“Excited To See the Finished Project”: Renovation of 80s Johannesburg Kitchen Has Mzansi Glued
- A woman shared a vlog of the beginning of her kitchen renovations in her fixer-upper home from the 1980s, in Johannesbug
- The video was shared on her TikTok account, where it received a massive number of views and positive comments.
- Social media users were impressed by her vision, with many saying they would follow her account to watch the whole process unfold
- Briefly News spoke with Mlondolozi Kan of Kannjane Construction and Supplying Services, who offered insights on the challenges of renovating older homes
Source: Instagram
A woman captivated the attention of social media users with an inspiring vlog documenting the beginning of her home renovation project.
The clip, shared by TikTok user @mishalevin_, was met with an outpouring of compliments and admiration.
The woman, TikTok user @mishalevin_, starts her video by sharing the interior of her 80s facebrick home. She shows the outdated white kitchen cupboards and rooms that are divided into more enclosed spaces. She says her goal is to make the home more open, modern, and a little brighter to bring in more light, which means breaking some of the walls into an open-plan area.
Choosing the right material for the kitchen
She also notes that she wants whoever is in the kitchen to feel like they are part of things, describing the kitchen as the most important feature of a home. The lady explains how obsessed she is with small details while in consultation with one of the companies used, showing from the wood type to the paint colour selection. The content creator also mentions a few features she's excited about, which include a secret pantry, gas-filled windows, a peninsula, and integrated appliances.
She also visits two other suppliers and is impressed to see the Franke garbage disposal system on her visit to Roco Fittings, saying she had no idea that they were available in South Africa. The woman mentions choosing a seamless fridge and freezer from Smeg and finishes off by inviting others on her renovation journey as it continues.
Source: TikTok
Modernising an old kitchen
The Briefly News team spoke with Mlondolozi Kani, who shared his professional opinion about kitchen renovation projects.
In the video, @mishalevin_ mentioned that the house was from the 1980s. We asked Mlondolozi what some of the key things to consider are when renovating an old home. He said:
"The main thing to remember is that old homes have a lot of hidden issues. You might find old wiring or plumbing, and you need to be prepared for that. You should always have a specialist come check the house for any hidden problems before you start a renovation project."
The team asked if breaking down walls, to make the space more open, as the woman mentioned, was a simple process. The expert shared:
"No, it's not. You need to check if the walls you want to remove are not load-bearing. If they are, you need to hire a professional engineer to come and check the structure of the house. Breaking down a load-bearing wall can be a huge safety risk, and you must avoid that at all costs."
When asked what his advice is for people wishing to renovate their kitchens, Mlondolozi responded:
"My advice is to have a clear vision and a budget. A renovation project can be a very expensive project, and you need to be prepared for that. You should also be prepared for delays and unexpected costs. The most important thing is to have a good contractor and a clear plan."
SA follows the woman for renovation tips
The comments section was filled with reactions from social media users who were thoroughly impressed by the innovation. Many said they were going to follow her account just to watch the whole process unfold. Some said when they heard of the suppliers she was using, they immediately knew she had good taste and that the final project would be amazing. Others stressed that she had to break the arches, but understood her vision.
User @Ms.Lora said:
"Already excited to see the finished product 🤭."
User @khumo_badu added:
"As soon as I heard your supplier/contractors, I knew you were on to something 🤏."
User @Amanda Tawana shared:
"Following to keep up. All the best, hun 🥰."
User @Aisha Baker commented:
"Renovating my kitchen gave me such anxiety, I was crying daily lol. So grateful it’s done and enjoy it every day. The best money ever spent."
User @kingcrea0 said:
"The anticipation is killing me🔥."
User @Meredith advised:
"I say this with so much love. Don’t put Smeg integrated into anything. I’ve made the Smeg mistake too many times 🥺 on my third kitchen reno now, and I am really regretting some earlier choices 😹."
Watch the TikTok video below:
3 Briefly News articles about renovations
- An Afrikaner woman and her husband shared their bathroom DIY renovation using items bought from Temu, impressing many social media users.
- A local couple showed off their home renovation progress on day 15 since commencing their fixer-upper home renovation in Johannesburg.
- A local couple bought the ugliest house on the street and renovated it into a gorgeous home with modern finishes, impressing many online users.
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Source: Briefly News
