Two Storeys

Sale! Conception-Carrier

2012-02-01T10:31:00.007+08:00

They started last January 7, but according to the email I received today, they still have over 1400 units available.

The sale will run every SATURDAY while supplies last.

Grab the chance to own inexpensive WRAC and split-type units 30% - 50% off the regular price.

Totaline Warehouse (U2-B), Conception-Carrier Airconditioning Company
Km. 20 East Service Road, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
Alabang, Muntinlupa

Telephone Number: 863 5555

Seeing Red

2012-01-27T07:00:00.055+08:00

Yup, we're painting the front door red. Originally, I was leaning more towards dark green but when I checked online for pictures of blue houses, I saw that most of them had red doors. Considering I've always loved the color cherry red, I thought it was perfect.

Currently, our front door is painted white but I've noticed that it gets dirty very easily and I have no wish to spend most of my days wiping the door down.

Then again, the green below also looks good:

Oh dear, I can't seem to make up my mind...

It's Good to be Queen

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000+08:00

I saw this on Sieggy's blog and thought it was perfect since it basically sums up how I feel about the house (hahaha!):

Libby-isms

2012-01-13T07:00:00.016+08:00

Page 7 - If you buy neutral furniture (tan, black, white or gray), you can easily change your wall color for an entirely new feel without having to go out and purchase new furniture (which costs more than a few cans of paint!). Colored furniture, such as a red, blue, or green sofa, limits the changes you can make; they may be subtler and less gratifying than freshly painted walls.

Page 13 - One thing I recommend is not to judge your paint color until you've removed all the blue painter's tape. Some people have trouble envisioning what the final outcome will look like, and that blue tape certainly doesn't help! Once you remove the tape and artfully place your belongings back into the room and hang your pictures on the walls, then, and only then, are you allowed to judge your color!

Page 21 - The trick to arranging items like a pro is to think in terms of threes - two vases on a shelf are too little, four vases are too many, but three vases are just right! Also, mixing objects in various heights balances the scale and looks chic. Items can range from pillar candles to vases to books; these objects will help make your space look more like a home. Just don't go overboard, because you don't want it to look cluttered; a little styling goes a long way!

Page 73 - If you're not a big fan of silk plants (and you travel a lot or don't have a green thumb), use a tall narrow urn or planter and fill it with some long, skinny twigs. This will achieve the same height element that you'd get from a tall silk tree in a corner.

Page 107 - In a small bedroom use a high headboard but skip the footboard. Footboards make a room feel smaller and take up valuable space. (And just think: You can avoid stubbing your toe - that's right, no more bumping into the footboard when you get up in the middle of the night!)

All images and text in this post were taken from Libby Langdon's Small Space Solutions: Secrets for Making Any Room Look Elegant and Feel Spacious on Any Budget

2011: A Review

2012-01-06T07:00:00.045+08:00

A year ago today, I made a post regarding our House Resolutions for 2011.

Out of the four main objectives, we were able to cross off three from the list. Not bad but were not able to do anything else as it was a year marked with a lot of waiting - waiting for the cabinets to be finished and waiting for Earl's office to determine our fate (which you can read about here).

As of this time, we still don't know whether we are staying or leaving but it's looking more like neither Singapore nor Germany will push through. We're just waiting - again - for the official word before we start buying furniture.

One thing is for certain, I will no longer make resolutions for this year. We will just go with the flow - see what pops up and just go from there.

Happy new year everyone!

A New Road

2011-12-29T07:00:00.002+08:00

It's called the Daang Hari-SLEx link.

Currently, the shortest way to get to the house is via a thoroughfare called Daang Hari (loosely translated means "way of the king"). This road is also the fastest way to reach the South Luzon Express Way (SLEx) which is used by almost everyone to get to the various business districts. So you can imagine just how congested it gets during rush hour especially when a three-lane road merges into a one-lane bottleneck.

A friend, who lives in one of the many villages along Daang Hari, once told me that the normal 15 minute travel time from her house to Alabang triples to 45 minutes in the morning. It's then another hour from Alabang to Makati where Earl's office is located. Given that scenario, it will take him around two hours just to get to work.

But there is now hope in the horizon! First, workers are now widening the road thus the bottleneck will soon be a thing of the past. Second, is that there will be a more direct route to the SLEx hopefully by late 2012.

Here's the news article with the details:

Ayala bags 1st PPP road project

Supplier Ratings: Cusm Furniture Shop 4

2011-12-22T07:00:00.006+08:00

Area: Bedroom Closets
Price Tag: Php 19,800
Rating: 5/10 (10 being the highest). Details can be found here.

Supplier Ratings: Cusm Furniture Shop 3

2011-12-15T20:48:00.003+08:00

Area: Bookshelves & Linen Closet
Price Tag: Php 20,790
Rating: 5/10 (10 being the highest). Details can be found here.

_____

Next up: pictures of the Bedroom Closets

Supplier Ratings: Cusm Furniture Shop 2

2011-12-08T07:00:00.008+08:00

Area: Laundry & Pantry Cabinets
Price Tag: Php 35,410
Rating: 5/10 (10 being the highest). Details can be found here.

_____

Next up: pictures of the Bookshelves & Linen Closet

Supplier Ratings: Cusm Furniture Shop 1

2011-12-01T21:41:00.024+08:00

Area: Modular Kitchen Cabinets
Price Tag: Php 95,320
Rating: 5/10 (10 being the highest)

Pros:
I can really see myself pottering happily in this kitchen! Quite frankly, all the cabinets turned out better than we expected - including the bedroom closets and the study room bookshelves. They look and feel just like the ones I've seen in model units and all those who have examined the cabinets up close have declared that they are well made.

Cons:
Why only 5? Patience is a virtue you will need in abundance when dealing with them. They can do very good work but you must watch them like a hawk and constantly inspect what they're doing to come up with results you'll be happy with.

Case in point, the staff assigned to the house kept reporting that the work was "done" but everytime I went to check, I found the opposite to be true.

The cabinets, closets and bookshelves had the following issues:
- Some door hinges were floating in air (meaning the hinge was not resting on solid wood but in an air pocket which they filled up with epoxy to fix the problem).
- There were a few chips, cracks and bubbles in the laminate.
- The drawers were initially made of modified fibre boards (MDF) which we specifically said we did not want as it's prone to molds.
- Unfinished surfaces (no paint) either above or under the cabinet doors.
- A couple of drawers had paint on the top half but none on the bottom.
- Some areas were only partially covered with laminate (there was a shelf where just one-fifth was covered while the remaining area was left bare).
- A few shelves are at least half an inch above the shelf supports (it's too big for the space).

Update: I initially gave them a rating of 8 but because they recently advised us to look for another contractor to fix the pending repair items, I lowered it down to 7. Apparently, they're too busy with their other clients.

But then I started thinking, we've paid Cusm Furniture Shop a total of Php 171,320 and now we're going to shell out even more money for Rabacon to fix things. That to me seemed unfair, thus their final grade is 5. There were also other issues regarding customer service that I will no longer delve into as I'm trying to make this a happy blog.

_____

Next up: pictures of the Laundry & Pantry Cabinets

Up Next...

2011-11-24T14:28:00.003+08:00

1.) Cusm Furniture Shop's Supplier Ratings. They ended their work at the house last November 16, but before I post the details, I will clean the house first so that the cabinets will look somewhat presentable in the pictures (hahaha!).

Please note that since they did many different cabinets in the house, I will break things down per area to avoid confusion. But the ratings and the comments are basically the same as the issues encountered in one section were the same as the other sections. (Not surprising though considering they were all done by one supplier.)

2.) Another installment of "Excerpts from the Experts." This time from Libby Langdon.

Needless to say, this post is about buying myself more time - just the thought of cleaning all those cabinets makes me want to stay in bed the entire day...

Book of the Month

2011-10-20T21:16:00.001+08:00

Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

I promised myself that I would not buy anymore decorating books, but this one had so many good reviews on Amazon that I could not resist! Yup, promises are REALLY made to be broken...

My aunt will be bringing it with her when she comes to Manila next month. I can't wait!

Intersection

2011-09-24T21:47:00.001+08:00

Ain't it pretty? I'm not too fond of MS Word clip art but I must say this was not only cute but also apt.

A few months ago, I mentioned that we received "a bit of news that has sent us in a tailspin..." I also said that we would not mention what it was until it was confirmed. Well, it's taking much longer than we thought and we can't move into the house until they make up their minds.

I'm not making any sense am I? Let me start from the beginning.

Earl's office informed him that they might be sending him abroad and the secondment could take as short as a year or as long as four years. The wonderful thing about this is that he gets to bring me along! So at the moment, here are our options:

1. Germany
2. Singapore
3. Cavite

He could be sent to either the head office (Germany) or the regional office (Singapore) or we get to stay home (Cavite). This is the reason why we cannot buy furniture or decorate the house. Can you imagine a mattress just gathering dust for the next four years? It's a good thing we found out about this before we had the range-hood installed! So until we know for certain, the range will not be leaving its box.

If I must be honest, I prefer the first option over the other two. I've been to Europe before but never to Germany. I've also lived in a couple of other countries so I know how exciting a new environment can be.

Singapore, I've been to many times so I know more or less what to expect. The good thing about them is that everything is in English and most of the brands are familiar. Thus, grocery shopping will not be a problem. Also, the place is a short plane ride away from Manila - checking on the house will be a breeze. The only downside I can think of is that Singapore is not bordered by France, Switzerland and Austria.

But if we end up not going anywhere, it would still be a good thing as we can finally start moving in. I'm not too worried about the house since there's barely anything in it - nothing to rob and easy to clean.

Supplier Ratings: Electrical Contractor

2011-08-24T08:42:00.001+08:00

Supplier: Alecto General Technology Corporation
Price Tag: Php 118,000
Rating: 9/10 (10 being the highest)

Pros:
The lights are still working and nothing has exploded (yet) so dare I say it? I LOVED working with them! Note that they were not perfect but before I get ahead of myself, "they" refers to Tsino and Irwin who worked on the house and Eman their supervisor.

We gave them a key to the place and they just let themselves in because I was advised by the people from my office that I didn't need to look in on them as Alecto knows what they're doing.

So from what I did see, they were neat and they had pride in the work they did. They also got along well with the workers from Rabacon.

More importantly, they were all so easy to talk to. In Filipino there's an expression that goes "magaan dalhin" when describing someone - literally it means "light to carry." They did over and beyond the call of duty. Extra outlets? Not a problem. Change the location of the sockets again? Sure. Extra cost? None!

Now we can confidently plug in anything without fear or multiple extension cords.

In case you're wondering why we needed an electrician, you can read it here and here.

Cons:
So far no major ones and only a couple of very minor issues.

Since Alecto chipped at the walls and floors to embed and reroute wires, cement was needed to cover them all up again. This was included in the contract so technically we already paid for the restoration materials. But they used the cement provided by Rabacon instead. We didn't mind too much as they did not charge for all the extra work we asked them to do.

They also forgot to install one dimmer switch which Tsino rectified last week. Though in the greater scheme of things, this was not a problem.

6-Month Certificate Program in Interior Decoration

2011-08-10T22:31:00.004+08:00

I was on Deal Grocer when I came across this offer:

Whether you’re an occasional hobbyist, an aspiring interior stylist or simply waiting to discover your inner designer, School of Fashion and the Arts’ 6-Month Certificate Program in Interior Decoration is tailor-made just for you!

Exclusively for Deal Grocer members, learn lessons on the fundamentals of interior decoration and build a fine foundation for a bright design future for only Php 42,500. (Php 85,000 Original Price)!

Founded by industry mover and trendsetting interior designer Ivy Almario in collaboration with the School of Fashion and the Arts, the SoFA School of Interior Design boasts of the most distinguished and highly established teachers in the industry.

Acquaint yourself with the elements of good design by immersing in the course’s harmony of classes encompassing the following: Theory of Design, Graphics Drafting, Materials & Resources 1, Color Theory, Perspective Drawing, Lighting Design, Color Rendering and Interior Design 1A.

This program will run for 6 months (2 semesters):

▪ First Semester: September 26, 2011 to December 17, 2011
▪ Second Semester: January 16, 2012 to April 28, 2012

The schedule of the classes are as follows:

▪ Mondays 9AM-4PM
▪ Wednesdays 11AM-6PM

The two-semester program consists of a total of 8 subjects (3 units each for a total of 24 units). This will be broken down into 13 sessions (4 subjects) per semester.

Pursue your design passion! Enroll in SoFA’s Certificate Program in Interior Decoration at 50% OFF exclusive for Deal Grocer members!

Terms of this Deal:
▪ Valid from September 26, 2011 to April 28, 2012 (6 months or 2 semesters)
▪ Valid for 13 sessions (4 subjects) per semester
▪ One (1) coupon is good for one (1) person
▪ Not valid for cash back
▪ Not valid with other promos and discounts

Company Info
School of Fashion and the Arts
55 Paseo de Roxas
Makati City
(02) 892-8807 local 103-104
(0917) 501-8136

http://www.sofamanila.com/

You'll have to sign up to see the all the details and purchase the voucher but I've copied most of the pertinent information here.

Please note that only 15 vouchers were offered and as of this writing, there are only eight (8) left. So if you're interested, you will need to buy it within the next three (3) days.

Wood Furniture Tips

2011-07-14T09:02:00.001+08:00

Quality Checks

When shopping for wood furniture you'll find varying levels of quality and pricing. Use this checklist to judge what you're getting for your money.

Frames

▪ Veneers and laminates should be securely joined to the base material.
▪ Joints bearing weight should be reinforced with corner blocks.
▪ Back panels should be screwed into the frame.
▪ Long shelves should have center supports.

Drawers

▪ Drawers should fit well, glide easily, and have stops.
▪ Drawer bottoms should be held by grooves, not staples or nails.
▪ Drawer interiors should be smooth and sealed.
▪ Drawer corners should have dovetail joints.

Doors

▪ Cabinet doors should open and close smoothly.
▪ Hinges and other hardware should be strong and secure.

Finishes

▪ All finishes should feel smooth unless they are intentionally distressed or crackled.

Page 101 from The Smart Approach to Small-Space Living

Weeds

2011-07-09T23:09:00.000+08:00

Yes, the "garden" is like this blog - showing signs of neglect.

So as my project for this month, I plan to clear out the weeds myself. At least that's the plan.

I currently have a lot of time on my hands since as of July 1, I have become a housewife. This new situation will slightly curtail my house shopping but I'll be able to check up on our suppliers more often. Alecto, for example, needs to be reminded that they forgot to install the dimmer switch.

"Fixed"

2011-06-12T21:12:00.002+08:00

More paint has been peeling around the house and this time, it's the door jambs. We've been advised that the reason behind this is because the metal door frames were not primed before they were painted. The primer that should have been used is either colored red or gray so if the paint were to peel, we would not be seeing metal right away.

When we informed Avida of this, they agreed with the findings of our contractor and promised to fix things.

That was a month ago. Last Friday, after numerous follow-ups, Avida finally showed up at the house and below is a picture of their handiwork:

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to the technicalities of house painting, but shouldn't the primer be applied first before painting over it again? Another question we have is, why didn't they do the entire area instead of just a spot here and there?

We are waiting (again) but this time for Avida to "fix" things before our contractors can finish up at the house.

Kitchen Journal 6

2011-06-03T08:00:00.001+08:00

Almost there...

Visitation Rights

2011-05-29T01:11:00.003+08:00

Paul, a Rabacon staff member, informed us that there have been a couple of neighbors who have dropped by the house recently.

One of them, let's call her Alexie, asked him if they could get a quotation for their baseboard and cornice installation. I'm guessing that it was during this time she saw the kitchen cabinets and apparently wanted the same thing for their home.

I met her last week when she popped by the backdoor while I was checking in on our contractors. She did confirm that she wanted a kitchen similar to ours and that she had already asked Maricel for her rates. I explained that while Rabacon can do the job, the cabinets were actually done by someone else so I gave her the contact details of Cusm Furniture.

It seems that right after our conversation, Alexie talked to her next door neighbor about our house. That other neighbor then came over, introduced herself to Paul and asked if she could come inside and look around. Unfortunately, Paul let her and she proceeded to take pictures of our shelves explaining that she wanted to copy them. Note that the said shelves are located on the second floor.

Now, we don't want to be perceived as unfriendly but I think that one should wait until the owners are around before taking a tour of someone else's home. Alexie, for example, waited until we were introduced before coming inside the house. At which point she immediately began to inspect the cabinets though I do not remember inviting her to do so. I didn't mind too much since I was there.

The thing is, I love showing off the house (hahaha!) and the merest hint will have me inviting you over. All we need is to be asked first.

Renovation Update 10

2011-05-19T19:52:00.003+08:00

Today is Alecto's last day. All the lights are installed and there is now enough wattage for the appliances we plan to plug into the house.

Also, we had Rabacon install a half-wall (drywall) inside our bedroom. It has made the place look even smaller but it will provide more space in the long run as this is where we plan to put the TV along with a few shelves for the DVD player and the DVDs. On the other side of the wall is where we'll hang a full length mirror so it will act like a small dressing area.

