Shawn Tan
We consulted more than one ID, but we liked Chua Sze Leng of Spacious Planners (IMM) and her ideas more. It's a decision we're glad we made because we love what she's done with our home in Dakota Residences, and it was fun watching her blitz through the project efficiently and our dream home take shape so quickly, with so few hiccups. 'Spacious' is not a word one associates with the average Singapore home, yet that's precisely what we often think when we step into our apartment, so the company is well named. Working within a tight time frame, Sze Leng transformed our apartment into a light-filled, open, and tasteful home that always makes first-time visitors go 'Wow!' Needless to say, we have shared her contact with many family and friends who love her work. Her decades-long experience in the industry shows in the soundness of her decisions (all made in consultation with us at every point) and the practical advice she gives. She's extremely creative, carving functional spaces out of awkward, boxed-in corners, and wonderfully efficient in coordinating all the tradesmen and working within our condominium’s stringent rules about renovation. She's particular about workmanship, pointing out and correcting minor flaws that even we don't notice. Perhaps what we most like about Sze Leng is that she designed our home specifically for our lifestyle and needs, present and future. And overarching all of these is her pragmatism; she's obsessed with creating a home that doesn't just look good but functions well and is easy to maintain and clean. And even after the handover, Sze Leng's expertise and help is just a WhatsApp away. She responds immediately and fixes problems (even those that have nothing to do with the renovation) for us quickly. Knowing that help is close at hand gives us peace of mind.