The Best of Renovation Journey 2015

2015 descended in a heartbeat, and is now about to depart in similar fashion. It has been a great year for us at Qanvast, working with many amazing homeowners who opened their homes (and hearts) to us and shared their home renovation stories. There were stories that made us smile, but also a few horrifying enough to make a few tiles pop from sheer fright.

In this special edition of Renovation Journey, we look back at some of the memorable renovation journeys that will warm your heart. Thank you once again to these homeowners for letting us into your homes, and allowing us the pleasure of helping you build your dream home!

###The Most Endearing Couple

Eileen: We do have our disagreements on certain aspects, but we usually come to accept each other’s ideas pretty fast. Initially, I wasn't fond of the grey walls that looks coming from the X-Men movie. I have eventually come to accept it. [laughs]

Xian Yi: I had to accept the pink chair as well! [laughs] Nevertheless, we came to a compromise to accept each other’s ideas.

– Xian Yi and Eileen, With Love, Paris (read more about their story here)

Interior Designer: Space Factor
Costs: $23,000 (renovation) / $25,000 (furnishing)
Location: Yuan Ching Road

A Gift in Time

Brenda: We like old school, maybe because we are Generation X, as it reminds us of all the good quality items from back then. The parts of Singapore we spent our childhood also inspired us to do something old school. Jonathan grew up in a black and white house and we thought it would be nice to incorporate that colonial style into our home.

The interior designer was quite good with their timeline as well. I jokingly asked them to deliver the keys in time for my birthday as a gift and to my surprise; they actually did so!

– Brenda and Jonathan, A Home With A Colonial Charm (read more about their story here)

Interior Designer: Habit
Costs: $30,000 (renovation) / $20,000 (furnishing)
Location: Arc @Tampines

The Chic and Savvy Homeowner

Eve: I kept seeing this green (Qanvast) logo on Facebook which got me curious and Googling. [laughs] The app allows me to easily shortlist my choices for future referencing and I can request for quotes rather than having to individually source and call up the interior designers.

– Eve, Elegant City Fringe Living (read more about her story here)

Interior Designer: Space Define Interior
Costs: $25,000 (renovation)
Location: Balestier

A Wild Renovation Rollercoaster Ride

Nicole: Do it once and do it right. We spotted some flaws and we got the designer to fix it immediately. Don’t live with the problem.

Gerald: Do your own research and shop around places. My designer did recommend us some of his contacts and I felt it was expensive. I bought my lightings from a shop my designer recommended and I felt like a 'giant carrot' (meaning ripped off) after seeing a similar one elsewhere. [laughs] Always look for cheaper alternatives around!

– Gerald and Nicole, The Home Barista (read more about their story here)

Interior Designer: Fuse Concept
Costs: $30,000 (renovation)
Location: Anchorvale

A Journey Full of Drama

Melvin: Initially we wanted a bright, airy look - using colours like copper, mint, silver, black and white.

Summer: Then I saw this sofa in Commune and I fell in love with it, and then I proposed to change the entire colour scheme of the house. We fought over it.

Melvin: I disapproved as I was not keen to change the entire design concept. But after seeing how committed Summer was, I was convinced. She actually stayed up a couple of nights doing up a Powerpoint on her new design concept to persude me.

– Melvin and Summer, Dramatic Monochromatic in Punggol (read more about their story here)

Interior designer: Wee Studio
Costs: $55,000 (renovation) / $26,000 (furnishing)
Location: Punggol Field

The Modern Happy Family

Hsiao Wei: We had a common starting point when deciding the interior theme. Then we sectioned the house into different areas. Each of us decided the renovation works for a particular area without interference from the other. Basically divide and conquer!

– Hsiao Wei and Edmund, A Minimalistic MUJI Home (read more about their story here)

Interior Designer: Habit
Costs: $60,000 (renovation)
Location: Boon Tiong

Ready to renovate but wish to learn the wisdom of those who have already walked the path? Read our Renovation Journey column on the Qanvast app to see what homeowners have to say about their renovation experiences, because knowledge is power!

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