Still Alive

2011-05-19T18:12:00.000+08:00

Yes, we are still alive but not exactly kicking. The good news is that the electricians will be back at the house tomorrow marking the beginning of the end. Lest it sound so dire, it only means that the all the contractors will be finishing their work and the renovation will be done.

I've now been measuring the green room for our bed and it has gotten me into a slight funk. Let's just say we measured the bed based on the model unit and one room is MUCH bigger than the other. Two guesses as to which... I'm still debating whether to write a post about it as it makes me rather gloomy.

One thing we're looking forward to this weekend is that hopefully the rest of the lights will be installed and the house will look a little more like a home instead of a construction site.

Pottery Barn: Style Ideas

2011-04-22T11:50:00.001+08:00

Page 32 - How to Organize an Entryway

In-and-out traffic makes an entryway one of the busiest places in a home. It's the first place family members unload things, and the last stop on their way out of the door. Why not take advantage of the entry's strategic location and transform it into a household communication command post? Notice the traffic patterns and daily habits of your household, whether it's large or small, and set up creative systems for sharing keys, sorting mail, and keeping belongings in place. Borrow an idea from wayside inns and use an old hotel key cubby as a family mailbox. All sorts of objects and containers can supply inspiration for your organization system.

Page 50 - How to Organize Books

A well-loved book collection deserves pride of place in every home. Although storing books is largely a matter of keeping them in good condition and within easy reach, their arrangement can be decorative as well as practical. Whether you keep books upright or flat, open or closed, the way you store them should extend a sense of their valuable presence. Look at your books in a new way. They can become decorative accessories or free-form sculptures. Stack similar sizes or colors together, or build a graduated tower for a pyramid shape. Seek out unusual pedestals and elevated places to showcase favorite titles of a beloved book series.

Page 70 - How to Store Media Collections

Whether music, movies, magazines, or all of the above, media collections tend to be large, and they grow larger every day. To fully enjoy your entertainment, a good portable organization system is essential. Place items in small containers, so they can be pulled from a shelf, browsed through, or carried over to the sofa without creating clutter. Layering items - keeping tall, less-used things in the back of a shelf, favorites in front - also enhances a shelf's functionality. Clear plastic containers let you view contents quickly. Labels point you right where you want to go and make it easy to keep track of a growing collection.

All images and text in this post were taken from Pottery Barn Storage & Display (Pottery Barn Design Library)

Renovation Update 9

2011-04-10T22:06:00.001+08:00

The house is almost finished but not much has happened lately as we are still waiting for Alecto's return. Though once things have wrapped up, I will be posting our supplier ratings for all those involved in the renovation.

As to the question of the fence and gate, we were wondering if the price quoted (which you can read here) was reasonable. So we asked Edwin, the Facilities Manager where I work, and he said to "grab it" as it was way below his computation of how much the project should cost. He even asked if Rabacon made a mistake as it was quite low. I told him that Maricel's relative owns a quarry so that's where she'll be getting the materials.

Though the quotation was deemed as a good value, we have decided that we will put up the fence once we get to talk to the neighbors so we can share the costs. It might be low, but it could be lower which is an even better deal.

There's also a bit of news that has sent us in a tailspin recently. But we won't know for a few more months what will really happen which is why I cannot post the details yet. Hint: it will involve the house.

In the meantime, this blog will be a little quiet until things pick up again.

The Village

2011-04-01T21:49:00.001+08:00

Renovation Update 8

2011-03-24T22:15:00.002+08:00

Rabacon is back at the house! They are picking up where they left off - installing the rest of the baseboards and cornices, constructing a half-wall in the green room where the TV will go, etc.

In the meantime, we're waiting for Alecto to return as the ones who were assigned to the house are currently busy with other projects. But we don't mind too much since they had been waiting since October last year to come back - what's a few weeks compared to five months?

Cusm Furniture, on the other hand, is now on hold until the electrical guys from Alecto relocate an electrical outlet that's in the way of the laundry cabinets.

As to my last post, we've decided that paying Php 30,000 for a space planner (no decorating included just the lay-out of the furniture) is not in our budget at this time.

Window Shopping: Space Planner

2011-03-19T08:30:00.002+08:00

The section of the house causing the most anxiety is the living and dining area as they share the same tiny space. So I was thinking that we might be able to save a little money and lower my stress level by consulting an interior designer for space planning.

The goal was to prevent costly mistakes such as buying the wrong type and size of sofa because once purchased, it cannot be returned especially if it's custom-made. We also wanted to know how to best maximize the space considering the activities we wish to do there - eat, entertain and seat as many guests as possible and still be able to lie down on the couch and watch TV.

Now I've emailed a number of interior designers, most of whom were featured in Real Living, but one was "friendlier" (so to speak) than the others: Kristine Anne Neri.

A. SCOPE OF WORK / DESIGN AREA
• Interior Design, Development and Furniture Specification – Living / Dining Areas

B. WORK PROCEDURE

CONSULTATION PHASE
• Initial meeting with the client
• Site Analysis; To conduct ocular inspection of the site and the vicinity
* All noted above where substituted with Email Correspondences instead

AFFIRMATION PHASE
• Signing of contract / proposal

INITIAL DESIGN SCHEMATIC PHASE
• Rendered perspective / images reflecting over-all
• Approval of Schematics for finalization

CONTRACT DOCUMENT PHASE
• Preparation of drawings based on approved Design Documents consisting of drawings and specifications setting forth in detail the work required for the completion of the project

- AR (Architectural Plans) ; FF (Furniture & Fixtures)
a. Floor Plan / Furniture Layout
b. Rendered Interior Perspective
c. Color Schedules (Color Schemes; Stain finishes etc.)
d. Material Boards
e. Fabric swatches for Curtains
f. Fabric swatches for furniture
g. Furniture Schedule
h. Details and Millwork; Cabinetry Details and elevations with finish tags
i. Other details and plans needed for the completion of the project

This contract is not inclusive of signed and sealed Engineering Plans (Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Plans)

C. DELIVERABLES
• Visual Presentation (E-file)
• Contract Documents / Construction Drawings

D. WORK DURATION
The Design Service to be rendered for this project is set at 1 month including the design phase. It will commence a day after signing the contract. The Design Phase of the service will be set for 2 weeks.

E. PROFESSIONAL FEES
Given the above scope of work, work procedure, deliverables and work duration, the Professional Interior Design Consultation fee is as follows:

Total Contract Price : Php 30,000.00

F. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT
50% Down payment - Upon Signing of Contract and Issuance of Notice to Proceed
50% of Total Fee - Upon Submission of all Contract Documents

G. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A. Purchase of Goods
1. All purchases made through the Interior Designer shall be billed to the client.
2. All purchases shall be subject to the client’s approval in the form of confirmations which will require a 50% down payment of the full amount as so the case may be, to authorize such orders. The date of payments of such purchases will be set forth upon each confirmation. Should the items to be purchased are off the rack pieces, full amount shall be required from the client.
3. Interior Designer shall not be responsible or liable for the quality, workmanship, appearance or warranty of all purchased goods.

B. Project Termination, Suspension or Abandonment
1. In the event of the termination of the project by the client, Interior Designer shall be compensated for services rendered. All funds paid shall be retained.
2. In the event of termination not the fault of the Interior Designer, the Interior Designer shall be compensated for services performed prior to termination. A written notice of termination shall be issued.

C. Contract Documents
1. All original drawings, designs, renderings, materials, models, photographs, samples supplied by the Interior Designer and shall remain her property and be retained by her after completion of the project. The clients may receive photocopies of the drawings.
2. The client has the assurance of the Interior Designer that all services shall be done in good faith.

The question now is, should we go through with this? Or will this be completely unnecessary?

Kitchen Journal 5

2011-03-15T01:00:00.002+08:00

State of the Kitchen

Fences

2011-03-10T10:49:00.005+08:00

One of our goals for this year is to put the fence up, but based on the quotation given it will cost us a total of Php 292,999! Note that this does not include the cost of the carport roof or the electrician...

Maricel told me that we can do it in stages so it will not be too much of a financial burden. If that's the case, then we should start with the three-sided perimeter fence. But at Php 182,164, the odds are still dicey unless our neighbors chip in with the expenses (i.e. share the cost of the wall) as that would take off Php 30,000 from each side.

We already have a neighbor on the right (if you're looking at the front of the house) but I haven't seen them since we first met a few months ago. The house at the back has yet to be turned over to the owner so we haven't seen them at all. The one to the left is non-existent at the moment.

Thinking that we might save money if we bought the materials ourselves, I asked Maricel for the "labor only" quotation. But she explained that everything is discounted as they will be getting the materials from her cousin who has a quarry. They also won't be charging for the delivery fee since they'll just use their own truck.

This will require a lot of careful consideration especially since I will be quitting my job soon. But here are our options:

1. Push through with the fence without waiting for the neighbors, but there will be no funds left over for savings, furniture, etc. Gate and garage floor not yet included.
2. Wait for the neighbors and hope that the rates will not increase too much by 2012. In the meantime, just buy a bed and save the rest for next year.
3. Skip the fence and use the money to add to the retirement fund, baby fund, a few pieces of furniture and a trip to Hong Kong.

Hmmm... I think it's time to buy another lottery ticket.

Renovation Update 7

2011-03-05T08:00:00.007+08:00

Here's the progress report in pictures:

Kitchen Journal 4

2011-03-01T08:00:00.008+08:00

The second part of the kitchen, which is located opposite of the main kitchen, is now underway. Technically though this is the laundry area, but the cabinets will have the same design and finish so that the entire thing will look like one unit. Here's what we plan to do with the storage space:

Laundry Cabinets - will house the ironing board and iron, detergent, hangers, dryer, and a cabinet for two hampers (where clean clothes will be stored prior to ironing).

Circuit Breaker Cabinets - this will function as the pantry so it will mostly be for food (e.g. canned goods, chips, cereal boxes, etc).

Broom Closet - the bottom half has two sections, one for the broom and dustpan and the other for the vacuum cleaner. The upper cabinets will be for the cleaning supplies, tools, and other miscellaneous utility items. We'll also have it changed to four rows of shelves instead of just three.

Sale! Whirlpool

2011-02-25T06:00:00.005+08:00

Built-in Cabinets: Cusm Furniture Shop

2011-02-21T10:35:00.001+08:00

Bedroom Closet

Linen Closet

Bookshelves

We've decided to go with the tried and tested. Our current kitchen cabinet supplier will now also do all of the closets upstairs.

Is the finish line in sight? We're keeping our fingers crossed!

Sale! Noritake

2011-02-17T01:00:00.000+08:00

Supplier Ratings: Study Room Bookshelves 1

2011-02-13T22:00:00.020+08:00

Supplier: RMV Hardwoods & Antiques Shop
Price Tag: Php 28,000
Rating: 0/10 (10 being the highest)

Pros:
None.

Cons:
Everything (which you can read about here). At first they asked to be given a second chance, but when I called them two weeks later, they said they'll give us a refund instead. Apparently, it will cost RMV more to fix things than give our money back.

Another concern is the refund itself. They said it will be available sometime this month as they are first going to try to sell it in SM Southmall (I think). You see, they spent the down payment on materials which is not surprising though we shouldn't have to wait for them to return the funds. It's a good thing that our contact, Ronaldo "Ron" Ulanday, works for one of our expats so it won't be too hard to track them down.

Update: They gave us only Php 10,000 of the Php 14,000 refund and the last I heard from Ron was June 2011. Since then he has changed his mobile number and has yet to contact me for the remaining refund balance.

Window Shopping: Built-in Cabinets 2

2011-02-09T01:00:00.010+08:00

Linen Closet Bedroom Closet

Since the first experiment did not pan out (supplier ratings will be out soon), the search for someone who can do the built-in closets continues. Though we are having a rather difficult time finding a supplier who can really do "built-in." Everyone we've talked to only do modular - meaning, they'll bring the cabinets already finished and just plunk them into place. One concern regarding this method is that the stairway is rather narrow so it will not be easy to bring the furniture upstairs. But we are not experts so we will leave it to the supplier to decide what's best.

One of the things I mentioned in a previous post is that we are allergic to medium-density fibreboards (MDFs). But the cost of solid wood is rather steep so we have had to rethink things - at least for the cabinets. We may still have hope for the solid wood dream with the other furniture items.

We also mentioned that if RMV Hardwoods & Antiques Shop does not work out, we will try Juro Furniture. We're thinking now though that might be a bit risky since they are not based in Manila and cannot come to the house to measure the space. Considering our erstwhile supplier did actual site measurements and the end product was a flop, I don't think we can afford to put our faith completely in a company we cannot vouch for.

So without further ado, here are the new batch of quotations for the closets:

- 1903 Furniture

Showroom: 3rd Floor, Market! Market, Taguig City
Factory: A. Rivera St., Santol Rd., Tabun, Angeles City
Telephone Numbers: 409 6698, 0908 771 7831
Email: joan_idanan@yahoo.com

Price for Linen Closet: Php 21,000
Price for Bedroom Closet: None given.

Specifications: Made of solid mahogany and mahogany plywood in duco finish.

Note: They were recommended by a local website called My Design Folder whose authors are interior designers. They posted pictures of the furniture ordered from 1903 and I really liked what I saw. And as their rates were reasonable, we went over to Market! Market! to inspect their display at the said mall. We also brought the down payment for the linen closet as I was feeling pretty confident about them.

True enough, their display was nice and talking to Joan was pleasant - at first. Things went downhill when I mentioned that there may be a slight problem with the raised door frame as the closet might not fit into the opening. She refused to even consider checking with their carpenters if there was a workable solution. Basically, she had what I would call a "take it or leave it" attitude (and tone).

I didn't feel good about how the conversation ended and was quite disappointed by the turn of events as I was really thinking they were "it." I called her 30 minutes later to tell her to send the quote for bedroom closets and though Joan said that she'll send it the next day, we have yet to hear from her.

When we came home, I checked the floor plan and discovered that the door frame would not be a problem at all. Oh, well. I was thinking of giving them a second chance, but my Mom told me to stay far away and Earl said that there are others out there just as good.

- AGP Furniture & Interiors

Office: Unit 306, 3rd Floor Townes Bldg., 916 A. Arnaiz Ave., Makati City
Factory: 4 Commercial Complex Parkhomes, Tunsan, Muntinlupa City
Telephone Numbers: 843 4161
Email: agpfurniture@yahoo.com

Price for Linen Closet: Php 62,500
Price for Bedroom Closet: Php 107,000

Specifications: Solid mahogany for framing, exposed panels in plywood, and body in duco finish.

Note: They were also recommended by My Design Folder. While they are not currently in our budget range, we'll ask them again for a quote once we start searching for a sofa supplier.

- Cusm Furniture Shop

Office & Factory: Blk.15, Lot 2, Real St., Villa Eusebia Subdivision, Pulang Lupa, Las Pinas City
Telephone Numbers: 828 5156, 828 5153, 0922 815 6206
Email: cusmfurniture@yahoo.com.ph

Price for Linen Closet: Php 8,400
Price for Bedroom Closet: Php 19,800

Specifications: Carcass - 3/4" thick plywood (for linen closet) and tanguile plywood (for bedroom closet) both with white laminate & PVC edgebond. Doors will be made of ribbon grain tanguile plywood w/ solid wood edging in wenge varnish finish for the bedroom closet while the linen closet will be made of plywood in duco white finish.

Note: They are also our kitchen cabinet supplier, and while we like the work they've done so far (the kitchen is not yet finished), we are on waitlist.

Cabinet search weary, I sent an email to Ardel Claveria of My Design Folder to ask if she knew anyone who can do real built-in cabinets and here's her reply:

Hi Nicole,

Typical finishing contractors can help you out with your built-in requirements.

I can refer you to Arch. Robert Santos who does interior fit-outs. Here are his contact details:
mobile - 0905 590 0165 or 0921 431 9218
email - geminix.c.x@gmail.com

Hope this helps. :)

Ardel

This then gave me an idea - what about Rabacon? I've decided to ask both Maricel and Arch. Robert for a quote just in case it will take Cusm Furniture longer than expected to get back to us.

By the way, if anyone has tried the suppliers mentioned in this post, please feel free to share your feedback.

Events: March - April 2011

2011-02-04T23:28:00.006+08:00

Here's a list of events based on the online calendars of the SMX Convention Center, SM Megatrade Hall, and the World Trade Center:

Manila Now

Date: March 3, 2011 - March 6, 2011
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SMX Convention Center
Description: In the ASEAN furniture circuit, the Manila Now Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS) stands as one of the must-see furniture shows of the region.
Website: http://manilanow.ph

Worldbex 2011

Date: March 16, 2011 - March 20, 2011
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: World Trade Center
Description: The 16th World Building and Construction Exposition is an international fair that provides a platform for exhibitors to interact with significant customers and key decision makers from the Philippines and all over the world. It will also showcase a wide range of products and services representing the entire spectrum of construction industry.
Website: http://www.worldbex.com

Homeworld Warehouse Sale

Date: April 1, 2011 - April 3, 2011
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SM Megatrade Hall
Website: http://www.megatrade.com.ph/events.php

Manila F. A. M. E International 2011

Date: April 16, 2011 - April 19, 2011
Time: 11am - 4pm
Venue: SMX Convention Center
Description: Manila F.A.M.E International is the second longest-running trade platform for home and fashion lifestyle products in the Asia Pacific and the only Union des Foires Internationales (UFI) recognized trade fair in the Philippines.
Website: http://www.manilafame.com

Renovation Update 6

2011-01-30T12:59:00.004+08:00

At the moment, everything is at a standstill.

