Confidence and boldness

2 more days and counting. I went up to the flat yesterday to inspect the progress, breaking many Chinese pregnancy rules against things like hammering, nailing, painting, moving and renovating. I have always been a rebel when it comes to nonsense Chinese traditions which the only pursue it serve is to make our restrictive pregnancy experience even more unbearable. Having said that perhaps over exposing myself to dust and chemicals wasn’t a great idea either. I might just take a break today. Hopefully no more funny things like how they hung the shower rod for people with the height of dwarfs.

Some updates:

It was a big decision for me to go ‘grey’ on the wall. It turned out pretty well but it didn’t stand out as much as I hope. I was still lacking the confidence and playing on the safe side. In my next project, I will paint the entire wall plus ceiling the same color and it will be a shade or two darker.

I do love how the black box light amongst the grey and white. Very classy, modern and chic. Padding myself on the back.

Some examples of proper grey walls.

 

Count Down - 4 days

Had a routine appointment with the OBGYN today. Funny enough my weight hasn’t increased for a month already. To compensate, I immediately had a box of cookie and a big bubble tea.  

Received a call from Play the kitchen people who said that the countertop won’t be ready until next Monday – that means we will have 3 days without a functionable kitchen. It isn’t the end of the world but hugely inconvenient in a 5 people household. I asked them to at least install all the electronic appliances. He said “oh but when they might be scratched up if we install them before the countertop!” Well no shit Sherlock, but I have to cope with that don’t I? How can I not even have a fridge? Had he told me sooner, I would have postpone the move, now it is all too late.

The following picture summed up all the progress so far. Wall paint was mostly done. The first coating of concrete was applied to the TV cabinet. It wasn't bad but not that apparent. I asked them to darken the second coating to create a bigger contrast. currently its color is too similar to the wall.

Last but not least the wood flooring is being laid as of we speak. I have no doubt that it will be beautiful.  Almost there!

Count Down - 1 more week

The day I anticipated for months was finally approaching. We are set to move next week!

Surely a few things might not be ready when we moved in - the kitchen countertop, our new dinning table and sofa, bedside tables etc - but overall I would consider this a pretty fast project. Thanks to Ed of course. 

Movers were booked. Things were being packed. The rest of the renovation was being rushed. Even my sister has been approved for taking a day off to look after Lola for us. This move has involved so many people. 

I am also looking forward to not paying rent anymore. 

The flat was still a mess this morning when I saw it and never had I seen so many workers there. Clearly they were rushing it for handover. What was left now, was painting, flooring, installing the rest of the glass petition, ceiling. In addition, we will have delivery of furniture and curtain next week. 

Visually it would be an entirely different scene in a matter of days. Wooohooo!

Speaking of wall painting, I have boldly ordered them to paint all the walls in 'fine silver' from Dulux. This is a tone much darker than anything I have used in the past. I thought it turned out pretty well, thanks to our bright flat with lots of windows. This was the as far as I can go with color, at least for now. You can see the effect below. They do have a hint of lavender don't they? That bit was quite unintentional. 

Entrance hallway. The workers were laying the foundation for the flooring. A plastic sheet and wood deck was laid underneath the flooring to protect it from moisture. It was a noisy job. Sorry neighbors! 

Living room. You can see the balcony from a distant. I had big plans for it but decided to go simple - white wall, white bars with a grey top and concrete floor.

TV cabinet is yet to be concreted up. Can't wait to see how it turned out. I was convinced that I was the first to do it like this in HK!

The wood flooring pieces were being unpacked. Beautiful isn't it?

A cast of workers here.

Master bedroom.

They added a marble top on the window sill. This was the same one we used for the bathroom.

Guest bathroom. They changed the faucet.

Master bedroom.

Lola's room.

They have managed to enlarge the shower area for the master bathroom.

....and finally marbled up this bar.

Count Down - 2 weeks

It was that time of the week. Ed and I walked to the new flat on a gloomy saturday morning. It was only a short 2-working-day week so I didn't expect much changes. We were only going there to discuss some details with the painter. 

I won't post all the rooms as they looked relatively similar to last week's. Apparently next week they are painting the walls and laying the flooring. Hopefully we get to finish off the kitchen as well. 

Most shops and factories are still closed so we have no idea what the progress of those were.

