Tiles

Choosing tiles for our home was not an easy task.  We spent many weekends visiting tile shops, comparing tile prices and quality.  We were so spoilt for choice, from ceramic to homogeneous, different types of grades, colors and sizes.  I roughly knew what color tile I wanted for the hall, dining and kitchen.  When it come to bathroom tiles, it was a little more challenging.

We bought our tiles from Super Ceramic Tiles in Jalan 222, Petaling Jaya.  We were serviced by a very friendly, approachable and experienced sales lady.  I strongly believe in good customer service and this lady sets a good example of how customer service should be.  She gave us advise on the tiles, gave us suggestions on design and so many more advise.  Their prices are reasonably priced too.

We used the same tile for our living and dinning ~ 60x60cm, color : Off White, price : RM6.50 per piece.  For the kitchen and domestic helper's room ~ 60x60, color : Ash Grey, price : RM7.00 per piece.  For the kitchen wall ~ 20x40cm, color : White with Grey stripes and for the wall boarder and floor insertion ~ 30x30cm, color : Vivid Pumpkin (basically it's Orange color).

We used the same tile designs for all three bathrooms (didn't want to spend too much time thinking of which bathroom has which tile color).  For the bathroom wall ~ 20x40cm wall tiles, color : Black (RM3.00 per piece) & White (RM2.70 per piece), for the bathroom floor : 30x60cm, color : Black, price : RM5.40 each.

For the porch, we used Terracotta tiles ~ 30x30cm, price : RM3.60 each and for the boarder ~ 30x60cm, color : Black

To lay the tiles, we had hired help of Indonesian tilers and price paid for their labour was about half of what the contractor wanted to charge us.

Trying to match the kitchen wall tile with a boarder

More options to choose from

Trying to match the kitchen floor with an insertion

Part of the tiles that arrived at our home

The Indonesian tilers tiling the dining area

The Indonesian tilers tiling the dining area

Dining area all tiled up

One of the hired help cutting the tile

Trying to match the Terracotta tile with a boarder

The kitchen wall tile ~ finally decided on a orange color tile

The kitchen floor tiles, with orange insertion

The Master bathroom with white insertion

The Master bedroom with pebble wash at the shower
area to avoid 'mishaps'

The Children's bathroom 

Tiling completed for the Children's bathroom
and with pebble wash at the shower area

The Guest bathroom, also with pebble wash 

The entrance landing with Terracotta tiles
and orange insertion

House Tour : Hall

Once you walk into our  house, you'll land yourself in the foyer and on the right would be our hall.  As of now, it's a little empty as we've not found a sofa that we were able to fall in love with.  I have something in mind, but don't want to rush into buying the sofa.  So for a temporary solution, we've put the outdoor teak two seater as well as some rattan chairs in the hall.

As usual, the hall portion like every room in the house is still in progress.

Before renovation, view from the dining area, you'll see the hall on your left
and the foyer on your right

Before renovation, the hall looking into the dinning area

The mess during renovation

Floor has been screed and ready to be tiled

Christmas 2012 ~ Us with our temporary furniture set up 

During renovation, view from dining area looking into the hall
Little Rascal wants in on the action

After renovation, Carolers at our home ~ Christmas 2012 

During renovation, floor of the hall has been screed, ready to be tiled

Dining area on Christmas morning looking into the hall area

Renovation Progress - Patio Door

If you've read our blog post here, we wanted to recycle and reuse the French doors at the existing house for our patio area which is also at the same location.  As usual, our Contractor had discourage us to reuse the door and advise us to buy new door, giving reason that it cannot be sand down to the original wood or that it would be expensive to re-varnish it.  

Because the doors are still in good condition and we felt that it adds character to the house.  And because hubby dearest was a DIY and handyman, he took the challenge.  

The French doors dismantled

Trying to remove the white paint to get the wood color

The wood is scratched when using the metal brush

So hubby uses a sander

Much better and faster

The difference between before and after sanding down

Because the glass edges could not be sand down using the machine, we tried using a paint remover

We applied the paint remover to the wood and waited for a while until it bubbled

But it was hard to remove the paint and it didn't come out 100%

Have to think of another solution on how to remove the paint