Singapore actor Kishan J has spent between S$20,000 and S$25,000 transforming a rented heritage apartment into a personalised home featuring a cinema room, record collection, indoor patio and a strong Jurassic Park-inspired theme.
The 33-year-old revealed the renovation during a recent episode of Kaypoh Room Tour, where he gave host and actress Amy Ang a tour of his home. The three-room apartment measures about 823 sq ft and is a Singapore Land Authority heritage property built in the 1950s.
Kishan said he decided to rent the property because he wanted to experience living independently. Before becoming a tenant, he had to demonstrate that he had sufficient funds in his bank account and pay a three-month deposit that included the first month’s rent.
Because the property is a heritage apartment, Kishan was also given a handbook outlining how to care for the home and what modifications were permitted.
The actor gave different parts of the apartment their own names. His living room became the “record shop”, with colourful furniture, vinyl records and a record player belonging to him and his uncle. He said the space is where he likes to drink coffee and listen to music.
A wall beside the living room was removed to create wooden sliding doors leading into an open-concept bedroom. The overall design was inspired by the 1992 Jurassic Park film poster, with green and brown tones dominating the bedroom.
The apartment’s indoor patio was converted into an air-conditioned study filled with wooden furniture and plants. Kishan also kept the tabletop from a desk he had used since childhood, modifying it with new legs and turning part of it into a smaller side table.
One of the home’s biggest additions is a cinema room equipped with a 100-inch screen and JBL L82 sound system. An orange modular sofa can be rearranged depending on how the space is being used. Kishan said the room was also designed with his plans to relaunch a podcast in mind.
His Jurassic Park theme continues into the bathroom, where a sliding door was inspired by a door featured in the film. The bathroom uses mustard-coloured tiles and separates the toilet from the shower area.
Kishan admitted that his kitchen is mainly for show because he rarely uses it. The space includes a white refrigerator and an air fryer, while the position of the washing machine and drainage pipe prevented him from installing the cooking area he had originally planned.
Although he does not own the property, Kishan said the renovation was worthwhile because he wanted to create a home that reflected his personality while learning to live independently.
He also encouraged younger people who have the opportunity to move out to experience independent living earlier, saying that doing so can help them develop valuable life skills.
Renovating a heritage property can involve additional requirements because state-owned or conserved properties may have restrictions designed to protect their architectural and historical features. The Singapore Land Authority requires prior written approval for addition and alteration works to its properties.
Kishan’s unusual rental home has since drawn attention for combining a relatively modest heritage apartment with a highly customised interior, showing how tenants can personalise a space while working within the limitations of an older property.
