Marriage & Family Archives | Page 54 of 80

This Disney-themed home is an inspiration to Disney fans looking to live in a magical world

“Tale as old as time~ True as it can be~ Barely even friends, then somebody bends… unexpectedly~”

Did you find yourself humming or singing along to the above? Immediately guessed that it’s from Beauty and the Beast? Disney must have been an influence on your childhood then.

For the Hermansons, a family of four, they channelled their love for Disney right from their hearts to their home. Those who are getting your BTO flat or new apartment soon and happen to be Disney fans, this is truly an inspiration to look up to.

Let’s go on a house tour together!

#1: The entrance speaks a thousand words

We love how the entrance already gives us a glimpse of how the house is going to look like. Step right into Disney magic as Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcome you back home.

#2: Rapunzel-themed living room

If you’re one that spends the bulk of your time in the living room chilling with Netflix, then a Rapunzel-themed living room sounds just about right. The Disney princess is usually spotted in a purple dress and thus explains the purple furniture and decorations from the couch to the flag banner and floor mat.

#3: Beauty and the Beast dining experience

It’s about time Beauty and the Beast makes its appearance. The dining area features high detailed ornate chairs and a Beauty and the Beast picture that sets the Disney mood for your meals.

Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs Potts and Chip are also your dining companions in the dining room.

#4: Princessy bedroom fit for royalty

Bedroom, a place where desires, fantasies, and dreams come true! Let Cinderella accompany you as you hit the sack. And we’re not talking just about having a princessy bed frame to fit the theme.

Take a look at the wall feature behind the headboard.

Doesn’t it remind you of the soap bubbles that formed when Cinderella was scrubbing away?

Let’s not forget the iconic Cinderella carriage that appears in the story. The Hermansons found a golden exquisite carriage to go alongside the Cinderella-themed bedroom. Isn’t it lovely?

But it really takes effort to create such a room fit for royalty. If you noticed the nightstands by the beds, you will be surprised to know that it didn’t look the way it is now. Here’s it before the couple’s DIY labour.

From the matching paint-combination to the door pulls, it was given fresh coats of paint and new life.

#5: The Little Mermaid bathroom

Thoughtfully planned out, don’t you think The Little Mermaid fits in right where it should be – the bathroom? Everything from the wall decorations to the bathmat and shower curtain catches the eye but yet not a bit out of place.

The seashell necklace belonging to Ariel’s daughter, Melody, is also an added charm to the bathroom. Oh yes, if you have another bathroom to work the Aladdin concept, go ahead!

We’re simply wowed by the elaborate designs executed by the Hermansons. Even the washbasin spout takes on the shape of the magic lamp in Aladdin.

A lot of hard work involved but definitely worth every effort upon seeing the finished project. Hope this has been an inspiration for you too!

All images are taken from Home & Decor Singapore.

Impact of COVID-19 on new parents: Fewer Malaysian confinement nannies and higher hiring costs

COVID-19 not only has had its impact on the economy, but parents with newborns are also feeling the strain. According to PEM Confinement Nanny Agency’s (PEM) senior business manager Mishell Lee, demand for confinement nannies had a sharp increase recently due to travel restrictions around the world.

Couples who had plans to count on their parents based overseas or hire a domestic helper to help them tide through can only turn to confinement nanny agencies now amid travel restrictions.

Ms Lee mentioned that due to the slower rate of approval for work permits and the need to serve Stay-Home Notice (SHN) for each trip, the agency could only activate 200 out of its total manpower of around 400 nannies.

“Since the beginning of movement control order (MCO) and circuit breaker, PEM has been receiving a high number of requests from clients to extend the service of their confinement nannies, but we are unable to fulfil (these requests) due to the lack of manpower and this is still going on until today,” she said.

“Many of the mothers who signed up with us… have not yet fully recovered from delivery and being left alone will make it harder for them to take care of their newborn.”

New mothers left in limbo

Image Credits: Verywell Family

While most families would hire nannies for an average of 28 days, first-time parents may need a longer period.

