Some houses carry their age visibly. The walls tell it. The tiles tell it. Even the wiring tells it — surface-mounted cables running along the walls, added over the years as quick fixes, layer upon layer. That was the reality when we first walked into this house in Buru Buru, one of Nairobi's most established residential estates. Old. Tired. Full of potential.
The clients — a young working family — weren't looking for a patch-up job. They wanted something new. Something that felt like them. And so began one of our most rewarding complete home renovations in Nairobi.
The brief: class, warmth, and a fresh start
From our very first conversation, the clients were clear. They wanted modern lighting, a statement TV wall, and a home that simply felt new. Not cosmetically new — genuinely, deeply new. The kind of new that makes you want to buy fresh furniture just to match the space. (Spoiler: that's exactly what happened.)
We listened, we proposed, and together we landed on a design direction rooted in warmth and clean contemporary lines. The signature move? SPC flooring throughout — a wood-finish floor that not only looks beautiful but actually keeps the home warmer during Nairobi's cold seasons, unlike tiles which can feel cold underfoot. Paired with a repaint in a crisp bright ash-grey, the shift in atmosphere was immediate.
What we actually did — the full scope
This wasn't a lick of paint and some new curtains. This was a complete home renovation, and the scope reflected that.
We took down the entire kitchen and rebuilt it from scratch — new cabinets, new countertops, new wall tiles, new flooring. The result is a clean, functional U-shaped kitchen that feels a world apart from what was there before.
The master bathroom got a full redesign. We reorganised the layout to maximise the space and fitted a glass shower cubicle, a floating vanity sink, marble-effect tiles from floor to ceiling, and a high-end toilet. It now feels like something out of a boutique hotel — quite the contrast from the plain, dated bathroom it replaced.
We also overhauled the lounge, creating a decorative TV feature wall clad in dark fluted panels with a marble porcelain centrepiece, backlit LED lighting, and a floating media unit. The gold ring chandelier above ties the whole space together beautifully.
Beyond the aesthetics, we fixed the roof — replacing the old plain sheets underneath the tiles that had been allowing water in for years. We rewired large sections of the house, clearing out all the surface-mounted cables and running new, properly concealed electrical droplines inside the walls.
And at the entrance, we built a pergola — giving the family a proper outdoor entertainment spot to enjoy their home from the outside in.
The challenges nobody tells you about
Every renovation has its surprises, and this one was no different. When we demolished the master bathroom floor, we discovered that the concrete slab separating it from the kitchen below was thinner than expected. Water had been seeping through for years. We had to apply a full waterproof membrane before relaying the new tiles — an unglamorous but essential step that will protect this home for decades.
The electrical work told a similar story. Years of DIY additions had left a tangle of surface-mounted cables and workarounds. We sorted through all of it methodically, rewiring where needed and integrating new features properly — the right way.
These are the hidden battles of renovating older homes in estates like Buru Buru. The bones are good, but the layers of time need to be carefully peeled back before anything new can truly last.
The moment we knew it landed
There's a moment on every project where you can tell the clients feel it. For this one, it came as the SPC flooring went down and the lighting was switched on for the first time. The clients walked through the space, quietly taking it in. A few days later, they called us — they were ordering new furniture. The house had inspired them to complete the vision.
That, for us, is the real measure of a successful renovation.
Thinking about a home renovation in Nairobi?
Whether you're a family looking to turn an aging house into your forever home, or a property owner wanting to add real value before renting or selling, a complete renovation done right makes all the difference. We work across Nairobi and Kenya, bringing tired spaces back to life with thoughtful design, honest craftsmanship, and a process that's as stress-free as we can make it.
Get in touch — we'd love to hear about your space.
M.J
EditorM.J serves as an editor at IMC, capturing and sharing the stories of beautifully designed spaces.
