An Exquisitely Appointed Kitchen In Tembisa - Part II
In memory of the elder Mr Mphahlele, who passed away weeks after the completion of this kitchen makeover.
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As kitchen layouts go, this one was relatively straightforward – a simple rectangle. The only challenge, if one could call it that, was that one wall could not be fully utilised because of two doorways. To ensure optimal use of this particular wall, we decided to erect a semi‑island cooker unit there. The effect, as you can see in the photographs, speaks for itself.
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| The cooker peninsula and the two doors flanking it partially visible on both sides |
But before we could get there, we had to think about water supply for the dishwasher and washing machine – both part of the original brief.
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Plumbing and Electrical Surgery
Previously, the kitchen had a wall‑mounted mixer. Our plan was to replace it with a countertop‑mounted mixer. In the process, we thought: why not make provision for hot and cold water supply for the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time? And if washing machines were to be installed, then electricity also had to be catered for.
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| Water supply and grey water removal systems |
And so, wall chasing was done – cutting channels into the plaster to lay copper pipes for water and PVC conduits for electrical cabling. The image below shows the preparatory work.
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| Electrical and plumbing work underway |
The creation of a cooker semi‑island also meant that the cooker isolator unit had to be relocated. That too was done. In fact, the wall box that used to supply the original cooker was diverted to supply new power points – for the washing machines, as well as for other kitchen appliances including the microwave and electric kettle. A 3‑core, 4mm copper cable was pulled up and rerouted to the new peninsula.
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Bright Ideas Emerge: The Bulkhead in All Its Burgundy Glory
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| The ceiling bulkhead and other ceiling downlights |
As the project progressed, new ideas emerged and the scope evolved. We added an overhead bulkhead with downlights – something not initially provisioned. And when we painted it in deep burgundy, matching the cabinets below, it became more than a structural necessity. It became a crown. A deliberate architectural gesture that tied the ceiling to the cabinetry. The bulkhead in all its burgundy glory – exactly as promised.
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The Tile That Stole the Show
Mrs Mphahlele decided that, the same tile that we had laid on the floor – a stately 600mm x 600mm cream porcelain tile – was now going to on the walls, though in a perfect rectangular 600mm x 300mm version.
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| The sublime trimming between the rectangular tile on the wall and the broad white ceiling cornice |
And that moment – the moment when the rectangular tile kissed the edges of the burgundy cabinet units – that is the exact moment when a beautiful kitchen became stunning.
You can see it in the image of the refrigerator compartment: the near‑perfect reflections on the tile surfaces. In fact, to truly feel the vibe of this kitchen, one must stand facing the largest tiled wall – adjacent to the refrigerator – and see one's own reflection staring back. That is when you understand what I am getting at. Seeing that, we felt every effort had been worth it.
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| A good view of tiled wall adjacent the refrigerator |
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The Challenge of Uneven Walls
Tiling the walls was not easy. The builders had not levelled the plaster well. There were numerous blobs and bumps – especially on the wall with the two doors (where the semi‑island now stood) and which mostly had to be tiled. Large sections of plaster on that wall, and on the adjacent wall where the sink unit sits, had to be chipped off and re‑plastered before the tiles could be properly affixed.
But as I said earlier, every effort was worth it. The final results are a testament to that.
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A Multi‑Faceted Undertaking
All in all – and as you will see from the photo album – the project became a multi‑faceted affair, encompassing:
- Built‑in cabinet installation
- Tiling
- Plastering
- Electrical alterations
- Plumbing
- Ceiling work
All to our pleasure as a team of jacks‑of‑all‑trades.
And again, the effect is nothing short of stunning. To recall the work that preceded the installation of the washing machines – the electrical wiring, the plumbing, the chasing – and now to see everything running smoothly, is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
All the wall units above the washing machine section are display units with glass cutouts and frosty glass on doors.
This is the first kitchen I've ever done where, almost all wall units are display units. And this adds to the aura of the kitchen, lending it an almost mystic quality.
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| The washing machine section's display units |
This is the first kitchen I've ever done where, almost all wall units are display units. And this adds to the aura of the kitchen, lending it an almost mystic quality.
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The Semi‑Island and the Quartz Crown
The cooker peninsula – with the two doorways that necessitated its creation visible on the near left and far right – sits with quiet confidence. And above the floor units, like one who feels an inherent right to rule over others, sits an equally stunning, decadently Starry White Quartz countertop, courtesy of Sylvester and his Elvico Marble and Granite installation team from Boksburg.
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The Moment the Mphahleles Took Ownership Of Their Dream Kitchen Again
Finally, after a few more electrical alterations to accommodate the additional lighting, it was time for the official handover. The Mphahleles had been in and out of the kitchen throughout the makeover, of course—this was a lived-in home, and life does not pause for renovations. But this was different. This was the moment the kitchen ceased to be a construction site and became theirs.
I called them in and, with a touch of humorous fanfare, declared: "Let there be light."
They walked through the door. I flicked the switch. And for a moment, no one spoke.
Mrs Mphahlele reached out and touched the glass of a display unit, her fingers resting lightly on the frosted surface as if she were greeting something she had only seen in pictures. Mr Mphahlele stood at the semi-island, rested his hand on the Starry White quartz, and slowly turned—taking in the burgundy bulkhead, the reflective tiles, the soft glow of the downlights. The kitchen was no longer a plan on paper or a series of half-finished photographs. It was real. It was complete. And it was theirs.
That was the moment. The silence before the tears; though the Mphahleles did not tear up. The dream, after months of planning, standing right in front of them. To say they were happy would be an understatement. They were truly beside themselves with joy and excitement.
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The Lesson I Carried Home from Tembisa – Fifteen Years After That First Matchbox House
Fifteen years earlier, I had tiled a small Matchbox house in Tembisa for a nurse from Hospital View. That job was simple – just floors. But it planted something. A sense that Tembisa was not just a place I passed through. It was where I learned that good work travels by word of mouth, that trust is built one tile at a time, and that a kitchen – even a small one – can hold a family's history.
This Mphahlele kitchen taught me the same lesson, but louder: never underestimate what a client's vision can become when you listen, adapt, and refuse to cut corners. It's the lesson I would re-learn, years later taking on the Zambia built-in kitchen 'challenge' and excelling at it And the lesson learnt, unexpectedly, all those years ago in Thembisa, would come in hand.
Mr Mphahlele wanted his dream. We gave him burgundy, cream, quartz, and light. And when he smiled, I knew: that first Matchbox house was not the end. It was the beginning of something I would carry with me for the rest of my career.
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Note: The Molipas, who would later become clients, settled on a similar arrangement for their own kitchen: 600mm x 600mm porcelain on the floor and the rectangular version on the walls.
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For further details on my kitchen design and installation services, please reach out.
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📧 Email: info.aptdesigns@gmail.com
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