The Search for our Second Apartment

Victor Nai strikes gold again! In case you're wondering, he's our agent =) He picked us up last Sunday for the first round of our apartment search and we fell in love with one of the places we looked at. Both Earl and I have since been referring to it as "our apartment" as though we already live there! But nothing has been signed yet so it's still too early to celebrate and we've got more flats to view.

In 2012, we gave Victor a detailed list of what we wanted for our living quarters. This time, the criteria basically remains the same except that we are willing to move out of the city in exchange for paying the same rental rate. We're currently in a two bedroom, one bathroom unit at SGD 3300 per month. We're hoping to get a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment for the same price (or less). This means though that Earl's commute to work might take longer and we won't have shops nearby we can easily walk to.

Apartment 1 - Pastoral View
Rate - SGD 3500
Size - 92 sqm.
Bedrooms - 2
Bathrooms - 1.5

• Pros:
- still located within the city and is a few steps away from Tan Tock Seng Hospital
- the Novena MRT, Square 2 shopping mall, and Novena Church are all roughly 10 minutes by foot
- has a separate washer and dryer
- Far East Organization owns the condominium so the building is well-maintained and it will be easier to have things fixed
- has a squash court, tennis court, and swimming pool

• Cons:
- no oven
- bathrooms are of an older style that I am not fond of
- the common bathroom is technically a narrow powder room where they installed a shower next to the door (very awkward layout)
- it's a longer walk to the MRT and the nearest bus stop is at least a six minutes away

Side Note: We weren't able to view the actual apartment as the tenant was out, so they showed us their model unit instead which you can view here.

Apartment 2 - Waterfront Key
Rate - SGD 3300
Size - 117 sqm.
Bedrooms - 3
Bathrooms - 2.5

• Pros:
- has an oven and a mini dishwasher
- ample closet space
- looks better than our current apartment
- when you get off the elevator on the ground floor, the bus stop is literally right outside the building
- the condominium is quite new (less than two years old), thus the rooms and the bathrooms are very modern in style
- has full condo facilities - Earl loved the gym and we both found the grounds quite soothing

• Cons:
- overlooking the Downtown Line MRT construction (can get noisy and dusty)
- 2-in-1 washer/dryer (I prefer them to be separate)
- no other furniture except for a sofa (which we do not plan to use so we will need to buy a lot of things)
- you will need to take a bus to the MRT station - the Macpherson MRT is at the 16th stop while the Bedok MRT is at the 5th stop (which entails a four minute walk to another bus stop)
- the nearest supermarket is two bus stops away
- too many neighbors around that can peer into the apartment (might need to keep the curtains drawn most of the time)

Apartment 3 - Blk 51 Strathmore (HDB)
Rate - SGD 3200
Size - unknown
Bedrooms - 3
Bathrooms - 2

• Pros:
- five minute walk to the Queenstown MRT station and the bus stop is even closer
- the supermarket is also close-by

• Cons:
- cramped layout
- old style decor - the bathrooms are covered in colorful tiles and the cornice had a swag design
- the color scheme was definitely not to my taste - the master bedroom was painted pink and the living room was mint green
- the kitchen definitely needed updating
- no oven or dryer

Side note: I didn't take any pictures as there were a lot of people around.

Elements: Main Bedroom 2

The Inspiration

I saw this at IKEA and immediately liked it.

The Space

This wall needed something, but I wasn't sure what. At first, I thought maybe a print from Diana Francis, but it's a little out of our budget and not to mention bulky (the problem of how to bring it home). Then I saw the wall arrangement at IKEA and knew that was the answer.

The Plan

I hit a roadblock when I realized that most of our photos are horizontal and not vertical. Thus, the need to redo the layout.

The Result

Elements: Main Bedroom 1

Boxes

The one thing I love collecting. Not only will they add color to a room, they also keep things in order. But I'm rather particular about the kind of material used - no matter how pretty, if it's not easy to clean, then I will not buy it.

