Mirror in my last few posts. Well, I will cover the Smart Coffee- table next. :)
Still clueless?  The videos below gives a general introduction of what a Smart Coffee-table is about.




What are the types of Smart Coffe-table available in the market?

In actuality, there is a long list of other Smart Coffee-table available in the market. In addition, they do not necessary encompasses all the cool tech-features depicted in the video above. However they do have one thing in common – they are stylish and certainly a good conversation starter over a cup of coffee. :D




My Verdict?

I have my first hands-on experience with the Smart Coffee-table in Fusionopolis when it is showcased in the Smart Home Living section. However like any new gadget, the novelty wears off eventually. In addition, your neck certainly aches after spending sometime with it and thus it is not recommended if you want to perform tasks like internet surfing, work and gaming. Furthermore, you might have to replace your Coffee-table every few years after its technology has become obsolete.

Nonetheless, Smart Coffee-table with in-built audio system does help to integrate music more seamlessly into your daily life.





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Sunday, June 10, 2012

Green Renovation

Green Renovation

Have you heard of Green Renovation? I am sure you have a vague idea of what this buzzword means...nonetheless, here is the definition of Green Renovation.
"Green Renovation describes the renovation which makes use of design techniques and construction materials which creates a healthy and sustainable interior environment for environment conscious homeowners by:
                      ■ Encouraging energy efficiency and;
                      ■ Conserving  resources.
"

So ultimately, you are playing a part in helping our Planet Earth by reducing your carbon footprint.
Ok, maybe not all of you is into this “environmental responsibility” thingy. Nonetheless, do read on  because Green Renovation does bring about REAL tangible benefits. :)



So what are these tangible advantages?
Reduction of Cost  
The more energy efficient, the more monthly utility bills will be reduced.
Improved Health   
Alternative less toxic paint and floor finishes are critical to the well being of the home dwellers. This means reduced medical bills too as a cleaner living environment translates to healthier living especially for people with allergies.

Okay I am sold. But does going Green mean I have to spend more?
Yes. In fact besides spending more, you might have to spend more effort to plan and purchase more energy efficient home appliances, more environmental friendly materials such as less toxic paint, floor finishes (with low VOC paint, or water-based polyurethane) etc. However, bear in mind that although some home appliances and materials may be costly, consider them as upfront sunk costs as the value of going green (i.e. both direct and indirect savings) will only be achieved over some time.

Humm....I am new to this. So where should I start?
You can start planning your Green Renovation with your Interior Designer or Contractor with the following area of focus - just remember the 3Rs:

Reduce energy usage
Make your home carbon neutral with the right insulation, heating & cooling systems, window coverings and energy efficient appliances.

For instance, natural gas is a greener alternative to electricity as electricity is produced from fossil fuels such as coal In addition, transmission losses for gas are significantly lower than electricity and the heat produced for a given unit of energy is greater. Nonetheless, remember that natural gas is still a non-renewable fossil fuel in the same way that coal and oil are. Where available, renewable forms of energy such as roof mounted solar panels should be seen as preferred alternative. However, unfortunately this is not a common feature in HDB flats in Singapore.
Nonetheless, fret not. You can focus in reducing your total energy consumption by:
- Installing electricity efficient appliances such as air conditioner, refrigerator, TV etc;
- Ensuring your windows are well insulated to keep out the
blistering heat;
- Switching to LED fittings for lights fixtures.
A well insulated, energy efficient home should be able to achieve average power consumption figures of 5-10kWh/day across the year.

Reduce and conserve water usage

Water can be collected from roof with the use of rain water tanks, grey water systems, water saving fittings. Unfortunately - again - these are not a common feature for HDB flats in Singapore.

However, you can focus in reducing your total water consumption by:
- Choosing water efficient cycles for dishwashers and washing machines;
- Installing water efficient appliances such as washing machines, toilets, dishwashers etc.

■ Reuse & Recycle

Lastly, you can consider re-using existing materials, fixtures for your renovation. For instance, incorporating an interesting old wall feature, or recycling the old furnitures as part of the interior design for your new place.


Finally, here are some useful links if you want to find out more:






- Energy Efficient Singapore
- National Environment Singapore - Energy Labelling

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Saturday, June 2, 2012

Smart Mirror


Smart Mirror


Okay, I admit I am a geek...really this is an occupation hazard..

At work, I studied the latest technology that can be incorporated and harnessed for work to be more effective and efficient. Hence, I hope that we can also do the same thing in the comfort of our homes! :)

Previously, I did a post on Smart Glass. So next on my list of staples for the Smart Home of the Future is the .... *Drum Roll*

Smart Mirror!

Technology is progressing rapidly and user adoption depends heavily on whether it is able to integrate tightly in our day-to-day life. Thus, it seems logical that daily ubiquitous household staples like mirrors are being targeted.
What does a Smart Mirror do? Smart Mirror probably allow for people to check mails, schedules, appointments, Facebook, read news, see weather forecast, surf website, display date, time, temperature, listen to music and the list goes on. Inshort, it is pretty similar to an iPad which doubles up as a mirror.
My Verdict?
To be honest, even though this mirror is pretty cool, there’s no denying that the functions that it provides is pretty trivial. Aside from providing the convience of staying connected during bathroom breaks, it is hard to envision how else it can make your life more efficient. Moreover, it is probably expensive to install one and time spent in front of the mirror is not very significant.
I am interested in getting one...so where can I find it?
You should be able to get it at ROCA. For Singapore, Interior Affairs is the company which carries this product.
The Smart Mirror solution named Innova Radio, allows you to connect to a range of functions: stereo FM radio, lighting, time and ambient temperature.The Innova radio also has a USB port for you to connect to an MP3 player, a fluorescent light externally controllable via the main bathroom switch and a demister system.
Update: Interior Affairs is retailing the Smart Mirror @ the price of $3,170 (excluding 7% GST and installation fee of $80) with 2 years warranty.

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Friday, June 1, 2012

What to do if your Renovation really goes wrong?



Despite your very best efforts and good intentions, I am sure there are times when things still go wrong. Sad but true. :(

So what should you do then?


1. Access the Impact

First of all, access the impact of the mistake with your Interior Designer (ID) or Contractor immediately. Find out whether does the mistake impact the renovation schedule and cost. The longer you wait, the more costly the mistake will be.


2. Perform Rectification Works

After that, find out what rectification works can be done to rectify the problem.


3. Set a Deadline

By setting a deadline, it allows for both parties to come together at a date and review the resolution together.


4. Review Proposal and revise Contract

Review the proposal with the ID and Contractor and revise the Contract and document the impact and rectification works



However, during the course of problem resolution disagreements may surface. Unfortunately when that happens, you should the following, in order of importance to prevent WWIII from erupting:


1. Withhold Payment until Dispute is Resolved


Never pay the ID or Contractor until the situation has been resolved.


2. Resolve with the ID or Contractor directly

Obviously this is the least costly method.


3. Keep a record of all Conversations and Communications

Keeping a book record helps to keep track of what is agreed and decisions made.


4. Take photos of your Concerns

Photos servers as undisputed proofs of unsuitable workmanship, materials etc.


5. File complaints with the Relevant Authorities

Contact the Renovation and Decoration Advisory Center (RADAC) or Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) for advise.


6. Find an Attorney

As the last resort, speak to a lawyer when a mutual resolution can’t be reached. However, this will be rather costly and time consuming.







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