KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Coolkidsrock2 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 19, 2021 4:44 pm

I don't have fake plants for fengshui reason that should not have fake plants. The reason I have non-edible plants is because they are part of a 局

Agree that water in Singapore do not need boiling. Will need to change my mindset. Alternative is to install a zip tap.

I also prefer a smaller place but bo pian, due to multi-generational living arrangement. My mum and pils are nearing/above 80s.

Both side parents? That's really big family.

zac's mum wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:33 am

Also wondering if anyone here has a kitchen island.

Does yours have a sink installed in it? Or a hob? Have cooker hood above or not?

Would like to hear more. What do U like/not like about your kitchen island?

Is that for a landed property or high-rise building?

Don't you need to run the pipe to the original waste outlet of your stack if it's a high-rise?

Friend of mine did an island sink in his resale EM but he needed to build a platform to raise his kitchen level so that the pipes can be hidden beneath to drain the waste water from his island sink. The water flow as you can imagine is rather slow as there's grease and gunk accumulated on the innerside of the PVC pipes, etc. I am not sure if the pipes need to tilted at an angle to ease flow of water to the original outlet provided by HDB/condo developer.

In fact my office's pantry also has that island sink, but you know all modern office floorings are raised anyways.

https://www.homeanddecor.com.sg/design/ ... b-kitchen/



For landed, it's no problem as you can run pipes any way you want below the soil that you own, without getting into any waterproofing disputes with your neighbours downstairs.



An induction hob will be good for the island. You don't need the hood if you're installing that as it's meant for light cooking.

Did your friend hack the original kitchen tiles as part of the reno? Cos both my IDs told me (for my HDB and condo) that it can be done if we are gonna hack the tiles anyway. They will have to do proper waterproofing too (I wanted the island in the living room), like you mentioned. The water pipe would run under the kitchen all the way to the laundry yard (which has a step down into it). So I suppose that solves the flow issue.

In any case, I have decided that I don’t need a sink, nor a hob, in the island. Those will stay in the main kitchen countertop, and the island will just be a large empty flat surface for me to roll my dough / kid do hw or have tuition there / I plug my laptop in it for work etc. And storage underneath of course. Seen too many islands get cluttered over time. Someone once called it the barnacling effect: any flat surface at home simply attracts lots of random junk to be dumped on it.

zac's mum wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:24 pm

Did your friend hack the original kitchen tiles as part of the reno? Cos both my IDs told me (for my HDB and condo) that it can be done if we are gonna hack the tiles anyway. They will have to do proper waterproofing too (I wanted the island in the living room), like you mentioned. The water pipe would run under the kitchen all the way to the laundry yard (which has a step down into it). So I suppose that solves the flow issue.

In any case, I have decided that I don’t need a sink, nor a hob, in the island. Those will stay in the main kitchen countertop, and the island will just be a large empty flat surface for me to roll my dough / kid do hw or have tuition there / I plug my laptop in it for work etc. And storage underneath of course. Seen too many islands get cluttered over time. Someone once called it the barnacling effect: any flat surface at home simply attracts lots of random junk to be dumped on it.

No idea. Just had to take a step up the platform to help them wash up.

The island will be higher than your dining table and study table, so you will need bar chairs/stool which may tire your tutor and children out. I had a flat island previously too. 15min for breakfast is ok, but 2 hrs can be back-breaking.

starlight1968sg wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:52 pm

My home has only min furniture. I go for min and simple. This makes cleaning or maintaining easy

Me too. I'm into wabi-sabi living. I use timber, rattan, jute, stone, kutani ware, glass, copper and bamboo. I only display cotton flowers.

Unfortunately, other members in my family like to hoard useless things that disturb my inner peace.

zac's mum wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:33 am

Also wondering if anyone here has a kitchen island.

Does yours have a sink installed in it? Or a hob? Have cooker hood above or not?

Would like to hear more. What do U like/not like about your kitchen island?

We constructed an island during reno at end of last yr.
No sink installed on it. Just a flat surface that is taller than the dining table next to it.
We did install 2 electrical plugs at the side so that we can plug in appliance and/or laptop/ charger.
Normally use for quick meals, eg. breakfast.
Since all WFH/ HBL now, dining table is sometimes also used for work.
We don't really use the island for work as there's no back support if sitting on the higher barstools.
You are right that it does accumulate stuff, eg. snacks, coasters, paper towels, etc.
So need some discipline in clearing up if want to maintain a clutter-free look.

.zeit wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:21 pm

zac's mum wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:24 pm

In any case, I have decided that I don’t need a sink, nor a hob, in the island. Those will stay in the main kitchen countertop, and the island will just be a large empty flat surface for me to roll my dough / kid do hw or have tuition there / I plug my laptop in it for work etc. And storage underneath of course. Seen too many islands get cluttered over time. Someone once called it the barnacling effect: any flat surface at home simply attracts lots of random junk to be dumped on it.

No idea. Just had to take a step up the platform to help them wash up.

The island will be higher than your dining table and study table, so you will need bar chairs/stool which may tire your tutor and children out. I had a flat island previously too. 15min for breakfast is ok, but 2 hrs can be back-breaking.

Agree with this. I've sat at my brother's island, and it's not at a height that's comfortable for long-term work, even on a high bar stool. And bar stools aren't great for sitting on either. A possibility might be a 2-level island, but that breaks up the extended surface area.

Good luck with keeping the surface clear of junk! As long as there is more than 1 person in the house, clutter just grows. "Barnacling effect" is a great way to describe it!

Thx all for the feedback! Will check with the ID to see if island height can be customized.

The good thing about not having a built-in sink/hob is that the cabinet depth does not have to be the standard 60cm. So I can actually have storage on both sides of the island (width is 80cm). Thinking of doing same height as dining table (bar height is too high for rolling dough comfortably!) Possibly plonk a bigger top on it so there’s an extended ledge to tuck chairs under.

Our main reason for making the island is…the original enclosed kitchen was too dark and cramped. So we are hacking one entire wall to let light through the whole open space. Need to compensate for the lost worktop and storage, hence the “breakaway” island.

zac's mum wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:19 am

Thx all for the feedback! Will check with the ID to see if island height can be customized.

The good thing about not having a built-in sink/hob is that the cabinet depth does not have to be the standard 60cm. So I can actually have storage on both sides of the island (width is 80cm). Thinking of doing same height as dining table (bar height is too high for rolling dough comfortably!) Possibly plonk a bigger top on it so there’s an extended ledge to tuck chairs under.

Our main reason for making the island is…the original enclosed kitchen was too dark and cramped. So we are hacking one entire wall to let light through the whole open space. Need to compensate for the lost worktop and storage, hence the “breakaway” island.

Test the height for comfort for the various activities you have in mind. There is a difference between typical desk height (70-75 cm) and counter height (around 85 cm) so it may still not work for both purposes.