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Home & Decor

Bartley Residences: Post-Renovation Review

October 13, 2016January 23, 2019

Bartley Pool 2

It’s been nine months since we moved into Bartley Residences. How time flies! One common question I get from my friends is: “How’s life in new home?” I can’t deny that I enjoy staying at BR, especially when I can get more sleep in the morning. Edison’s school and my office are just a stone’s throw away. To me, location is the key advantage of BR. =)

Apart from being a brand new condo, the convenience of MRT at my door step is totally awesome too! Although I still drive to work, we take MRT more often during the weekends now. Travelling to town is generally faster by MRT than car. Moreover, there is no frustration of searching for carpark.

Lately, V and I are discussing about what we like and dislike about our new home. So, I took this opportunity to write a post-renovation review today.

Things We Like and Have Worked Well

1. Acorn Ceiling Fan with LED lights

Living Hall 3

In our previous home, we installed those old-fashioned ceiling fans that are ugly and difficult to clean. This time, I’m glad we made the right choice in using Acorn ceiling fans with LED lights.

The model that I like best is Futuriste 309 56” LED twin-blade fan in our living hall. It’s remarkably QUIET with excellent wind delivery. Sometimes, I doze off to sleep on the sofa! Ha! I’ve also recommended it to my friends.

One of the most common questions from my readers is whether the ceiling fan with LED light causes any annoying flickering shadow at night – especially in the study room. So, I took a video of it and shared it on my Instagram recently.

Model used in our study room is Ventilateur 238 42”.

One of the most common questions I get from my readers is “Will ceiling fan with LED light creates annoying flickering shadow?” So, I decided to share this video and the answer is obvious. There are shadows from the fan blades when the light is on. However, the shadows appear near the ceiling and they are not noticable within our eye level. So far, I don’t feel any discomfort from this. The fan LED light is the only lighting in my study room and it’s bright enough for me. #ceilingfan #ceilingfanwithled #acorn #acornceilingfan

A video posted by Emily (@ourlittlesmarties) on Oct 8, 2016 at 8:59pm PDT

The answer is YES! The shadow, however, appeared near the ceiling. So, it’s not noticeable within eye level. So far, we’ve been working and studying in our study room at night, and none of us are bothered or felt any discomfort with it.

2. 3M Prestige Sun Control Window Films

Window pane 2

These window films aren’t cheap, but they’re totally worth the price. It’s truly amazing how effective they are in rejecting the sun’s heat. Initially, I was a bit sceptical about it. Therefore, we didn’t install the films during our renovation.

After moving-in for half a year, we found that the heat was so unbearable. When the sun hits our windows during the day, heat becomes trapped inside our house, and thus increasing its temperature.

After the window film installation, we felt a significant difference in heat reduction. =)

3. Steigen Automated Laundry System

Steigen Exalt Solar

Recently, there’s a discussion among the residents on whether we’re allowed to dry our clothes at the balcony. The management has issued a letter against it due to aesthetic reasons, but many residents are still doing it. Yup, I don’t deny being one of them too.

Rightfully, we should be drying our clothes using the dryer or hanging them in the yard area. However, our yard area is so small and has no direct sunlight. Some smaller units here don’t even have yard area.

I really like the Steigen automated laundry system as it certainly makes my laundry hanging job much easier. It’s small and sleek with generous capacity. To make my laundry looks less noticeable, I usually lower my outdoor blind in the afternoon.

Things We Dislike or Have Missed

1. Our outdoor blind

Balcony

While most of the things and design decisions have worked wonderfully well, there’s been a few others that don’t. One of them is our outdoor blind. #wrongchoice

We installed outdoor blinds at our main balcony and master room balcony. They merely help to block the glare, but not the heat. Even though the blinds have stainless steel guide cables, they still flap badly during heavy thunderstorm. Sometimes, I wonder when they will just fall apart.

Worst thing is the mounting bracket (not sure if this is the right word to use). Our contractor has certainly used a low-grade type. They are rusty and totally unsecure. I guess they quoted us a low price with trade-off in the quality of the materials used.

Miserable hookThat miserable hook or bracket, whatever you call it
Rusty hookRusty already!

Well, if they do fall apart one day, I will consider installing the sliding louvred panels instead.

2. Combi Blinds

We love the WinUs Korean Combi Blinds that we installed in all our bedrooms. Our colour selection also matches with our paint colours (thankfully!). However, there’s a small problem associated with it that we’re uncomfortable with.

Blind

The rod at the bottom of the blind tends to hit the aluminium window grill when the fan is blowing. Thus, it creates a soft “ting ting” sound when they hit against each other, and it’s quite disturbing when we’re sleeping at night.

Thus, V came out with his “genius” idea to put a large cloth peg on the rod – at the area where it hits the aluminium window grill. Although it looks unsightly, it reduces the noise significantly.

Genius solution. No?

