Thinking Out of the Box

Sometimes when you are working on a project, measurements may go haywire due to the materials that does not measure up or for ANY particular reason.  So you have to make amends and think out of the box.  You have to be creative.  You have to see BEYOND the project, beyond what the material or project can offer.

For our latest project, the DIY Bathroom Counter Top (you can read about it here), that was what happen.  

We bought the Ikea Freden series cabinets which are for bathroom storage. We used the cabinet for the sink but because our counter top was long and over lapped over the cabinet, and we did not want to cut the beautiful Chenggal wood, there was an empty space below the counter top.

So we decided to cut the Ikea Freden shelve.  By cutting the shelve, we got one cabinet and one side table.  The cabinet was inserted into the empty space and the shelve will be used for another project.

Hopefully the pictures below will give you a visual understanding ... 

The counter top that over lapped from the cabinet.
Hence, there was an empty space at the right.

The Ikea Freden shelve which was cut into half.
Used only the cabinet.

The cabinet fits nicely into the empty space as you can see on the right.

DIY Bathroom Counter Top

After 2.5 years of moving into our new home, we finally got around to install the counter top and cabinet in our master bathroom.  We purchased the Freden series cabinets at the discount corner in Ikea before we moved in.  The counter top is recycled Chenggal wood which we bought from our local lumber yard.  Plumbing was done by Hubby himself.

Here are the pictures of our master bathroom.

Before : Our bathroom, plain and simple.

After : The counter top and cabinet installed!

For now, this will be the decoration ...
intend to add more color later

In progress : Adding the counter top.  

So much storage now!

A look at the plumbing and how we manage to
incorporate it with the cabinet

Another look of the plumbing and cabinet

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

Tiling (Part 2)

The tiling of our new home is now completed.  The porch tiles are terracotta tiles and is bordered with black tiles.  Terracotta tiles were also used for the entrance landing and was tiled with small square orange tiles in between.  The hall was tiled with white tiles and the kitchen was tiled with grey tiles and small square orange tiles.  The kitchen wall at the back was tiled with white tile and trimmed with orange tiles.  These orange tiles were used throughout the house.

As for all the three bathrooms, we've chosen black and white tiles. The sales person who sold us the tiles, came up with the designs for each bathroom. For the shower area, we pebbled wash the shower area for all three bathrooms.

As we had balance tiles, we tiled our back lane as we built a outdoor sink with a RC slab.  This out door sink will be used when we are entertaining.

So here are some pictures for you to look at and sorry about the mess ~ will promise nice pictures once the house is cleaned.

Laying of Terracotta tiles at the porch

The almost completed Terracotta tiles at the porch

The tiler initially tiled the entrance landing with white tiles from the hall - sort of like a continuation

But we told the tiler to change it to Terracotta tiles and inserted with small square orange tiles

The master bathroom with white tiles inserted

The children's bathroom

The guest bathroom

The back yard / land cemented and getting ready for tiling

Renovation Progress 5 : Children's Room & Kitchen

As mentioned in our Renovation Progress 3 blog post, the children's room has it's walls up and the walls are up for the bathroom as well. 

The walls are also up in the kitchen area.  One window and the back door.  However, we now feel that it's very dark once the walls in the kitchen area are up.  Hmm ... must think of another way of allowing light in.  Maybe paint the walls in bright colors, white kitchen cabinets and light tiles for the flooring.

Children's Room & Bathroom

The back walls as well as the walls to the bathroom are up

Kitchen

Walls are up BUT kitchen looks very dark