Room Makeover Project x Qeeple pt.4
The light at the end of the tunnel is within reach. We're in the end stages of my bedroom's transformation!
If you want to catch up on what has happened so far:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Now we're adding the finishing touches before all the soft furnishings like the bed, cushions and chair etc. move in.
What else have we done since? Read on 
LE SURMOUNT
http://qeeple.com/lesurmount
SPONSORED: Wallpaper
Here I am with Ryan,ready to get down to work!
Le Surmount is a well-established and renowned company for all types of interior wall coverings in Singapore. They count Shangri-La Hotel and Charles & Keith amongst their clients.
They offered 3 options for my walls:
i) Paint
ii) Wallpaper
iii) Wall Coating
What is wall coating, you might ask?
It's a hybrid of paint and wallpaper developed from cutting-edge Spanish technology!
I've seen samples of wall coating; it is a very unique textured material, think like a concrete or stone textures that are soft to the touch. And some have shimmering sparkly flakes mixed in.
I would have loved to try wall coating for it's unique decorating touch in other rooms of my house, or in say a retail/shop space (yes I dream!), but I prefer my bedroom to remain understated, smooth and classic. So I thought I'd just freshen it up with a new coat of plain paint. Actually, the thought of using wallpaper had never occurred me before.
My designer Joann from Designed Design Associates, recommended I install wallpaper if I truly desired a "hotel" bedroom.
I recoiled in horror at first.
"Umm... I'm not one for loud prints in my bedroom..." I told her hesitantly.... And there were the horror stories of unsightly peeling.
"There are simple and elegant wallpapers to choose from!" Joann reassured me. It'll give a wonderful finish that will really make a difference, not flat like paint!"
"If done properly by the right experienced professionals, there should be little problems with wallpaper." She explained that the Le Surmount guys were very good she usually used them for her projects.
I thought about it, looked at photos and tried recalling all the 5-star hotels I stayed in. I realized, by golly it's quite true! The luxury ones in the cities always have some sort of wall covering to give a very even, nice-to-touch look.
Funny how we can take something that takes up so much visual space like the walls for granted in the interior makeover process. It's all in the finer details.
Ryan lays out the wallpaper on my newly darkened parquet flooring.
Apply glue. Wait a while for paper to shrink.
I made a valiant attempt, but considering how their installers undergo years of apprenticeship and training, the job was better left up to the experts!
I watch on as the shifu shows me how it's REALLY DONE.
Zoom zoom, slice slice; in quick fluid motions each panel is stuck on, cut and finished in a flash.
CSI scene: Restricted area
All in a day's work.
(okay fine, I didn't do that much but I'll help do the heavy lifting 'cos you know, I'm real tough)
Post-Installation Tips!
- Air bubbles right after are normal. Wait for a few days for the bumps to disappear and the wallpaper will flatten out smoothly.
- Wallpaper is made of a vinyl surface - you can clean it with a damp cloth.
- Peeling is caused by fast changing temperatures that cause wallpaper to expand and contract. To prevent this, do not open your windows immediately after switching off the air conditioner. Wait for air temperature to settle to normal levels first before doing so.
The atmosphere of the room was undoubtedly changed after the wallpaper installation. From kind of drabby to an extra dosage of "posh"!
Ever heard of the expression, "if these walls could talk?" If you're decorating a home, walls do talk. They can make or break a style. I realized paint or wallpaper are two little touches that bring fresh perspective to a space, and create a huge impact on the overall impression of your home.
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Btw, you can see from the photos that most of my carpentry work is almost done - everything is so well made! Excited room-owner that I was, I couldn't help but enter the half-completed room everyday to admire the wardrobe, pull open drawers, slide my fingers along the shelving, feeling the wonderfully pieced together wood grain laminates, as I imagined myself already living there and what I'd put in each compartment
Super fast and superb builders, I highly recommend the contractors Magnificent Seven! http://qeeple.com/mseven#
Along with my interior design firm DDA http://qeeple.com/dda , they have come up with a plan to makeover my bathroom as well!
This is how it looks like before:
Better storage needed. Tap is not working as well anymore.
Fixtures are tarnished and showing signs of aging.
10 years ago, when my parents built our home, they invested in fully marble bathrooms because they believed it would stand the test of time, in terms of both form and function. I think they had good foresight
A decade later, there isn't a great need to overhaul my entire bathroom. I admit I wouldn't mind re-designing and changing it to a whiter color scheme, but my parents decided it'd be a waste to hack out expensive marble that was still looking okay.
However there were improvements that DDA and Magnificent 7 proposed:
- Change the old fixtures to new ones
- To brighten the area, additional LED lights from LED lighting specialists Bonjour Odyssey qeeple.com/bonjourodyssey
- Redesign the vanity area with new mirror panels and a diagonal concealed storage shelf
Time to go bathroom shopping!
