Swanky removable fixtures

By Cathy Ochung

At his upmarket Milimani home, the character of Hot Rod band owner Mike Mwenda, or Slaughter as he is known by his circle of friends, is evident. He describes himself as easygoing and you can see this from the way he has arranged his furniture and ornaments. It is comfortable, which is ideal considering he regularly hosts many of his friends and his intention is for guests to feel relaxed and unwind.

As soon as you walk into Mike’s house, evidence of his love for music is splashed all over. A huge speaker stands neatly at one corner of the corridor. Peeping from their jackets are some guitars. But the most striking feature of Mike’s living room is his bar, which is made from dark wood. What is fascinating is that, instead of concrete, the bar boasts mirrors for walls, which give the impression of plenty of space.

"The reason I constructed my bar and office like this (semi-permanent design) is so that I can easily remove them should I desire to move from this house and just as easily fix them in my new house. Also, remember I live in a rented house and most landlords don’t like it when tenants drill holes and change the way their houses look," says Mike.

A collector’s haven

Five high metallic stools stride the counter while wooden carvings make up its decor. The bar is always fully-stocked with an impressive display of wine and beer. This is where Mike loves to unwind after a long day when he is not bonding with his son.

Away from the bar, a set of low black seats, which is the couple’s favourite colour, adorn the living room. Black and white cushions give the room a cosy ambience. A section of the living room has been partitioned into an office. The rest of the furniture has been arranged to give the home a spacious feeling. A thick wall-to-wall carpet, pale red in colour, adds luxury to the space.

Along the staircase that leads to the upper rooms are several portraits. The most dominant of these is a large painting of his wife Tess, who is credited with the home’s decor. Most of the unique collections adorning the walls are items she bought during her travels to different countries. Not surprisingly, the house is a collector’s haven of art pieces.

In here too are timeless musical instruments from Mike’s past. On one corner stands what he adoringly describes as one of the few remaining pieces of turntables in the country.