The kitchen is not yet done as Cusm Furniture has more pressing deadlines with their other projects (i.e. cabinets for Metrobank). But we're really happy with what they've delivered thus far, so I guess waiting is a small price to pay for workmanship and affordability.

Rabacon is also waiting. The built-in cabinets and the kitchen need to be finished first before they can install the remaining cornices and baseboards.

And as mentioned in the last post, the built-in cabinets have hit a snag since RMV Hardwoods didn't come up to scratch and we are now searching for another supplier.

Meanwhile, Alecto is waiting for all of them to be done so that they can attach the light fixtures. Since the place is still dusty and some of the lamps are covered with fabric, I've decided that it would not be a good idea to install the lights at this time.

But I am happy to report that Avida has fixed the problems mentioned last October 2010. Though, last week we discovered that the staircase steps cracked when the bookshelves were brought up to the second floor. Enrg. Frolan has been informed of the situation and he has promised to fix it.

It seems fixed but what about the varnish?

Spot the Difference

2011-01-23T08:00:00.010+08:00

It doesn't look like the experiment is going well.

Before they delivered the bookshelf last Tuesday, the supplier approached me to explain why they were a month late and ask if we could add Php 500 to the delivery fee since they used automotive paint for the shelves (duco finish).

I countered that we shouldn't pay more since we didn't ask for the more expensive duco finish and they never consulted us whether we were amenable to the change in plans. (Originally, they were supposed to do the "paint and sand" technique to achieve a smooth finish.)

In my head though I was considering giving the extra Php 500 if I liked the cabinets. But all charitable thoughts flew out the window when I saw what they delivered to the house! Instead, I ended up asking a lot of questions:

1. What is your definition of smooth?
2. Where in the drawing can you find the curved design on the cabinet doors?
3. This is what you give to expats? (As mentioned in a previous post, some of the expatriates at work have ordered from them.)
4. Is this your version of duco finish?
5. What's with all the cracks and gray streaks?
6. Where are the drawer pulls located versus the agreed design?
7. How did you conclude that this was okay for delivery?

Needless to say I sent the entire lot back. The thing is, I know the supplier personally so when they asked for a second chance, I agreed. But I told them that if they cannot make the new version up to snuff, then we will be asking for a refund.

In the meantime, the search for the built-in cabinet supplier continues.

Coming Soon: Dimmable Energy Saver Lamps

2011-01-18T22:44:00.007+08:00

Whoever thought that a light bulb would make me so excited? Well the dimmable compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) just did!

As almost half the house is on dimmers, I was getting a bit worried since only incandescent bulbs can be used and the guy at Wilcon told me that they were being phased out (the bulbs that is).

At first, I didn't believe him - how could that happen when all the decorating books I've recently read have advocated the use of dimmers? Not only for better lighting but also for saving on electricity? But it turns out, he was right and it seems that the Philippines will be the first in Asia to ban incandescent bulbs according to Wikipedia (which cited Fox News as the source).

Panic then had me searching Google for a solution and that's how I discovered dimmable CFLs by Philips. My relief was short lived however when I found out that the lights are not yet available locally and no other brand carried a similar product.

So yesterday I called up Customer Service, and the lady who answered advised that someone will get back to me regarding my query. I was pleasantly surprised at their response rate - they replied that same day with the news that the lamps will be available starting July! Hallelujah!

This is even better since incandescent bulbs only have one color - yellow. CFLs, on the other hand, have other colors like "cool white" which is what I wanted for the entire house as it's not as harsh as daylight or as mellow as warm white. It's a good in-between color.

Here are some of the lamp's features but you can read more about the Philips' dimmable CFL on their website:

- Light levels can be adjusted to suit the scene
- Can be used with most conventional dimmers*
- Offers a wide range of dimming (from 5 to 100%)*
- Fast run up time
- Starts up at minimum dimmer level of 5%
- Compact and attractive design to suit many fittings
- Quality Philips technology delivers up to 80% energy savings over incandescent bulbs
- Light does not flicker*
- No hum*

* Test performed in Philips laboratories based on dimming capability, flickering, humming and ignite at low dimming level with most consumer dimmers.

Update: As of December 2011, this lamp is still not available locally. I sent them another email and they informed me that they plan to introduce it next year but no definite date.

My Head in the Clouds

2011-01-11T00:02:00.006+08:00

I had so much fun thinking of what we hope to do for the house this year that I've decided to take my daydreaming a step further! This post will be about the stores that I would love to shop in once we win the lottery...

But first up, my pick for interior decorator: Celerie Kemble. In some parallel universe, we are able to hire Ms. Kemble to fix up the house. Sigh. I loved her book, To Your Taste, which (to quote from the back cover) "...teaches you how to think like an interior decorator and create rooms that tell your story - with substance and style." Here are a couple of pictures of her work that I like best:

The following establishments have almost everything needed for the house - furniture, tableware, bed & bath items, lamps, home accessories and even wallpaper - so I'll just list them in alphabetical order:

Laura Ashley

You can view their online catalogue here.

Pottery Barn

You can view their online catalogue here.

The great thing about their websites is that they've already hired decorators to help showcase their products so you'll easily get an idea how to arrange things. In fact, they offer their design services so you can hire them for your house (that is if you live in their area).

And with the Pottery Barn, they have a section on decorating where you can try out their room planner and check their gallery of room ideas.

By the way, I am not connected to any of the stores mentioned in this post. It's just that I really love the style they represent so I've decided to feature them as I hope to be able to re-create the same look in our house. But since we can't hire them (they are not in our budget range or in the same continent), I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

House Resolutions

2011-01-06T22:25:00.006+08:00

Happy new year! Yes, it's that time of year again for wish lists... er, resolutions but because they're usually broken, I don't make any. For 2011 though, I've decided to make an exception.

Whenever people ask us when the house will be done or when will we be moving in, I frequently reply, "2012." Some think this is too far away - why that long? Well, as I've mentioned before, it will depend on our cash flow. But if we had our way, we'd be moving in tomorrow! So, here's what we hope to accomplish for this year:

1. Build the carport, fence and gate
2. Finish part two of the kitchen cabinets (technically the other half which is the pantry and laundry area)
3. Install the closets in our room
4. Have the linen closet in the hallway made

At work, these would be our objectives. Once they're are done and if there's any money left over, we can add "stretch targets." (Can you tell it's evaluation time at the office?) Here's what we plan to buy in order of importance:

1. Bed
2. Dining set
3. Sofa
4. Refrigerator
5. Electric fans

At this point, we can already move-in BUT I also want to get the following for the house to feel more like a home:

1. Night tables & lamps
2. Foyer table
3. Televisions for the living room and our bedroom
4. Air conditioner for our room
5. Desk and extra shelves for the study room

In case you're wondering about the garden, we plan to fix that right before moving in. (It will be interesting to see how many we can cross off by the end of this year.)

Hmmm... this list thing is rather addictive - I could go on and on about what I wish to happen. That's the nice thing about dreams - they're free and endless!

It has also just given me an idea for the next post. In the meantime though, here's an image taken from the Laura Ashley website as a clue:

A Word on Lighting

2010-12-28T08:00:00.003+08:00

I've just finished re-reading The Smart Approach to Small-Space Living and I thought I'd share with you their guide on lighting that I found useful:

Page 163 - Dimmers connected to ceiling lights give you flexibility. When you want to rev up the lighting and brighten the whole room to make it look larger and more alive you can do so. Then with a quick turn of a dial, or flick of a switch, you can dim the room down into cozy intimacy.

For economy and energy savings, you can also dim the lights just slightly to extend bulb life without making any significant change in the light level. For instance, dimming the light to 50 percent will be perceived as though you had dimmed it to only 70 percent.

Page 164 - Your lighting needs. When a room is not bright enough, many people simply exchange low-watt bulbs for high-watt ones. Wattage, however is simply a measurement of how much electricity a lamp consumes. The actual light output of a bulb is measured in lumens. If the bulbs you're using aren't producing enough overall illumination, replace them with ones that have more lumens. The next time you shop for bulbs read the labels, which indicate the lumens per watt (lpw) produced by a bulb. The more lumens per watt, the more efficient the lamp. When looking for intensity produced by a lamp, refer to its candlepower (Cp). The more candela (units), the brighter the source.

Page 168 - Most lighting specialists agree that light for dining should come from an overhead fixture centered on the table. In a room with 8-foot-high ceilings, hang the fixture so that its bottom is 27 to 36 inches above the table; raise the fixture 3 inches for every additional foot of ceiling height.

Lights - Set C

2010-12-24T08:00:00.064+08:00

Robles Heritage 16007 - Php 800 - ground floor ceiling bathroom light. Original price was Php 880.

Eglo Nomo - Php 1330 each - pendant lights to go over the kitchen peninsula. Original price was Php 1399.75 each.

LiteSource Koshi - Php 6320 - green room overhead light.

Mark Slöjd Mirage 43 - Php 1440 - blue room ceiling light.

UP Lantern Parade

2010-12-18T23:04:00.001+08:00

You may ask, what does the University of Philippines (UP) Lantern Parade have to do with the house? The answer: six or nine. Pictures that is.

I've decided that we will print out six or nine of the photographs taken last night, frame them in white and arrange them in a grid. These photos will then go in the lavender room:

The plan is to decorate the whole house with framed photos and each set will be about a specific subject. The ones for the staircase, for example, will come from our recent vacation, the green room will have a series on our wedding, and so on. It will be like the house telling our story which is not only more personal but also easier on the pocket.

Kitchen Journal 3

2010-12-11T17:27:00.000+08:00

Part one of the kitchen is almost done:

36th Philippine Furniture and Furnishings Show

2010-12-08T08:00:00.005+08:00

I am on the look out for furniture suppliers, so on my to-do list for this year was to attend the 36th Philippine Furniture and Furnishings Show at the SM Megatrade Hall. And though it was a nine day long affair from November 26 to December 5, I was only able to reach the place a day before it ended.

But my procrastinating had a benefit. I learned that they have a sale during the last two days. One lady told me that they would rather sell the display items than have to go through the hassle of packing everything again.

As we are not yet in the furniture buying mode, we will file this information for next year and come prepared! I must say though that this exhibit was smaller than I had imagined, but all was not lost as I was able to find at least two suppliers worth looking into for the dining table.

For those who wish to get the schedule of future shows, you can check the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines' website: http://www.cfip.ph/

Study Room Bookshelves: RMV Hardwoods & Antiques Shop

2010-12-04T08:00:00.020+08:00

While we're going with the cheapest supplier mentioned in the last post, we can't vouch for their workmanship so we've decided to be cautious.

Our first "experiment" will be the bookcase. It costs more than the linen closet but I was thinking that since the books will just sit on open shelves, there will be less "wear and tear" compared to the linen closet whose doors will be opened more frequently (with bedsheets and blankets being changed weekly).

Another consideration are the shelves themselves. I want them to have a very smooth finish with no rough edges on all sides otherwise it will be a pain to clean.

Currently, we have a desk and a TV cabinet that's rather hard to wipe as parts of it are rough (makes the dust stay put and accumulate). These were also custom-made but only some areas had a smooth finish as the supplier did not follow the instructions given to him.

So if this bookshelf does not work out as planned, we will then try Juro Furniture.

Window Shopping: Built-in Cabinets 1

2010-11-30T08:00:00.008+08:00

Gilroy Wardrobe

During a particularly strong typhoon late last year, our room got flooded. The cabinets (pictured above), which we had purchased from Our Home in 2007, got drenched and turned into cardboard. Think of a paper towel soaked in water - you can create a hole just by poking it slightly with your finger.

Since the cabinets were not made of solid wood (i.e. medium-density fibreboard), it was not only susceptible to water, mold also grew in abundance no matter how many times you cleaned it or sprayed it with Lysol, alcohol or bleach. Oh, did I mention how poorly it was made? Needless to say, it was a nightmare that cost us Php 13,290. Affordable but not exactly the cheapest thing considering how long it lasted and the mold incovenience.

In comparison, our custom-made furniture also got soaked but did not suffer the same fate as the ones bought from Our Home. They've also never had mold. I then vowed that if ever we were to buy cabinets again, they would be made our of real wood. Expensive, but we'd somehow find a way.

I then started asking for quotes to see how much it would cost to replace the aforementioned cabinets. I sent a sketch to three suppliers and here are the rates they gave:

Three-Door Closet
Dimensions: 48.75" X 21.5" X 77"H

Two-Door Closet
Dimensions: 34" X 21.5" X 77"H

- Danilyn's Enterprises, Inc.

Office: B7 L19 Gladiola St., TS Cruz Subdivision Almanza I, Las Piñas City
Telephone Numbers: 850 4638 to 39, 809 2269
Email: danilyns@pldtdsl.net, danilynsmail@yahoo.com

Price for Two Door: Php 26,135
Price for Three Door: Php 33,710

Specifications: Proposed 3/4" thick ordinary plyboard panel and shelving construction. Drawers with handle and full extension drawer guide. Woodstain finish.

Note: I found out about them through Real Living magazine. I was also thinking that they might be cheaper considering they're located near our house. Turns out not.

- Juro Furniture

Office: Pampanga
Telephone Numbers: 0918 676 3911, 045 322 6117
Email: jurofurniture@yahoo.com

Price for Two Door: Php 23,500
Price for Three Door: Php 33,500

Specifications: All plyboard with laminated edges, solid wood KD tanguile and varnish wenge color, stainless handle, concealed hinges. Metal rod stainless.

Note: They were recommended by Earl's officemates. One of them saw the shop while in Pampanga, went in and liked what they saw. They placed an order then recommended them to another officemate who also ordered and told Earl about it.

- RMV Hardwoods & Antiques Shop

Office: Pangasinan
Telephone Number: 0915 925 9919

Price for Two Door: Php 15,000
Price for Three Door: Php 20,000

Specifications: All Gmelina wood except the handles and bottom of drawers (plywood), stainless handles. Metal rod stainless. Thickness of wood: 1 inch.

Note: They have made furniture for some of the expatriates at work.

This was a no-brainer but we decided that we'll try two of the suppliers as we don't know how any of them will turn out. We'll skip the most expensive one though for obvious reasons.

Kitchen Journal 2

2010-11-27T12:02:00.003+08:00

The kitchen isn't done yet but we think it's coming along quite nicely thus far. Here are the pictures taken at the Cusm Furniture Shop in Las Piñas:

Kitchen Journal 1

2010-11-24T07:13:00.001+08:00

The kitchen plans have been finalized and the down payment already deposited to Cusm Furniture Shop. And a few days ago, they sent an email with pictures of what the cabinets currently look like.

But first, an update. The kitchen went through many changes as we tried to decide on a design would best maximize the space. The overhead cabinets now extend all the way to the ceiling whereas before, there was still some sort of shelf space at the top. Another change was the addition of pull out shelves in the base cabinets (refer to Elevation C below). Since we are going to store the pots and pans there, it will make the heavy items easier to reach.

Of course, all these changes also brought about an increase in the price tag:

Next up, the kitchen's progress!

Renovation Update 5

2010-11-21T09:53:00.002+08:00

Well, the grills are up but they're not exactly how I envisioned them.

My plan was for it to look like the green house on the left. The difference between the two is that in our house, the rectangles are in a horizontal position while the green house has vertical rectangles.

I wanted to have them done all over again but Earl would not hear of it. He didn't like the vertical version at all. Though since I'm getting my way with most of the things concerning the house, and the fact we would spend more to redo the whole thing, this is my version of compromising.

But if there is one thing I'm loving at the moment, it's the window screens. I really like how they came out and Maricel tells me that the screen itself, which was made in the US, is under warranty. They still haven't finished screening the bathroom windows but once done, I can cross out "screens" from my to-do list. Not sure if you can see it from the picture below though.

Rabacon has also started putting up the wood casings framing the windows (refer again to the picture above). Now this part is completely unecessary but in my mind, how many times will we get to fix the house? Might as well do it now while we can.

When I was planning this, I based most of my ideas from the internet and the decorating books I've been reading. It did not occur to me that Manila would not have the same selection range that western countries might have. Yes, it should have been obvious but it completely slipped my mind. What happened then was that I've had to settle for the next best thing.

The Ideal Reality

For the window apron (which is the bottom part of the casing), this will be custom-made as Maricel could not find anything remotely similar to the one in the picture. I'm into details so it was a bit disappointing that what I really wanted would not be possible. But we will have to wait until the window casings are complete to see whether the idea was worth the expense.

Not all the windows will have aprons though. The windows on the second floor will just have ordinary wood casings framing them (see picture below). The reason behind this is becuase the windows in the bedrooms might be partially covered by the headboards, so I didn't see the point in installing them upstairs.

On a final note, the installation of the laminated wood floor is done. The only items left to finish the renovation stage are the built-in cabinets and the remainder of the baseboards and cornices. After that, on to the decorating stage!

Range: La Germania

2010-11-16T17:56:00.092+08:00

In the end, function won over form.

