bartley residences

Bartley Residences: Post-Renovation Review

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”.

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. =)

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Bartley Residences: WinUs Korean Combi Blinds and Unislat

Many readers asked me about the blinds that I used and their costs. I realised I didn’t share much about it, partly because taking pictures of the blinds are very tedious. There is a high contrast, indoor is dark but outdoor is too bright due to the harsh sunlight. I may be able to neutralise the lightning using a flash, but I’m really a sucker in using it.

Thankfully, with my new Olympus PEN-F and M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 prime lens, this is made possible. So, let’s check out my Korean Combi Blinds and Unislat.

Personally, I still prefer curtains over blinds. Curtains look lovely on big windows and able to block out light more effectively than blinds. For smaller windows, blinds are a good choice because they’re simple and stylish.

However, V is strongly against curtains because he feels that washing curtains is such a big chore. Blinds are much longer-lasting, can be cleaned easily, and offer varying degrees of privacy as they are fully adjustable.

Since we’ve been living with curtains for so many years, we decided to go completely curtainless this time – using only blinds and unislat. Moreover, during my visit to Picket & Rail, I was completely won over by the beauty of Korean combi blinds and unislat.

Unislat for Living Hall

Living Hall 3

We chose Unislat for our living hall. It’s made of 100% lightweight polyester, unlike curtains which are generally dependent on heavy fabrics which can be troublesome to maintain and clean.

Unislat is very light and soft with high quality materials, moderate thickness and extremely soft textures. With just a gentle twist of the wand stick, it slides flawlessly and effortlessly to keep our privacy, as well as allowing the gentle breeze and sunlight through the mesh textured fabric surface.

Living Hall

UnislatCloser look at the material (partial block-out)
Unislat 3Closer look at the material (complete block-out)
Unislat 5Light and flowy material

Unislat 4

Every layer is anti-pollutant coated to prevent build-up of dirt, dust and other harmful allergens. It can be hand-washed, or simply wipe with damp cloth or feather duster.

Unislat controllerWith a gentle twist of the wand stick, the unislat slides effortlessly
Unislat TrackThe unislat track

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Steigen Automated Laundry System Solved My Laundry Drying Problem

I’ve seen many laundry hanging systems, and Steigen automated laundry system impressed me the most. Before we moved into Bartley, we were hesitating whether to install a laundry hanging system. We thought we could just use a laundry drying rack, but after a month, we realized that it has limited drying capacity and too cumbersome to use.

So, we began checking out various laundry systems in the market. From foldable wall-mounted to retractable ceiling-mounted system, and from manual pulley to fully automated remote-controlled system, we seriously considered the pros and cons of each system.

The manual pulley system uses gears to expedite the pulling process to raise or lower the poles. It’s affordable, easy-to-use, and maintenance-free. However, I dislike the sight of ropes hanging around the walls. In addition, the rack can be heavy and tiring to pull when it’s fully loaded, and the pulley system may get stuck with normal wear and tear.

The automated remote-controlled system, on the other hand, is sleek, effortless to use and space-saving. The price is much higher and there’s also a risk of motor failure due to normal wear and tear.

After considering the size of our home, ease of use, functionality, and outlook of the system, we chose the latter eventually.

Three weeks ago, we chanced upon Steigen Automated Laundry System during their roadshow at Singapore Expo, and we were so impressed. They have one of the sleekest, most functional and high-capacity laundry system in the market. After seeing the demonstration, we were completely sold.

Exalt systems

There are four models: Exalt Flexi, Exalt Classic, Exalt Flexi – UV and Exalt Solar, with prices ranging from $799 to $999 including delivery and installation.

We chose Exalt Solar, which is the latest model. Truthfully, the solar is just a ‘nice to have’ function and may not be necessary in our hot weather. But thinking that this is the latest model, we might need it during rainy weather, and also for last-minute urgent drying, we went for the solar system.

Before & AfterSteigen automated laundry system saves a lot of floor space as it can be fully retracted when not in use as compared to a laundry rack

The Exalt Solar System was installed last week and I was so delighted that the efforts needed to hang my laundries are drastically minimized. Edison was so thrilled with the system and he couldn’t help running to help me whenever I hang my laundries.

Steigen Exalt Solar

Here are FIVE things I like about Steigen automated laundry system.

1. Extremely easy and effortless to use (fully remote control)

This is the major plus point of this system. All I have to do is just a press of button to lower and raise the poles to lift heavy clothes using a remote control.

Remote ControlThe remote control

2. Adjustable poles length and system height

The poles length are adjustable at both sides. They can be extended from 1.27m up to 2.36m to suit my needs. When I’ve to hang my bedsheets, I extend the pole length to the maximum at both ends. Otherwise, I shorten them to save space. The extension poles can be secured tightly at both ends when not in use.

Steigen Exalt Solar 4

Steigen Exalt Solar 3

There are 4 retractable poles altogether – 2 poles on the higher level and 2 poles on the lower level. This brilliant design maximizes air flow when hanging clothes for faster drying. I can hang up to 40 pieces of clothes using hangers (10pcs on each pole) before extending the poles. Additional clip-on hooks can be purchased and put on the 2 poles on the lower level to fix the hanger position.