My most recent acquisition is the Modello Storage Box S from Francfranc with black and white stripes. I got two at SGD 25 each and I think they give the bookcase a bit of balance.

The yellow box is from Daiso which only costs SGD 2. I'm not usually into warm colors, but this was rather cheerful.

The other boxes are temporary until I find something more interesting.

Clock

This SGD 85 clock that I bought from Thinkers Novelty was originally meant for the guest room, but somehow it didn't quite go with the blue walls. I transferred it to the main bedroom instead and it looks better suited against a white background.

Elements: Guest Room 2

As mentioned before, I've decided to decorate minimally. But there are a few things I think every room should have. Aside from the table lamps (which was the topic of a previous post), we've installed the following:

Hook Rack

During my parents' last visit, they didn't have a place to put clothes they wanted to use again (e.g. jackets). So I bought this and hung it at the back of the door using 3M Picture Hanging Strips to prevent the door from getting damaged.

I got this Tjusig Hanger from IKEA for only SGD 12.90.

Clock

This took longer to decide on than the other clock and periodical visits to a store in Centrepoint called The Bear Knows. What finally made up my mind is the fact we have guests arriving next week. Also, since I kept going back to the store to look at their clocks, I thought it best to get it over and done with lest the sales agent think I'm stalking him.

This set us back by SGD 149.

Magazine File

This Pluggis Magazine File came in a set of two (the other one is being used for assorted documents) and houses the only form of entertainment for our guests since this room does not have a TV.

The cost for this was SGD 19.90.

Elements: Entryway 1

In a previous post, I mentioned that I was having a problem on whether to decorate considering we're not staying in Singapore for very long. I've decided to compromise - decorate we will but at a very minimal scale.

And we start off with a clock. Specifically, a Newgate 50's 'Electric' Clock.

The wall beside the front door which overlooks the dining area was empty save for the black IKEA shoe rack. At first, I thought a painting or print would look nice, but then again that's a rather expensive option not to mention the hassle of shipping it to our next destination.

So a clock would be more practical methinks.

I first saw this clock brand at a shop called The Good Things. I sent them an email about the one we were interested in, but it was out of stock. Sammy though was kind enough to ask if there were others we might like from the Newgate website and I sent him three options.

It took over five months before he advised that one of them was in their sister store, The Wright Gift, but I think it was well worth the wait.

Takashimaya also sells Newgate clocks, though I find them a bit more expensive. We bought this one for SGD 183.

Elements: Guest Room 1

At the back of where we live is a road which I like to refer to as "Light Street" because it's lined on both sides with numerous shops all selling light fixtures. And in my search to find the perfect pair of table lamps for the guest room, I decided to walk the entire length of Jalan Besar to check them out.

Now, despite the huffing and puffing (I am completely out of shape) and the glare of the hot afternoon sun, I came up decidedly empty handed. It seemed like most of the stores were all selling the same thing and oddly enough, there weren't too many options.

I also visited as many decor stores as I could find, but it was only in IKEA that I found what I was looking for.

IKEA 365+ Lunta

For me, it was the perfect fit for a narrow room with a rather large window.

Tannenbaum

I've been having a bit of a dilemma - to decorate or not to decorate?

At first I was excited, but then the thought of having to pack and ship everything home gave me pause (not to mention the cost). So I am still undecided which is the reason why there hasn't been much activity on this blog lately.

But since Christmas is around the corner, I was thinking it would be too sad if we didn't have anything that looked remotely festive. So I decided on a disposable Christmas tree.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a small 160 cm tree for just SGD 12.99 over at Giant. When I went back to buy it yesterday, they were already sold out with no plans of restocking. Thus I bought the next inexpensive tree at SGD 32.99 with a metal base - it was the same height and the only difference being the cheaper one had a plastic base with more tips. In other words, the cheaper tree was a much better deal. Lesson learned - when you see it, buy it.

