All things Cozy and Homely - Home Renovation: 2009

Stickyjoy

Posted at 05:41 in directory furnishing

Here is another wall decal/mural shop that a guest has kindly highlighted to me..

Stickyjoy

It is interesting to take note that they also do wall murals...

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Renovation, Furniture and endless Loans!

Posted at 05:05 in finance

Thinking of taking up renovation and furniture loans?

Besides shopping for the lowest interest rates, what else do you have to look out for? The loan limit? Repayment period?

That is only half the homework done.

Not a lot of people realise that it is recommended that the monthly installments (inclusive of study and car loan) shouldn't exceed 20% of their combined take-home pay.

Thus, its better to plan carefully, spend wisely and not get too carried away (and bust your budget) during renovation. :)

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Canvas Print on Gallery Wrap

Posted at 04:53 in directory furnishing

Anzo Creation

I came across this webby when I was sourcing around for good quality canvas prints. The website has a clean layout and most importantly, they have their prices listed!

You can consider getting off high quality digital files off the internet and get them printed. Or, have your favourite photos enlarged.

Canvas prints are elegant and can brighten up your place instantly for a fraction of the price! :)

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Concierge.bigcartel - of Animal Rubber Bands, Bookends, Rabbit Bag, Gum Hook and Tube Doorstops

Posted at 06:51 in design inspiration

Pardon the loooong title but this website carries a lot of interesting home living ideas. Although the stuffs they carry is a bit on the pricey end...the website is ddefinitelyworth a second look. :)

Concierge.sg

Update: The site has since closed down.

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Directory of Shops: Plant Stands

Posted at 06:40 in directory

Plant stands can be used to organise your balcony and they are excellent space management tools. I took the liberty to look around some nice looking plant stands in Singapore and ended up with the following:

1) Astoria Floral Design and Landscape

2) Wronght Iron Plant Stands and Holders

They provide customisation of plant stands too!

3) Ban Nee Chen Pte Ltd

4) Kelcosupply

(scroll to the page below to view the types of plant stands available!)

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Wall Decals

Posted at 06:23 in directory furnishing

Found another wall decal online shop by chance...check out their $10 promotion! :)

They carry lovely colorful wall decals and we ordered 3 designs to try out.

The decals are easy to fix and lasts even after of usage. Frankly speaking, I find the quality no different than the $70-$100 that are out in the market.

However, I realised that similar designs can also be found in GMarket.com.sg at even cheaper prices. So do check them out too! :)

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Portable Dryer

Posted at 05:27 in appliances directory

Ever thought that the Conventional Dryer is way too expensive, takes up too much space, consume a lot of electricity and lastly, makes your clothes crumbles so badly that you have to iron them?

I was given this daunting task to search for a good cheap, portable and energy saving dryer. After much reviews and research, I managed to find one!

Introducing Kawaki, made in Singapore 100% portable and cheap indoor laundry dryer. After using it for 3 months, I found that the following claims are true:

Cost Saving:Saves up to 35% energy; I checked the electricity bill, no significent difference (usage rate: 2-3 hr weekly). A lot less ironing since the clothes are dryed on hangers.

Multi-purpose:We have tried drying clothes, bedsheets and thick towels. So far so good...will try pillows,comforters, soft toys, shoes and bags.

Cheap and Portable: Its less then S$200 and saves space! It is very light and can easily be lifted up with only one hand..

Lastly, its great for delicate fabric like silk.

However the following could be improved.

Capacity: I doubt it can dry up to 50 pieces of items in one go...I have tried 20 items (dresses, pants, tops, towels) and finds it very compact. maybe the rest of 30 pieces goes to panties, socks?

Quality: The dryer seems too light and maybe a little bit flimsy? However, others pointed out that that is why its so light and portable.

Tips: After spinning dry your clothes, leave them overnight before using the Portable Dryer to save more electricity.

Enviro http://blog.fashionfanatics.com.sg/?tag=beauty-and-health offers very similar functions too.

[Update: 05/07/2012]

Kawaki is no longer in operation.

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What you need to know about Sofa

Posted at 05:29 in furniture tips

Extracted from http://www.homeinstitute.com

There are several different ways to categorize sofas. One way is by the style. Here are some of the most frequently found styles of sofa:

Chaise Lounge—a sofa that has a backrest at one end and no arms (also a reclining chair).
Chesterfield—a sofa with padded arms and a back that are the same height and which curve outwards at the top.
Chippendale—the style of sofa designed by Thomas Chippendale, an eighteenth century English furniture maker.
Davenport—a large upholstered sofa.
Divan—a long, low sofa with no back or arms, often set against a wall with a backing of pillows.
Love Seat—a short sofa for only two people; it can also describe a sofa shaped like an S, so that two people sitting on it can face each other.
Sectional Sofa—a set of sections of sofa that can be configured as the homeowner desires, most typically in an "L" shape.
Sofa Bed—a multifunction sofa that folds out into a sleeping platform with a built-in mattress.

Another way to group sofas is by the number of people they are meant to seat.

One person—chaise lounge, divan

Two people—loveseat

Three people—(usually) chesterfield, chippendale, davenport, sofa bed

Many people—sectional sofa

Upholstery

Sofas can be upholstered in a wide variety of materials:

Plant Fibers—cotton (including denim) and linen
Animal Fibers—silk and wool
Animal Hide—leather
Synthetic Fiber—including acetates, acrylics, nylon, polyester, polypropylene (Olefin), and vinyl (Naugahyde).

Construction

A sofa is comprised of four basic parts: the frame (which gives it form and is often made of hardwood); the springs (which supply support); the padding, which creates a zone between the springs and the upholstery material; and the upholstery itself. A fifth element, cushions, may or may not be part of a couch, and is created from fill covered with upholstery.

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