At a glance:
- Home to: Eng Huat and Soo Shuen in their 30s
- Location: Trivelis, DBSS
- Size: 80 sqm / 861 sqft
- Renovation duration: 8 weeks
- Cost of renovation: $45,000 (including 5,000 design fee)
- Interior designer firm: Habit
- Interior designer: Yanling and Denise
Moving in to a new place can be exciting and yet daunting at the same time. The savvy young professionals didn’t take long to find an interior designer that could do up a house they love. Read more about their story below.
Qanvast: How did you begin your search for interior designers?
Eng Huat (EH): We went to Expo and spoke to about 1-2 firms, and Company R was one of them. Their design proposal was close to what we see for other homes, and in the first meetup, I told them I didn’t want cove lights in my home. In our next meetup with the revised proposal, I still see cove lights in the proposal and I immediately ruled them out because it goes to show that they are following a template in terms of the design.
I tried using an established online forum but I gave up in the end as the information on interior is quite scattered, and I was unsure if what was mentioned there is true or rigged.
Qanvast: How did Habit stand out among the rest?
EH: I was really impressed with their portfolio, which is the main reason why I chose them. They may have a design in mind after listening to your requirements but they don’t force it on you, and they worked hard in building a good professional relationship.
Qanvast: Was the design fee a concern to you?
EH: Initially I find it expensive, but after seeing how the house turned out, I think it’s worth it.
Qanvast: Tell us what it is like to work with Habit?
EH: Habit is really very detailed. As new homeowners, sometimes we see better ideas or get carried away by nicer designs and Habit will give you some advice when they think we deviated from the theme. The team is also very good and responsive.
Qanvast: Any room for improvement for Habit?
Soo Shuen (SS): It would be really useful if they could provide 3D drawings so that we can better visualise the design. I felt a little uncomfortable after knowing that they only provided us with elevation drawing, which took me by surprise because I thought firms usually provide these drawings.
Qanvast: Where did you buy your furniture?
EH: We actually spent some time to look for the items. Habit recommended a couple of places for us to look at, and we also did our own research. The dining table and chairs were from Taobao, and we also read up reviews online on certain items such as the balcony blinds.
Qanvast: Any advice for homeowners who are shopping for furniture?
EH: Don’t go to one store and buy all your items there. Look around and compare prices. The brand you are looking at could be selling it at a different price across other retailers.
You too can enjoy a smooth renovation journey! Drop us a quote request today and we will match you with 5 of our list of trusted professionals.
