Latest Photo @ 21 Jan

Updates?

The contractor has started to install the ground floor tiles, but nothing else. I've been told the contractor has urgent jobs to complete for his chinese clients, to get their houses ready for Chinese New Year. Hopefully things will pick up a week before CNY as that is when he promised to get moving again.

Well, enjoy these pics taken late afternoon on Monday.

No change to the exterior

Pic shows the fencing on the west side of the house. We simply extended (upwards) our neighbour's fence (with his consent of course)

View from the Master Suite Window, showing the gate/entrance to the house and my old but trusty ride.

View from the Family Lounge, showing the west side of the front lawn. Notice the concrete fencing to the north of the house has been fully erected - next thing to do is to plaster it smooth.

This is the view of the dining room from the patio entrance. We haven't yet decided on the cornice (see the ceiling).

An idea we got from a friend for the ceiling in our family room.

pic taken from the stairs, showing the ground floor tiles being laid.

Dry vs Wet Kitchen

A friend, W, dropped by my site and asked me a question back in the office, regarding why the need for wet and dry kitchen. I told W that I'd respond on my blog, so here goes.

There is no hard and fast rule on this (not that I am aware of!) whether you should have a separate wet and dry kitchen, but in our case, the idea came from how we currently do our cooking at my in-laws, and even from where I grew up. There are always two section of the kitchen or two work-tops; one where you do the fish, cut up the chix etc, and one where you do the less nasty stuffs, e.g. sandwiches, fruits etc.

How we plan our kitchen is, the wet kitchen is where we'll normally do the 'dirty' jobs e.g. food preparation, cooking, frying where there's a fair element of fluids flying around i.e. water, oil, soups, gravies (hence maybe why it is called a wet kitchen)..... As such, the floor definitely have to be cleaned regularly so we have the wet kitchen next to the laundry area, so we can simply mop the area clean at the end of the day. 

Dry kitchen meanwhile, is where we'll do the cleaner/drier stuffs e.g. baking stuffs, toast bread and it also doubles as small dining room for us, family of 5 at the bar-table which allows us to watch TV at the family room. 

Maybe others can offer better explanation, but the above is how we design our house. All the oven and stoves are in the wet kitchen. Dry kitchen is where we plan to have our microwave and toaster, and my iMac and my KitchenAid (I am hinting to my Missus heheh).

So W, i hope the above answers your question.

Update @ 16 Jan 08

I have received lots of request to update the blog... really sorry friends. I didn't realise you guys are keeping track..... Thank you for your continued visits to this blog.

Updates to date: 

• not much changes externally to the building itself, but construction of the perimeter concrete fencing has been progressing well.  
  
• internally the ceiling has all been covered with gypsum, and we are hoping the cornices will be installed within the next week or two, after which they will start to paint the interior walls.
  
• Amah's and Guest bathroom wall & floor tiling have been completed, whilst powder room had its wall fully tiled and floor should be tiled in the next week
  
• laundry room has been fully tiled
  
• kitchens (wet & dry) concrete support had been constructed, including the bar table (not for drinking, mind you hehehe). tiling of these areas will be done within the next 2 weeks
• Once all the toilets and kitchens tiling are done, then the whole of groundfloor floor will be tiled.
• Granite! Had driven down to Miri to view (and chosen) the different granites for all the 5 main toilets/bathroom sink top plus the bar table, dry and wet kitchen tops as well as the laundry sink counters. Phew!

Finally, I will have a break this weekend - I don't need to drive up to Bandar or Miri looking for anything. I will have to discuss stuffs with the contractor though but now will be able to play with the kids, especially my youngest Izzan Aaeeshah who just turned 2 last Friday. Birthday party pics will be up on the other gembo blog soon.

Visitors? I have 4 groups of visitors recently, 2 are clients of Henry Ling whilst 2 are finalising their design. If you plan to have a look around, I would suggest that you get in touch with me (email to azmirazak@gmail.com) so I can give you a guided tour, and if possible, do it in the weekends.

Now, enjoy the pics below. Till the next update. To Is, I am also jeles with your bed, chandelier and the big island heheheh.

familiar angle, @ 16 Jan

from the other unfamiliar angle

full concrete fencing at the back, which is almost done

laundry has been fully tiled

closer view of the top of the concrete fencing

the house compound has slowly been cleared. notice the concrete pillars for the fencing (behind the contractors' quarters)

I love this mosaics! My wife chose this and it blends very well with the wall tile (in the powder room). And I love blue as well :-)

Happy New Year 2008

These pics below were taken on 1st Jan 2008.... roughly 7 months since the foundation for the house was made. InsyaAllah in 3 months time, house will be ready... InsyaAllah (God-Willing!)

The house @ 01.01.08

The wood flooring on the upper floor had been completed- it'll be polished again, twice once we are ready to move in.

yours truly test driving the bath tub.... mmmm, bubbly heheheh

an additional scope, but a very important addition indeed for security and peace of mind

a view from master bedroom. . . . on 01.01.08 it was a beautiful rainbow

another additional scope, but at no additional cost. this is purely aesthetics.