Back to the flat, the bathrooms have the most significant improvement. Most of the sink mixers have been put in. Once again, I am least satisfied with how the bathrooms have turned out. I blame it slightly on the fact that Ed has never given me the revised drawing and it was the only thing I didn't press him on. 

The layout wasn't quite as efficient and this time I even discover that some rather odd choices of sink mixer!! I really hope it wasn't too late to change them because frankly they looked cheap. 

This for the washing basin is way too big. I wanted something much more delicate and thiner. 

Steve thought the bathtub was too small.

Happy with the balcony. A little worried about the door. Its an accident waiting to happen.

Entrance.

Base coat were being applied while I was there.

Let there be light!

As a kid, I was always impressed with cousins of mine who can say a series of well-meaning phrases in a row to the adults. I on the other hand can barely get Kung Hei Fat Choy out without feeling embarrassed.

Us Cantonese seemed to only care about wealth, and money, and becoming rich which was reflected in these good fortune words you are suppose to say to each other in Chinese New Year.

How about HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR & MERRY YEAR OF SNAKE!

xxxxx

I was out with Ed walking from Wanchai to Causeway Bay for 3 hours looking for lights. He seemed to have forgotten that I was carrying a watermelon in my belly. Nonetheless it was a worthwhile trip.

Even though I always complained about the lack of choices in Hong Kong, there were actually plenty for me to decide on. The new options plus what I already have made it a challenging task to allocate lights.

Below is my lighting plan. Those on the outskirts are lights I like but unable to fit all in.

The only thing I am still slight indecisive on, are the chandelier in the bedroom and the delta light in the entrance. The chandelier might be a tad too big for the bedroom and the delta light might just be too plain for making a first impression.

  

Count Down - 3 Weeks

Had a bit of a drama this morning. I went to the flat with great anticipation, only to find that the workers have installed the front door and locked it. I have to wait till Edmond got up, rough him up a bit, to realize that the door wasn't locked at all, just need to open it with a trick. 

Ed is a nice guy. If you need any major renovation in Hong Kong or China, please contact me. He is the best. 

Some update photos as per below. No dramatic differences. Most things were installed and part of the flat were cleared in preparation for wall painting and flooring. Almost there!!!

Entrance. 

The epic TV cabinet. Still waiting for them to concrete up the platform.

My favorite pillar and half of Ed at the doorway of the kitchen.

Dinning Room cabinet. 

Dressing this 'nook' up will be tricky but I love this imperfect part of the flat. 

Balcony. Still look messy.

The Study room is still my favorite room.

Kitchen has more new stuff, such as these cabinets and the white marbles.

We have a nice view out the kitchen window. Hopefully that will stimulate better cooking ideas and technique from the helpers.

This is where the stove will be put in after CNY.

 Hallway to the bedrooms.

I have to say I am the least satisfied with how the bathroom turned out. The dent was way too deep, should have been a bit longer and the marble is a bit busier than I had imagined. Perhaps it will look better after they put in all the other components.

Lola's bedroom.

Piper's room with the cabinet door tucked in.

Master toilet. I think we tried to fit too much stuff in. Steve was complaining that the shower area seems small.

Master bedroom cabinet in taupe.

You will succeed because most people are lazy

Haven't blogged for a few days but tomorrow will be my favorite Saturday with loads of updates on the new flat. Stay tune!

Until then, here is a favorite quote of mine I wish I could hang on the wall. No luck on finding such a poster though.

The dilemma of a rug

Lately I have been very troubled by the search of rugs. Buying a nice rug isn't hard in Hong Kong. Finding a nice but inexpensive one is close to impossible. Like all things here, there is the high end market and there is Taobao.com.

By the time a reasonably priced product arrive, it is instantly turned into something unreasonable after you add on rent and shipping.

I can go for my cheap and cheerful Ikea black and white rug but Steve already said he didn't like the texture. (How wonderful to have a live-in customer who always dissatisfied.) Everything else that I like are super pricey.

I checked with the Rug Company via Lane Crawford, who made beautiful rugs. But they cost more than HKD50,000, takes months to ship from London and most don't even make it in the size I want.

If you have any solutions I'd like to know.

Ikea

The Rug Company

These ones are from the Fort Street Studio.