3. Induction Cooker

KitchenCurrent kitchen cooktop with gas stove

During our renovation, it has never crossed my mind to give away our trusty gas stove. Recently, I visited my friend’s house in BR and saw that she has converted to induction cooking. Induction cooktop is safer and easier to clean. The moment I saw it, I like it so much.

Now, I’m planning to upgrade my kitchen to induction cooktop too. This will be my mini project when SA2 is over – to search for a good and affordable induction cooker!

Any recommendations? 🙂

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16 comments

Debster October 20, 2016 at 4:54 PM

Hullo. Have enjoyed reading your blog ever since I chanced upon it. 🙂 Just a small advice on the noise created by your blinds hitting the window frames. Instead of clothes pegs, u can stick a transparent rubber stopper (can get from daiso) around the area it gets hit. Not so ugly anymore! 🙂

Reply
Emily October 20, 2016 at 5:06 PM

Hi Debster,
Thanks for visiting my blog and I appreciate your kind words. What a brilliant idea! I will certainly get the transparent rubber stopper that you’ve recommended. The sight of the clothes pegs is really annoying, I can’t wait to get rid of them. :p

Reply
Lacy October 31, 2016 at 9:02 AM

Hi Emily , can you share where you bought your sofa from ? Price and from which store . Appreciate your help.thanks in advance

Reply
Emily October 31, 2016 at 9:15 AM

Hi Lacy,
I bought the sofa from Lorenzo One KM Mall branch. The price is $1699.

Reply
Lacy November 1, 2016 at 7:27 PM

Thanks Emily ! Will check it out

Reply
Ling November 2, 2016 at 6:01 PM

Hi, ok to share how much you paid for the 3M for your house? Living room and 2 bedrooms? Thanks

Reply
Emily November 2, 2016 at 10:05 PM

Hi Ling,
The price for living hall and 3 bedrooms is slightly below $3K after the 25% discount during the promo period.

Reply
Eva wong November 22, 2016 at 3:20 PM

Hi Emily,
Your website has been utmost helpful to new owners @ bartley ridge like me and my husband. Furthermore being a PR makes it harder for me because I have no idea who to contact or engage or even start with. I actually bookmarked your website so I know what to do and what to take note of. Thank you once again for being so helpful and generous in sharing out information up to the detail including duration/price/websites and addresses of merchants. God bless you! X)

Reply
Emily November 23, 2016 at 8:44 AM

Dear Eva,
Thanks for your kind comment. I’m glad you find it helpful. I’m just sharing my first renovation experience and in fact, I learnt a lot myself too. All the best to your new home renovation at Bartley Ridge. 🙂

Reply
diana November 6, 2017 at 4:07 PM

Hi Emily,

I chanced upon your website while surfing for a hot/cold water filter. We are moving to our new place soon and am thinking of installing the 3M unit. Would you care to share how’s your experience so far with the 3M hot/cold water filter unit? Thank you!

Reply
Emily November 7, 2017 at 10:02 PM

Hi Diana,
I really love the 3M water filter – best thing I have for my home! It’s practically maintenance-free, all I need to do is just to change the filter every 6-8 months. Moreover, the filter can be changed very easily. No tools required, just twist and turn. No more hassles of boiling water and storing cold water in fridge too. I highly recommend it! 🙂

Reply
Diana November 9, 2017 at 1:51 PM

Hi Emily,

Thank you so much for your feedback & recommendation! That surely give me more assurance of getting this filter unit. 😉

Reply
Emily November 14, 2017 at 6:14 PM

You’re welcome, Diana. I really hope that you’ll like it as much as I am. 🙂

Reply
Shirlynn Lee November 27, 2017 at 3:15 PM

Hi there! I saw you regretted installing blinds and now thinking about installing “sliding louvered panels” instead. Can you share what that is and where i can find more details on it? I’m also working on renovating my new place and very keen to find out!

TIA!

Reply
Emily November 29, 2017 at 8:15 PM

Hi Shirlynn,
Yes, I kinda regretted installing the outdoor blind because I don’t really use them that much – especially after I installed the solar film. Outdoor blind can only block glare, but not the heat. In addition, they shake vigorously when there is heavy rain and storm. I saw some of neighbours installed the sliding louvered panels and I really like them. They can completely block the sun and rain, but the downside is its cost. I think it doubles the cost of outdoor blinds. One example I can find on the internet is this: https://www.spacedor.sg/louvres?gclid=Cj0KCQiA0vnQBRDmARIsAEL0M1kvCV_VRsNbmXpYyYwzR4etzH-r3Gh9I4_u2QibUHRS7phJal5qtwgaAjeqEALw_wcB (just an example, I don’t know much about this company). Hope this helps! 🙂

Reply
Shirlynn Lee November 30, 2017 at 10:18 AM

Hey Emily! Thanks!! 🙂

Reply

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