A major factor that played into the decision making was the cookie sheet. The size of the said sheet is 42 cm x 36 cm. Basically, I wanted to be able to fit large items into the oven but still be within the alloted width of 60 cm.

At first, I was gunning for built-in everything. But there were a few things to consider. One, was that a gas built-in oven was more expensive than the electrical version and it would require two gas tanks - one for the oven and the other for the stove. Two, was the fact that blackouts usually occur during a heavy downpour and it gets much worse during typhoon season (there are times we will not have electricity for days on end). In this country, half the year is rainy season and typhoons happen all year round.

As to the brand, Ariston is quite cheap and has built-in ovens that can amply fit the pan along with Elba. But a bit of research on the internet was all it took to find a lot of complaints about Ariston and not enough feedback about Elba which is more expensive than La Germania. Also, Elba's freestanding ranges don't have "feet" so you can't clean underneath the range.

So we decided on La Germania. Since the brand and the size were set, it greatly narrowed the playing field thus making it easier for me to make up my mind. (Making decisions is not easy for me as I usually want everything.)

The built-in oven of La Germania looks good but the pan won't fit properly inside. One end of the sheet acts as the "handle" but the door won't close if the pan is positioned correctly. You would need to arrange the sheet so that the handle is at the side for it to fit (refer to the AirBake Cookie Sheet picture on the left). Unfortunately, this would then deem the handle useless.

I make cookies quite often so it was a pain to bake with smaller cookie sheets as it takes longer to finish everything. Thus, as much I wanted built-in, aesthetics had to take a backseat to practicality.

Now this left me with the freestanding range. It solved the blackout and oven depth problem at the same time. Only catch was that it was not as pretty. There were "sleeker" options but they also cost more. Here are the differences:

1. T651 22X - Php 36,450 - enamel trivet without safety device
2. M64C 71X - Php 44,849 - enamel trivet with safety device and heat surround-fan assisted oven
3. N64C 71X - Php 54,849 - cast iron trivet with safety device and heat surround-fan assisted oven

The first one is the most basic of the three. The other two have a safety device which automatically turns off the gas if the sensors detect that the flames are already out. Basically, if T651 22X's burners are on but for some reason did not light up, it might be leaking gas indefinitely especially if you are not aware that it's on.

M64C 71X also has a sturdier looking trivet (thicker enamel than T651 22X) while the last option has a cast iron trivet. As far as I could tell, cast iron was the only difference between options 2 and 3.

I'm definitely not shelling out cash for a cast iron trivet as there are other priorities. But was I willing to pay Php 8000 more for a heat surround-fan assisted oven?

I wrestled with this question for weeks and even as we were about to pay for the range, my mind was still divided. But in the end, I decided on the first option as Php 8000 can go a long way with the many things we still have to buy.

As to the range-hood, I chose the N-3601SS which is the upgraded version of the N-4601SS and costs Php 900 more. That was the difference between a zinc-coated galvanized iron filter and one made of stainless steel thoughout. My thinking was that having saved a lot of money on the range itself, the extra cost for the range-hood was quite minimal in the greater scheme of things.

Security Detail

2010-11-13T22:57:00.002+08:00

Finally, Avida has done something we're actually happy about - they have started to install the electric fence on the perimeter wall. And based on the truck, the supplier is ProFence.

As far as we know, not too many villages have this feature so we're quite pleased with this development. Yes Avida, if you do something good, I will blog about it.

But then we thought of how much the association dues will cost because let's face it, who's going to pay for all the electricity consumed by this fence? Well, I guess that would be a small price to pay for better security.

Of course we are aware that this will not stop the possibility of crime, but at least it will lessen the probability.

Price Wars

2010-11-06T21:59:00.004+08:00

I'll let the figures speak for themselves:

T-651-22X M64C71X

N-3601SS

Based on the price tags, Anson's is more flexible and has the lowest rates. But if you were to pay in cash, Automatic Centre offers the following discounted prices:

T-651-22X - Php 34,600
N-4601SS - Php 4,750

While it is possible that Avant and SM Appliance may give even lower rates for cash purchases, I did not ask as we're using Ayala Electronic Gift Certificates (E-GCs) to pay for the items.

Window Shopping: Range

2010-11-01T11:46:00.018+08:00

To buy a range or an oven with a stove (also called "hobs")? Pardon my ignorance, but I just discovered recently that they are three different things (which you can read about here). And if I found that confusing, just deciding which option to go with was an even bigger quandary!

As mentioned in a previous post, the kitchen is something I'm quite particular about so a lot of thought went into this one item.

Which Brand?

Some are way out of our budget and others do not have name recall. So we went with brands we were familiar with and whose costs were not too steep. Here's our shortlist:

Ariston - I've seen ads for this in foreign magazines and their products looked nice. Their prices are cheaper than Elba or La Germania and come with a three year warranty.

Elba - This is the one currently being used by my Mom and from all accounts, it's not too bad.

La Germania - My parent's first gas range which lasted over 15 years and was replaced only because my Mom wanted an upgrade.

Built-in or Freestanding?

This can also be translated as "vanity or practicality?" Built-in looks sleeker but we had a cookie sheet to consider. To give a short background, after more than 15 years, my Mom decided to replace the old range with a new one. When it was delivered, she found out too late that her larger baking pans would not fit. Happily though I get to inherit said baking pans so I needed to find an oven that could accommodate them.

Once we decided on the brand, we found out that their built in ovens could barely fit the 42 cm x 36 cm cookie sheet mentioned earlier. Also, we wanted a gas fueled oven, but not only is it more expensive than the electric version, we would need two fuel tanks - one for the stove and the other for the oven. We do not have room for this set-up and no one could tell me how to connect both units to just one tank. (Here in the Philippines, gas lines are not connected to houses. Instead, we buy individual fuel tanks.)

Gas or Electric?

I'm used to gas but I've asked around and some have said electric is better for baking as the temperature is always even. Then again, those I know who really cook a lot say that gas is better.

Another factor to consider is the fact that there's usually a blackout every time there's a typhoon. If we go electric, we'd have a problem since typhoons are very frequent visitors in this tropical country we live in.

The Contenders

Ariston

Product Code: FB 51 A1 (IX)
Type: Built-in electric oven
Price: Php 18,495
Warranty: 3 years
Features:
- 60 cm
- 5 Multi-function program
- Electric oven
- Minute minder
- Convection
- Oven Capacity: 56 L

Product Code: FBG (IX)
Type: Built-in gas oven
Price: Php 26,995
Warranty: 3 years
Features:
- 60 cm
- Gas oven w/ rotisserie
- Electric grill
- Minute minder
- Oven safety device
- Oven Capacity: 51 L

Product Code: PH 640 M (IX)
Type: Built-in Hob (Stove)
Price: Php 11,665
Warranty: 3 years
Features:
- 60 cm
- 4 Gas burners w/ electric ignition
- Pan Support: Heavy grid

Product Code: SL 161 (IX)
Type: Range-Hood
Price: Php 5695
Warranty: 3 years
Features:
- 60 cm, 1 Motor
- Extraction Capacity: 250m3/h
- 3 Speed settings
- Charcoal filter
- 2 x 40W Lamps

Elba

Product Code: 61-X-131
Type: Freestanding Range
Price: Php 36,290
Warranty: 1 year
Features:
- 60 cm
Stove
- Stainless steel surface 18/10
- 3 Gas burners, 1 hot plate
Oven
- Thermostatic oven

Product Code: S 66-X-630 IS
Type: Freestanding Range
Price: Php 45,150
Warranty: 1 year
Features:
- 60 cm
Stove
- Stainless steel cooktop 18/10
- 3 Gas burners (1 double ring) + 1 rapid hotplate
- Original SABAF burners
- Safety devices on all burners
Oven
- 7-Function convection oven
- Thermostatic electric oven
- Electric grill

La Germania

Product Code: F650 D5X
Type: Built-in electric oven
Price: Php 26,495
Warranty: 1 year
Features:
- 60 cm
- Separate thermostat
- Chrome support, fan anti-grease filter
- Multifunction oven: 5 settings, fan assisted
- Auto shut off
- Cooling fan
- Oven Equipment: 1 drip tray, 1 chrome shelf, 1 grilling mesh
- Oven Capacity: 60 L

Product Code: P-680 MX
Type: Built-in Hob (Stove)
Price: Php 13,405
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features:
- 1 HIGH ENERGY triple ring burner
- 3 Gas burners
- Instant auto-ignition integrated in each knob
- Enamelled pan support in two sections with rubber feet
- Heavy gauge enamelled gas burner caps
- High grade stainless steel body

Product Code: N-3601SS
Type: Range-Hood
Price: Php 5880
Warranty: 1 year
Features:
- 60 cm, 1 motor
- 3 Speed settings
- 2 x 40w Incandescent lamps
- Metal grease filter
- 120 mm Air outlet
- 705 x 594 x 253 mm Packaging dim.
- 11.5 kg Gross weight
- 380 m3/h Max air capacity free outlet
- 350 Max air capacity IEC point
- 300 Pa max Pressure
- 250w Max input
- 66 db (a) Max noise level
- Stainless steel

Product Code: T-651-22X
Type: Freestanding Range
Price: Php 36,450
Warranty: 1 year
Features:
- 59.5 cm
- Minute minder
- Turn spit
- 1 Enamel baking tray
- 1 Wire shelf
- Tempered glass top cover
- Single piece worktop in stainless steel
- Large enamelled matt pan supports
- One touch ignition on worktop burners
- Minute minder
- Double glass oven door
- Thermostat for the oven
- Oven shelves on side chromed rails
- Adjustable feet
- Building-in approved
- One touch ignition for oven burners
Stove
- 3 Gas burners, 1 electric hotplate
- Enamel trivet without safety device
Oven
- Gas oven with electric grill
- Safety device

Product Code: M64C71X
Type: Freestanding Range
Price: Php 44,849
Warranty: 1 year
Features:
- 59.5 cm
- Tempered glass top cover
- Single piece worktop in stainless steel
- Large enamelled matt pan supports
- One touch ignition on worktop burners
- Minute minder
- Double glass oven door
- Thermostat for the oven
- Oven shelves on side chromed rails
- Adjustable feet
- Building-in approved
- Flame failure device for all gas burners (oven and worktop)
- One touch ignition for oven burners
Stove
- 4 Gas burners including triple ring gas burner
- Enamel trivet
Oven
- Heat surround-fan assisted gas oven with electric grill
- Minute minder
- 1 Enamelled baking tray
- 2 Wire shelves
- 1 Grill mesh

By the way, we will be using Ayala Electronic Gift Certificates worth Php 35,000 for the range and just paying the difference. Do we go with the cheaper option that way less cash out? Or do we go with the upgraded version already? I'm assuming that whichever we choose, it will be at least 10 years before we buy another oven.

I wonder though, what does "building-in approved" mean?

Note: All images were either obtained from various home appliance websites or direct from the company website.

Paint Job Review

2010-10-25T20:48:00.003+08:00

Last week, Maricel asked me if Avida was going to finish painting the window casings outside. She explained that it looks as if they had just done one coat of paint.

I mentioned this to Des from the head office and Engrs. Frolan and Mark when they went to the house last Thursday to check on the problematic bathroom sinks (which you can read about here). Frolan immediately said that it was already finished and asked me, "the house was turned over to you, right?" in Filipino. I felt a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. I maybe sensitive when it comes to the house but I think I know when someone is being sarcastic. Let's just say, I use sarcasm quite often...

I pointed out the areas Maricel described, he started inspecting it in places I never thought of, and declared that Maricel was right! Further checks outside revealed that the paint in other areas were either peeling or bubbly. To think that it has only been four months since the house was turned over to us...

Engr. Mark commented that the reason for the peeling and the bubbles was that the paint had not been mixed well. I said, "Wasn't it Avida that did the painting?" And he gave me a sheepish smile and said that this was under Rommel's jurisdiction.

As to the sinks, Engr. Frolan advised that they will fix the ground floor bathroom sink but that Avida is "just accommodating" us. He further explained that since we signed a waiver due to the non-installation of the bathroom tiles, the sink was technically for our account.

First of all Frolan, we never signed a waiver and we have it in writing that we only asked Avida not install the bathroom tiles. It was a surprise to us that they didn't install the sinks and the toilets.

Second, Ellen advised that we should have told Avida that the sink and toilet installation was for a later date. Uh, we've already paid the plumber. Shouldn't we have been informed of this from the beginning?

Third, we got the standard unit which includes bathroom and sink installation. This means it's already paid for.

To Frolan and Rommel, I am sure we will all get along sometime in the future. But at the moment I just don't see that happening especially if you talk to us like we owe Avida a favor.

Try looking at things from our perspective because from all accounts, it's Avida that owes us big time.

In the meantime, please fix the house. Because if there was nothing wrong with the place, then I would not need to call you. Now wouldn't the thought of NOT seeing me be incentive enough to do things correctly this time?

Manila F. A. M. E. International

2010-10-21T22:37:00.002+08:00

Finally! After years of thinking about it, I can now say that I've been to the Manila Furnishings and Apparel Market Exchange International (Manila F. A. M. E.) trade fair.

There were so many beautiful things and since today was Shopper's Day, I was actually tempted to buy something not related to the house - a necklace! There were tons of fashion accessories - think row upon row of jewelry. But I was there for the house, so that will have to wait.

It was a pity though I could not take pictures as everything was so pretty - plates, furniture, home decor. But what was really sad was that most of the items are only sold abroad. Majority of the suppliers do not sell locally so you would a plane ticket just to be able to sample the merchandise. I find this a bit disconcerting - why can't the locals enjoy the products made by their fellow Filipinos?

Needless to say, I came home empty handed. But all is not lost, once the house is done I plan to go back to buy small trinkets for both myself and the house.

As Per Plan

2010-10-20T23:43:00.004+08:00

The drain hole for the sink in the upstairs bathroom is askew. This means that the sink is not centered and thus it's at the side of the wall. I asked Engr. Rommel if he would do the same arrangement in his house and he replied in Filipino that it did seem wrong. His actual words were "parang mali, noh?" But he said Avida can't fix it as it's "as per plan."

The bathroom sink downstairs is also positioned similarly. Avida installed the drain hole in such a way that the sink is now BLOCKING THE BATHROOM DOOR. Was that "as per plan" too? Just a thought.

Note that we did not mess with the drain holes. Ellen from Avida head office, told me earlier today that this situation is due to our contractors. I had to point out that we "borrowed" one of the plumbers from the neighboring house that is currently being built so technically he's not our contractor, he's THEIR contractor. And he only placed the sink over the drain hole made by Avida.

We found out about the sink blocking the door last Saturday because as mentioned in the previous post, the house was turned over without the sinks and toilets installed.

All this resulted in my temper going over normal levels (yet again) with Engr. Rommel in attendance. I asked him why we had to spend a lot on cement just so that we could install tiles properly? A few days prior, he said he would fix the situation. I asked him why he only offered to fix it now when we alerted him to the problem during the house inspection (which you can read about here)? Why only now when we've already done the repairs ourselves?

I told him that I was not mad at him personally but he's the representative of Avida. (I didn't bother to add that since he's from the Construction Group, he was responsible for overseeing how the house was built.)

My voice broke when I talked to him as I really felt like crying. I pointed out to him that we have spent so much just fixing everything from the floor to the electrical system only to have water go down the switches. He said it was fine and that nothing was damaged. I countered that, sorry but I do not trust Avida.

I have come to the conclusion that the ones who say "everything will be fine" obviously are not paying for the house.

Last Monday afternoon and early Tuesday morning, I tried calling Engr. Rommel to get an update. After 15 tries, he had yet to answer his phone. This was unusual as he used to answer right away or he would call or text back to inquire what I needed. Now, zilch.

I called Ellen to ask him to call me as I was getting extremely upset with the situation. He didn't call so I sent him a text message asking why he was suddenly incommunicado. He replied back that there's something wrong with his phone and that while he can be heard, he can't hear whoever is on the other side of the line.

That happened to me just last week and the person I called still picked up the phone to tell me he can't hear me and to text him instead. Why didn't he do that? He had no answer.

Might I be reading the situation incorrectly? Maybe. But at the moment I feel that he's mad at me for getting mad at him and thus avoiding me. Well, I certainly hope I'm mistaken as this is not exactly professional behavior.

It's Raining - INSIDE...

2010-10-15T20:51:00.004+08:00

Sigh.

They are now starting to install the sinks and toilets, so a couple of days ago, the plumber tried to test everything by turning on the water supply upstairs. Let's just say that water started coming out of the ceiling and the light switches on the wall. According to the workers who witnessed the event, this resulted in large puddles on the ground floor.

Uh, how did this happen? Well, when the house was turned over to us, they did not install the lavoratories as we asked them not to install the tiles. And while Engr. Rommel told me yesterday that they tested the water pressure of the house, I highly doubt it. Otherwise they would have known about the huge pipe leak located in the bowels of the ceiling.

Apparently, when Avida was installing the metal frames in the house, they drilled a hole through the water pipes... Take note that we've just spent a small fortune (in our opinion) fixing the electrical system not to mention that the ceiling, cornices and walls have already been painted.

I'm now worried about the state of the gypsum board ceiling and the lights. Moisture + darkness = MOLD. And what about the recessed light fixtures that are all made of metal? I have visions of rust dancing in my head.

