Since my renovation logs were posted online, I have received continuous attention and inquiries from many friends. Here, I will share with you in a Q&A format the most frequently asked questions about my renovation diary and design:
Q: How did you handle the entrance foyer? From the pictures you posted, it seems that you used tiles to create a circular area. Will this coordinate well with the living room and dining room? Also, I heard that the south wall of the study cannot be demolished. Are you planning to knock it down...?
A: The entrance is planned to use granite, which will cost around a thousand yuan, and the walls will also need some decorative shapes. Regarding coordination, the living room and dining room are both going to use 60*60 polished tiles laid diagonally, so they should coordinate well. As for the south wall of the study, I've checked the developer's renovation drawings; it's made of bricks, so it should be fine. Both bathrooms are planned to be equipped with shower rooms. Otherwise, if relatives or friends stay here, they can't all bathe in the master bedroom! As for feng shui issues, I am an atheist and don't really believe in them. Moreover, the bathroom door doesn't face the pillow, and there's only a sink at the door, so it should be fine. Speaking of this, I must criticize those incompetent designers who claim that a 136 square meter house has bathrooms as small as these, yet still dare to compare it with "Spring River Moonlit Night." They don't even bother to take a look at their own work.
Q: I live in apartment D. Because my daughter needs to attend Jiangnan Primary School, I also plan to renovate. I'm thinking of installing a central air conditioning system to reduce the number of outdoor units. Additionally, I'm considering an air-source water heater. Do you think it's a good idea? Let's discuss.
A: Central air conditioning has its advantages, such as good cooling and heating effects and better visual appeal. However, the initial investment is relatively high, the outdoor unit is large, affecting the lighting in the dining room, generating more noise, and the corresponding electricity costs are higher than split systems. Most importantly, after long-term use, cleaning the ducts of central air conditioning can be troublesome, and it can easily lead to respiratory diseases. For families with children, I personally think split systems are better. This is just my personal opinion and may not represent others' thoughts. Additionally, I suspect that the maintenance cost of central air conditioning should also be higher later on.
Q: You've already noticed that the house space is small, and designing a walk-in closet will take up even more space. I think placing the refrigerator in the corner of the dining room by the window is also a good idea (it might affect the visual effect of the living room, but a bright color of the refrigerator could compensate for it).
A: A wardrobe will indeed occupy space, but without one, there won’t be enough storage space. It's a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. As for placing it near the window, I want to buy a double-door fridge, which requires more space and would affect the lighting and visual appeal of the dining room. Besides, cabinets cannot be installed near the fireproof door.