Interior Design Co / Contractor

[kendoarts]

The time has come before my wife and I get our BTO, slated to finish 4th quarter this year but we are predicting an earlier than expected timing.
We have been talking about starting to source for Interior Designer and/or Contractor but we seem to be a little at wits end.

Firstly, we don’t know to engage Interior Designer or Contractor. We have heard mixed reviews between the two.
Just to name a few, people would tell us how costly interior designer is and they are more engaged in planning and not execution where for contractor, they are usually not involved in planning and would not be able to provide the best of visualization where there will be risk of you not having your flat done the way you thought it would be.

Secondly, we don’t know where to start sourcing. Basically, the best option is through friends referral but we don’t have much friends who gotten their flats yet.
We think it’s best to have it through recommendations because we have heard so many stories about how badly a job can be done by so many contractors and interior designers in Singapore. This made us very skeptical and I hope those who are satisfied can provide their recommendations here.

I welcome any suggestions to help my wife and I kickstart this ‘research’ too.

Appreciate any help.

 

[tk]

can also look at the following website/forum for info..

Renotalk.com™ | Singapore #1 Renovation & Interior Design Portal

 

[kendoarts]

can also look at the following website/forum for info..

Renotalk.com™ | Singapore #1 Renovation & Interior Design Portal

Thanks, I have visited the forum but unfortunately, there aren’t many reviews of the mentioned renovators/companies.
Many post were ‘1 posters’ which I suspect is being posted by the companies themselves.

 

[derrickgoh]

If you are a creative person and already know how you want to do up your house, no need for an ID. Just get a contractor. Tell him exactly what you want. Don't expect too many fanciful ideas from a contractor. They are not designers.

An ID would be useful if you have no idea what you want. The ID will then give you suggestions and ideas. ID is also like a one stop shop i.e. he will settle everything for you.

Different IDs work different. When my parents moved their housing agent (a friend) recommended an ID who she herself has used before. He was quite ok so when I moved, I also used him.

This ID has his own electrician, plumber and carpentry workshop. So not only did he give suggestions and modify them according to my feedback, he was also involved in execution. As he has many projects of course he could not be every where at once so he has several project managers. The project manager would ensure everything was ok.

The safest is word of mouth. I don't really trust forums because you never know if the person giving the review is the contractor/ID himself or a friend. Ask your friends, relatives, colleagues if they have any recommendations.

 

[live2snap]

Personally i find that many IDs are actually formerly contractors. They engage another party to do the 3D drawings and they are more involved in the project planning and implementation. Just my own opinon based on experience.

If you are not in a hurry, you might want to look at your neighbors' house after they finished their reno. If you are happy with the workmanship, ask for their id's contact.

 

[kendoarts]

Personally i find that many IDs are actually formerly contractors. They engage another party to do the 3D drawings and they are more involved in the project planning and implementation. Just my own opinon based on experience.

If you are not in a hurry, you might want to look at your neighbors' house after they finished their reno. If you are happy with the workmanship, ask for their id's contact.

I definitely will have to start my renovation early because currently we are still separately due to space constraints despite being married.
Anyway, I understand that many IDs are actually contractors at the start. Just wondering, how they actually work.
Do the IDs now have various contractors working for them? And if so, how to they manage them and ensure workmanship is done appropriately as promised?

If you are a creative person and already know how you want to do up your house, no need for an ID. Just get a contractor. Tell him exactly what you want. Don't expect too many fanciful ideas from a contractor. They are not designers.

An ID would be useful if you have no idea what you want. The ID will then give you suggestions and ideas. ID is also like a one stop shop i.e. he will settle everything for you.

Different IDs work different. When my parents moved their housing agent (a friend) recommended an ID who she herself has used before. He was quite ok so when I moved, I also used him.

This ID has his own electrician, plumber and carpentry workshop. So not only did he give suggestions and modify them according to my feedback, he was also involved in execution. As he has many projects of course he could not be every where at once so he has several project managers. The project manager would ensure everything was ok.

The safest is word of mouth. I don't really trust forums because you never know if the person giving the review is the contractor/ID himself or a friend. Ask your friends, relatives, colleagues if they have any recommendations.

Unfortunately, I only have some ideas but not going to ‘blow up’ the scale of my ideas because I have this perception of more ideas = more items = higher cost.

Do you mind PM me the contact of your ID?

 

[kongwukongbo]

My sister just got her BTO in Seng Kang, and decided to go for a contractor as it is cheaper. To our surprise this contractor, highly recommended by her friend, is fairly young but with more than 10 years of experience, and very engaging. Very please with his service. Price wise is reasonable as my sister did not opt for HDB tiles. I can pm you his contact if you are interested

 

[live2snap]

I definitely will have to start my renovation early because currently we are still separately due to space constraints despite being married.
Anyway, I understand that many IDs are actually contractors at the start. Just wondering, how they actually work.
Do the IDs now have various contractors working for them? And if so, how to they manage them and ensure workmanship is done appropriately as promised?