After a "strongly worded" conversation with Engr. Rommel earlier today, he had John, the contractor, come over to take another look. He also advised that if anything gets damaged then the contractor will pay for it.

Turns out John had been in charge of the house from the beginning. I then took that as a great opportunity to rant about how much cement has been consumed just to fix the very uneven walls and floors! (Sorry, I couldn't help myself considering we paid for the repairs.)

Maricel told me that this happened because Avida sub-contracts the work to others. But I told her that ultimately Avida carries the responsibility of checking the quality of work done. Because in the end, had the house been the picture of perfection, they're going to say that it's Avida who made the house and not JJM (the name of the sub-contracting company).

Is there a solution in the offing? Yes, tomorrow John will be back to check for damages and will replace the areas affected by the water leak at least to start with. I feel bad though because they will probably ruin the work already done by Rabacon.

But if I were to look on the bright side, at least we found this out prior to living in the house and that they will actually fix this mess. Well, they should!

Renovation Update 4

2010-10-11T19:41:00.010+08:00

I'm so very tired, my limbs are aching all over and I've got the sniffles. In short, due to this house, I am just plain old exhausted. In a way, I'm glad we don't have children yet otherwise I don't know where I'm going to get enough energy!

The house has been like a giant jigsaw puzzle with all these bits and pieces coming together. And while I've envisioned in my head how it will all come out, we will have to see if things will more or less go as planned. I'm not striving for perfection as I doubt if that will be possible but with regards to the painting, I think Paul the painter has come close to matching the colors shown in Color Schemes.

Alecto has finished 98% of their work and their only pending item is to install four lamps. This is my fault though as I can't seem to find lights I like. The bathroom wall mounted light, for example, was basically bought out of desperation from Aristocrat as it was Alecto's final day (last Friday) before they go on hiatus. They will be back once I've found the rest of the lights which I'm hoping to buy during Shopper's Day at the upcoming Manila F.A.M.E. this October 21.

Thus far, I am loving how the room colors have come out and are blending with the other colors. One of the things I learned in the decorating books I've read is that when you open a door, the color outside (i.e. hallway) should not clash with the color inside. It helps that the underlying color for the three rooms upstairs is blue. Which, you may now have guessed, is my favorite color.

It was a bit difficult for the painter to get the exact shades I wanted even if I showed him a picture. As mentioned in Hindsight, paint in liquid form might match the color in a book but once applied to cement or wood, it can come out quite differently!

The problem was solved by going to Wilcon, buying ready-mixed paint from Davies and applying it to the walls for the painter to copy. And at just Php 180 per liter (compared to Ace at Php 500), it not only saves time by eliminating a lot of guesswork but you end up getting exactly what you want.

Next up are the kitchen cabinets. I am already finalizing the design with Cusm Furniture Shop and I'm hoping the main portion will be completed within the next three weeks.

Lights - Set B

2010-10-07T21:49:00.006+08:00

Eglo Gino - Php 899.77 each - wall sconces that will frame the mirror in the upstairs bathroom. Original price was Php 999.75 each.

Eglo Beluga - Php 4,499.77 - overhead dining table lamp. Original price was Php 4,999.75.

Akari Outdoor Light - Php 499.75 - outside wall light beside the back door.

Firefly Ceiling Light - Php 649.95 - upstairs bathroom overhead light.

Keystone Lotus Lamp - Php 10,800 - since the stairwell light is visible from the outside, I wanted something that I felt would not only look good but would also provide a lot of light. Here's hoping it works out as planned. Original price was Php 12,000.

Aristocrat WL FKA W-99 - Php 1,750 - ground floor bathroom wall light. Original price was Php 1,995.

Security Issues

2010-10-02T08:32:00.003+08:00

Maxi, my neighbor, originally wrote this as a comment in the previous post. But I've decided to transfer it here as this subject is a major concern to us. Here's the gist of what he posted last September 29 (some parts were translated to English):

Hi Nicole,

Intruders went to our house last night 9:15 PM to be exact at the laundry area! My brother saw them and started shouting at them. The intruders climbed the perimeter wall and escaped. Avida security guards were roving at that time but the thieves were just really good at evading them.

We are still blessed, no one in my family was hurt and I'm hoping nothing was stolen because we still haven't checked our items. We're all spooked at the house right now.

Avida posted a guard in front of our house last night. My entire family is having hard time sleeping and we keep on discussing what happened. Our neighbors also visited us and checked what happened. They are also scared.

1. The intruders came from the vacant grassy area next to Avida.
2. The intruders climbed the perimeter walls. The wall is around 5'5" tall from the other side of the wall and around 7' tall from house.
3. The intruders were able to quickly escape because contractors placed their debris on the wall area. Instant access for intruders!
4. There's no barbed wire or electric fence on the perimeter walls.

I reported this to Mr. Carandang and and some Avida executives and asked for their action since we are all scared to death. We agreed on action items that he can handle at his level:

1. Deployment of additional guards and light post at our area.
2. Removal of debris on the perimeter wall. Cutting of the Ipil-Ipil tree on the vacant grassy area.
3. Deployment of the bluesacks on the construction lot areas near our house.

I'm not really happy with these action items and I immediately went to the Avida office in Makati.

I learned from them that the electric fence is still under bidding and they started the biding since April 2010. I said it's almost Christmas, when will it be installed? They have no idea but they will share their timeline with me. I asked for an interim solution like barbed wires but they cannot install it today due to purchasing issues. To my dismay, I told them that I will purchase all the required materials to have it installed and reimbursed it to Avida after the completion. They will discuss it on their Mancom meeting today and will inform me of their decision.

I have no choice but to wait and if there will be no action, I will definitely file a formal complaint against them.

I would suggest that you also add barbed wires and grills to your budget. I'll have my grills installed over the weekend.

When I was still living in Cainta, we were only afraid of floods during typhoon season. We now fear everyday that our life is always in danger starting today. If I could only return the house over the counter, I would have done it this morning.

Maxi

Avida's tag line is "Sure and Secure" so this is a rather disappointing turn of events.

There have been a lot of problems associated with this house, which I have written about extensively in this blog, but through it all Earl would cheer me up by reminding me that we didn't just buy a house. We also bought into the promise Avida made about a good community with a constant supply of water, regular garbage collection and security. They seem to have failed at one, now I'm wondering whether we should cling to hope about the others.

You maybe thinking that it's a new village just getting its bearings and they deserve a chance to redeem themselves. Well, my husband's father died when robbers entered their home and shot both him and Earl.

Sometimes it just takes one incident for things to end rather grimly.

The installation of the window grills had already been scheduled prior to this incident but I now think that the construction of the fence and gate should be pushed to the top of our to-do list.

One thing is for sure, we are not telling my mother-in-law about this as she will worry to no end.

In Hindsight

2010-09-27T22:44:00.008+08:00

Here are a few things we've learned so far about fixing up a house:

Two Variations of Brown

1. I knew that paint, when applied to different surfaces, will look slightly different. What I hadn't accounted for was just how different - we experimented on wood but once it was on cement, it looked like a completely different color!!!

The painter was able to match the brown paint color I chose (which you can view here) but when he applied it to the walls, it looked positively PINK! Turns out there is a red-based brown and a yellow-based brown. The problem is that he already did the first coat all the way up to the second floor! I actually complained that he worked too fast...

What we learned: Whether you buy ready-mixed paint from a store or have your painter mix the color you want, paint a small section of the wall first and LIVE WITH IT FOR A FEW DAYS. If you feel something is wrong, make your opinion heard RIGHT AWAY or have someone else, who is not involved in either the paint selection or the actual painting, take a look. This will save you from wasting a lot of paint.

2. More than a year before the renovation, we asked around to see just how much we would need to spend. And while we were able to save up for the estimated figure, we underestimated the cost of the miscellaneous items such as sand, cement, bathroom fixtures and the lights! Yes, I thought I had everything covered but I forgot about the lights and found out too late that they are quite expensive.

What we learned: Once you get a copy of the house plans, ask a contractor or an architect to advise just how many tiles are needed, what sizes are recommended and the amount of cement and grout you will need to buy. This will enable you to shop around at leisure instead of zooming like a chicken with her head cut off! You'll also be able to budget for the tiles you actually want.

Another thing is to start looking at light fixtures and ask your electrician what type to buy. For the bathroom, budget and measure for towel rods and mirrors - especially if you will install lights on either side of the said mirror. You will then immediately know how to answer the electrician when he asks where you want to position the wall sconces.

Same Tile, Different Layouts

3. We opted for ceramic tiles that look like wood (see here) but when the workers first started installing them, the layout looked a bit weird to me. So I decided to experiment and the pictures above are what I came up with. The image on the left is the original layout, the one on the right is what I opted to go with as it looks less chaotic.

What we learned: Try to be at the site on a daily basis. The workers could end up doing things that you might not approve of and once the cement dries, there will be little you can do to fix it.

4. To quote Celerie Kemble from her book "To Your Taste," "No matter what a person has to spend on a project, it never seems to be enough to do everything he or she wants. They forget to allow room for errors. Inevitably, they underestimate the cost of labor. In some cases, people experience taste inflation: as they learn more about their options, they start to care more about the quality of details that previously held no interest for them. Beware! Knowledge can be the gateway to financial vice!"

We are finding this to be completely true!

What we learned: Whatever amount you have estimated for expenses, add 15-20% more for inflation or things that might come up unexpectedly.

We still have a long way to go and if you have pointers you'd like to share, please do so as we definitely want to know what to look out for!

Perspectives

2010-09-23T13:53:00.001+08:00

Earl and I scrimped and saved for a long time for this house. Actually, we still don't eat out as often as we used to nor do we spend as much on food as we used to.

Luckily for us, we're the type who can spend hours at the mall and not buy a thing. We also are not into buying clothes, shoes, etc. But I must admit it has come to the point where we are looking a bit like ragamuffins. My mother is so appalled at my appearance, she has taken to buying me clothes...

You now know the reason why our pictures are nowhere to be found on this blog... Kidding! Or maybe not...

But as I pointed out to both her and my sister (who tells me that there are inexpensive clothes out there - yes, I am aware of that), a shirt will still cost at least Php 400, and the cheapest pants I have ever bought here in Manila was Php 600. Now, that's around Php 1000 put together - an amount that can be used say, towards a nicer dining table or oven.

Our goal in saving was to spend for the house without borrowing money or touching our modest retirement fund. While we accomplished that for the renovation, we will need to start saving again once the contractors are done but this time for the furniture and appliances. And after our experience of buying cheap furniture that does not last too long, we've decided go for more durable pieces. All this durability though will come at a price. Doesn't it always?

Needless to say, it will be quite awhile before we are able to move into the house.

This now brings me to what Earl told me a few days ago. If he had his way, we would have used the money we saved for furniture and appliances and moved in already. With the exception of the electrical system, he was fine with the house as is - with all the white walls. This revelation came about when I asked him why he didn't really have an opinion regarding the house except to say, "anything you want hon..."

When asked, Earl will tell you whether he thinks one tile is better than the other or if he likes a certain color. Other than that, he doesn't say much. Maybe it's a guy thing because according to my mom, if it were up to my dad, our house would have been surrounded in cement (no garden).

In any case, it got me thinking. Could I have been happy with the house as is? It only took a few seconds before my forehead wrinkled and a frown popped up. I would rather wait for furniture if it means I can sit on the floor, gaze at the walls and think "ooh, nice..." Kind of like my sister with boots that pinched her toes whenever she wore them. She bought them despite the discomfort because she thought they were pretty.

Renovation Update 3

2010-09-21T17:20:00.005+08:00

Though there is still a long way to go, it's all starting to come together. Here are the latest updates in pictures:

Tiling of the ground floor.

Installation of the additional electrical sockets.

Testing of paint colors.

Re-varnishing of the stairs.

Utility sink construction.

Lights - Set A

2010-09-19T19:19:00.022+08:00

Azcor Española SL - 5-810-12-0 - Php 6,030 - the overhead light in the lavender room. Original price was Php 6,700.

Landlite Reflector Light (Big) - Php 349.75 each - general illumination provider for the ground floor and second floor hallway.

Robles Heritage Porch Light - Php 435 - lone front porch light at the moment. Still debating whether another light is needed on the wall beside the door.

Osram Par38 Flood Light - Php 495 each - this will be positioned at each outside corner of the house.

Landlite Reflector Light (Small) - Php 249.75 each - for the closet area in the green room.

Sale! Surplus House Items

2010-09-14T07:00:00.020+08:00

Since we have a lot of surplus materials at the house, we are selling the following:

Teka Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink

Price: Php 3300

Specifications:
- size (whole) - 86cm x 44cm
- size (sink / drainboard only) - 36cm x 34cm
- gauge - 18
- fittings not included

Notes:
- price at Wilcon and Alabang Home Depot is Php 4330 includng fittings
- fittings can be purchased at Wilcon for Php 611 (if Teka brand)

Apo Vinyl Floor Tiles - Mimicri

Price: Php 20 / pc

Specifications:
- color - Medium Cherry
- size - 4" x 36" inches
- gauge - 1.3mm
- 43 pcs / box / 4 sqm

Notes:
- price at Wilcon and Alabang Home Depot is Php 23.75 / pc
- 25 boxes available - 9 boxes left

Mariwasa 20x20 Wall Tiles - Plain White

Price: Php 10 / pc

Specifications:
- color - Plain White
- size - 20cm x 20cm
- 25 pcs / box

Notes:
- price at Wilcon is Php 12.12 / pc
- 12 boxes available

Mariwasa 20x20 Floor Tiles - Romana White

Price: Php 10 / pc

Specifications:
- color - Romana White
- size - 20cm x 20cm
- 25 pcs / box

Notes:
- price at Wilcon is Php 11.74 / pc
- based on my observation, Plain White is shinier than Romana White
- ~~4 boxes available~~ - SOLD!

HCG L59 Wall Hung Washbasin

Price: Php 700

Specifications:
- color - White
- size - 452mm x 190mm x 395mm

Notes:
- price at Wilcon and Alabang Home Depot is Php 1120 / pc
- faucet, p-trap, tail piece and angle valve are not included
- 1 pc available

Lucky PVC Door

Price: Php 800 / set

Specifications:
- color - White
- size - 210cm x 61cm
- includes 4 inch door jamb

Notes:
- price at Wilcon is Php 1400 (with jamb and door knob)
- door and jamb only (door knob not included)
- part of the house that was dismantled
- 2 sets available
- we'll lower the price to Php 1500 for both sets if purchased together

Disclaimer: I've noticed that the actual color of the items vary from the photos. They take on a yellowish tinge (it might have been due to the yellow lighting at Wilcon).

Color Schemes

2010-09-12T10:12:00.006+08:00

I recently changed the look of this blog - it used to have a yellow and green polka dot background. But when Blogger came up with new templates, I decided it was time for Two Storeys to get a make-over.

The colors chosen for this new look represent the colors that we are planning to use for the house. Here are the color schemes for each room:

Ground Floor

The picture on the left is for the living, dining and kitchen areas. We also plan to extend this scheme to the stairwell and the second floor hallway. The color shown on the right is for the bathroom in combination with the tiles shown here.

Guest Bedroom

Study Room

Master's Bedroom

The ivory color you see on the left will be used in the bathroom to be paired with the tiles shown here. The bluish green color on the right is actually the color of our current bedroom. We're going to use it again for our new bedroom as Earl says it makes him feel calm and relaxed.

Note: All images shown here were obtained online over the last three years. Thus I can no longer pinpoint the websites where the images were taken.

Renovation Update 2

2010-09-11T23:10:00.014+08:00

Tiles for the Ground Floor Bathroom

Earl and I had an extremely productive morning! We purchased all the tiles needed for the house at Wilcon today along with the baseboards, cornices and the second floor bathroom sink. The items will be delivered on Wednesday.

The tiles above were also chosen by my sister. The floor tile is actually gray with a tinge of brown but in the photo it looks more like brown. The green tile represents the paint color closest to what we're planning for the bathroom walls.

Rabacon started work on the house last Monday, September 6, and Maricel told us that they will be installing the tiles in both bathrooms by next week (thus the need to buy the tiles already).

Cornice & Baseboard

This was one of the cheaper baseboards and cornices we could find. A product of Matimco, PrimeCoat Wood is already pre-coated and pre-sanded for the same price as the unfinished version. The difference is that this finished version is finger jointed (though I'm not sure exactly what that means) and not treated against termites. According to the sales agent at Wilcon if left uncut then no problem as the coating will prevent termites. But once cut, it would be best to apply Solignum to the exposed areas.

But when I sent an email to Matimco regarding the matter, here's their reply (courtesy of Cesar Erfe):

...PCW is not treated with Solignum however, you may brush on Solignum on its surface as well as cut edges. This will give you protection against termites, wood borers and fungal decay. The only problem is that the preservative won't penetrate the wood so in cases of scratches, you will need to retouch.

You'd be happy to know that we have a brand called Matwood that offers baseboards and cornices also. This brand is treated with Solignum using the double-vacuum pressure process that ensures full penetration of the preservative in the Sapwood part of the wood. You will still need to brush on cut edges because hartwoods cannot be penetrated by any treatment regardless of the process. Although the hartwood part of the wood has a natural resistance to the said threats, it will not repell termites. It's better to not have them around. You'd be able to enjoy a 10 year fully backed local warranty with Matwood.