The red and gold balls were from Daiso at SGD 2 per pack of 10 balls. The red and gold flowers at SGD 3.95 each (I got 10 pieces) were purchased from Takashimaya along with the lights at SGD 11.90.

One item I will most likely keep is the star tree topper from Metro at SGD 23.90. I also wanted to buy a wreath but the prices ranged from SGD 50-90 which I thought was too expensive considering I am planning to dump almost everything in the trash bin after the holidays. I could store it but again, lugging it home will be a problem when we leave.

Total bill: SGD 116.29

Hmmm... when added together, that doesn't seem too cheap. Maybe I'll keep the red and gold flowers too.

Shopping Directory

I'm finding it a bit of a challenge to find things for the house here compared to the U.S. or Manila. At first I thought it was because I was not familiar with the stores, but after reading a few home decor magazines that interviewed other expatriates, it turns out I am not alone.

For example, the department stores in Manila will have just about everything under one roof - it was just a question of which store carried the version or brand you wanted. Here, one store will have a few things and you'll have to go to other stores to find the other things you need.

And the same applies to grocery stores too - I visited five supermarkets before being able to find decaf coffee. I assumed that because this place is such a busy port, there would be loads of options. Turns out not.

So I've decided to list the few shops I've been to in case someone might find the information useful. I could not take photos though as picture taking is usually not allowed.

BHG

When it comes to the home section, it's a little smaller than the other department stores, but you'll never know what you might find so still worth going to.

Francfranc

There are many tempting things to buy here though a bit pricey compared to IKEA. They had a wooden magazine holder in aqua blue with inner yellow and white stripes for SGD 22.40.

Holland Village

Definitely worth a second visit as I found quite a few shops selling quirky decor pieces for the house. There's a store selling tablecloths from India - loved the designs (price range was around SGD 60-100 depending on the size).

You'll also find the Parisilk appliance store in this area. Based on the forums I've checked, their prices are lower compared to other stores found in malls. I inquired about the Canon Powershot S110 a few weeks ago, and they were selling it for SGD 70 less than Best Denki.

Howard's Storage World

This is where we bought our laundry hamper, shower caddy and kitchen drawer organizers among other things. I prefer this place over IKEA when it comes to buying things for home organization.

IKEA

I had to restrain myself from buying most everything here otherwise the apartment will look like an IKEA catalogue. And if you want nice and affordable lamps, this is definitely the place to go to. We live next door to Jalan Besar where you'll find rows of stores selling light fixtures. But it was only in IKEA that I found something that I liked not only in terms of looks but also in price point.

Isetan

Same as BHG.

Iwannagohome

Another interesting place to buy decor, table and kitchenware. Though in terms of style and more options, I'd go with Francfranc.

King & King Wong

Worth a look since they're similar to Iwannagohome and Francfranc and they seem to have more furniture pieces.

Lim's Arts and Living

If you're a fan of Asian decor or antiques, then this place should be on your itinerary. They have branches in Holland Village and City Square Mall.

Mega Discount Store

Almost all of our appliances came from here - vacuum cleaner, iron, dvd player, electric fan, etc. I compared them with the sale prices of Courts and Mega Discount was way cheaper for the same model and brand.

Molecule

Tons of clocks, but only if you like modern design. The same goes for their furniture.

Muji

For the minimalists out there, they have plastic storage boxes, furniture, towels and bed linen.

Robinsons

As mentioned in a previous post, they have more options when it comes to bedsheets, mattress toppers, pillows, etc. And sometimes, they're cheaper too.

Roomy Room

Looking for reasonably priced teak furniture? Then you'll have to drop by this place. If I remember correctly, they were selling a six-seater dining set for SGD 700+. A buffet table made of teak was going for around SGD 250+. The catch is they're only open in the afternoon on weekends and they don't accept credit cards.

Sqft.

Located in Tampines 1, this shop is smaller than the other stores (i.e. Francfranc and Iwannagohome), but equally as interesting.

