HELP HELP!!!! House makeover!!!!

[KnightRider]

Im really feeling disgusted, disappointed! We bought a house which has no interiors yet (no ceiling, wall partitions, doors, etc...). The house (bare unit)was ok and i was planning to just copy the model house unit (we're in a village) since I have no ideas on interior decorating. But my dad said it was too costly (175K was the price given which includes materials, labor, paint, electrical, cabinets and they were to copy the model house). Ayun we had an argument with my dad coz i told him to grab it since mahirap kumuha ng carpenter and we will be obliged to supervise the carpenters pa. Ang tigas ng ulo ng dad ko, he insisted on what he wanted and ayun 37 days na hanggang ngayon di pa rin tapos yun haus and the paint color used was latex (mabaho daw kasi enamel said my dad) kaya ampangit. And he already spent more than 300k (that includes materials, paint, labor, food - yun kalahating sakong bigas na dala ng dad ko was consumed by the three carpenters in 5 days, transpo etc...) as of now at hindi pa nga tapos yun unit. Finishing touches na lang daw pero i really hate the outcome. Ayoko nang makipagdiskusyon sa kanya kaya Im just planning to remodel it when Im free.

Help naman po how to repaint the house, what colors or type of paint to buy and how about wallpaper? Mas ok kaya yun? TApos where can i buy ready made cupboards which could be easily installed on top of the sink and in the bathroom? Yun lights din what are the best lights to make the place look bigger? The unit pala is a mere 85 sqm lot area and 48 sqm floor area -imagine sa liit na yan ang mahal ng interior! (wala pang mga cupboards yun ginawa nila and my dad asked them to stop work kasi matagal na daw and magastos na masyado.) Can i just remodel it myself, i mean if ako ang magpapaint? Yun wood hindi rin masyadong smooth. One more thing, iba yun kulay ng grout sa kulay ng tiles (imagine a blue grout for brown tiles). DI naman kasi nabantayan ng dad ko coz he's also working kaya ganun ata yun outcome. Grabe ang mahal na ichacharge to experience nito. Masakit na sa ulo at masakit rin sa bulsa at masakit sa mata! Naiiyak nga ako when i checked it last weekend. Parang nawala yun excitement ko sa new house. Sabi naman ng dad ko, papagandahin na lang daw pero i dont trust him anymore when it comes to house decorating.

Guys sorry ang haba ng litanya ko... just pouring my sentiments coz masakit talaga ang loob ko pero i dont want to keep reminding my dad coz alam na nya na mali siya. I just hope i could remodel it with minimal budget, kung kaya ko nga lang, ako na lang gagawa)

I need some of your tips on paint color (for bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom), what type and shade. Cupboards and cabinets for bathroom and kitchen sink, Lights for the living room, and bedroom. Other tips on how to make the place look bigger will be very much appreciated. I want it to be zen inspired sana or medyo subdued. Please post some of your tips or links to websites that could help me remodel the house.

Please bear with me... Sensya na talaga... and thanks in advance.... Ill post pics if i have the guts to take a look at the unit again, hehehe!

[mariadams]

Hello KnightRider

Don't fret. Just a little painting, soft furnishing and accessories can change the entire outlook of your house. Since a person's taste of design is very different from the next person, I will just give you the link to BBC Homes which might give you some inspiration on re-designing your home. Good luck!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/design_inspiration/

[KnightRider]

thanks mariadams for the encouraging words! i really needed it. i checked the link you posted and i saw many tips. btw, ill be posting the pics of the house im mentioning...please advice me naman on how to change the hideous colors the painter used.

thanks again! im bit okay now...

[KnightRider]

here are the pics...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/mypup_einz/june%2029/Picture155.jpg they placed diff tiles since wala na daw nakuha kagaya ng unang nailagay
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/mypup_einz/june%2029/Picture153.jpg the color of the tiles is light with a pinch of light brown and he painted the wall with mint green
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/mypup_einz/june%2029/Picture144.jpg the wooden stairs steps was wood stained with maple color and he painted the sides with baby blue... arghhh!!!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/mypup_einz/june%2029/Picture139.jpg room color, he made it very bright yellow (we told him that it shouldbe very light. the border he used was baby blue din..:grrr:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h214/mypup_einz/june%2029/Picture145.jpg that's the cabinet below the sink... they didnt even bother to paint it or even smoothen the wood texture...

please help me how to fix them. thanks

[mariadams]

even if your pics are not showing in my screen, here's what i think:

Tiles - you can get a neighbourhood plumber/tiler (with good references) to smash your hated tiles and replace them with new ones. if this is too complicated for you, there are tile paints available where you can paint over the "hated" tiles, the quality is not as good though.

Wall paint - depends what color you want. if you don't like the paint colors available, get the paint shop to mix the colors for you. using a roller brush is so easy and fast, or if you don't have the time, same, get a neighbourhood painter.

Stairs - uso na ngayon ang pinipinturahan ang steps, i painted mine dark blue and I like it! but if you just want natural color of wood, get someone to sand it (using the electric sander), maalikabok nga lang but it will be worth it. after sanding, apply natural varnish.

Room color - it is very personal. Don't let strangers choose the colors for you. Look at house decoration magazines or even the internet for ideas.

Cabinet below the sink - to smoothen the wood texture, sand it, then paint

you don't have to do all these if you are busy. one worker who is an all-rounder and whom you can trust can do every single job you want him to do. nakatulong ka pa sa kaniya, marami yata ang gusto'ng kumita ngayon sa hirap ba naman ng buhay.

hope nakatulong ang ideas ko.

[mariadams]

your choice of colors also reflects your personality. ano ba ang interest mo? may pagka-modern ka ba or conservative? like the city life or the rural scene? love to entertain or prefer privacy? adore Asian theme or European/ etc? ano'ng colors ba ang favorite mo? nature-tripper ka ba or hi-tech loving? mahilig ka ba sa plants or mas-type mo ang mamasyal sa dagat? etc etc.....

[hansie]

KnightRider,

building the house and decorating it is a very personal endeavor. i just built mine and i got involved in every aspect of it. i did the layout in excel, the dimensions, the facade, i got involved in structural kahit di ko masyadong alam yung carpentry terms, lalo na nung finishing. they wont continue the work unless approved ko (or my architect who knows my taste very well).

I wouldnt dwell on the past, forward looking tayo kaya i agree with mariadams that you should find a skilled, honest and open-minded carpenter/all-around to do the small jobs. Ask for referrals from your village or even from the one who made the model house unit. Check mo din previous works niya.

If you want to make your place look bigger, choose lighter colors, preferably the semi-gloss ones para easier to clean if ever.

Hirap ata to change pa the tiles, carpeting might be a temporary alternative to hide the tiles.

Get some ideas from local magazines - Real Living is very good.

[mariadams]

Tiles........because i couldn't see the photos, i assumed that they are bathroom tiles. if they are floor tiles, i would fill a good layer of cement over the hated tiles and then re-tile it with new ones. presko kasi ang feeling kung tiled ang floor mo, pag carpet, mainit at di masyado'ng hygienic.

[mariadams]

Tiles........because i couldn't see the photos, i assumed that they are bathroom tiles. if they are floor tiles, i would fill a good layer of cement over the hated tiles and then re-tile it with new ones. presko kasi ang feeling kung tiled ang floor mo, pag carpet, mainit at di masyado'ng hygienic.