Steigen automated laundry system

The maximum holding capacity is 35kg, I can hang up to 4 rounds of washing in my 7kg washer.

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Our Little Smarties Welcomes You for a Home Tour

We’ve moved into our new home for two months now, and it’s about time I get down to do a home tour post before laziness creeps in. 🙂

Truth be told, the first month I moved in, I was obsessed with cleaning. Gradually, the “new house syndrome” subsided, we’ve settled in comfortably and no longer obsessed with cleaning. Even though we’re not as fascinated as before, we’re still very much in love with the simplicity and clean design of our home.

As I’ve shared in my previous post, we’ve chosen neutral colours that include white, grey, beige and brown (wood) as we’re going for an overall soft and cosy look.

This is our living hall.

Living Hall 1

The Lamitak pearl and wood laminate provides a beautiful centrepiece for our home entertainment. We bought a Samsung 50″ SUHD 4K Flat Smart TV with 320 W 4.1 Ch Soundbar. Read my post on furniture and electrical appliances HERE.

Curtain

For our curtain, we opted for Unislat – a new type of curtain from Korea. It’s very difficult to take a proper picture of our Unislat due to the light (as the material is very sheer). You can check out Picket & Rail website for more pictures on Unislat.

Unislat is like a vertical curtain. You can flip it so that you can see through or completely block-out for privacy. I like the fabric as it’s very light, soft and washable. I don’t need to bring it down for washing, just vacuum and clean with damp cloth. So, it’s easy on the maintenance part too. And because it’s sheer, our living hall is bright with ample sunlight.

Our ceiling fan is from Acorn. This model is Futuriste 309 56″ LED RGB twin-blade ceiling fan. I love it because: 1) it’s white, 2) modernistic design, 3) absolutely quiet, and 4) provides great air circulation for a natural and comfortable feeling. You can read my review HERE.

Living Hall 3

Our leather sofa is from Lorenzo – one of my favourite furniture brands. Our living hall is small, we had a hard time searching for an L-shape sofa that is below 2.3m in length. Most L-shaped sofa in the market is above 2.4m which is obviously too long for our hall.

This 3-seater sofa is like a dream-come-true to me. It’s not exactly L-shaped, but all the 3 seats can be extended to form an L. The foot rest can be pushed inside when not in use to save space.

Nonetheless, many guests commented that our sofa is too big. I guess this is the bare minimum for the three of us to sit comfortably. If I buy a two-seater, I may end up sitting on the floor!

This is our main balcony.

Living Hall 2

We opted for wood-plastic composites (commonly known as WPCs) and artificial turf. You can read my previous posts for detailed information on my balcony decking: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3.

Balcony

Balcony

I grow orchids on my planter boxes.

Planter Boxes

This is our dining hall.

Dining Table

Our dining table, bench and chairs are from Cellini. The dining table has a quartz top, making it resistant to stains and scratches – the main reason why V loves it. I’d prefer a smaller glass top dining table with chrome-plated legs, and the price is half of the price of quartz top.

At the end, we chose the quartz top because it’s easy to maintain and more durable.

This is my kitchen.

Kitchen

We didn’t do any renovation in our kitchen. All the cabinets and furnishings are provided by the developer, including the fridge, convention oven, cooker hood, washer and dryer. I love the tall pull-out pantry which is truly a lifesaver for storing food in a small kitchen.

Kitchen Cabinet

A stacked washer and dryer unit within cabinet in the kitchen is absolutely lovely too!

Washer Dryer

This is our master bedroom.

Master Bedroom 1

For all our bedrooms, we chose WinUs – Korea’s No.1 Roller Combi Blind Brand. Actually, there are many similar combi blinds in the market (commonly known as rainbow blind). We decided to invest a little bit more for the original WinUs Korean Combi Blind simply because we love their designs and quality. We’re going completely “curtain-less” because we don’t have time to wash them. Combi blind is easy to maintain, just vacuum or clean with a damp cloth.

Master Bedroom 3Built-in wardrobe from the developer

Please ignore my dry cabinet on the bedside table. I couldn’t find a better place that is away from sunlight and has a power point. #nospace

Master Toilet 2Master bedroom toilet
Master BalconyMaster bedroom balcony (mainly used for hanging laundry now)

This is Edison’s bedroom.  😉

Edison's Room 2

Unlike my room, Edison’s bedroom is more colourful. Thanks to his Mickey Mouse bedsheet! We made a platform bed with drawers and cove lighting, and also a top hung cabinet for him. The drawers are now full of his toys and books. His transformer toys are neatly arranged on the cabinet, still have some empty spaces on top for future use.

Edison's Room 4

Edison's Room 5

This is our study room (bedroom 3).  😛

Study room

And lastly, the bomb shelter has been transformed into a fully functional store room!

