A YEAR ON...REVIEWS

We had officially reached the one year mark and in fact, we are into it's 13th month in this 'new' flat.

Let's look at the various fittings we have gotten for this new flat... shall start with the kitchen since it's where I usually spent my day.

KITCHEN - RUBINE KITCHEN SINK

I'm glad that the most common comment I got is that I've a large sink!!  So big that I can easily wash my HappyCall pan.  However, if you look closely, the only thing I regretted getting this sink is it's right angle corners.

This corners are prone to trap dirt and slime... so scrubbing is a must every other day. 

I dry it daily after our washing up our dinner and scrub it with detergent... still slime are building up and very visible whenever the sink is wet.

KITCHEN - RINNAI HOOD AND HOB

No complaints about my Rinnai hood RH-382, it's easy to maintain, cleaning it is a breeze.  But then I dont do deep frying and I usually open all my windows during cooking so I only on the hood during heavy cooking.

So far yet to replace my charcoal filters since I dont do heavy cooking.

There's a total of 3 such panels on the hood.  Easily remove for washing.

As for my Rinnai hob RB - 2FVSVA, maintenance and cleaning is ok.  Stainless steel top - no problem, but when it comes to open flame, it's a NO-NO.  The flame goes out easily.... even a gently sneeze can put the fire out, not forgetting I like to keep my windows open during the cooking process.

Easy to take apart...wash...dry and assemble.

I wonder if I would give a all thumbs up review if I've gotten a inner burner hob. 

LIVING HALL - TV CONSOLE

This is one carpentry I cannot bring myself to accept... The door simply cant alight properly with all the cables and wires going on inside this very small space.

Anyone with a chubby hand/arm can forget about switching off the mains unless you want to get yourself stuck.

Tried! Give Up!!  With so many plugs and wires inside... The closing will never align properly.

Luckily we do not have young kids at home... so this is much the permanent state of our TV Console.

LIVING HALL - SHOE CABINET

Given a 2nd chance, I wouldnt want my shoe cabinet made this way.  It restrict the entrance/exit space and it blocks natural light to the area.  Bad fengshui if you must say.  That's why a light is being install over head.

Very classy, very nice hor?

BUT... how does one comes in from outside when the shoe cabinet doors are open?? Similarly, when we are all rushing to go out...we cant open the main door till we are done wearing our shoes and close the cabinet.

OVERALL - CARPENTRY

All thumbs up for the carpentry work from A & D.  We are NOT on Blum system, there's 2 adults and 2 young kids, so with all the opening/closing, slamming, banging and sliding... my cabinets are still in tip top condition.

But there are some issues,  I would really appreciate if the Designer and the Carpenter had listened to our views in the first place.  Having 2 young kids, their safety is our main concern and we would like to child-proof the place without compromising the design... but then, little details were left out.

The Pay Master got a nasty knock against the corner of this cabinet in the washroom while getting up from a squat position while cleaning the bathroom.

This is not a sea urchin!  It's a 2cm cut on my hb's head!!  

We requested for a full-length cabinet...but A&D said this way nicer and cleaning the bathroom floor is easier.  OK, so we requested rounded edges... again A&D said at this height and length accidents are rare!! RARE DOES NOT EQUAL ZERO!

Ugly sight, but after the accident we put on a corner guard.

Since the entrance to the kitchen is not as BIG as we used to have in our previous flat, they forgotten to 'round' the edges for this cabinet and the work top... it's a trap waiting for accident to happen.

The bottom cabinet is culprit of most my bruises on my thighs and equally often, I knocked myself on the upper cabinet while cleaning the counter top 

I requested for ROUNDED edges!!!

Counter top granite cant be rounded...so got to be careful .  So used to knocking against it!

I can bear with the pain from all sort of knocks but this!!!  I spent so many hours in the kitchen and this is one corner I hate!!  It's right-angled!! It's sharp!! IT'S LETHAL!!!!

This piece of divider here between the dish rack and cabinet,  I have lost counts on how many times I've knocked myself into... thankfully nothing serious.  The one in my previous flat was rounded and I really missed that design.

Probably got to click to see an enlarged pix.  This is my previous kitchen in Pasir Ris... see how nice and smooth the curve is.

I MISS MY BRIGHT AND SPACIOUS KITCHEN!!!

OVERALL - LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL WORK

If your designer recommends a shop, there's no harm going for a see-look.  Let the fellow earn a bit of commission and all is smooth sailing.

The light in our kitchen blew itself in June 2012,  since it's with 1 year warranty, the shop replaces the ballast free of charge.  Service is prompt ...why... because we bought the light at the shop our designer recommended.

When we blew another light a month later, it's a totally different scenario.  So think, think, think carefully...  from whom you are purchasing from.

So, here we have learnt - NEVER BUY LIGHTS OPERATING ON BALLAST!  Best get those Philips bulbs, no ballast, no starter, just turn and switch 'on'.

Overall, I would appreciate if there's more electrical sockets around the house...not as if I'm not paying for it...zzz.

Well, for a small pigeon hole... that's about all the review I have.