Well, too late as we already bought the materials and we're also cost cutting.

Tile Design for the Ground Floor

My mom didn't like it, my sister didn't like it, and my husband didn't like it. Suffice to say that this tile was subject to a lot of debate.

It was this tile and me against the world.

Unfortunately, I was not too keen on the options they were suggesting because they preferred lighter colored tiles. They think this tile is too dark and "unfinished" (also not sure what my sister meant by that). My perspective was that the lighter the tile, the more we'd have to clean up.

Well, we did agree on one tile design but it was way too out of budget.

Also, I wanted the floor to contrast with the wall - the floor would either have to be lighter or darker than the wall color. If it were lighter, I'd have to return to the cleaning argument. If it was too dark, it would make the small space even smaller. I felt that this was a good mid-way color.

But we will soon find out whether or not I made the right decision.

As to the sink, I wanted a very classic sink and faucet style from HCG (LF352 4" which you can view here). But they were Php 4000 more expensive than the Kohler sink with Englefield faucet combination that we chose instead.

Speaking of substitutions, we changed the wall tile for the second floor bathroom (which you can view here) to Mariwasa Forest Beige 20cm x 30cm. Not only was it cheaper, it also aligns with the measurements of both the border and floor tiles. This arrangement, according to Maricel, is more aesthetically pleasing.

Thanks to the changes, we saved over Php 14,000 which we will use for the lights and bathroom fixtures (the next items on our to-do list).

Notes:

Ground Floor
Sol Ceramica Bynar - 60cm x 60cm

Ground Floor Bathroom
Border - Picasso Mosaic B141-1 - 30cm x 30cm
Wall - Ten Zen 3050 - 30cm x 30cm
Floor - Sol Ceramica Mack Gris - 30cm x 60cm

Second Floor Bathroom Sink
Kohler Pedestal Sink K87001-1-0

Window Shopping: Laminate Flooring

2010-09-08T23:20:00.007+08:00

Laminated Flooring for the Second Floor

As with the first set of bathroom tiles, my sister chose the design for the laminate flooring that will cover the entire second floor. Hmmm... this is turning out to be her house... I must admit that I preferred the other option (which you can see here) but she said it was too "busy".

This design is from Krono Original but here's the list of contenders:

- Kronospan

Warranty: 15 years
Branches: Home Depot (Alabang & Ortigas)
Website: http://www.kronospan.com, http://www.krono-original.com

Price: Php 1148.45/box or Php 515/sqm

Notes: The original price was Php 1671/box or Php 752/sqm but they're trying to get rid of their old stocks so it's on sale while supplies last according to the sales agent.

- Kronotex

Warranty: 15 years
Branches: Home Depot (Alabang & Ortigas), Wilcon Depot
Website: http://www.kronotexusa.com

Price: Php 1647.25/box or Php 789.35/sqm

Notes: Part of the KronoGroup.

- Pergo

Warranty: 15 years
Branches: Wilcon (Alabang & Ortigas - Design Source) and MC Home Depot (Fort & Ortigas - Design Source), Ace Hardware
Website: http://www.pergo.com

Price: Php 1816/box (no installation) or Php 2018/box (with installation)

Notes: The price above is based on Pergo Universal. If buying from Ace Hardware, please note that their prices are much higher - Php 2229.75/box (no installation) - than if purchased at Design Source which is the official Philippine distributor.

- Steiger

Warranty: 6 years
Branches: Home Depot (Alabang & Ortigas - Design Source) and MC Home Depot (Fort & Ortigas - Design Source), Ace Hardware

Price: Php 975/box (no installation) or Php 1126/box (with installation)

Notes: I read online that the higher the quality, the longer the warranty. So while it was cheaper, we decided to go with something that would be under warranty for at least 15 years.

Laminate Flooring: Krono Original

2010-09-04T17:41:00.006+08:00

This was a no-brainer - they were on sale.

Though for a few days, I was seriously considering Pergo. But as someone online pointed out, they are not the only good brand out there.

Shortlisted Design Options

And while I'm not sure if Krono Original uses the Uniclic system (which you can read about here), it does come with a 15 year warranty. According to my research, laminated floors should be under warranty for at least 15 years as "the lower-end lines have shorter warranties".

It also helps that the last time we purchased laminated wood, we also bought the same brand. But I can't really say how they've fared long term as our room got flooded last year during a typhoon - just two years after it was installed.

Trivia: There's another brand called "Kronotex" being sold locally. According to Joseph, the sales agent at Alabang Home Depot, the owner of Kronospan (which makes Krono Original) gave the business to one of his sons. The other son decided to put up his own company and called it Kronotex.

He also said that Kronospan was the one who supplied all the parts to Pergo before they decided to go at it themselves.

Sale! Kronospan & Pergo

2010-08-31T20:41:00.006+08:00

If you're looking for laminated wood floors, Kronospan and Pergo are on sale while stocks last!*

For Krono Original, from the original price of Php 1671.00 per box, it's now Php 1148.45 per box. It has a 15 year warranty and an AC rating of 4 class 32.

Pergo's official Philippine retailer is Design Source International Inc. I was not able to take note of the original price but their sale price is Php 1816.00 per box for Pergo Universal (which is their most cost effective option). It also has a 15-20 year warranty depending on the type.

For more about AC ratings, here's what's posted on BuildDirect:

AC hardness ratings are a standardized measure adopted by The Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (ELPF) . The AC measure rates abrasion resistance, impact resistance, resistance to staining and cigarette burns, and thickness swelling along edges. If a laminate flooring cannot meet the requirements for each of these ratings, approval for a given AC rating will be denied. Here is a more detailed guide:

AC1 is suitable for lighter, more infrequent traffic, e.g. a bedroom.
AC2 is suitable for general residential use in living rooms and dining rooms.
AC3 can be applied to more varied locations, such as small offices and other light commercial locations.
AC4 can be installed in higher traffic commercial areas such as boutiques, busier offices, and restaurants.
AC5 is more durable still and can withstand the traffic of heavier commercial areas such as department stores and public buildings.

*We visited the Alabang and Ortigas Home Depot branches. Not available at Wilcon Depot.

Decorating Small Spaces

2010-08-30T23:28:00.006+08:00

Here are a few tips from the book Decorating Small Spaces: Live Large in Any Space by Better Homes & Gardens:

Page 8 - Increase perceived space by using the same colors in adjoining rooms. Creating a long line of sight so the eyes can see without interruption makes two small rooms look more like one large room.

Page 21 - Anchor a furniture grouping and delineate it from others by creating an "island" with an area rug. A guideline for positioning furniture on the rug is that all legs of a particular piece should either be completely on the rug or completely off it.

Page 46 - Switch from a wooden table to one with a glass top. There's no better way to open up the center of a room or to reveal the pattern in a pretty rug.

Page 52 - Avoid putting roadblocks in the line of sight. Encountering a tall, bulky piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers, at eye level just as you walk into a narrow space makes the room seem smaller.

Page 83 - Accent the vertical. This phrase alone will help you make the right decorating choices. Lifting the eye to a higher plane helps overcome space limitations in a room by drawing attention to all the extra space above eye level. Without a reason to look upward, the eye essentially puts an artificial "ceiling" on the space, and it's even lower than the actual ceiling.

Page 23 - Include at least one tall element. A bookcase or an armoire, for instance - in every room. Create interest at floor level too, with a patterned rug or a basket of pine cones beneath the a table. The idea is to keep the eye moving to distract it from the actual size of the room.
Page 45 - Install curtain rods near the top of the room rather than on the window frame. This draws attention toward the ceiling, especially if you use decorative finials on the rods. (Buy longer curtains if you do this.) Unless your ceilings are high, avoid complicated or heavy-fabric valances laden with trim - they make ceilings appear lower.
Page 77 - Anything that draws interest to the ceiling, yet isn't darker than the walls, tends to expand the perceived height.

Page 86 - Ample legroom. The general guideline is that there should be from 12 to 18 inches of space between the sofa and the coffee table; an ottoman often sits closer to the sofa to make it easier to put your feet up.

Page 96 - Reasons for round. A round table is naturally convivial, inspiring easy conversation among everyone seated and always letting one more person squeeze in. It's also a good choice for most small dining rooms. Many round tables come with extra leaves for when the crowd comes for dinner, but these are removed for everyday use to create space around the table.

Page 115 - Choosing colors. Kids thrive on colors that stimulate creativity. Choose a bright pastel for the walls and either extend it to furniture (to make the room seem more spacious) or switch to another bright color that complements the walls. It's easy to clean little fingerprints if you choose gloss or semi gloss paint.

Renovation Update 1

2010-08-25T23:58:00.013+08:00

Tiles for the Second Floor Bathroom

Overwhelming sense of panic. That basically describes how I'm feeling at the moment.

You see, my sister has been telling me to look for tiles, paint colors, and other things needed for the house months ago. But I was too busy looking at international websites instead of checking to see what's locally available. (Well, I have been to the local home depots countless times but I was hoping they would have the tiles I was fixated on.)

Sadly, I have to raise a white towel to the fact they don't have the tiles I want. So now I'm now doing what I should have done to begin with - work with what's in front of me.

Well, Alecto has begun fixing the electrical mess to something we can actually live with. They started last August 16 and will be done after 25 days (maximum they tell me). We now have to buy the lights for them to install and check if everything is working properly.

Rabacon tells me that they can start next Tuesday. Yikes! We haven't even decided on color scheme of the rooms much less the actual tiles to be used. Due to major procrastination, I am scrambling to get everything done!

Progress was made though yesterday courtesy of my sister - she chose the tiles shown above. But I nearly had a panic attack earlier today when the sales lady at Wilcon advised that they no longer carried the mosaic tile border you see in the photo. I asked her to double check their warehouse and to call me as soon as possible. Thankfully, she called back with good news - they have all the tiles I've asked for. Crisis averted.

This episode also taught me that, if there's something I really like, to buy it right away as you'll never know if it will still be there tomorrow.

We plan to buy most of the lights needed for the house and settle the rest of the tiles this weekend. At least, that's the scenario I'm hoping for.

We've also decided to buy all the tiles from just one place to maximize the Php 800 delivery fee. About the delivery fee, while I understand that we are technically considered to be outside Metro Manila, I still can't see why it can't be waived considering the village is just 15-20 minutes away...

Notes:

Second Floor Bathroom
Border - Lola Mosaic - 30cm x 30cm
Wall - Roman Gres Sandstone Bone - 25cm x 33.3cm
Floor - Sol Ceramica Kacha Brown - 30cm x 60cm

Window Shopping: Finishing Contractor

2010-08-20T19:08:00.006+08:00

I think everyone wants a supplier who can be trusted to do the job well at the same time charge cheaply. But since that magical combination has eluded us, here are the quotes we received from two of the suppliers mentioned in the last post.

WORK ITEMS

• Tiling of Ground floor
- area = 44.81 sq.mts
- labor and materials
- surface preparation and leveling of floor
- supply and installation of sand, cement, tiles (per submitted sample) & grout

• Windows
- supply and installation of owner approved wood casement for windows (interior)
- supply and installation of grill works on all windows (exterior - french window design) per owner approved design

1.00 mts x 1.20 mts - 3 pcs - wood casement and grill works
1.50 mts x 1.20 mts 10 pcs - wood casement and grill works
1.80 mts x 1.20 mts - 1 pc - wood casement and grill works
0.50 mts x 0.50 mts - 2 pcs - grill works only

• Fabrication of Dirty Kitchen Countertop w/ Sink
- supply of labor and materials for form works & concreting of countertop - 1.80 mts x 0.60 mts
- installation of owner supplied tiles and kitchen sink
- includes plumbing works

• Tiling of Ground Floor T & B
- floor and walls
- area = 20.44 sq.mts
- labor only
- surface preparation, leveling of floor, application of water proofing
- installation of owner supplied tiles, sand cement & water proofing

• Tiling of Second Floor T & B
- floor and walls
- area = 18.86 sq.mts
- labor only
- surface preparation, leveling of floor, application of water proofing
- installation of owner supplied tiles, sand cement & water proofing

• Electrical Works at Study Room
- labor and materials
- chipping works and restoration of affected areas
- supply and installation of 2 pcs. 2 gang C.O, 1 pc telephone extension line, 2 pcs water heater C.O.

• Repainting of Interior Ceiling & Walls
- labor and materials
- ground floor
- second floor
- per owner approved colors, walls = semi gloss, ceiling = flat finish
- including cornices, baseboards, window casements

• Relocation of Back Door
- labor and materials
- removal of existing door, chipping of wall
- installation of CHB to cover affected area
- restoration of existing exterior wall finish
- plastering of interior CHB wall
- re-installation of existing door

- Maven Architects Studio

Telephone Numbers: 0917 533 6223, 0908 861 7800
Email: christine_bem@yahoo.com

Price: Php 445,314 excluding VAT

Notes: Through Benark Builders, Inc. which is their affliated contractor. We are hiring her for the architectural drawings instead as the rates given were not bad (at least in our opinion).

- Rabacon Construction

Office: 4F Garcia-Jovellanos Bldg., 2215 Rd. 3 Fabie Estate, San Jose, Sta. Ana, Manila
Telephone Numbers: 562 6697, 0927 926 7808
Email: mjg_rabacon@yahoo.com

Price: Php 260,599 excluding VAT

Notes: The operations manager, Maricel Garcia, is an interior designer. But while we will not hire her in that capacity, she told us she can help us out with space planning for free. Which suits me just fine as I want to do the decorating myself.

Finishing Contractor: Rabacon Construction

2010-08-18T23:26:00.005+08:00

Either they're too expensive or they run off with your money. Those are the two comments I usually associate with contractors. Uh, so why did we hire one?

Well, the main reason is that the only two carpenters we know are busy with other projects. And, since there's a lot of work to be done on the house (i.e. painting, tiling, plumbing, etc.) plus the fact that we won't be able to oversee the work ourselves, we decided hiring someone to take care of everything was our best bet.

As with the electrical (which you can read here and here), I turned to the people from the facilities department at work and checked with the chat group I belong to for suggestions.

Edwin, the facilities manager, suggested Rabacon Construction which does a lot of jobs for our office. He said that their work is okay and they charge reasonably. Now, expensive depends on thy perspective but I know Edwin so if he said they were reasonable, I could trust that to be true.

His other recommendation was Wilfred Daze Construction Corporation (WDCC) as they were the ones who built his house. They too do construction work for the office so like Rabacon, I'm assured that our money will be safe. (You see, the office will not pay a supplier unless they've provided documents to prove they're a legitimate business entity.) Unfortunately, they are rather busy with a number of projects at the moment.

Patrick, also from the facilities department, recommended WDCC as well along with New Accurate Builders Company Inc. (NABCI). But when I called the owner of NABCI, Mr. Ramon Luis, he (more or less) brushed me off by telling me that their rates might be too high for our budget. When I mentioned that we already have a quote from Rabacon, he commented that Rabacon was expensive. My reply? They're okay.

One suggestion from the chat group (thanks Marj!) was Christine Dado of Maven Architects Studio. I met with Christine who turned out to be the first cousin of my high school classmate. She was really nice and we did so want to work with her but the contractor she's affiliated with was more expensive than Rabacon. We've decided to hire her for the architectural drawings instead.

We also received referrals from Erlaine (another chat group member and our Avida neighbor) but we were already pretty much decided on Rabacon. I guess what won me over was that Maricel Garcia, Rabacon's operations manager, is also an interior designer.

Sale! Designs Ligna, Electrolux & GE

2010-08-14T10:54:00.007+08:00

Here's what I got from the newspaper today:

- Designs Ligna

July 16, 2010 - August 31, 2010

1.) Megamall, 4/F Building B
2.) Greenbelt 5, 3/F Ayala Center
3.) Pasay Road, 2/F 1014 Almeda Arcade

- Electrolux White Westinghouse Bodega Sale

August 13, 2010 - September 10, 2010
Monday to Sunday - 8 AM to 5 PM

Up to 70% off on refrigerators, chest freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, cooking ranges, built-in cooking appliances, and vacuum cleaners at the following locations:

1.) CEVA Building, Pascor Drive corner Johann St., Bo. Ibayo, Sto. Niño, Parañaque City
2.) Km. 14 La Suerte Compound, West Service Road SLEX, Parañaque City

For inquiries please contact their customer care department at 845 CARE (2273) or email them at wecare@electrolux.com.

This wasn't in the paper, but I decided to call them to ask if they're also on sale:

- General Electric

Ongoing warehouse sale until supplies last.
Monday to Friday - 8 AM to 5 PM
Saturday - 8 AM to 12 Noon
Sunday - Closed

CYA Industries, 103 Mercedes Avenue, Brgy. San Miguel, Pasig City

For inquiries please call 643 3456.

FYI. I just called the sales department of Exatech, the exclusive distributor of Whirlpool Home Appliances USA, and they advised that they will most likely have their next warehouse sale sometime during the fourth quarter of this year.