SANSEI
http://qeeple.com/sansei
SPONSORED: Faucet for the basin, shower equipment, towel rod, toilet roll holder
Sansei provides a one-stop destination for bathroom fixtures and accessories housed in a cutting-edge, industrial-style 4,000 sq ft. showroom. Furniture halls are a dime a dozen, but how often do you visit one for baths? It's very interesting for sure. Sansei's carefully selected array of quality bathroom brands sourced from top-notch, cutting edge, international designers are sure to impress any visitor!
Home decor is certainly not spared from the trappings of consumerism and vanity - the thing is, sometimes home owners just want to show off. They don't cook but they have a state of the art kitchen with a marble top island. The most music they listen to is on their car radio but they buy an AvantGarde Acoustic stereo system anyway. And some, would probably get a giant, color-changing whirl pool bath just for the WOW factor.
Put this sensational bath tub indoors or outdoors, it doesn't matter. It's so fun and dip worthy, who wouldn't love it?
Check out the Blue Moon from Duravit.
What other super cool things can one get for their bathroom? Plenty, at Sansei.
Multi-function toilet bowl controls as popularized by Japan.
Never fear about not being clean enough down there anymore.
In a hideaway secret room (me thinks perhaps only VIPS with high spending power can enter),
immerse yourself in exquisite designer fittings from luxury European brands.
It is apparent the products here ooze quality, high levels of technology and aesthetic allure. Not your typical stuff!
Take inspiration from TT Durai with a 24 carat gold tap.
Why contend with just Philipe Starck furniture? Get his specially designed bathroom ranges from Duravit.
This bathroom concept designed by Starck is inspired by simple, natural and fundamental elements of life.
Feels very zen. I can imagine enjoying a view of Mount Fuji outside the window.
With the Sansei management
Having used a premium Italian brand of bathroom fixtures for a long time, I told Sansei I was looking for a replacement that was of the same quality standardor better. It had to be an aesthetically pleasing line that provides technical and ergonomic performance.
The perfect choice?
CRISTINA - a unique range 100% designed and manufactured in Italy since 1949. Exclusively available at Sansei.
"Umbrella, brella, brella, eh eh eh...."
I love Cristina's beautiful geometrical shapes and sleek lines combining effortlessly with gentle curves.
The overall finish is a very chic and modern one. For example, this shower head is super slim and minimalistic
with a water-saving energy-efficient design.
No wonder I thought it was a mirror for a moment.
Christmas came early this year 
New basin faucet, shower equipment, towel rod and toilet roll holder from CRISTINA.
So happy and blessed! Thank you God!
Big thanks to Sansei too, plus I had an incredibly fun and insightful time browsing their sprawling showroom!
Singaporeans always have a set mindset about where to go to buy furnishings for their home - usually typical places like Jalan Besar, Sungei Kadut, Park Mall and of course, Ikea.
The good news is, Singapore has much more to offer than that. Along the way of this project, I discovered that the Tai Seng / Macpherson area is actually a thriving hub for home furnishings!
Many of the companies involved in my room makeover are here -- Window Image (curtains & upholstery), Bonjour Odyssey (LED lighting), OM (mattress) and Designed Design Associates (design agency); they are all located in this vicinity.
My final sponsor also joins that list
INTERIOR AFFAIRS
http://qeeple.com/interioraffairs
SPONSORED: Bathroom accessories from Décor Walther
Interior Affairs has a spanking new multi-level Experience Center in Tai Seng. At 28,000 square feet, it is Singapore’s largest showroom with 30 kitchens and 27 bathrooms, all flaunting Europe’s leading designer brands. There is something for everyone, from affordable mid-range solutions to stunning top-of-the-line concepts for discerning folks with money to burn.
I was enthralled by a large bathtub crafted entirely from just one piece of natural stone -- so heavy you need a CRANE to forklift it into your home!
Getting a tour of high tech cookery.
One touch of a button and this mechanized ventilation hood automatically pops up,
or magically hides away.
After the walkabout, the wonderful and friendly people from Interior Affairs led me to the special presentation they had prepared for me.
Beautifully arranged and displayed were four gorgeous sets of bathroom accessories from German brand Décor Walther for me to choose from.
Complete with aromatic scented candles and laundry baskets too!
Customize your color of crystal, leather covers, and box casing.
Magnifying mirrors.
"smells like heaven..."
Which set do you think I should pick? Help me decide and tell me!
Remember to check out Qeeple for tons of home decorating ideas!
This one-stop website made everything easy and possible.
Till the next update on my FINISHED ROOM, love & hugs. x
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