From HDB Flat to Chic Home Studio

Meet Hazel, a first-time homeowner who, along with her husband Z, transformed their resale HDB flat into a stunning home studio. Through their Instagram account @light.in.dwelling, Hazel shares practical renovation tips, DIY inspirations, and home living hacks, connecting with over 16,000 followers.

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Tell us about yourself.

Hi there! I'm Hazel, a first-time homeowner alongside my husband, Z. Together, we embarked on a journey to transform our very first home, a resale HDB flat, into a unique home studio. It all started with a simple desire to share our renovation experience on @light.in.dwelling. This space was born out of our experiences, aiming to share everything I learned the hard way and make your home journey a little smoother.

Since then, @light.in.dwelling has organically grown into a space for over 16,000 followers in just a year! It's been incredibly rewarding to connect with such a supportive home community.

On light.in.dwelling, I share practical home tips and resources across three key areas:

- Reno Tips: Sharing both successes and mistakes, how to avoid pitfalls and create a space you love.

- DIY Inspiration: Budget-friendly decor and DIY ideas to create a unique and beautiful home.

- Home Living Hacks: Simplifying the move-in process with our favourite "best home finds" for cleaning, organisation, and creating a modern, soft minimalist haven.

What influenced your decision to work directly with a contractor instead of hiring an interior designer?

It wasn't a completely linear path. Initially, I spoke with a few interior designers (IDS) and even started working with one. However, as we progressed with the project, I realised our design visions weren't quite aligned. This became especially clear when the initial renderings came in.