Furniture Hunting

We've made another stop to our favorite shop again Kedai Kaki Lelong (www.kkltrading.com).  We love going there now and then to see what new stuff they have.  

If you are looking for 2nd hand furniture, visit the one in Ara Damansara.  If you are looking for kitchen ware such as plates or bowls, visit the one in Section 19, PJ.

This time we went there to look for a pedestal for our daughter's room.  However, we left with more than a pedestal, we bought not only the pedestal but a table leg, wooden shelves, plates, decorative girll and a decorative wooden organiser.

Heaps of wooden organisers, good for TV remote controls
Bought : 1 piece

Heaps of wooden shelves
Bought : 3 pieces

Office desk, thought of getting it for my craft room
Did not buy

Beautiful blue and white bowl, orange sauces and Chinese plate
Bought

Tile for decorative purpose or for hot plate
Bought : 1 piece

Tile for decorative purpose
Bought : 3 pieces

The decorative organiser, washed and cleaned

Metal pedestal for our daughter's room

The decorative grill that will be used for our patio
Bought : 2 pieces

The metal pedestal and leg from Kedai Kaki Lelong
Table top is made by Hubby
Our daughter's study table

The wooden shelves from Kedai Kaki Lelong
Put up in our kitchen

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 : Backyard

We extended our home all the way to the back and therefore, we do not have a small little garden behind.  However ... we do have a back lane, which by right is public or government property.  Our back lane is protected by two gates at the end of the each end house, so in a way it gives us a little security.

We had excess tiles from our renovation and therefore decided to tile the back lane as we foresee that we will be using the back lane often.  We also made a washing area at our back lane.  This is to facilitate when we entertain and the washing of the dishes can be done outside.  Our laundry is also hung behind and lots of wood work projects is done at our back lane. By the way, we had mix reaction when we tiled the back lane, my mother's was that we were helping out the local city council by tiling their area (sarcastically).  Our neighbours welcomed the idea as it kept our back lane clean and some of them were considering doing it.  Our relatives and friends thought that it made our back lane look clean and tidy.

The back lane during renovation ~ securing the floor  before laying tiles

The back lane from a different angle during renovation

Tiles laid and the counter top for the sink made

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

Tiling

On 25th August 2012, the house is now undergoing tiling.  We are tiling the driveway and patio with terracotta tiles.  The foyer, entrance and dining is tiled with white 2x2 tiles.  The kitchen and domestic helper's room is tiled with light grey 2x2 tiles.  All three bathrooms will be tiled with 1x2 black and white tiles.  White tiles on the bathroom walls and trimmed with black tiles.

Because we are on a tight budget, we hired Indonesian labourers instead of getting our Contractor to do the tiling for us.  We were advised that if we were to hire Indonesian labourers, we were taking a risk as they might not be very good.  However, luck is on our side as these batch of Indonesian labourers are good and they seem to know what they are doing.  Let's just say that we paid only half of what our Contractor wanted to charge us.  Cement and tiles are provided by us.

Part of the tiles that were delivered to our house

The Indonesian labourer cutting one of the tile

Indonesian labourers tiling the dining area

They work fast, within 10 minutes, they laid a number of tiles

More tiling going on

By evening, almost the dining and kitchen area are tiled

Sourcing Sourcing

Every weekend and holiday is now spent on sourcing for items and materials for the new renovated home.

We've been going to Klang, Puchong, Sg Buloh and even Kuala Selangor to source for wood, sanitaryware, kitchen cabinets, tiles and visiting exhibitions for decoration and renovation.

Here's what we need to source for the moment :

1. Roofing

2. Doors & Windows as well as their frames

3. Tiles for hall, dining, kitchen and bathroom

4. Sanitaryware - sinks, consoles, wcs, showerheads and bathroom accessories

5. Kitchen Cabinets

6. Hob, cooker, oven and microwave

7. Kitchen Sink

8. Lighting

I am having a headache already just thinking about this.