SINGAPORE – Sometimes, the road to the right interior designer might require a detour.

“We went to two designers, one of which was M Atelier. Based on the budget, we went with the other designer. However, when we had the first render, it fell way below our expectations,” says Ms Liam Hui Hua, a senior human resource manager.

The couple – who have a toddler and live with a helper – returned to Ms Megan Zhang, the interior design director of home-grown studio M Atelier.

As their new home was an old Housing Board resale flat, they wanted to strip everything away. “Megan immediately nailed it,” Ms Liam says, adding that she and her husband, finance controller Casey Arthur, were impressed when they saw her proposal.

Before the renovation, several spaces in the five-room flat lacked natural light due to the unit’s unusual layout. However, it had unobstructed views and an ample floor area of 1,358 sqft.

The solution was to overhaul the layout. The couple wanted a helper’s room, a walk-in wardrobe, an open-concept kitchen and a room for their daughter.

One bedroom was removed to expand the dining area and add a new study. These merge with the living area to become a large shared space where the family can relax and entertain.

The kitchen was also expanded, with an island added. The original study was converted into the helper’s room, tucked behind a hidden door on one side of the kitchen.

Now that the space has been opened up, light flows through the windows in the dining area towards the living area and kitchen.

With a mix of wo...