Takashimaya

A good, but sometimes pricey, all around department store. Generally, they have more on offer than Robinsons or Tangs. We got plastic soap dishes, microwavable containers and the water filter from here.

Tangs

As with Takashimaya and Robinsons, you'll find everything from small appliances to kitchen items.

Tatty Marsh

Anglophiles will love it here. They sell all things British including candy.

The Furniture Mall

I was expecting a huge mall filled with furniture and decor stores, but turns out to be a bit smaller than what I had in mind. We were able to find the dining set (table from UnikHome and chairs from Star Living) here though so it's worth a visit if you want to find more options. Unfortunately, I don't remember seeing a decor store...

The Good Things

I love their Newgate clocks! Takashimaya sells the same clocks, but at a higher price.

The Shop House

Their Tanglin Mall branch has a lot of cushions and soft furnishings.

Other Stores Worth Mentioning

FairPrice Xtra
Giant
Mustafa

These stores have everything from appliances and indoor portable clothes lines to outdoor supplies (e.g. airbeds). And generally, they are cheaper than everyone else. Need a rice cooker at 2 AM? Mustafa is open 24 hours.

On a Cloud

During our stay at the Parkroyal on Beach Road, I loved the bed so much that I wanted to recreate it in our guest room. My goal is to provide a bed so comfortable, our guests will remember it long after they've left. A bit ambitious yes, but I'll try anyway. Hahaha!

The first thing I did while at the Parkroyal, was to check the bed for the supplier of the beddings and found that the pillows and mattress pad were done by Northern Feather Asia. I was able to buy two pillows from them, but not the mattress pad as they only do them as a special order and suggested I contact the hotel.

I dutifully sent an email to the hotel and found that they do not sell their beddings unlike other hotels (e.g. Westin), but helpfully advised I check out Robinsons department store which is where I ended up buying the mattress topper. I've visited other stores and found that Robinsons was not only cheaper but they had more options.

Bed

As mentioned in a previous post, we got the bed from IKEA. We decided on the firmest mattress we could afford as our parents need more support for their backs. Mom liked it, but my Dad (who is nine years older than my mother), said that it took some getting used to as it was too hard. Hmmm...

Pillows

These are called NF Super Soft Pillows and are are composed of 50% down and 50% feather infill at SGD 110 each without GST.

My Mom asked about the pillows (without my mentioning anything) when they were here a few weeks ago. It turns out she really liked them, but could not believe I paid that much for pillows. I think they were well worth the cost since she ended up asking about them out of the blue.

Pillow Encasings

We have two sets of these. The ones in the guest room are from Protect-A-Bed and were bought on sale (SGD 31.20 each) over at Robinsons. The ones we use in our room are from Mission: Allergy made from premium microfiber (USD 18.95 each) that we ordered from the U.S. as they were prescribed by Earl's allergologist. Earl, unfortunately, is very allergic to dust mites.

I'm mentioning this in case someone out there also has an allergy problem because according to his doctor, Mission: Allergy is the best brand available at the moment.

Mattress Protector

This we also purchased from IKEA. It's placed on top of the mattress to prevent it from getting stained and at SGD 15.90, the Skydda Lätt is not a bad deal.

Mattress Topper

Through a bit of research online, I found that it is the mattress topper that makes a bed very soft - as one person posted, like sleeping on a cloud. Originally, I was planning to get a feather topper like the one from Northern Feather Asia, but a sales lady introduced me to the down (feather) alternative and I was sold as it felt softer and not as lumpy as the feather version. The feathers would have made for a cooler bed, but since the mattress is quite firm I decided that it needed a bit more padding. Also, our guests will mostly be under air conditioned comfort anyway so it won't be an issue.

The brand I really wanted, Snowdown, was out of stock in Singapore - as in the entire country did not have the queen sized mattress topper available! So I got King Koil Micro-Gel instead at SGD 279.30.

Note: There are other feather toppers out there that are very soft (composed of down feathers or a combination of feathers and alternative down) but they were way beyond our budget.