A new parent who wanted to be known only as Ms Long, said, “Currently, I have no other options. We want a simple extension for 28 days and it will help us a lot. I would have recovered more and would be better able to take care of the baby.”

Ms Long’s parents, who are based in China, were supposed to travel to Singapore to help her after she gave birth. But plans were disrupted due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Another new mother, Ms Heather Huang, said, “The agencies told me that they had a limited supply and with border restrictions, they needed to make arrangements earlier to ensure the nanny’s work permit and quarantine can all be finalized.”

“I was a bit scared because I did not know how to bathe, feed, or just take care of the baby when she comes.”

Ms Huang stated that her preference for hiring Malaysian nannies was because of the relatively cheaper price and their rich experience.

Incurring higher hiring costs

Image Credits: The Wedding Vow

Some families are also incurring higher hiring costs due to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s requirements. The added costs include the nanny’s compulsory stay in a dedicated SHN facility and the payment for the COVID-19 test.

In the case of Malaysia, people arriving from overseas will also need to quarantine at designated facilities for 14 days. Citizens are required to pay RM2,100 (S$690) of partial costs, while foreigners have to pay the full amount.

These additional amounts are passed on to the families, nannies, or the agencies, or shared between the relevant parties.

Mr Jason Teo is one individual who agreed to share the added financial costs with the agency he hired his Malaysian nanny from. For a period of 28 days, he had to pay an additional S$700 on top of the S$3,000 to hire the nanny.

“I agreed because I think it’s not fair to expect agencies to absorb all the added costs. And I think it would even be worse to expect the nannies to pay for it,” said the 29-year-old engineer whose first child arrived on Aug 14.

“The nanny has been great for us so we are fine with it,” he added.

Malaysian confinement nannies affected as well

Image Credits: PEM

With the ongoing pandemic, not only the lack of support for new mothers and higher costs are involved. Malaysian confinement nannies are also feeling the pinch on their source of income and the need to be apart from their loved ones.

Ms Tey May Leng, 51, an employee of PEM, expressed that she had difficulties paying the university fees for her two children over the last three months when she could not leave Malaysia to work in Singapore during the MCO period.

“As I have not been working since March, I have lost around RM16,000 of income in total. My children’s university fees are around RM5,000 a month so it has been difficult,” she said.

“I will serve fewer customers for each trip due to the COVID-19 quarantine duration, but I can no longer afford to be choosy,” she added.

Ms Yow Yin Fen, 52, is also another PEM nanny from Malaysia who is based in Singapore and is staying with her daughter. She has not seen her husband in Kulai, Johor for six months.

“I miss my husband but being in Singapore makes more sense for me. I can serve more families for the agency.”

“But I worry that my husband is home alone and he struggles sometimes,” she added. As soon as the Malaysia government relaxes the travel restrictions and allows citizens to quarantine at home, Ms Yow plans to return to Malaysia.

Renovating your BTO flat: Interior designers share some tips on budgeting, styles, and more

After getting over the excitement of purchasing your build-to-order (BTO) flat, it’s time to think about renovations. If you know not where to start, take it from the interior designers themselves as they share with you tips on budgeting, styles to go for, and more.

Set a budget

Image Credits: 99.co

As with most things, setting a budget will get you started on the right track. According to a spokesman for Qanvast, the data collected shows that homeowners of new apartments spend between S$30,000 and S$60,000 on renovations while renovation costs for resale units start at S$65,000.

However, he advises homeowners to budget for an excess of 10 to 20 per cent more. “It’s common for homeowners to spend more than their budget – upgrading to better tiles, adding carpentry work, or dealing with unexpected hiccups.”

Also, while you might be attracted to some low-cost packages, it’s good to do a background check before signing any contract. Mr Morris Teo, managing director of HomeRenoGuru, a renovation website, says: “Homeowners should be mindful when signing packages that appear very affordable. Reputable interior designers would usually include the entire renovation works in the initial contract.”