Bomb Shelter

Phew, that’s it! I took quite a long time to write this post and take so many pictures (some of them are taken since CNY). So, I hope you enjoyed my home tour! 🙂

 

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Happy Breezy Days with Acorn Ceiling Fans

We’ve been staying at our new home for one month already. How time flies! ^___^

So, how’s our overall stay at our new home? Truth be told, I took a bit of time to get used to a smaller space. Initially, I felt a little confined but as soon as I’ve adapted to it, I began to rejoice at how easy it is to clean this house.

I like that it’s quite breezy, my balconies are windy especially at night. Sometimes, I sleep with the balcony door opened because I love natural wind and fresh air. Best of all, we get to sleep half an hour more in the morning as the school is just 10 minutes’ walk away. And I took just 8 minutes to reach my office. =)

Today, I’m going to share with you one of the things I like BEST in my new home – that’s my Acorn ceiling fans. One of my best purchases for this home, and I love them to bits! 🙂

Living Hall with Futuriste 309

Acorn Ceiling FanPicture Credit: Acorn Brochure

Okay, let’s start from the living hall. This unique two-blade designer ceiling fan, Futuriste, is like love-at-first-sight to me the moment I saw it on Acorn ceiling fan brochure. Unfortunately, the electrical shop that we went to does not have a display model of Futuriste, but the shop owner gladly showed us another model from Acorn which is the Ventilateur.

The display fan was installed in his store room, and according to him, he purposely installed the fan in the poorly ventilated store room so that customers can feel the efficiency of the fan. True enough, the fan is powerful yet quiet, producing airflow and circulation that is second to none. I was so impressed.

Acorn Futuriste 309

Based on the size of our living hall, our electrician also recommended Acorn Futuriste 309 56″ LED RGB twin-blade ceiling fan. It comes in 3 fashionable colours – white, black and titanium. We chose the white which is a neutral colour that matches any theme, design and furnishing. Its modernistic design works beautifully in my home.

Acorn Futuriste 309

Acorn Futuriste 309

Acorn Futuriste Remote Control

Futuriste 309 comes with innovative LED lightkits and a smart touch-screen remote control. There are 3 speeds to choose from (high/medium/low), 2 LED light colours (warm white/cool white) and timer (1/3/6 hours). The remote-control comes with a wall mount holder too. It’s suitable for large room and living hall.

Acorn Futuriste 309

I like Futuriste 309 so much and I highly recommend it. The downwash of the airflow is excellent, absolutely quiet and stable when switching from low to high speed (70-160 RPM). Blade angles are bent to an angle that guarantees strong wind delivery.

Most of the time, I switch it on low mode. When I switch it on medium mode, I can feel the wind in my balcony and foyer. Its absolute quietness and perfect air circulation give me a natural and comfortable living area.

Master Bedroom with Futuriste 308

Acorn Futuriste 308

We picked another Futuriste model for our master bedroom. It’s the Futuriste 308 50″ LED RGB Ceiling Fan. We like the unique and eye-catching design of this fan, especially the blades that are elegantly contoured around its motor unit to bring out the best in terms of appearance and performance.

Acorn Futuriste 308

It produces a powerful airflow and very quiet, making it suitable for bedroom. Futuriste 308 is available in four colours – white, black, titanium and wood (limited edition). The touch-screen remote control is the same as Futuriste 309 model.

Acorn Ceiling Fan

Bedroom 2 (Edison’s Room) and Bedroom 3 (Study Room) with Ventilateur 238

This is the model that we saw at the electrical shop. It comes with 2 options (with and without lightkits) and 2 sizes (42” and 52”). Based on our room sizes, 42” fits perfectly. There are four colour selections – white, gold, silver and black. We picked the silver for Edison’s room and the white for our study room.

Acorn Ventilateur 238

Acorn Ventilateur 238

We want the Ventilateur 238 42” ceiling fan with lightkit. Both rooms rely on the LED light on the ceiling fan as the main light as we didn’t install additional lightings. Much to my surprise, the lighting is bright enough. Even at night when I’m working in my study room, the room is bright with plenty of airflow.

Acorn Ventilateur Remote Control

The touch-screen remote control also comes with a wall mount holder. It’s small and look extremely lovely. There are 3 speeds to choose from (high/medium/low), 2 LED light colours (warm white/ white) and timer (1/2/4/8 hours). This model is suitable for bedroom, living hall as well as balcony.

Acorn Ventilateur 238Acorn Ventilateur 238 in Silver
Acorn Ventilateur 238Acorn Ventilateur 238 in White

All in all, we’re very satisfied with the performance of Acorn Futuriste 309, Futuriste 308 and Ventilateur 238 ceiling fans. They are engineered to deliver good aerodynamics quality to give us a natural and comfortable living environment. Reasonably-priced with outstanding quality, the design of the fan oozes style and class with every curve and contour that appeals to both the young and young at heart.

With Acorn, we enjoy happy and breezy days!

 💡 Pin Up, Read Later!

Acorn Ceiling Fans Review

 

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