Events: September - December 2010

2010-08-12T07:12:00.005+08:00

Here's a list of events based on the online calendars of the SMX Convention Center, SM Megatrade Hall, and the World Trade Center:

Manila Construction Show

Date: September 2, 2010 - September 5, 2010
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SMX Convention Center
Description: MANILACON is your link to the country’s ever dynamic building and construction market. It features the latest trends and developments on product solutions, innovations and sustainability in the Built Environment.
Website: http://www.manilacon.com

Homeworld Warehouse Sale

Date: September 17, 2010 - September 19, 2010
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SM Megatrade Hall
Website: http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=650

Manila F. A. M. E International 2010

Date: October 18, 2010 - October 21, 2010
Time: 11am - 4pm
Venues: World Trade Center, Philippine Trade Training Center, Philippine International Convention Center
Description: Manila F.A.M.E International is the second longest-running trade platform for home and fashion lifestyle products in the Asia Pacific and the only Union des Foires Internationales (UFI) recognized trade fair in the Philippines.
Website: http://www.manilafame.com

SM Appliance Sale

Date: October 22, 2010 - November 14, 2010
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SM Megatrade Hall
Website: http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=650

Interior World

Date: November 11, 2010 - November 14, 2010
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SMX Convention Center
Description: Interior World is the 7th International Interiors, Furnishings and Furniture, Lighting, Home Entertainment and Total Lifestyle Exhibition. For more information about this event, please call 750 8588.
Website: www.globallinkmp.com

PHILCONSTRUCT 2010

Date: November 11, 2010 - November 14, 2010
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SMX Convention Center
Description: PHILCONSTRUCT 2010 is the 20th Philippine International Construction Equipment and Building Materials Exhibition. For more information about this event, please call 750 8588.
Website: www.globallinkmp.com

36th Furniture and Furnishing Show

Date: November 26, 2010 - December 5, 2010
Time: 10am - 8pm
Venue: SM Megatrade Hall
Description: The 36th PFFS, which will showcase the best of Filipino furniture design and innovation, is geared towards helping local manufacturers and exporters penetrate the lucrative domestic homestyle consumer market. The exhibit will highlight furniture and furnishings from Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Ilocos, Iloilo, Bacolod, and other regions.
Website: http://www.cfip.ph

Window Shopping: Existing Electrical Service Upgrade

2010-08-09T22:38:00.005+08:00

The "Electrical Kit" we sent to suppliers contained the floor plan with notes on what we wanted done and where, the electrical plan and pictures of the panel board. It also contained the following information provided by Alecto:

SCOPE OF WORK

- Additional Power Load

1. Provide and install new 3 – 30Amp Circuit breakers at space of your existing panel.
2. Provide and install the 3/4" dia PVC conduit from panel board to additional ordinary convenience outlet, aircon, water heater and washing machine.
3. Provide and install new wires of 3 #3.5mm2 THHN for additional ordinary convenience outlets and washing machine.
4. Provide and install new wires of 2 #5.5mm2 and 1 #3.5mm2 THHN for additional load of water heater and aircon units.
5. If necessary we shall do the chipping and restoration works for layout as specified in the proposed location of additional loads.
6. Provide and install of wiring devices (convenience outlet), “National” brand to the proposed location of power outlets.
7. Provide and install additional loads for water heater and aircon units, “National” brand to the proposed location of power outlets.
8. Terminate, test and commission.

- Lighting System

1. Provide and install 3/4” dia PVC conduit including boxes and fitting for additional switches at specified locations.
2. Provide and pulling of 3.5mm2 THHN wire from existing lighting fixtures going to new switches.
3. Relocate and reuse existing lighting fixtures affected by the renovation works.
4. Provide and install additional 4 sets of dimmer switch to specified locations.
5. Provide and install additional 2 sets of 3-way switch with faceplate and 1 gang switch with faceplate.
6. Terminate, test and commission.

- Telephone Works

1. Provide and install 1/2" dia PVC conduit including boxes and for the new telephone outlet from existing telephone outlet.
2. Provide and pulling of telephone cable from existing outlet going to new telephone outlets.
3. Terminate, test and commission.

LIST OF MATERIALS NEEDED

- For Power System

A. 1. 5.5 mm2 THHN wire - 78 meters
2. 3.5 mm2 THHN wire - 162 meters

B. 1. 20 mm dia PVC pipe - 85 meters
2. Adaptor Connector - 100 pcs
3. Locknut & Bushing - 100 pcs
4. Junction box - 30 pcs
5. Utility box - 20 pcs

C. 1. Duplex convenience outlet, grounding type with face plate - 5 sets
2. Special outlet with face plate - 6 sets

D. 1. Circuit breaker 30AT, 100AT Koten brand - 3 pcs

- For Lighting System

A. 1. 3.5 mm2 THHN wire - 10 meters

B. 1. 20 mm dia PVC pipe and connectors - 20 meters
2. Adaptor Connector - 30 pcs
3. Locknut & Bushing - 30 pcs
4. Junction box - 5 pcs
5. Utility box - 10 pcs

C. 1. 3 – way switch with face plate - 2 pcs
2. Dimmer switch with face plate - 4 pcs
3. Single pole switch with face plate - 1 pc

- For Telephone

A. 1. 2 pair wire - 18 meters

B. 1. Modular jack with cover - 2 sets

C. 1. 15 mm dia PVC pipe and connectors - 19 meters

- Alecto General Technology Corporation

Office: 9694 Pililia corner Conception Sts., Makati City
Telephone Numbers: 890 2571, 890 2492, 890 3604, 895 5652
Email: alecto@mydestiny.net

Price: Php 118,000

Notes: Originally, their quote was for Php 121,230 so we asked for the option of getting the majority of the materials ourselves and just paying for labor which amounted to Php 85,000 (inclusive of miscellaneous items). A trip to Wilcon Builders' Depot showed that we would save Php 3300 if we purchased the materials. In the greater scheme of things, that's not much considering I would need to go on leave just to wait for the delivery so we decided it wasn't worth it.

As to the discount, that was courtesy of Patrick, my office mate mentioned in the last post, who talked to his contact at Alecto. So now, it's as though we're getting the materials at cost.

- Net Pacific, Inc.

Office: 3QA, ODC Bldg., 219 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
Telephone Numbers: 893 9306, 893 4953
Email: abbie@netpacific.net
Website: http://www.netpacific.net/

Price: Php 240,955

Notes: Their labor cost alone was Php 120,000. Enough said.

Electrical: Alecto General Technology Corporation

2010-08-07T21:06:00.007+08:00

Those who have read this blog know the problems that led to our needing an electrical overhaul (which you can read here and here).

And I must say that I still feel really bad when I think about it - which is almost constantly unfortunately for those around me. I usually end up ranting about the situation and snapping at others at the drop of a hat!

But as someone mentioned in an email recently, I've got to move on so we can move in. Thus the search for an electrician.

Luckily, my desk at work is located in the same area as the facilities group so I asked Edwin, the facilities manager, for recommendations. He only gave me one name, Alecto, saying that out of all the big name electrical companies he has worked with, they are the only ones who have yet to fail. He likes their work so much that he also hired them when he built his house a couple of years ago.

We asked Alecto for a quote but it was a bit steep so I prodded Edwin to give me another recommendation. He hesitated before giving me the name of another company, Net Pacific, saying that he can't entirely vouch for them. I assured him that it was okay as I just want options.

Net Pacific's rate was double that of Alecto! Note that we sent the same information to both suppliers to make sure they would not give a quote for different items. Basically, when Alecto sent their bill of quantities and the scope of work, I just erased the figures and gave it to Net Pacific for them to fill in the blanks so to speak.

Still wanting more choices, I then asked Patrick, also from the facilities department, to give referrals and he too just gave Alecto's name stating that they're only one who's good.

I also inquired with others for suggestions - the people from the chat group, a few readers of this blog, but by then Earl had already made up his mind.

We are going with Alecto.

Color Talk

2010-08-05T07:37:00.007+08:00

The language of color uses hot, cold, warm, cool, or neutral words to describe how your body senses or visually “feels” temperature in a room. While these color words don’t describe actual degrees of physical heat, they do try to explain color’s effect on your physical well-being, activity level, and mood.

Some like it hot - rooms filled with bold, intense colors. Others prefer icy, reserved spaces of white, black, and gray. Most people like their rooms somewhere in between - warm, cool, or neutral.

WARM COLORS heat things up. They move forward in a room, communicate vigor, spread cheer, energize, stimulate appetites, promote excitement, and beg for attention. Yellow, orange, and red are the usual suspects, but sometimes purple, green, and blue come in warm, flirty tones if mixed with yellow or red.

COOL COLORS, as the word implies, seem to lower a room’s temperature. They step away, receding into the background. They’re known for their passive natures and are useful for cooling you down, calming nerves, lifting spirits, and promoting contemplation. Most people find them soothing. Blue, green, and purple are usually labeled as cool, but red, yellow, and orange can also come in laid-back, calming tones if mixed with blue.

NEUTRAL COLORS (brown, gray, white, and black) create a room temperature somewhere in between warm and cool, depending on which hue you choose. Browns, such as taupe, cappuccino, khaki, or beige, symbolize a down-to-earth attitude and make you feel safe and secure. Grays, such as ash, granite, silver fox, or dove, work with all other colors to create spaces that are easy on the eyes. White can be as warm as cream or cold as snow, depending on whether it’s mixed with red, blue, or yellow. And black? Black is basic, strong, the opposite of white. Mixed with white it becomes gray – a less powerful force in a room.

No doubt you've heard the phrases "tickled pink," "green with envy," or "seeing red." Clichés common to Western culture, they reflect the sentiments attached to certain colors. Although a few hues have been shown to affect the heart rate, most color associations are culturally conditioned:

Gray, the color of quiet reserve, retreat, inactivity, and cool distance, takes a room away from the busy hubbub of a wild and colorful world. Associated with precious metals and weathered seashores, it’s a classy and sophisticated way to neutralize a room. It associates well with any other color, so its uses are countless.

Yellow, the color of intellect and thought, promotes sunny feelings and a sense of well-being. Strong versions are said to stimulate the brain, aid clear thinking, and promote communication. Softer forms of the color are as warm and embracing as sunshine. The shades of this color make good choices for north-facing rooms.

Purple, the up-for-anything color of dream and spirit, brings a sense of inner calm and inspiration to a room. In pale versions it makes a room appear larger, promoting contemplation or lighthearted fun. In pure, saturated forms it’s royal, slightly off-the-wall, yet sophisticated.

Green, the color of health and vigorous growth, evokes feelings of renewal and hope. Research shows that when people look at this color heart rates slow and people visibly relax. A walk in the woods helps connect with its restorative, healing qualities.

Black, the color of strength, night, and magic can strike fear into color schemers. Interior designers know its power to create drama, formality, sophistication, and contrast. For maximum emphasis use it to draw attention to furnishings, tie everything together, and underscore your color confidence.

Red, the pick-me-up color of heart, passion, and action, fills a room with emotional energy. Color therapists say it stimulates appetite and conversation, so it’s often used in food advertising. In bold and gregarious tones, it seems to draw the walls of a room close, creating a cozy mood. Pastel versions set a more relaxing, nurturing, romantic tone.

Brown, the mellow color of natural wood and earth, successfully bridges decorating gaps wherever needed. Associated with safety, security, and comfort, its warm neutrality surrounds a room like a hug that’s not too passionate. Pale versions are expansive and reasonable; darker ones are dramatic and graphic. This color’s laid-back tones work well at home in broken patterns and natural textures, just as they appear in nature.

Blue, the color of calm, is the most popular color in American homes. It aids relaxation, honest communication, and sleep. Connected to sea and sky, it’s associated with clear thinking and meditative environments. It’s like a breath of fresh air, serene and restful. In dark versions it symbolizes strength, loyalty, and dependability.

White, the color of cleanliness, innocence, and purity, can look clinical if not balanced with textures or other colors. Yet it refreshes, clarifies, and unclutters a room. It’s associated with calm silence, like a landscape expanded after snowfall.

Orange, the color of enthusiasm and sociability, elevates sensuality and strong feelings. It stimulates creativity, wraps a room with warmth and energy, and inspires optimism and self-confidence. The “it” color for the mid-2000s, it overcame its unflattering image from the late 1960s and 1970s.

Pages 8, 10, 11 and 99 from Color Schemes Made Easy by Better Homes and Gardens

Excerpts from the Experts

2010-08-04T21:45:00.005+08:00

Over the past year, I've had a love affair with Amazon. This romance resulted in a small collection of books on home interior design, organization and storage (all of which are listed in the section In My Library). I've had to keep the affair short though otherwise my budget would suffer greatly!

I love my books and I was thinking that this was a love best shared with others.

For those who might be interested, I will be posting a few excerpts from the books I found useful and which may be of help to someone else. But I won't be able to post everything otherwise I'll run into the copyright law...

Window Shopping: Kitchen Cabinets

2010-07-29T22:30:00.018+08:00

We went around home depot stores, malls and an expo just grabbing fliers and brochures from companies we saw offering kitchen cabinets.

Then we emailed what I call a "Kitchen Kit". It contained the floor plan, drawings, notes, etc. This was to ensure that the suppliers would all be on the same page when it came to the quotation and we could compare fairly.

With the exception of SieMatic and Rian Commercial, here are the drawings where all the quotes are based. These were done by Viro Casa:

Viro Casa Drawing A

Viro Casa Drawing B

And here are the rates offered by the suppliers mentioned in the first kitchen post:

- Cabinet Specialist Inc.

Office: 9 Illinois St., Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City
Showroom: Automatic Supercentre, Old Rustans Bldg. Araneta Center, Quezon City
Factory: Purok 2, Calaboso Road, Bgy. Sto. Tomas, Binan, Laguna
Telephone Numbers: 725 8778, 726 7733
Email: specialist.cabinet@yahoo.com

Carcass: 1/4" thick marine plywood with white high pressure laminate (HPL).
Doors: Varnished solid agathis (Indonesian almasiga) wood. Varnished solid agathis wood frame with 1/4" frosted glass on panel.
Countertop: 12mm thick synthetic solid surface material with 32mm nosing and 70mm splashboard.

Price: Php 172,941

Note: We saw their showroom while passing through the Automatic Supercentre in Araneta Center. And while I thought they were located too far away from the house, it turns out their factory was closer than we thought. This taught us that it doesn't hurt to just ask as you'll never know what you'll find.

- Canadian Kitchen

Office: 1 Carlo J Caparas St., Bgy. Ugong, Pasig City
Showroom: Make Room branches
Telephone Numbers: 671 4495, 671 9142
Email: marquez_ariane@yahoo.com

Carcass: 18mm white HPL interiors on marine plywood; exposed sides to color match door.
Doors: Shaker door design in tangile wood frame with tangile veneer center in lacquer white finish.
Countertop: Not included.

Price: Php 252,288

Note: They sent a picture of a kitchen they've already done and I must say I really liked it. But unfortunately, they are not within budget.

- Cusm Furniture Shop

Office & Factory: Blk.15, Lot 2, Real St., Villa Eusebia Subdivision, Pulang Lupa, Las Pinas City
Telephone Numbers: 828 5156, 828 5153, 0922 815 6206
Email: cusmfurniture@yahoo.com.ph

Carcass: 18 mm thick marine plywood and plyboard with white laminate, PVC edgebond and 6 mm thick plywood backing.
Doors: 18 mm thick solid mahogany in varnish or duco painted finish.Frosted 3 mm thick glass on overhead cabinet.
Countertop: China granite or solid surface.

Price: Php 88,220

Note: The owners are related to Earl but it took some time before we were able to contact them. And while it was no surprise we signed up with them, fortunately for us, they also offered the lowest quote (I think they gave us a discount).

- Kicco Kitchen

Office & Factory: Felix Ave. corner Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal
Showroom: Festival Supermall Alabang - Maquiling Builders Depot (Lipa & Los Baños) - MC Home Depot Ortigas - Parammata Bldg., San Fernando City, La Union - Villa Rosario Subdivision, Tiaong, Quezon
Telephone Numbers: 645 5252, 645 5283, 645 6508
Email: kiccokitchens@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.kiccokitchenphil.com

Carcass: 16mm thick white melamine-faced chipboard (MFC); adjustable shelves are provided with peg support.
Doors: Solid framed doors w/ veneer panels, shaker design, duco finish.
Countertop: Natural granite countertop - jet black.

Price: Php 150,000

Note: They had good reviews on the chat group I belong to and we would have seriously considered them had Cusm Furniture Shop not pushed through.

- KusinArt Kitchen System

Office: 143 Kamias Road, Quezon City
Telephone Number: 0915 660 3186
Email: kusinart_designers@yahoo.com
Website: http://kusinart.multiply.com

Carcass: 18mm marine plywood laminated with white non-postformable HPL with 0.4mm colored PVC edgeband. 18mm white versaboard for sink cabinet unit only.
Doors: 20mm Solid tanguile wood framed in clear lacquer finish recessed panel (shaker style).
Countertop: 18/36mm Natural granite with eased edge nosing and 100mm splashboard (Euro).

Price: Php 250,000 (VAT exclusive)

Note: They did the kitchens for the Oakwood Premier guest rooms in Ortigas.

