Clean slate

Mother and son's cosy flat in Kempas Road comes together with clever carpentry and thoughtful details

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For years, Karen dreamt of finding a home near her mother, who lived just a bus stop away from what is now Karen's flat.

After many failed attempts, the 47-year-old - who works in human resources and did not give her full name - finally secured a 700 sq ft three-room HDB flat in Kempas Road through a Sale of Balance Flats exercise. But the joy was bittersweet: Two months before she got the flat, her ailing mum died.

At a time when Karen was navigating renovation decisions and personal loss, her friend Don Wong, founder of interior design firm Sqm2, stepped in to help.

With his assistance, she shaped the flat into a bright, low-maintenance space for herself and her son Ansel, who is doing national service.