Kwek Kampong

If you can't tell from my many #kwekkampong posts, and I haven't already raved to you about how awesome it is staying here, let me tell you now, I LOVE the new Kwek Kampong. 

From the big things like its incredibly convenient location, to the details like the peranakan tiles under our main door and the astro turf shoe rack. I thank God for this cozy little home done just the way we like it. 

I could be happy spending all day in the Kwek Kampong (cue tai tai dreams). 

Yet I have come to learn, that the Kwek Kampong, like any home, is at it's best when filled with the joy and warmth of the people who love us. 

So to all our loved ones, the Kwek Kampong doors (and please come and admire our special doors) are always open to you. We also have a spare room and extra bed for anyone who needs a place to rest and a happy home :)

(Though we have had a number of friends over, this was the only time we remembered to take a photo)

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at 7:09 AM

Home Improvement: Spray Paint

Remember Freecycle that I told you guys about earlier? 

Well, someone had out up this old beat up rattan coffee table on freecycle. When I saw it, I immediately sent a message to the person and promised to pick it up that day. It held so much potential!

Mr Kwek had been dropping comments about how he had no place to put his cup when watching tv or chilling out in the living room area. So I figured this would be just what he was looking for. 

The rattan living room set was a staple in many singapore homes in the 80s. My parents had a set when I was growing up, so did my cousins and I'm sure many of you from my generation would remember something similar in your homes. So this coffee table felt warmly familiar. 

However, most of my living room furniture is part of the rosewood furniture set from the in-laws so they were black. When we brought the coffee table home, it stuck out like a sore thumb. But it was nothing the magic of spray paint can't solve.

Two cans of matte black spray paint later, here it is now. Fits right in with the rest of the home, gorgeously modern yet a nod to a bygone era. 

And now Mr Kwek has a place to put his cup and I can eat while watching the tv.

Thanks kind soul for passing this treasure on. 

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at 5:33 AM

Home Improvement: Bedside Table Cover

What did all of you do over the weekend? 

I had a very productive weekend with another home improvement project :)

I've had a problem with my bedside table for awhile. This is what it looked like.

The main purpose of the bedside table is for my phone and iPad to sit on and charge when I'm in bed. Then there's also the face stuff that I bought recently. I figured having it next to me before I sleep makes it more likely that I will use them. All that made my bedside table a big mess. The bigger problem was that my phone kept falling off the table as it could not balance on top of wires/containers when it vibrated with each message/call.

In addition, we got our bedside tables from a garage sale at $5 each and they had the laminate popping up and cracking, made worse with me plonking my wet cups on top.

What to do? What to do?

Take out my pretty cloth ans sew a bedside table sleeve of course!

Here's what my bedside table looks like now *beams*

My iPad and phone now have their very own pockets to sit in. They can now charge in comfort and they never have to take the scary dive off the table again.

The containers filled with facial goodness have their very own pockets too. easy access to everything and a clear table top.

I added a pretty broken glass coaster (a gift from the US from a lovely friend) so that my wet cups will no longer cause problems.

*Here's a little tip: Put a small piece of a anti-slip pad (the kind people put on their dashboards) under the bedside table sleeve so it will not slip off even if one side is heavier than the other.

Anyone wanna place orders? I could customise one for you for $30 :)

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at 11:51 AM

Carpenter Kwek

Carpenter Kwek was hard at work on the first day of the year, sanding and varnishing this old kopitiam chair that someone had discarded, as well as an old shelf that we had asked the former home owners to leave behind for us.

Check out the finished products. The kopitiam chair looks amazing now that the old floral pattern on the seat can be seen again.

What do you guys think? Carpenter Kwek's handiwork is pretty awesome in my humble opinion.

I on the other hand was working on my own little home improvement project. Watch this space. 

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at 10:29 PM

The Big Move

It was surreal seeing our lives wrapped up in bubble wrap and stuffed into large cartons. 

On the drive from Tampines to our new home at Boon Tiong, Mr Kwek and I couldn't believe it was actually happening. We were moving to the home that we have bought together, planned and designed the renovation together, and where we will build our family together. 

The move was fuss free. We hired a moving company and they sent an army of strong men who wrapped everything up and loaded our stuff onto 2 lorries within an hour. I was impressed. It took them another hour to unload and put all the furniture into place in our new home. It was that simple. 

Here's a peek at our new home before all the stuff moved in. 

Our place is basically one big white box. Just the way we like it :)

We have since been living out of our suitcases since it has been a really busy December. You will have to wait till we find time to unpack before I post pictures.

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at 10:09 AM