Boss Of Solace Studios Was Just 23 When He Bought His 2-Bedroom Condo, Which He Spent $80K Renovating

When you're out and about in town, you probably would've chanced upon a Solace Studios photobooth, which offers quick, fun, and themed photo-taking experiences at its 20 outlets across the Singapore.

The business, which has grown rapidly since its launch in 2022, was started by 24-year-old Keith Kok after being inspired by self-photobooths during his graduation trip in Korea that same year. 

In the latest episode of Kaypoh Room Tours, Keith gives host Hazelle Teo a tour of his 678 sq ft condo unit, where he lives with his partner. 

According to Keith, he spent S$80,000 to renovate the 2-bedder apartment after he purchased the place from the previous owners, who did not live in the unit, adding that he bought it "at resale price". 

"Previously, I was staying with my parents, but three years ago I moved to my partner's place. We were squeezing in one bedroom, but it was a bit too crowded," says Keith. 

He also reveals that he bought his current crib when he was just 23 — a really impressive feat for a young Singaporean. 

The cosy home features woody textures, neutral colours, and minimalist furniture, follows a Muji-inspired theme.

In fact, Keith's sofa and throw, dining table set-up, as well as a side table are all from Muji. He adds with a chuckle that he does buy things from e-commerce sites like Taobao, but even there, carts out from the "official Muji" store.

No better way to furnish his house while staying strictly on theme, right?

Speaking on his love for the Muji aesthetic, he adds: "I like the 'woody' feel, it feels very warm and cosy."

Keith's favourite part of the house, surprisingly, is the bathroom, which follows the same minimalist theme. His reason? The toilet bowl. 

He shares: "It's because it has a heated seat function, and it auto flushes also, so I can just stand up and walk away [after using it]."

Keith transformed the ensuite bathroom in his master bedroom to a walk-in wardrobe — without the space, he would only have very little room to store all his clothes and accessories. 

"A lot of people were against it because they said [redoing the bathroom] would affect the resale value, but I just wanted a comfortable stay. Initially I was on the fence about turning the toilet into a wardrobe, but I set my mind [on having extra space]," he says. 

His home also features a collection of cool gadgets, including a roll pan that allows for hands-free cooking, an automatic cat litter box that doesn't require scooping, a fully decked-out sound system, and a dryer box for pets.

While chatting with Hazelle about his business, Keith reveals he started Solace Studios with a capital of S$75,000. He had just graduated from polytechnic, and half of that sum was from the savings he had running his own online businesses. 

"The other half was from my dad. He put his trust in me," he adds. 

"A main challenge at the start were budget constraints. We were just starting out and there wasn't a lot of funds, so we had to work within a budget while keeping the place aesthetic because I'm a very detailed person and I want everything to be perfect," Keith recalls. 

He was only 21 when he first launched Solace Studios, and he felt like it was the perfect time to dive into something new since he would still be young, with ample time to try again should he have failed. 

He took "about six to nine months" to break even, and candidly admits that the business is at a good place now, having expanded to Abu Dhabi. There are also plans to open in Dubai next.

His pro-tip for other small businesses? "I would say to really make good use of social media, especially if you're young. When I started the store, even before it was open, I was making TikToks, and a few of the videos went viral. That really helped when we opened because there was already attention," he says.