Yes, we finally installed a mirror on the empty wall!
Initially, we planned to hang a mirror at dining area which will be a feature wall as well. Anyway, after considering few factors and some feng shui tips (husband-wife-cat-fights-included) we decided to put a mirror on an empty wall by the stairs. Turns out it was the best decision ever! It does make our home looks brighter and bigger.
Our mirror is from HEMNES series Ikea.
Oh, I am falling in loveeeeeeee! (Source : Google)
I love the fact that this kitchen is so bright, cheerful and still feels cozy at the same time. I can spend whole day washing dishes by the window while adoring the beautiful blue backsplash.
Anyhow, I am happy with my blue-grey backsplash that I’ve been looking all over the place then. Worth it!
Remember the last post about this dry and dull porch area?
As promised, we managed to do some makeover to bring this piece of land into life. Let me take you to the makeover process.
Behind every successful house project, there is a man. A gagah-perkasa-hakhogen-type to do all the ‘messy’ works while the woman being a supervisor. heh.
All you need are :
Faux / artificial grass – RM 9.00 – RM 13.00 / meter (depends on grass length)
Pebble stone tiles – RM 10.00 / piece
Cutter
Why artificial grass?
Since the area is so small and cover with concrete slab, we don’t think it worth to invest on natural grass. Most of our neighbors just cover them up with pebble stones, which means not so practical to us who living with an active toddler and a cruising baby.
Now come to the best part.
Before.
Dull and dry.
After.
Refreshing and energized! *syok sendiri*
Bought this custom made bi-fold A4 size Khat Art at a charity event called Do Art for Donate for RM 5 only.
Sent to Canvas Pixels; an art gallery and frame expert, for customized frame and border which cost me RM 20. You can pick your own preference materials and designs. It was my second time there and I am really satisfied with their workmanship. Highly recommended.
A piece of evergreen art that will last forever.
Hopefully, there's no more non-malays neighbours/salesperson mistakenly knock our door and offer a funeral service promotion at Nirvana Memorial *because of my Chinese-look husband* (-_-“)
2 years has passed since I made this hand book on our home renovation project. Alhamdulillah, we managed to complete most of the projects (err.. yes, some of them has been abandoned or put on hold due to few money constrains)
We moved in about a year ago on new year’s eve 2013 (Read : Moving In)
As remembering and celebrating the so-called 1st anniversary of living in our own house, I present to you random pictures compilation of our Putra Impiana; our humble home sweet home.
Guest Hall and Dining Hall.
Master Bedroom.
Laundry.
Despite of certain constraints and had to face several technical problems (ceiling leaks, wall cracks, piping problem, and so on) it feels so good to see how our home has ‘grown’ over the year *pat on the back*
When people ask, “What is the concept?”
It is ‘Mix and match’, I can say. Or more likely to ‘hentam keromo ikut suka’ concept. heh. As long as it looks homey, cosy and practical for us, we are all fine.
My advice to new home owner, who I’m sure was over excited (like I was) to work on home project but have LIMITED budget and time, pleaseeeee take one step, at a time. Delegate the tasks/projects into small ‘portions’ as weekly or monthly projects. Take time to plan, plot timelines, do some savings, make lot of surveys and researches. It is better do small feasible things (slowly but surely) rather than to immediately work on something big that you will regret later.
As for now, my eyes go to this area...
.
.
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The Porch
This dry and dull area need some serious ‘make over’!
Poooff! *waving my magic wand* - I wish.
This is how our family area look like about a year ago..
Actually, this area supposed to be a dry kitchen. *Explain why the switch board duduk nya kat atas nun* As I refused to face the hassles of having two kitchens, we decided to setup a small family area. Literally small - can fit around 4-5 peoples at a time.
One year later..
Before.
Well, when you’re living with kids, every corner is a ‘play room’. So did our family area has grown more into a ‘play area’, instead. You can find toys, balls, small cars lying around here and there. I’ve put a toys hamper in order to put them out of sight. It works for a moment but still, my eyes feels ‘hurt’ to see clutters.
As a solution, we invested on a MACY Gibson Storage Ottoman for RM 119. The cheapest in town, I guess. The storage is big enough to throw all the ’mess’ inside.
After.
Clutter-no-more! Plus, it does double and triple duty as seating, surface and storage in our family area. Thank you to storage ottoman inventor. You are a pure genius!
With that, I decided to put this entry in Susun Atur Sioca Mac & April Family Area Challenge which sponsored by Rehans Wardrobe and Aku Bukan Penulis Tegar. Better late than never!
I was upset to find that I missed lots of organizing monthly challenge at Susun Atur Sioca *cry me a river* I was on hibernation mode then (blame the pregnancy hormones) and overwhelmed with daily chores. Most of my blogs was neglected during that period, including this one.
errr.. sorry baby blogs.
To recover my mood, I went to my happy place (the kitchen) to do some happy things (obviously; ORGANIZING THING!)
I opened the fridge, and start re-organized the above section (freezer).
Before.
This is how my freezer looks like on daily basis. We rarely stock up our freezer recently, because I need some space to keep my precious frozen EBM for my 5 months old baby girl.
I start with transferring the chicken fillets, meats, fishes and mix vegetables from containers/tupperware into this disposable zip lock plastic bags by small portions. You can get them from any hypermarket with several choices of brand. I love the fact that it is transparent, so I do not have to label each of them. I will exactly know what’s inside at a glance. & the best of all, they are space-saving too!
After.
After a few transferring process, arrangements here and there, I am satisfied with the final outcome. I think I can live with this new ‘inside-the-freezer’ layout for couple years. Up until I ‘graduated’ my exclusively breastfeeding course for two years. InsyaAllah.
Layout description :
Above (from right) – 2 trays of Frozen EBMs (stored in breast milk storage bags), Ice Cubes Containers
Below (from right) – A box of meats & poultry (stored in zip lock bags), homemade frozen ready-to-eat pastas (stored in small portion of disposable foil trays), meat & fish balls, frozen drummets & nuggets.
Side Pocket (above) – Medela Ice packs
Side Pocket (below) – Homemade ‘cili boh’
Now I can smile all day longggg just by looking inside my fridge *grin*
Organizing thing really makes me happy!
Hi! Its been a while..
Kind of hard to find more free time since I am now wearing a title Mama of Two! Still struggling to juggle a full-time job with a family life. Anyway, here is one of few mini projects that I managed to do during my 90 days of maternity leave.
With little ‘help’ from my little man, we installed another accordion drying rack near the front porch. Already have two drying racks installed at the backyard for daily usage on weekdays. Then, we decided to add on another one since this area is the most exposed to the sunlight. Such a perfect spot to dry clothes during hot sunny days on weekend.
Before.
Remind me of how ‘rumah setinggan’ look like T______T
After.
‘Setinggan’ look no more!
4 ft Retractable Clothes Hanger from MR D.I.Y Tesco Extra Bandar Bukit Puchong.
RM 69.90 only! *
*If I’m not mistaken. Short term memory loss due to second baby delivery :p*
On the bright side, #MH370 brings us closer together. We share common bounds in humanity. We become more human and more focused on the things which really matter in our lives; our family, friendships, social relationships with others just like ourselves. The community comes together, joined in their sorrow and grief.
Hang in there, everyone.
