A public dispute has erupted between Singaporean influencer Nicole Chen, known online as lielnicole, and interior designer Wayne Huang from Studio Siris over a troubled home renovation project. Chen shared her experience through a series of videos on TikTok and Instagram, describing what she called a "nightmare renovation experience" involving multiple construction issues and project delays at her Build-To-Order (BTO) apartment in Yishun.
The renovation project began in April after Chen received the keys to her BTO flat in March. The work was arranged as a barter trade agreement, where Studio Siris would provide design and project management services free of charge in exchange for social media exposure through Chen's online content. Chen initially hadn't planned to hire an interior designer, as both she and her partner have design backgrounds, but decided to work with Studio Siris after receiving multiple sponsorship offers from various firms.
Chen set an aggressive deadline of 1.5 months for project completion, with an initial move-in target date of June 15, 2025. Wayne Huang, co-founder of Studio Siris and the designer assigned to Chen's project, confirmed this tight timeline. The arrangement proved more complex than typical interior design projects because Chen had already hired several of her own contractors before Studio Siris joined the project.
According to Huang, all contractors involved except for the plywood carpenter were hired directly by Chen. She also worked with a mixture of sponsored and paid vendors, creating what Huang described as a more complicated renovation process than projects managed entirely by a single interior design firm. This multi-party arrangement would later contribute to communication issues and coordination problems throughout the project.
Despite the barter agreement including design services, Chen claimed in her videos that she designed most parts of her home herself. Huang disputed this characterization, explaining that while Chen provided her own mockups and mood boards, he refined those ideas into accurate 3D models, developed technical detailing and layout plans, and oversaw sourcing and project management activities.
The first major issue Chen highlighted was significant delays in door installation and bathroom work. When she moved into her flat, the entire house still had no doors after a week of occupancy. Huang attributed these delays to a combination of dependent construction work, lengthy sponsorship approval processes, and what he called "genuine oversights" that were later resolved.
Huang explained that some delays occurred because Chen didn't confirm sponsorship details or the extent of each sponsor's contribution from the project's start. For example, bathroom door measurements couldn't be taken because flooring overlay work remained incomplete. Chen had requested sintered stone tiles and worked with a sponsor company, a process involving extensive back-and-forth communication from April 21 to June 19, including repeated approvals, rejections, and design revisions.
For other doors, Huang said the drafting process required multiple revisions tied to unresolved design elements elsewhere in the house. While measurements were taken in May 2021, fabrication and site delivery were delayed until mid-June. Additional complications included handle procurement delays because the supplier only offered standard handles while Chen wanted to purchase her own, and revisions to door swing directions after Chen reconsidered her original plans.
Huang acknowledged that drafting could have been faster, noting that door drawings and revisions took about 10 days of coordination between him and Chen. He also admitted fault in failing to clearly communicate how these delays would affect the overall project timeline. "I assumed that she knew if she failed to confirm certain sponsorships or stuff, she would not be able to move in on time," Huang explained.
The second major issue involved inaccurate measurements, most notably a kitchen cabinet that left a visible gap between the backsplash and the unit. According to WhatsApp messages Chen shared publicly, Huang had provided measurements of 960-965mm for the cabinet width. Chen's contractor built the unit based on those specifications, resulting in the misfit.
Huang argued this wasn't a measurement error but resulted from design changes. The original kitchen plan included a tall unit and refrigerator, for which he measured 1.2 meters. When the layout changed to allow more countertop space, he adjusted the figure to 960mm, ultimately leading to the gap. Huang added that measurement accuracy was the contractor's responsibility, as they were tasked with producing detailed shop drawings and confirming on-site measurements.
"The discrepancy came from their drafting and lapse in communication, not my original design intent," Huang said. He typically provides drawings without full dimensions, leaving carpenters to confirm final measurements on-site. Huang suggested the misalignment might have resulted from changes made on-site after his initial measurements, noting that top cabinets and pipe box-ups couldn't be fitted, leaving the entire set of top-hung kitchen cabinets uninstalled.
As a solution, Huang proposed extending the backsplash pattern, which he said would cause only a two- to three-day delay at most. Other measurement problems included Chen's kitchen hob installed with barely a 2cm allowance from the counter edge, and a built-in shoe rack that ended up too small to properly fit her shoes. Huang didn't provide responses to these specific issues.
The third major problem involved poorly planned design placements, particularly bedroom lighting. Chen highlighted that three lights were placed around the ceiling fan, another was positioned away from it, and one was installed directly in front of the air conditioner. Huang explained the lights were installed according to original lighting plans that all parties had agreed to, but some deviations were made to reduce carpentry costs.
According to Huang, the initial plan included a customized wardrobe, TV console, and bedhead, but they later decided to purchase off-the-shelf items after electrical wires were already installed. "The original layout would have seen the light in front of the air-conditioner serve as an entrance light. The plan was supposed to include a full-height wardrobe beside it, which would have made its placement look intentional," he explained.
Chen also highlighted issues with a concealed cabinet that Huang's carpenter built. The cabinet was designed to close by applying pressure anywhere on its surface, but after installation, Chen found it only closed when pressing a specific spot. Huang acknowledged this was his carpenter's work but noted Chen never raised the issue with him before posting her video.
Other problems included a light switch installed in the middle of a hallway wall where Chen planned to put a mural. Huang said he had already asked the electrician to relocate it after Chen raised concerns earlier and was unsure why it remained in the wrong position. Chen's toilet was supposed to feature sintered stone walls that weren't completed, leaving her to paint some areas black. In the kitchen, a cabinet was built without proper ventilation for the oven because installers claimed they weren't told about the requirement and it wasn't shown in drawings.
Underlying these specific issues was a recurring communication problem amplified by the number of parties involved – at least 10 according to both sides' accounts. "It introduced overlaps and occasional gaps in information flow due to multiple communication channels like client to me, client to vendor, me to vendor," Huang explained.
Huang was added to several group chats for coordination, but Chen claimed he often overlooked messages or was unresponsive. He also preferred using private messages instead of group chats, which Chen felt made coordination less transparent. Additionally, he joined the project after some work had already been completed and was unsure about previous agreements made before his involvement.
Vendor task overlaps created additional complications. A glass panel specification error occurred because while it was documented internally, it wasn't reflected in official door designs. This led the door contractor to approach Chen directly, adding to her frustration. In another instance, Chen made double payments when Huang assigned a new contractor for a false wall despite her having already placed a deposit with another contractor.
These coordination problems stemmed from the lack of a single established point of contact leading the entire project. Chen thought Huang would take charge, but this expectation wasn't clearly communicated until issues had already occurred. By the end of June, Chen terminated Huang's services.
Huang said he compensated Chen with $4,000 to offset rental costs from the delays, but the project fallout has since become public. Looking back, Huang advised that homeowners engaging their own contractors should prepare for more complex coordination challenges. "An interior designer's recommended contractors usually come with established workflows and communication channels. If a homeowner prefers their own vendors, I'd advise setting clear responsibilities, signed-off drawings, and realistic timelines at the outset," he concluded.
The dispute highlights the complexities that can arise in modern renovation projects involving multiple parties, social media partnerships, and mixed professional relationships. Both parties have shared their perspectives publicly, illustrating how miscommunication and unclear responsibilities can escalate private business disputes into public controversies in the digital age.
