1/3 into our renovation works review

This is sort of a summary for the things we have done for our new home. It all started around Jan 2011 when my wife was sourcing for various designs and ID firms online; looking at the works done and various blogs and forums where much of home-owners posted their renovation works online.

She shortlisted a few ID firms and showed them to me. We discussed on a decent budget that we were prepared to spend on our renovations works (not including the items and accessories for our new home). We roughly know what concept we wanted; but like most new home-owners we are worried about being a 'carrot' being chopped by firms out there.

But we took the first step and started to approach ID firms and talk to them (through email and face-to-face). To cut the process short, we basically went with the ID which had a concept that suit our taste best and could create a 3D re-creation of how our new place would be like that is closest to our 'dream home'. The most important thing is that we are comfortable with ID and the prices quoted.

We knew from the start that our quote was priced above average; but we trusted our ID (from the works she had done on her portfolio) to deliver to our needs even down to the details of the various items and accessories required.

When the time came to confirm our designs and concepts, we were appreciative that our ID took our views into consideration and made changes to the initial proposed concept (from colors to materials; even to placement of various major items). She had an arsenal of designer materials (i.e. laminates, tiles, solid surfaces, colors, shades, etc) to show for in an event we didn't really like what was proposed.

Once the designed was confirmed, she went ahead and started getting the detailed drawings done. In the meantime, she went with us to select the fittings and accessories for our new home (i.e. furniture, bathroom fittings, kitchen sinks and stoves, ovens, etc). My wife and I also went ahead to buy the smaller items ourselves, and our ID basically informed us to send her the dimensions of the bigger items for her to take note.

We knoew we were going for quality materials; hence we were ready to fork out a certain amount for products that we knew were respectable.

All shower, taps, and mixers - Hansgrohe
Water Storage Heater - Joven
Stove and Oven - Ariston
Sink - *cannot remember the brand* but its pretty solid
Furniture (dining table and chairs, Sofa, coffee table) - Lorenzo
Washing Machine - Panasonic

Lightings - All LED downlights, several tube lights, cove lights, and 2 feature lightings

Smaller Items-
Hitachi Vacuum Cleaner
Panasonic Microwave Oven

We wanted to buy our Bosch refrigerator but the shop owner told us that we had to wait til August for the next shipment hence we didn't get it from them.

In summary, with a good ID, we were pretty assured to go ahead with purchasing most of stuff way in advance even before the works on our home has even begun. Hence, my wife and I feel that we are also paying for the service and reassurance for the job to be done.