Publications
Styling Suretha Jansen van Rensburg • Photographs ER Lombard
The gift that keeps on giving
Inspired by the work of a street artist who stuck shards of old crockery on pillars all over the trendy Maboneng Precinct in downtown Johannesburg, ceramic artist Michael Brian Waugh asked for old blue-and-white ceramics and porcelain – specifically plates and platters – as a housewarming gift when he moved into his open-plan loft apartment so he could create a three-dimensional splashback in his kitchen.
He attached the plates to the wall using a thick layer of tile cement, then finished the look with black grout between the pieces. “I was gifted a whole range of second-hand crockery – from Chinese porcelain to Delftware. I even got some vintage Africana pieces,” says Michael. Each item is a reminder of the friends who contributed to this sentimental showpiece.
Level best!
To make the most of the view of the Jo’burg skyline in his open-plan apartment, Michael decided on a tiered design. His lounge and kitchen make up the ‘ground floor’, while the bedroom is raised above the lounge by means of a platform made from reclaimed wood. He salvaged the wood from the first property he developed in a residential area in Berea.
The bathroom behind the bedroom makes up the top tier. This clever division of space affords each level a unique perspective of the CBD. The impressive wall behind the bed is, in fact, the shower splashback. The intricate tile design hides the shower fixtures, as the space is visible from the living room, and creates an interesting talking point. “I designed the tiles; it was one of those ideas that came out of nowhere,” says Michael.