My ID got the contacts for various contractors and does the co-ordination and liasing for me. Stuff like this week will do the kitchen base and next week will start the painting. Any issues i will feedback to him instead of having to chase after each individual party. He is also supposed to visit my place at least once a week to ensure that everything go to plan. To be frank i feel that he is more of a contractor since his ideas are more practical than aesthetic.

 

[kendoarts]

My ID got the contacts for various contractors and does the co-ordination and liasing for me. Stuff like this week will do the kitchen base and next week will start the painting. Any issues i will feedback to him instead of having to chase after each individual party. He is also supposed to visit my place at least once a week to ensure that everything go to plan. To be frank i feel that he is more of a contractor since his ideas are more practical than aesthetic.

Sounds like a good work flow between yourself, the interior designer and contractors.
Do you mind SIC the contact?

My sister just got her BTO in Seng Kang, and decided to go for a contractor as it is cheaper. To our surprise this contractor, highly recommended by her friend, is fairly young but with more than 10 years of experience, and very engaging. Very please with his service. Price wise is reasonable as my sister did not opt for HDB tiles. I can pm you his contact if you are interested

Yes I do. Please PM my contact.
Appreciate your help!

 

[daveteoh]

My sister just got her BTO in Seng Kang, and decided to go for a contractor as it is cheaper. To our surprise this contractor, highly recommended by her friend, is fairly young but with more than 10 years of experience, and very engaging. Very please with his service. Price wise is reasonable as my sister did not opt for HDB tiles. I can pm you his contact if you are interested

Can pm me the contractor contact too? I probably will collect my key in 1 months time. Plan to get a contractor instead of id as i have limited budget.

 

[derrickgoh]

Personally i find that many IDs are actually formerly contractors. They engage another party to do the 3D drawings and they are more involved in the project planning and implementation. Just my own opinon based on experience.

If you are not in a hurry, you might want to look at your neighbors' house after they finished their reno. If you are happy with the workmanship, ask for their id's contact.

Actually you can tell. If he shows you his idea and you make changes or have comments and he blur blur then confirm he outsource.

Like my ID, on the spot he will tell me ok I propose this and that. After got rough idea he will forward to me the pictures. Then I will ask can do this or not, what if I don't want this and on the spot he will offer alternative ideas. So in this case confirm he is a real designer.

 

[derrickgoh]

DELETE..............

 

[tk]

My sister just got her BTO in Seng Kang, and decided to go for a contractor as it is cheaper. To our surprise this contractor, highly recommended by her friend, is fairly young but with more than 10 years of experience, and very engaging. Very please with his service. Price wise is reasonable as my sister did not opt for HDB tiles. I can pm you his contact if you are interested

Pls pm me the contractor contact.. thanks..

 

[live2snap]

Actually you can tell. If he shows you his idea and you make changes or have comments and he blur blur then confirm he outsource.

Like my ID, on the spot he will tell me ok I propose this and that. After got rough idea he will forward to me the pictures. Then I will ask can do this or not, what if I don't want this and on the spot he will offer alternative ideas. So in this case confirm he is a real designer.

Yup agreed that this is what a true designer does.

 

[sokcheng79]

Hi all,

Would like to recommend my friend's home renovation company as well.

Handyman services like house plumbing are also available.

Feel free to call 90564573 for enquires.

No harm in asking for more quotations.

Happy shopping!

 

[kendoarts]

d

Hi all,

Would like to recommend my friend's home renovation company as well.

Handyman services like house plumbing are also available.

Feel free to call 90564573 for enquires.

No harm in asking for more quotations.

Happy shopping!

Thank you.
Do your friend do whole house renovation?

 

[Delsamor]

Would like to know does the price in the item list quoted by ID/contractor include the product/material?

Example for L-box with down lights, does the quote include the lights?
Example for bathroom works, does it include the sink and showerhead?

Need to know what to buy first before engaging in a ID or contractor. Thanks!

 

[derrickgoh]

Would like to know does the price in the item list quoted by ID/contractor include the product/material?

Example for L-box with down lights, does the quote include the lights?
Example for bathroom works, does it include the sink and showerhead?

Need to know what to buy first before engaging in a ID or contractor. Thanks!

No and no. Lights, sink, jamban, etc all are excluded. Either you provide your own or can get the ID to bring you shopping.

 

[live2snap]

No and no. Lights, sink, jamban, etc all are excluded. Either you provide your own or can get the ID to bring you shopping.

Just to add on, electrical works are also quoted separately and not included in the reno contract.

 

[sokcheng79]

I would like to recommend my friend's home renovation company.

Handyman services like house plumbing are also available.

Feel free to call 90564573 for enquires.

No obligations. No harm in asking for more quotations.

Happy shopping!