Seamless

The couple added that they were mindful that the finishing material should be of precise specifications. For example, the acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate countertop in the kitchen, had to be of a certain thickness to be aesthetically pleasing and to reflect a solid look. Even the wood grain of the exotic timber veneer in the kitchen had to match seamlessly, when joined.

The wife stressed that her immaculate kitchen was not just for show, as she often made "tong sui" (soup-like Chinese dessert). She also likes to bake butter, chiffon and cheese cakes with her De Dietrich oven.

The whole family likes to eat in the kitchen rather than have their meals on the custom-made, marble-and-steel table in the formal dining room.

Project tender

When the building plan was completed and submitted to the relevant parties for approval, a quantity surveyor was engaged and tenders were called.

Although the project was completed within budget, the 18-month deadline was exceeded by a couple of months. Among the trying moments, was when the main contractor met with cash-flow problem and couldn't proceed according to plan.

Fearing the worst, the owner took control of the project and dealt directly with all the sub-contractors. The main contractor agreed to be relegated to a subordinate role in order to continue.

One reason for being able to meet the budget was because the owner was an experienced investor who had done home construction projects in Damansara Heights and other upscale neighbourhoods, and were familiar with the nitty-gritty of it all.