Introduction
After several months of living together, we started to renovate our home in Valenzuela City. We decided to begin with the ground floor. A complete renewal of the floor with new tiles and sewer lines was obsolete. A full repaint in white from orange was necessary to brighten it up. On the first floor, we divided the room with a partition wall for more privacy—the balcony and small locker room we also redesigned. At the end, we redecorated the kitchen.
Ground Floor:
In March 2024, we went to IKEA in Pasay City and local furniture stores for inspiration to redecorate our home. We estimated how much everything costs and set up a renovation plan.
Two weeks later, we got all the tools and building materials. We began to work with locals and friends from the neighborhood, rebuilding the ground floor. We put all our belongings on the first floor or to neighbors in the meantime.
First, we cleaned, scratched, and repainted all walls and the ceiling with white paint. Then, we removed the old floor tiles and dug out the sewer pipes. The diameter of the sewer pipes from the kitchen and toilet was too small, and occasionally, it flooded the bathroom. Therefore, we used the opportunity to swap them for bigger ones. We got assistance from Joan’s neighbor, a skilled handyman, for the heavy physical labor work. He got the right equipment and workforce for the job. We also got more floor tiles for the stairs leading to the upper floor. As soon as the work was done, we ordered furniture from IKEA. After assembling everything and cleaning, the living room shined like in the brochure.
First Floor
Once the ground floor was done, we put our belongings there and started on the first floor. There were no tails to remove, so we deep-cleaned the floor and put on vinyl tiles. The room is vast, and we divided it with a partition wall. We are a family of seven living in the apartment; this was the best solution for privacy.
We ordered a second time at IKEA, including a bedframe, office table, lamps, closets, etc.
The balcony and attached locker room we painted white and grey.
Kitchen
After one month of living in the newly designed apartment, we still had some money left. We chose to redecorate the kitchen because of the following reasons: The kitchen is small and worn out. The open wall shelves lead to heavy dust deposits, and utensils must be cleaned regularly, even if unused. There was not enough light, and cooking tools were damaged—a pleasant living environment needed a newly equipped kitchen.
We ordered a third time at IKEA, and it included a high-quality oven, like in any Western-style apartment. We love to bake; therefore, this was necessary.
Joan’s neighbor came another time to crop all the tiles and wooden doors and assembled them. A few days later, we painted the kitchen and got the delivery with the furniture. To have more light while cooking and washing dishes, we installed LEDs. These lighting strips are dimmable and easy to install under wall closets. It enhanced the atmosphere to make work in the kitchen more enjoyable.
Expenses Kitchen Renewal
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Labour $150
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30x small tiles, 16x big tiles $200
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Cement & Adhesive $40
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Wood $12
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Drawer Mats $2
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Sink $46
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3x Wall Clabinet $56
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Washing Machine $200
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Wall rack $5
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Kitchen Utensils $240
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IKEA Delivery (kitchen cabinet, oven, etc.) $615
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Tools $55
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Paint $14
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Total $1'705
Conclusion
The renovation of the apartment was the best investment. It is fully furnished and set up for the upcoming years. All defective parts were fixed, and the living environment is now even more pleasant. Every time we stay in the Philippines, we remember what a beautiful place we got.
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