Renovation Don'ts Part 2

 

 

You know what those are in the photos? Yupps - light and fan switches. Nice ones too - canggih clipsal branded ones. The switches light up when the switch is off, so that you can find your light switch in the dark. But then not all of them light up when off, some light up when the switch is on - err.. am not sure why.

Anyhow...  so why is it appearing in this post about a renovation don't, these being quality branded switches and all?

Try figuring out which switch is for which light or fan - it's a renovation don't because you'd probably be standing there pressing each switch on and off to get to the one that you want. Someone (not me) commented that this is a super lazy way of the architect to organise all the wiring to switches. Having heard that, I'd have to say I agree. To the architect's defense, he was being neat? bahH! I think practicality should take preference over neatness of running the electrical wires. It's actually quite annoying and typically I just end up switching ALL of them on and off. Plus, laying them out like that, leaves gaps in between the switches that could not physically be possible for it to be properly finished with plastering. This is definitely a renovation don't.

Renovation Don'ts Part 1.1

On the same point about heights of kitchen benchtops that I had posted about here ..... just driving home the point:

▲ she climbed on a stool after her arms got tired from having 

to mix batter for cookies in a bowl on the super high benchtop

and didn't even notice that the other ppl in the backgroun

were also tiptoeing!

New renovation don't coming up soon!

Renovation Don'ts 1

Thought this may be a good series to start writing on. Will see how much material I am able to come up with.

Just a disclaimer to anyone who actually reads my stuff or stumbles across this, I am no architect, nor an interior designer, nor any sort of home stylist (other than my own)... just someone who cares to notice and observe details. I have done 1 house renovation of my own, observed a rebuilding of a bungalow, and seen the transformation of a couple of friend's houses. This series also work kinda as my mental notes for future projects.

So, here's a very important renovation DON'T:

Please make sure your kitchen benchtops are the suitable height for your own use, ie, not too high nor not too low. Although the latter may not cause too much problems, as it couldn't possibly get way too low, unless your contractor or architect or ID is a midget, or short person (what's the politically correct term?) and designed the height for himself. But this is what will happen if it's too high:

▲ standing on a stool to cook!

Make sure you allow your kitchen cabinet heights to include any concrete slabs and final finish layer, ie such as granite, or solid surface or watever it is u are using. And then the height of stove (in the picture above a temporary fire stove is pictured, which is about 4-5cm in height?) and then height of the pot holder, the bit that  (is that wat it's called? which added another 2-3 cm)

▲ thought this height worked pretty well for a temporary stove,

allowance of about a 5" drop, height of higher bench is about 33" from the floor

disclaimer: am sure there are international standards or standards that work for Malaysians, but dunno what that is - not saying this is it!