At A Glance:
- Leon and spouse, mid 30s, technician specialist and HR
- Home to: A couple, a Schnauzer and a little kid
- Location: Upper Serangoon Crescent (5-room BTO)
- Size: 110 sqm / 1100 sqft
- Renovation duration: 6 weeks
- Cost of renovation: $33,000
- Cost of furnishing and appliances: $15,000
- Interior design firm: Space Define Interior
- Interior Interior designer: Austin
Handling renovation details can be nerve-wracking, so much so for newlyweds who are experiencing it all for the first time. Kick-starting their renovation journey with Qanvast, Leon and his wife found a reliable interior designer, Austin, to trust with the renovation of their home. Read on to find out why the couple could comfortably go MIA during the renovation process.
Qanvast: Is this the design you both were after?
Spouse (S): We don't really have a particular theme in mind but we knew we wanted the colours grey, white and black. Austin helped to add warmth into the house so that it looks less sterile. We didn’t want any complicated design or feature wall - just something straightforward and simple.
Leon (L): And no hidden compartments; I want everything to be exposed so that we don’t have to search high and low for what we want.
Qanvast: How did you find out about Space Define Interior?
S: My friend recommended the Qanvast app and said I could get quotes and look for interior designers through the app. I didn’t know where to start so I downloaded the app, read the articles, and requested for a quote. Shortly after, 3 firms gotten back to me and I met up with the 3 firms.
Qanvast: How did Space Define Interior stand out?
L: We knew what we wanted before we met the interior designers. Among the 3 firms, Austin from Space Define Interior was the one we felt most comfortable with. We got along well with him and we noticed that he was also meticulous. We needed someone who we could trust with handling the renovation details.
During the second meeting, Austin provided us with a sketch of the design that we wanted, and both of us liked the layout. He sounded like a nice guy, so we decided to engage Space Define Interior.
Qanvast: What do you look out for in an interior designer?
L: I will look at the reputation and how established the interior firm is before I proceed with considering the designer they assigned to me – if it’s someone whom I can get along well with.
Qanvast: Did Austin deliver what he had promised?
L: In terms of design, our home turned out looking similar to what Austin had sketched for us. The workmanship is good and he delivered what he had promised.
Austin could also answer any (technical) questions thrown at him, and we could tell that he is a sound and reliable guy. He will also patiently explain to us his rationale for choosing a particular course of action whenever they were issues with the renovation.
We were also unfussy and did not rush Austin for the works. We told him to take his time, and so both of us will ‘vanish’ and then reappear ten days later. He was really approachable and listened to what we wanted. He is a really nice guy so we have no complaints!
Qanvast: How would you describe your renovation process?
L: Ours was relatively smooth; no horror stories like what you hear from others. There were no hiccups (except for incorrect delivery on kitchen ware) and everything was as per what we had expected.
S: The search for interior designers was a bit stressful initially because there are so many firms in Singapore and we are unsure where to begin with. Qanvast serves as a good starting point.
L: As newlyweds, we have quite a bit on our plate to juggle and when it comes to choosing the materials and getting the measurements, it was a daunting experience, and these gritty details definitely tested our patience.
Hear more from other homeowners who have been through their renovations. Just download the free Qanvast app from the App Store or Google Play to browse through a collection of interesting renovation journeys!
Embark on your own renovation journey by requesting for a free quote. According to your style preferences and budget, and we’ll connect you to 5 interior firms at absolutely no cost!