The mattress topper was delivered last week and we have visitors arriving this month so I'll have to wait and see what they think of the bed. The guest room, like everything else, is a work in progress as I will only buy things once funds are available.

My next project is to buy bed linens made from Tencel. I saw it in one of the stores and really liked the texture, but it too will have to wait.

Sofa

I had a hard time looking for a sofa due to space constraints - it could only be a maximum of 140 cm wide. I looked at quite a few stores and searched online, but it was either too big or too expensive. In the end, we settled on IKEA:

Solsta two-seat sofa-bed - SGD 179
Stockholm Cirkel throw pillow - SGD 29.90
Assembly and delivery fee - SGD 105 (includes the delivery of the bed)

I must say though that it was not a bad purchase since everyone who has sat on it has remarked how comfortable it is. I don't want to use it as a bed though as the sofa cushions would need to be on the floor. So for our extra guests (those in excess of two), we bought an airbed instead.

Guest Bed

In the short time we've lived in Singapore, I've quickly learned that mattresses and bed frames are rather expensive around here. Another concern was that there's not enough space in the guest room.

And just like other decisions we've had to make when it came to the house back home, this again was a toss-up between aesthetics and practicality. Do we get a trundle bed so that there's more space and we could place a night table with a lamp? Or do we buy a queen bed knowing that most of our would-be guests are married?

So after looking around the shops and with our parents in mind, we got the smallest and firmest queen bed we could afford from IKEA.

And though we decided to go without a bed frame to save on space, people would still need to walk sideways to get to their side of the bed. It really makes me wonder why our landlord used this room as their bedroom and not the bigger one (maybe because the master bedroom gets a lot of sun in the afternoon?). And to think that the bed they used is actually two centimeters wider than this one.

Sultan Aukra mattress base with legs - SGD 269
Sultan Hamnvik - SGD 499

Note: The curtains are owned by the landlord.

Dining Table & Chairs

At first, I was thinking of buying the table and chairs from IKEA, but since we don't have a kitchen counter the table would need to do double duty. The only problem is that most of what they sell have fibreboard tabletops.

I went around a few furniture shops before deciding on the following from the Furniture Mall:

- Mahogany table with glass top (130 x 90 cm) from UnikHome - SGD 716 including delivery
- Four dining chairs from Star Living - SGD 406 including delivery

Never thought that I'd go for a rather modern look, but that's the theme of the apartment so we may as well go with it. This option costs just SGD 32 more than the IKEA version inclusive of assembly and delivery fees.

The Neighborhood

Here's what the area looks like:

Views from the Main Bedroom window

To the right of the window are shophouses:

To the left is a condominium and the mall which has a link to the MRT station:

View from the Living/Dining/Kitchen window

The Rental Process: Part 3

After viewing eight (8) apartments in what basically amounts to just one day, we've decided on where we will live for the next year and a half. Here's how we arrived at that decision:

Pros
- nicely decorated (in my opinion)
- secure
- diagonally across a mall with a supermarket
- 35 minutes to the office including walking
- has a built-in oven
- separate washer and dryer
- ample closet space
- modern bathroom
- near an MRT station (one entrance is through the mall)
- very short walk to the bus stop and a small hawker center

Cons
- main bedroom is facing northwest
- no other furniture aside from the bed, closets, and desk with chair
- only one small bathroom
- no kitchen counter
- not enough space for a sofa in the living area

The pros outnumber the cons, but more importantly it was the only unit that I got excited about and Earl loves the location. It was a win-win situation for both of us, but what made us decide quickly were the following:

- some apartments are gone as soon as they're listed so we didn't want to get too picky. We might end up with something worse because we were waiting for something "better."
- having seen eight (8) flats, we believe that we have a pretty good idea of what others will look like. Six (6) of them, for example, all looked more or less the same.

Of course, time will tell whether the cons will overwhelm the pros.

Living/Dining/Kitchen Area

Bathroom

Main Bedroom

Guest Room