Also, make sure you are getting good quality materials for the price paid. As Ms Amy Picanco, a director at Aym Design and a council member of the Interior Design Confederation Singapore, rightly points out: “While it can be difficult, try to think long term – do you want a renovation that lasts for five or 10 years? This will affect the quality of the materials you use and may push prices up. However, it could save you a lot of time and money in the long run as it will be a lasting investment.”

The styles to go for

Image Credits: Houzz

Interior designer and founder of Wee Studio, Mr Yeo See Wee, comments, “If you have 10,000 pictures of every style, that makes it very difficult for you and your interior designer to decide what style to go with.” A lookbook with a few images representing the concept you like will do.

Architecturally trained interior designer Vanessa Ong suggests homeowners limit the colour and texture tones to up to five options. “Take time to observe spaces, objects, textures that inspire you or places you’ve visited. Your home should tell a story of who you are,” she adds.

Seek approval before hacking

Image Credits: blogspot.com

“Homeowners should think about how long they’ll be staying in the flat and what their plans for the future are so that the flat can provide for their future needs. Erecting a wall in the future will be an unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly endeavour,” said the spokesman for Qanvast.

However, if you’re sure about knocking down walls to create an open-concept living space, be sure to seek approval from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) first. You can read all about demolition and erection of walls here.

Maximizing the space you have

Image Credits: Qanvast

HomeRenoGuru’s Mr Teo says that new homeowners often misjudge the storage space they need. Planning with the future in mind is important. With that said, Ms Gwen Tan of Formwerkz Architects recommends homeowners to plan for more storage for future possessions.

Interior designers propose having built-in storage. For example, floor-to-ceiling shelves will help to maximize wall space and beds with storage beneath them will allow you extra space to store your stuff. Having illuminated bathroom mirror will save space as you can do away with an additional lamp.

Caning of children: When is it child abuse as explained by lawyers

Did you know that in July 2019, France became the 55th state to prohibit corporal punishment of children? Most recently, Japan also jumped on the bandwagon to ban corporal punishment at home.

Back in our days, parents had the freedom to exercise punishments as they deem fit. But with the rise in child abuse reports, there seem to be more eyeballs on the matter these days.

If you’re a parent or a caregiver, it’s even more important that you know when to draw the line. Here are what the law and the lawyers are saying about child abuse.

Children and Young Persons Act

Under this act, inflicting unnecessary physical pain, suffering or injury, any emotional harm, or injury to a child’s health or development equates to ill-treatment.

When does parental corporal punishment become a criminal offence?

Image Credits: pride.kindness.sg

According to Mr Ray Louis, a criminal lawyer and managing director of Ray Louis Law, here are the two questions he would ask:

Why the child was punished
How he or she was punished

He gave the example of a child being punished for not “scoring all As”.

“Can a parent punish a child for that? That’s a judgment call (for the parent)… but how is the child punished? If it’s no meals, bruises on the legs and feet… then obviously the line has been crossed,” he explained.

When it is not abuse

Mr Ashwin Ganapathy, a partner at I.R.B. Law specializing in family law and criminal defence, clarifies with a scenario that shouldn’t be deemed as abuse.

For example, if an adult canes a child’s palm once because of wrongdoings like stealing, then “no one will be jumping” on the punishment because stealing is a crime.

“It is better to nip the problem in the bud,” he said. “People may disagree with the disciplinary method, but I do not believe anyone will see that as abuse.”

Case study

A scenario would greatly aid us in our discussion of this topic. Earlier this month, a 33-year-old man was sentenced on Friday (Aug 7) to nine months’ jail on the charge of ill-treating a child by causing him unnecessary physical pain.

In short, the man vented his frustrations on his three-year-old son, caning him excessively and leaving marks all over his body. This was eventually spotted by the boy’s grandmother which led to a police report.

According to the news, these were reasons for caning:

When the boy did not tell his father when his diapers were full
The boy did not tell his father what he wanted
Or when the child snatched items from his sister or other children
Stressed after a day of work
Pressured over financial troubles such as his salary or having to pay maintenance to his ex-wife

Mr Lee Ee Yang, the managing director of law firm Covenant Chambers said: “The proportionality is definitely infringed upon because the cane marks were found all over… it does not correspond to the severity of the transgression.”

