Japanese or Moroccan style?

I found an interesting website, Rental Decorating Digest,which I think really useful for first timer like me. Now, I have an idea on how to get started systematically. I get to know, among others, decorating style, colour scheme
and mood lighting. There are a couple of articles on tips to "make" your home/room look larger and more interesting.

But I really don't what style to choose. There are number of interesting styles that caught my attention - Japanese, Mediterranean, Moroccan, traditional, English country, contemporary, shaker, southwestern and so on.

Japanese and Moroccan styles may suit my taste very well. The former stresses on simplicity and uses neutral and natural colours while the latter plays with vibrant colours and highlights the use of exotic plants and tiles.

Dua-dua menarik! Macam mana, ya?

Apa style you mau?

I went to see a couple of showhouses - one on level 1, one on level 6 and another one on level 9. The one on first level is by the panel contractor (Ah Meng, if I'm not mistaken) and the other two are non-panel contractors.

"Don't worry lah, Encik. Saya bagi awak harga baik punya! Apa style you mau?"
"Style? Hmmm... apa style you ada?"
"Macam-macam. You sebut sahaja, semua ada. Mari tengok gambar-gambar ini. Semua ada."
"Mahal tak?"
"Mana ada mahal. Berpatutan, berpatutan."
"Pandailah kau cakap."
"Awak carilah, Encik. Mana dapat harga yang saya bagi. Banyak murah."
"Okeylah, nanti saya confirm balik. I go and ask around first, kay."

Style? Hmmm... I haven't think of that yet. Matilah... Time really flies. 16 May is approaching really fast. Aiyo... panik, panik.

home decorating for dummies

The headache doesn't stopped once you got the keys to your new home. It starts to get even worse. And it requires more and more money.

Before you get the memorandum (don't laugh, ok...) for keys, you need to settle any interest for late payment and plus other charges like deposit for water, deposit for electricity, quit rent, assessment and prepayment for maintenance fee (depends on the developers, some ask for one year and some are a bit generous, like mine who asked for 3 months).

After you give them the cheque, now you get your home for real (I hope so!). Then, you have to think of more and more money for the following:
1) safeguard your home (iron grills, security system, etc.)
2) lighting & wiring (to install lamps, ceiling fans, water heater, air-con, etc)
3) furnitures
4) electrical appliances
5) decorative items (from the necessity like curtain to unnecessary ones)

As for me, I was in panic mode for few days before I got to be rationale and started to ask the "learned" ones. A says this. B says that. C says don't do this. D says do that. And started to panic again.

I turned to internet and got more panic.

Aiyo... gempar lah.

Glimpse of Graha Residen - Part II

Another few pictures for sharing...

Fezal in the living & dining areas

Balcony with a view of kilang2!

the path to 3 + 1 rooms

Fezal in the Master bedroom

the 2nd bedroom

reading cum prayer room-to-be

the cozy (cozy ke?) 2nd bathroom

my naked kitchen

my naked kitchen II

My naked kitchen III

Graha?

My first encounter with this word was in 90s, in Melaka, when they built and named two buildings with this word. One in Graha Makmur and another one is Graha Maju. I heard there are other buildings using this word too, but I think I've lost count of it. Sorry...

What is Graha? If I'm not mistaken it is a Sanskrit word for planet. And a quick search on internet, gave me this from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graha

Graha (from Sanskrit ग्रह gráha -- seizing, laying hold of, holding [1]) is a “cosmic marker of influence” on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi (earth). In Hindu Astrology the Nava (nine) Grahas are some of the major markers that point out the karmic influence on the behavior of the living beings. Contrary to a common misconception, they themselves are not causative elements but can be compared to traffic signs. Unfortunately, the term Graha was ascribed to “planet” of our solar system as five members of Navagraha (the nine grahas) happen to be planets. These misconceptions are sometimes used as arguments against the validity of astrology.

The Nava Grahas are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), and Rahu (North Lunar Node) and Ketu (South Lunar Node).

Why Graha? Don't you think it sounds great? And I really think it sounds posh too. Hehehe. Graha... Don't you think so?

Glimpes of Graha Residen - Part I

Ladies and gentlemen, kindly allow me to share with you a couple of pictures of my newly bought apartment.

Entrance of Astaka Heights

Change the water, pls...

Frontal view

Please, come in..

A Place To Call Home

Alhamdulillah, finally, after waiting for more than a year and 10 months, I'm officially own a place to call home. I'm very very happy now and I can't wait to check it out tomorrow, to start planning on move in a.s.a.p.

I’m also thinking of having a minor renovation. Not much, at least, to have the kitchen cabinet. Built-in wardrobe? I don’t know… may be. Plastered ceiling? Hmmm… may be not. Anyhow, I need to set a side some cash for iron grills.

Aiyo… duit, oh duit!

By the way, anyone care to share with me some of your tips?