Choosing an Interior Designer

A well designed home is a good investment if there are plans to let out the unit plus it can fetch a higher price when sold. With this in mind, I decided to engage an interior designer to handle the renovation works on my condo unit.

I went to Beverly Home at Mid Valley Megamall for a quote. The junior designer there prepared the quote for me within 3 days - impressive but there was no explanation on what was quoted and the pricing. I also met up with 2 other designers - one from Eleveneighteen and the other Desigva. Both came up with very good proposals and quotes that hubby and I had a long and tiring time deciding on whom to appoint. 

The many factors that we took into consideration

1) Price

2) Qualification 

3) Design

4) Professionalism

5) Interest & Enthusiasm

6) Company profile

7) Easy to communicate

8) Pleasant personality

Appointed senior designer from Desigva Design.

Upon appointment, RM12K is paid as designer professional fee. This fee will be waived once the contract is confirmed.

Bosch Free-standing Dishwasher

The most expensive item in my new future kitchen - the dishwasher!!! Gosh - didn't realised that I would spend RM3799 for this kitchen appliance by Bosch. I don't quite like to slave over the dishes at the sink after each meal plus I don't have a maid.... plus I've got sensitive skin....... just a few of the 101 excuses to BUY a dishwasher. Anyway, I hope the $$$ spent will be justified. 

This Bosch free-standing dishwasher in white (model : SMS50E12EU) has the following features:

1) Energy efficiency A, Wash performance A, Drying class A

2) Half Load Feature available

3) 5 programs : Intensive, Economy, Auto, Quick Wash, Pre-Rinse

4) Self-cleaning filter system 3 fold corrugated

5) Height adjustable top basket with cutlery rack & cup shelves

7) 2 Foldable plate racks on bottom basket plus cutlery basket

8) Capacity : 12+1 place settings

9) 4 cleaning temperatures

10) Aquastop

Warranty 2 years.

Kitchen Designer

I finally decided on my Kitchen Designer to realise my dream kitchen at The Park Residences!

My dream kitchen must feature curves, must be ergonomic and I so want a breakfast bar!

First up, I paid a visit to Signature Kitchen at Mid Valley Megamall but the kitchen planner just quoted me a lump sum amount for the kitchen although she did take the effort to draw the design in 3D. Too bad - I want the details not the drawing.....

Unsatisfied I went to another Signature Kitchen branch - this time at TTDI and received another quote but it's slightly more detailed. However, I find that Signature Kitchen's kitchen planners do not really bother to find out what you want in your kitchen and they say they can quote you a sum - without asking what type of cabinetry and other requirements. Too bad again....

I also considered Kitchen Palace TTDI - since they installed my current kitchen 6 years ago. The boss, Mr. AK Ng, handled my order last time. This time round, I was assigned a very fresh interior designer who's not very experienced plus I had to travel to their branch at Kota Damansara. So, I decided not to go ahead with Kitchen Palace this time. 

Another place I went to (since it's just along the same row of shophouses at TTDI), was Quisine Culture. Somehow, I didn't quite like their proposal but the designer did take the time (2 weeks) to complete 3D drawings of the proposed kitchen.

I went to Bofi at Solaris Dutamas too cos I saw that they had this kitchen model with round base named Milano. I went there twice but still no quotation - only a 3D drawing - even that, without the round base cabinet that I wanted. It was quite frustrating cos I had to deal with a sales person and not the kitchen designer himself. The salesperson wasn't very helpful with telling me the cost and all. They took over 2 weeks to produce the 3D drawing design but without any quotation - what's the point? I want to know how much it costs and also what materials are included in the quotation.

I was very impressed with Kuchenmatic at TTDI - they were formerly known as Hosana Kitchen. The boss, Eric attended to me very systematically and within a matter of hours I had received an email attached with the quotation (good thing it didn't cost a bomb!). He impressed me by explaining to me the features of his kitchen cabinets and he even sat down with me to discuss the design which was drawn on-the-spot. He clearly has the experience and expertise. He also didn't need a copy of my floor plan cos he copied all the dimensions into his piece of paper! Just by pressing the buttons on his calculator, he can tell me what design can work and what can't. So, at the third meet-up I paid a deposit of RM2000 as booking fee. He said to inform him as soon as I get the keys to my new condo unit and he will go over to do the measurements stat. I hope my kitchen will turn out fantastic under Eric's supervision. He has a few orders from other residents of The Park Residences too!

To summarise - here's what I would look for in a Kitchen Designer
1) Experience & expertise - you can gauge this just by talking and asking questions
2) Accountability - very prompt reply with the quotation unlike those that you have to 'chase'.
3) Personality - pleasant and polite.
4) Easy to communicate with - no language barriers.
5) Passionate about his job.