“If the child is not cognitively developed in a way where they can appreciate the severity of the punishment… you’re not really educating the child,” he added.

Public awareness needed

Image Credits: Verywell Family

Responding to banning corporal punishment, Mr Louis highlighted that public education and awareness have a greater role to play in curbing child abuse cases.

“The more publicity there is on the ways to report suspected abuse, the risk of children getting abused will be lesser,” he said.

Spare the rod and spoil the child? It’s about time we rethink this.

If you have concerns over a child’s safety, please dial MSF’s Child Protective Service Helpline (1800 777 000) or ComCare Call (1800 222 0000).

Choose your home from 11 new Build-To-Order (BTO) projects that offer a total of 7,862 units of 2-room Flexi, 3-, 4-, and 5-room flats:

Keat Hong Verge in Choa Chu Kang
Parc Residences @ Tengah
Champions Bliss and UrbanVille @ Woodlands
Kebun Baru Edge in Ang Mo Kio
Bishan Towers
Dakota One in Geylang
Costa Grove in Pasir Ris
Tampines GreenCrest, Tampines GreenGlade, and Tampines GreenOpal

Apply for your choice town and flat type by 18 August 2020, Tuesday, 11:59pm.

Information on the BTO projects is available on the HDB InfoWEB. You can apply online using your mobile phone, tablet, or computer without visiting the HDB Hub. Successful applicants will be determined by a computer ballot, and not on a first-come, first-served basis.

For other housing options, you can apply for HDB’s open booking of flats, which allows you to book a flat as early as the next working day after you have made an online application. You can also find out the location and number of flats in our upcoming BTO sales exercises.

Important Notes

HDB precincts are planned to serve the evolving needs of the community. There are spaces catered for future inclusion of amenities/ facilities (such as childcare centres, elderly-related facilities, education centres, residents’ committee centres, and day activity centres), commercial facilities (such as shops and eating houses), mechanical and electrical rooms, and such other facilities depending on the prevailing needs. These spaces could be in the void decks, common property, car parks, or stand-alone community buildings.

To facilitate your flat application, we have provided information on the surrounding land use, proposed facilities, and their locations in the maps and plans in this brochure. As the information provided is based on the current planning intent of the relevant authorities, they are indicative only and are subject to review from time to time.

Notes:
* 2-room Flexi flats come in two sizes – 36/37/38 sqm (Type 1) and 45/46 sqm (Type 2).
^ The starting prices of flats in the table above are based on 99-year leases. For illustration purposes, the assumed Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) amounts are:
2-room Flexi flat: $80,000
3-room flat: $75,000 in non-mature towns and $60,000 in mature towns
4-room flat: $60,000 in non-mature towns and $45,000 in mature towns
5-room flat: $45,000 in non-mature towns and $30,000 in mature towns

The starting prices after grant amounts are illustrative, assuming that the household incomes of eligible first-time buyers of flats in the mature towns are higher. The actual grant amount received will depend on the buyers’ income and eligibility. Read more on EHG in HDB InfoWEB.
+ Prices include the costs of floor finishes, internal doors and sanitary fittings.
^^ Singles who apply for a 2-room Flexi flat under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme will pay $15,000 more than couples. Eligible singles can also apply for the EHG of up to $40,000. The actual grant amounts will vary according to income.
Selling prices are rounded up to the nearest thousand dollars.

Click here to check your eligibility.

Click here to work your budget.

All information from HDB.

Get $200 Cash Reward (via PayNow) When You Apply For The Following Credit Cards

#1: The entrance speaks a thousand words

#2: Rapunzel-themed living room

#3: Beauty and the Beast dining experience

#4: Princessy bedroom fit for royalty

#5: The Little Mermaid bathroom

New mothers left in limbo

Incurring higher hiring costs

Malaysian confinement nannies affected as well

Set a budget

The styles to go for

Seek approval before hacking

Maximizing the space you have

Children and Young Persons Act

When does parental corporal punishment become a criminal offence?

When it is not abuse

Case study

Public awareness needed

Search the site