Muji Style BTO Reno Journey:How to choose the right ID -Our Chosen One

We've already decided we wanted a Muji theme for our new home. That makes things a little easier, having a theme to work towards.

image credit: ezybuy

We started our ID hunt pretty late, only one week before we collect keys and have totally no idea how to start looking for an Interior Designer (ID). Like many others, we've only heard about horrible experiences other homeowners had with their ID and nobody we know highly recommend theirs.

Portals like Renopedia and Qanvast allow you to submit your request for quotation. And this was the very first mistake I made. I submitted a request in Renopedia and have my phone ringing non-stop that very day. I received calls from 5-6 IDs requesting for a meetup. Boy am I overwhelmed!

I've learned from my mistake and I later discover an easier way to find your ideal ID especially when you know what kind of style you prefer. We later found our chosen one via this method.

Firstmost, let's take a look at our experience with the IDs who contacted us via our submission to request for quotation at Renopedia.

25 September 2018: IDs who contacted us via Renopedia - none of them shortlisted

1. CL from Northwest Interior 
1. Met on 29 Sep at their showroom
2. Salesperson is nice and friendly
3. Very prompt with their quotation
4. Reasonable pricing
2. T from Swiss Interior
1. Emailed him our request and floor plan prior to arranging a meetup
2. Did not hear from him thereafter
3. H from Moda Interior 
1. Highly encouraged us to visit him at their office but the location is just too far for us
2. Emailed him our request and floor plan and requested for a proposal prior to meet u
3. Did not hear from him thereafter
4. C from D Initial Concept
1. Did a free 3D layout illustration during the first meeting
2. The designer seems very new and unfamiliar
3. The quotation was way-way above budget, almost double compared to what Northwest quoted 

How to choose the right ID?

I've spent lots and lots of time scouring through Qanvast, looking for ideas. then it struck me. This should be the right way to look for an ID!

First, look through projects of similar style with the one we wanted. "Muji Style" So I started saving those Muji style projects and design.

Identify the IDs and then contact them directly.

This method proves so much more efficient than the previous method. As some of the previous IDs we met have a problem understanding what we wanted. 

Our chosen one: D5 Studio Image 

Let's take a look at some of their projects, those were the very reasons why we decided to approach them and get a quotation from them.

image credit: qnavast

image credit: qanvast

photo credit: qanvast

My favourite especially was the one with the tatami room and that was our initial idea, to hack Bedroom 3 and convert it to a tatami room so as to extend the living area. 

But we ditched that idea later on as the structural wall was too huge so we will not be able to achieve the effect like the project above. 

Most of our reno related posts are post-dated so by the time I am writing this, our Muji Style BTO renovation has been completed.

We will say deciding to work with Dave from D5 Studio Image was definitely the best choice we've ever made. We are proud to recommend Dave from D5 Studio Image to anyone we know for their renovation needs. He is very responsive, responsible and has a great flair of design sense. Their workmanship is excellent as well.
Throughout our first few correspondence and meeting with him, he was always suggesting ideas based on our feedback and never once pushy about getting us to sign. He waited patiently till we are ready to sign with him.
He is an experienced ID who knows what he is doing. It seems like we have chemistry and he understands at once what we wanted.

The proposal that got him the deal was his awesome idea with our "open concept" kitchen. Being typical Singaporeans, we want the best of both worlds. An open concept kitchen to open up space but at the same time prevent the entire house from the grease should there be some "heavy" cooking.

Dave's aesthetically pleasing solution to the above challenge won hands down.

I'll be doing a more detailed review on D5 Studio Image soon. Here's a snippet of our Muji Style BTO Dream Home. Once again, special thanks to Dave from D5 Studio Image for the job well done.

In the meantime, do drop me a note if you want to get his contact.

You may be interested to follow our Reno Journey here or check out our BTO Door Opening Ceremony Ritual