Selling own property

I am so glad to have sold my property at Pantai Panorama Condo just within 7 days and after just 2 viewings by 3 potential buyers. In fact, all 3 of them were very keen on my unit but the early bird catches the worm! Kudos to in-house property agent Melvin Tang from Multi-link Properties for such a fast & smooth deal. The 3% earnest deposit was received and made in favor of the agent. I signed the letter of acceptance and also acknowledge the payment received. Melvin will then proceed to prepare the inventory listing for my unit. I will then need to provide copies of the IC's & income tax no's of the owners, the S&P, the deed of assignment, the strata title documents and also the bank loan agreement.

So now with this sale I am able to better plan my budget for the renovation of my condo at The Park Residences - vacant possession has been scheduled end of this month!

French Door Refridgerators

I've decided to go for a french door refridgerator - it's more energy efficient than those side-by-side ones plus there's ample storage space inside as there's no 'divider' in the center. Since you only open a smaller door, less cool air escapes thus saving power. I also prefer the ones with the freezer located at the bottom

Here are a few models of french door fridges with bottom freezer:

Electrolux RRP : RM7299

Samsung RRP : RM5499

Sharp - planning to get this model! Price about RM3700 (from D'Legend SS2). Here are the features:

• Wide and Deep Body Allows Large Food Items and Containers to be
• The Stylish Look with the Crescent Shape Door Design Adds Greater
• The Twin Fan Cooling System Enhances the Effect of Multi-Air Flow,
• Cool Front Shower in the Freezer for Efficient Cooling of the Door Pocket
• Twin-Chilled Compartment with Two Different Temperature Zones
• Extra Durable Tempered Glass Shelves Rear Up to 100kg of Weight and Provide a Clean, Neat-Looking Interior.
• Adjustable Shelves for More Effective Use of Space
• Fruit and Vegetable Case is Divided into Two Drawers for Neat and Tidy Food Separation.
• Utility Case with Slide-Open Cover
• Large Door Pocket with Bottle Stopper Holds Three 2.0 PET Bottles.
• One-Twist Ice Cube Makers

Induction Hobs

I've purchased my induction hob & vitroceramic hob at Perfect Livin Home Fair 2010. Both are from Fagor: package deal of RM4600. The retail price of the induction hob is RM3599 & the vitroceramic hob is RM2499, for a total of RM6098. That's about 25% off the retail price. Plus I can redeem a non-stick pan suitable for induction cooking from Fagor.

So, what's an induction hob? Read on to find out more!

In an induction hob, heat is generated through a magnetic field, created under the glass when a ferrous magnetic pan is placed above.

Induction is the fastest way of cooking as heat is transmitted directly to the base of pan, minimizing the losses of heat and reducing the time of cooking. It saves up to 40% of electricity consumption compared to other systems. Induction hobs incorporate an intelligent system which automatically recognises the size and diameter of the pan, providing the right amount of energy, so that no energy is wasted with constant regulation of energy and thus more uniform heat distribution. Energy is only transmitted when a suitable recipient is situated over the cooking zone. If the recipient is removed, the power stops (Zero energy consumption).

As the vitroceramic crystal heats less, spills and splashes do not become incrusted. Thus cleaning in general is not so laborious with induction hobs and the use of a scraper is seldom needed.

Heat is transmitted directly to the pan base. This way, the glass does not reach high temperatures, just that produced by the heat of the recipient. Induction zones are protected against excessive heating of the electronic system. Lastly, induction hobs also detect certain voltage variations and compensate for them, extending in this way the working life of the hob.

Only stainless steel, cast iron and enamelled steel pots and pans are suitable for induction cooking. To check for compatibility, just use a magnet at the base of the pan - the magnet should stick. 

Lebensstil Built-in Oven

I purchased my lebensstil oven together with my cooker hood for a special package deal : RM4750 at the Reno Expo 2010 earlier this month. The built-in oven is as pictured above : model LJBO-1004SS. Specs: 56L, 7 cooking funtions, double glazed door and energy class A. At the recent Perfect Livin home fair, Lebensstil has just launched a new model : LKBO-1007CT. This new model is only available end September 2010. I decided to upgrade to the new model instead : just top up RM200. The features : 56L, 8 cooking functions, triple glazed door, energy class A, child lock, push-pull knob, catalytic self-cleaning system on both inner walls etc.

Designer Cooker Hoods

I've been scouting around for the perfect cooker hood for my kitchen. No more canopy or slim-line hoods with recycled air for me - those do not work at all. Extraction hoods are the way to go. I don't fancy those with a chimney or funnel shape but what caught my eye was this design - wall-mounted with perimetric extraction. Looks futuristic and modern!

There are a few brands selling this particular design:

Baumatic Dance Partner Hood RRP: RM4999

Teka DV80 Stainless Steel RRP: RM6800

Fagor 3CFT-TILE RRP : RM4999

Lebensstil Kollektion LKCH 9300 : RRP is RM3599

My choice was the Lebensstil Kollektion hood as the price is lowest as the product is locally assembled in Malaysia (parts are from Germany). Fagor's hood is assembled in China but parts are from Spain. Another important factor that I connsidered was the suction power and Lebensstil's hood suction power is 1300m3/h which is also the highest. So I decided to not partition my kitchen into wet and dry.