- Modular Plus

Office: 30 Gen. Malvar St., Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City
Showroom: 19 San Joaquin Norte, Agoo, La Union
Telephone Numbers: 367 7150, 364 4755, 0917 564 2162
Email: jacqua_23@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.latimco.com

Carcass: 16mm thick moisture resistant melamime board
Doors: 18mm thick solid maple wood-shaker design (matt finish). Overhead cabinet: 18 mm solid maple wood-shaker design (with glass).
Countertop: Synthetic granite (solid surface) – with 20 varieties of colors and designs.

Price: Php 217,980

Note: We saw their booth at the 2010 Worlbex.

- Viro Casa

Office: 6th Floor Exchange Corner Building, V.A. Rufino St., Makati City
Showroom: Level 3, Greenbelt 5 Mall, Ayala Center, Makati City
Telephone Number: 757 0743
Email: info@virocasa.com, b.visperas@vroque.com
Website: http://www.virocasa.com

Carcass: Triple-layer, high-density quality particleboard coated with melamine on both sides, 16mm thick, emission class E1. This five-layer composition guarantees freedom from warping and ensures clean resistant surfaces. Standard delivery is white inside with all exposed sides finished to match the door front finish.
Doors: Solid oak with veneer center panel in white stain.
Countertop: Samsung by Staron.

Price: Php 678,940

Note: It took them a very long time to send us a quote. But when they did send it, I was surprised to learn that, considering they're only a local company, they were at the same price point (if not more) than SieMatic.

The following quotations were obtained in 2009 and were based on different designs:

Rian Commercial Drawing

- Rian Commercial

Office: B66 Roga Compound, Tumana, Concepcion 1, Marikina City
Showroom: Balintawak Home Depot, Manila Bay Home Depot, MC Home Depot, Ortigas Home Depot, Pampanga Home Depot
Telephone Numbers: 948 5254, 948 1623
Email: riancom2marikina@yahoo.com.ph
Website: http://riancommercial.com

Carcass: HP laminated marine plywood.
Doors: MD fiberboard door.
Countertop: Natural granite stone.

Price: Php 180,000

Note: I saw their showroom and the display looked okay.

SieMatic Drawing

- SieMatic

Office & Showroom: Pioneer corner Reliance Sts., Mandaluyong
Telephone Number: 634 8587 local 263
Email: customerservice@focusglobalinc.com, dottie.coronel@focusglobalinc.com
Website: http://www.focusglobalinc.com, http://www.siematic.com

Carcass: Triple layer furniture board; K laminate.
Doors: Walnut wood laminate.
Countertop: Not included.

Price: € 6791

Note: They definitely had better customer service than Viro Casa... Maybe if we win the lottery.

Short Circuit

2010-07-22T21:40:00.017+08:00

As mentioned in the previous post, Electrical Shortage, the house cannot the support the electrical appliances we plan to install. Here's what Avida provided as copied from the panel board schedule located in the building plan:

Here's the computation made by Alecto General Technology Corporation based on what we actually need:

And here's the series of emails triggered by this discrepancy:

From: Nicole
Date: 2010/7/12
To: AVIDA Frolan, AVIDA Ellen

Hi Frolan & Ellen,

Please refer to the email below. According to people from Alecto, the house cannot accommodate the appliances we are planning to plug in:

1.) Water heater for the shower only (x2) - 3kW to 8kW (see website)
2.) Fridge - Whirlpool 21.8 cubic feet - 24 A / 615 W
3.) Washing machine - Whirlpool 10.5 K load - 5 A / 60 HZ
4.) Clothes dryer - Whirlpool 6 K load - 10 A
5.) ACU - split type 2HP - ground floor
6.) ACU - window type 0.75 HP - masters bedroom and the second largest bedroom

They also advised that if we are planning to add more electrical devices in the future (i.e. electrical pump), this will no longer be possible.

We would also like to know why there is only one electrical outlet in each bedroom and why is it located beside the door? Did the planners of Avida not account for what people use in their homes? ACU, night lamps, computers, printers, scanners, TVs, DVD players, etc?

--------------------

From: AVIDA Ellen T.
Date: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 5:56 PM
To: Nicole

Hi Ms. Nicole,

Thanks for the advice. With regard to your concerns, the Technical team would like to confirm that indeed the electrical design and load schedules presented in our plans are the standard offering of Avida and in accordance with the Electrical Code. Any upgrade or increase on load requirements outside our specifications shall be on the account of the buyer since electrical design/load schedules are patterned after our standard specs.

Further, the location of our electrical outlets, are based on the suggested floor plans designed by the team (as per brochure inserts).

Also, as verified on site, the rectification of your unit is currently on-going. Will keep you posted until punch lists are fully addressed. Kindly refer to the below update.

-------------------

From: Nicole
Date: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 6:40 PM
To: AVIDA Ellen, AVIDA Ruth

Hi Ellen,

Then we have a problem. Had we known that we would not have bought the house but your sales agent assured us that the appliances we planned to install are all possible. Take note that these are just the usual appliances that one buys for a house.

Also, why is the electrical load provided for the ref only 500W? According to Alecto, that's only good for a personal ref.

What kind of house only provides for a personal ref and basically nothing else?

What kind of house only has one electrical outlet per room and it's located by the door of all places? What do you do with the night lamp? Position it by the door?

This is NOT a quality home. Quality does not mean you have to spend extra just so that you can install a fridge. This is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!!!!!

Also, what brochure inserts? Are they the ones given out to potential customers? Because trust me, it's not indicated there.

If we were to base it on your model unit, each room would have an outlet for the aircon.

Avida is very deceiving. It sells based on lies - A LOT of them.

I called up our sales agent Mich last night and told him to NEVER tell the customers that they can plug in basic appliances. I've also told him that he should also tell them that the waiting time for a house is over a year and that it will be subject to A LOT of repairs once done.

By the way, turnover means that it's ready for move-in. It's mid July and the house is still being repaired. So basically the house is not ready and is now 11 months LATE and counting.

--------------------

From: AVIDA Ellen
Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 6:19 PM
To: Nicole
Cc: AVIDA Christine

Hi Ms. Nicole,

You may introduce changes, improvements and/or upgrade in your unit but that is through the account of the buyer since your requirements are not within our specifications.

We have delivered a Patrice Standard unit to you as per commitment and disclosed specifications in our plans.

We’ve provided the options (such as Basic, Standard and Premium units) to cater to our buyers need.

Also, model units (both with I.D & non-I.D) were showcased on site to provide buyers better appreciation/ idea of the actual unit they purchase.

Pardon us if the specs on the Standard unit you purchased don’t meet your requirements, but it is our standard deliverable and is in conformance with the house building plan we have provided to our buyers.

--------------------

From: Nicole
Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 9:45 PM
To: "AVIDA Ellen, AVIDA Ruth

Yes but we were NEVER informed of what the actual electrical capacity was. We were just told it's ALL possible.

THE MODEL UNITS ALL HAVE EXTRA PLUGS - ISN'T THAT DECEIVING?!?!?!

You guys would not even give any of the plans in advance when we asked for it. You gave it after we paid for the house.

Your commitment is whatever your sales agents tell us is possible - especially since the specs given to us don't include anything about the electrical.

So I would suggest that you stop telling us that we knew in advance what came with the house because all we know is what the sales agent told us.

And as to delivering "a Patrice Standard unit to you as per commitment and disclosed specifications in our plans" - are misaligned walls and floors part of your specifications?

THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU KEEP MAKING PROMISES AND BREAKING ALL OF THEM.

"Pardon us if the specs on the Standard unit you purchased don’t meet your requirements"

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!! THIS IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE WE'VE EVER MADE AND NOT TO MENTION THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE.

Oh, and the non-ID model unit - it had no walls. THERE WAS NEVER A NON-ID STANDARD MODEL UNIT FOR PATRICE. Don't you guys know that?

SO YOU SHOULD STOP WRITING AS THOUGH WE WERE AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT CAME WITH THE HOUSE PRIOR TO PAYING FOR IT.

--------------------

I just received the quotation from Alecto on how much it would cost to add extra load and the outlets and their fee will be around Php 160,000. Now that is a little too rich for our blood but the facilities manager at work advised that of all the big name electrical engineering companies he has dealt with, only Alecto has not failed. So by my estimate, other not so well known companies will at least charge Php 100,000.

*Update: Alecto sent another quotation the following day. This time the total cost is Php 121,000. While the new price is better, it's still over Php 100,000.

Earl and I have a bit of money saved up but we were planning to use that for the contractor, the kitchen and if there's anything left over, maybe furniture. We were not planning to spend it on something that should have been provided for to begin with.

I also spoke with Ellen earlier today - despite the emails, I like to think that we're starting to get along. But I pointed out to her that before she sends out an email template, she should try to put herself in our shoes. We've just paid a lot of money for a dud.

I know of others who bought much larger houses at less than what we paid - with complete electrical load and sockets. Can someone remind me again why we decided to go with Avida? I'm starting to forget.

Ellen wants to set up a meeting with us and Noel (her boss). I asked her what good will that do? She said that Noel can make decisions regarding our house. If that's the case, why can't he make a decision now? But I agreed provided that the meeting will be on a Saturday and we can meet at the house.

This entire situation is extremely depressing and I don't think Avida understands the gravity of what their actions have done (starting from the sales agent) and what it is causing us - both mentally and financially.

Electrical Shortage

2010-07-21T09:17:00.011+08:00

Literally.

It all started with the need for additional electrical outlets.

Second Level Power and Auxiliary Layout

The circles above mark the location of the electrical outlets on the second floor. Notice that the two other bedrooms have just one outlet which is located beside the door.

But before anything else, let me start from the beginning.

When we were talking to our sales agent, we asked him if the appliances we were planning to install (i.e. washing machine, dryer, water heaters for the two showers, side by side fridge, etc.) would be possible with the electrical load of the house. He said yes.

Now that the house has been turned over to us, we've discovered that there is only one electrical outlet in the other two bedrooms. Where do we plug the night lamps, computer, printer, air conditioner, etc? Are we supposed to stretch the cords across the room to where the door is?

But as it turns out, that's the least of our problems.

Initially, we inquired with Alecto General Technology Corporation (an electrical engineering company recommend by the facilities manager at work) how much it would cost to install additional outlets.

They asked for a copy of the Avida electrical plan, pictures of the panel board and a detailed list of the appliances we're planning to install:

1.) Water heater for the shower only (x2) - 3kW to 8kW (Alpha-LH-1000E)
2.) Fridge - Whirlpool 21.8 cubic feet - 24 A / 615 W
3.) Washing machine - Whirlpool 10.5 K load - 5 A / 60 HZ
4.) Clothes dryer - Whirlpool 6 K load - 10 A
5.) ACU - split type 2HP - ground floor
6.) ACU - window type 0.75 HP - masters bedroom and the second largest bedroom

After studying the Avida electrical plan, Alecto advised that the load of the house is only 60.6 amps (line current at 100% Demand Factor), while what we need for the electrical devices mentioned above is 95.34 amps (line current at 80% Demand Factor).

They also said that the electrical load for the fridge provided by Avida is 543W which is essentially good for just a PERSONAL REFRIGERATOR. The fridge we plan to install needs 5520W.

Basically, the house is SHORT by 34.74 amps. And if we plan to install a water pump with an electrical booster (or anything else for that matter) in the future, it will no longer be possible.

Avida's response to all this is that they can only provide what's in the plan and anything outside of that will be for us to install. They also told me that the neighbors have installed all sorts of things including electrical fences and there doesn't seem to be a problem.

To this Alecto explained that house fires are caused not by faulty wiring, but due to misuse of the owner. They explained that not all outlets are created equal (meaning you just can't plug in anything you like). And based on the breakdown given by Avida for the outlets, what Alecto is saying is true as each outlet has a specific capacity.

Just last week, Ellen from Avida was assuring me (yet again) that we will get a quality house. What kind of quality are they talking about if, to install basic appliances, we need to shell out a ton of money (minimum Php 80,000 according to Alecto) just so that we can actually plug in those devices and ensure we won't have an electrical shortage?

I have come to the conclusion that if you wish to purchase from Avida, just buy the lot and build the house yourselves. Because the house that Avida provides is not the kind where once finished, you can move in already. You will need to add and spend for many things just so that you can live in it.

Kitchen Cabinets: Cusm Furniture Shop

2010-07-17T07:53:00.011+08:00

I am my mother's daughter.

Almost a decade ago, when I first moved in to the apartment that I shared with friends, I took a particularly keen interest in setting up our kitchen. And while I was thinking of what else we needed for the place, I had mentioned to my friend Ivonne that I was going to buy a kitchen timer. She laughed so hard and asked why I would need one! That's when I realized that I had become my mom.

My mom is a really good cook and while I do not cook as often, I've always loved preparing food and inviting people over. In fact, long before we even bought the house, I was already planning for all the dinner parties Earl and I were going to have!

So it was no surprise that I wanted a kitchen I could spend the whole day in and I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like. Now the problem is that dreams don't often jive with reality. And as much as I wanted kitchen cabinets by SieMatic, I was not willing to spend that much on just one area of the house.

Thus the search for the cheaper option. In our quest for kitchen cabinet makers, we asked for a quote from the following vendors:

- Cabinet Specialist Inc.
- Canadian Kitchen
- Kicco Kitchen
- KusinArt Kitchen System
- Modular Plus
- Rian Commercial
- SieMatic (for the local distributor, click here)
- Viro Casa

In the end, we decided on Cusm Furniture Shop. They gave the lowest quote but I think they gave a discount as the owners also happen to be related to Earl. We cannot personally vouch for their work as we've never had a kitchen done before. But then again, we can't vouch for any of the other kitchen cabinet suppliers.

Below are pictures of kitchens they've already done and based on this, I am optimistic.

Recent Project in General Trias

Avida Model Unit

DIY Inspiration: Young House Love

2010-07-10T17:19:00.006+08:00

I love what this couple did to their house and the best part is, they did it themselves!

Sherry and John's blog "Young House Love" details how they transformed each room of their first home on their own.

Admittedly, the local scene is not as conducive to do-it-yourself (DIY) than in the United States. And oddly enough, considering our economy, it seems that the Philippines is more of a "hire someone to do it for you" type of culture. Probably because labor is cheap?

But what they've done gives me hope that it is possible to have a nicely decorated house without hiring an interior designer. Here's a sample of their home make-over:

BEFORE

AFTER

For more before and after pictures, check our their House Tour.

Supplier Hunting

2010-07-04T14:11:00.007+08:00

And now for the fun part! Though it sometimes feels overwhelming as I want to cover everything at once and there's never enough time.

Finishing Contractor - we already have one company in mind but we will ask for a few more quotes before making a decision.

Kitchen Cabinet Maker - this is our top priority as I love cooking. I've been asking around since last year and after nine proposals, we've decided on Cusm Furniture. This is the supplier that gave the lowest quote but I think they also gave a substantial discount considering the owners are related to Earl. (You can read more details regarding the kitchen here and here.)

Architect - we were hoping to get help from a relative but he's busy with other projects outside of Manila thus the search for someone else.

Furniture Maker - unless we can find something off a store floor that's reasonable and fits our small space, we're anticipating that most of our furniture will be custom made. Our plan is to get from different suppliers - as opposed to just one which might be cheaper and faster in the long run. It will be like an experiment to know which one we like most. That way, if we need more furniture in the future, we'll know who to go to. Also, this will lessen the regret and disappointment in case there's a problem.

Here's where I wish we had a bigger budget - our shopping list:

1. Floor tiles
2. Bathroom tiles
3. Paint
4. Laminated wood flooring
5. Lights and dimmers
6. Cornices
7. Baseboards
8. Extra door locks and deadbolts
9. Window screens

Now if there are still funds leftover, I would like to include the following:

1. Bathroom sinks - to replace the ones provided by Avida as I want to change them to something more aesthetically pleasing
2. Door knobs - same reason as the bathroom sinks
3. Window casings
4. Head and side casings for the doors

Notice that appliances are not on on the list. This is because we will buy them right before moving in. Actual move in will depend on the state of our finances (hahaha!).

By the way, if anyone has suggestions on anything regarding the house, please leave us a note as we would love to hear you!

Have Keys, Need Furniture...

2010-06-30T14:27:00.003+08:00

Our House

And tiles, paint, stove, fridge, microwave, shelves, closets, and everything else in between.

It has been four days since the house was turned over to us by Desiree from Avida. Earl and I brought along Architect Mario (aka Uncle Mayong) to go over the place with Engineers Frolan (who is also an Avida Property Manager) and Mark.

But we cannot move in just yet and work on the house as there are many items that still need fixing:
- uneven walls
- uneven floors
- exposed pipes both inside and outside the house
- unfinished surfaces
- even more holes in the walls that need to be sealed
- water coming in through the back door when it rains
- concrete front porch area is hollow underneath

With regards to the uneven floor, Engr. Frolan advised that things will even themselves out when we have our flooring material installed (i.e. laminated wood). Somehow though that didn't sound quite right... I said to him that we should not be fixing the mistakes made by Avida and that quality does not mean "repairs needed". I also told Uncle Mayong about it and he definitely agreed with me.

Sigh (again). Truth be told, I am not too upset about the situation probably because I anticipated this happening. And when you expect it, then it's not a surprise. Well, at least the house is a beautiful shade of blue!

So, I've now decided to concentrate on the next phase - fixing up the house. And to say that I am excited about this is a HUGE understatement!