The hood is made from black tempered glass which makes it easy to clean compared to stainless steel which requires special cleaning agents. The filters are quite the same in all the above models. Easy cleaning too - just soak them in warm soapy water or put them in the dishwasher. All the hoods also have touch control panels & LED lights for ease of use. 

I bought the hood from Benova during the Reno Expo 2010 for a special price! The promotion price was RM3100 inclusive of FREE installation/ducting. I decided to top up my order with a built-in oven from Lebensstil also and received an additional 5% off my purchase! More about the oven in my next post.

Radiant Hobs at Reno Expo 2010

I visited the recently concluded Reno Expo 2010 at Mid Valley Megamall Exhibition Center from 30th July-1st August 2010. It was a rather small expo but good enough for those who are shopping for bargains and promotions.

I got to watch cooking demos by Senz, Vees Delicooker & Kitchmate - all promoting their radiant cooker hobs. It was an eye-opener for me cos I didn't know that the radiant cooker hob with red glowing lights can grill and barbeque as well as heat up anything placed on it. All the above 3 brands claim that their product parts are sourced from Europe & USA but assembled locally in Malaysia. Prices are not as expensive as the foreign brands e.g. Teka, Smeg & Fagor. However, I don't understand why they don't name their hobs as vitroceramic hobs but instead call them 'radiant' cooker. If foreign brands, it's known as vitroceramic hobs.

 Senz

Vees Delicooker

Sales persons from both of the above brands claim that their products are easy to maintain and clean. Just wipe with damp cloth. If any problems, just call their technicians to check. Both radiant hobs have 2 different size of ring burner so that you do not waste energy to heat up a small pot using a large burner. The touchpad controls are easy to use with a few functions : child lock and timer. The black glass used for the hobs are usually from 2 leading manufacturers : Schott Ceran & Eurokera (the logo is a letter K).

When switched on without any pot on it, I can feel the heat radiating out quite fast. Once a pot is placed on top of the burner, the heat is less felt. Unlike an induction hob, the glass plate will be hot to touch. The sales persons do admit that the hobs guzzle electricity compared to induction hobs. As for Kitchmate, they have a combination hob : 1 induction ring and the other a radiant ring. It's not so advisable to have a combination - better to get them separately as it's easier to repair plus it saves energy in the sense, that the radiant ring heats up a smaller glass plate as compared to a larger one on a combination hob.

 

This is a vitroceramic hob by Teka (recommended retail price : RM3500). Senz and Vees have the single ring radiant hob too as pictured above. It can grill - just by placing a wire rack on top of the hob. Barbequing is also easy by wrapping the wire rack with aluminium foil. So, the vitroceramic hob is really useful and I will definitely be getting one.... but which one?

Buying a Condo unit from the Developer

The Park Residences 1 is a luxury resort-style condominium located in the new township of Bangsar South City, Bukit Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This township is very strategically located near to amenities eg LRT, Federal Highway & Shopping malls. UOA has purchased 60 acres of land here in 2005. For more details on this development, just visit the developer's website : UOA.

Here are some pics of the view taken on the grounds of The Park Residences 1. This first phase consists of 2 condo blocks : namely Acacia & Begonia. The next phase, Camelia, is scheduled to be launched very soon in August 2010.

 

My hubby and I purchased a condominium unit here on July 6th 2010 directly from the developer at RM450psf after 5% discount. Sales & Purchase Agreement fees were absorbed by the developer and buyers were only required to start bank loan repayment in 12 months time. The interest incurred is again, absorbed by the developer. 

To reserve a unit, 2% reservation fee is required. I paid by credit card at the sales office located just beside the condo at The Village. Cheques and cash are also accepted. The balance 8% of the 10% down payment was then fully paid up within 14 days. This time, only cash or cheque payments are accepted. 

My hubby and I decided upon CIMB (one of the panel banks) for our home loan to finance the 90% of the property cost, and selected a panel law firm: Abd. Aziz Chen & Co. to prepare the Sales & Purchase Agreement which had to be signed within 14 days as well. On the day of signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement, a disbursement fee of RM350 was incurred and was paid to the law firm.

CIMB was quick to give us the offer letter and then we appointed the same lawyer to prepare the bank loan agreement. This was done quite fast and within 2 weeks, we were present at the lawyer's office at Amcorp Mall to sign the necessary documents. At this stage, we had to pay the law firm about RM9200.

In the meantime, we also applied to EPF to withdraw our savings in Account II to finance the payment of the property. Our application was approved within 1 week! They were very fast and efficient.  

So now, we are patiently awaiting vacant possession of the above-mentioned property! We are very keen to design and furnish it accordingly to our budget for our own stay.