Fresh ideas for wine storage

Photographs Francois Oberholster and Henrique Wilding Styling Marian van Wyk

A hive of activity

This contemporary wine rack in Jackie and Danielle Uitenweerde’s home in Somerset West immediately catches the eye. Jackie is the owner of Design11, a company that laser-cuts decorative steel screens and structures for indoors and outdoors, and he conceptualised this design himself. The rack, inspired by the hexagonal cells of honeycomb, was cut from steel and then powder-coated in a soft golden colour. Visiting friends loved the rack so much that it has become part of the Design11 range. Known as The Hive, it is available in a variety of colours.

The focal wall is clad with authentic Karoo slate. “It’s my nod to the Karoo, where I was born,” explains Charlene. A fireplace enhances the cosy ambience. Rug from Rug & Kelim Gallery; vineyard basket from Agrimark; slate from Mazista; fireplace from Fire Science

Keep it cool

Hans and Charlene Nieuwoudt made quite a few changes after moving into their home in Die Boord, Stellenbosch about five years ago.

This space, originally part of the kitchen, is now partly an entrance hall and partly the vinotique – a room that provides the optimal conditions for storing and aging wine. Exposed bricks and the original raw cement floor enhance the authentic wine cellar atmosphere.

Hans built the shelves from plywood and edged them with 44mm cover strips to keep the bottles in place. The vinotique has its own air conditioner which keeps the temperature constant at 16°C; for insulation, the cavity walls were filled with 70mm IsoBoard.

The Nieuwoudts love the special place they’ve created for their unique collection. “Hans cherishes his range of Meerlust Rubicons; I also have wines from 2003 and 2005, the years in which my children were born,” says Charlene.

Bar none

Who would have thought that this home bar was once part of a tandem driveway? Designer Lara Myerson of Camps Bay, Cape Town created this cosy spot as a multifunctional space in which to store wine and raise a glass (or two). “I’ve always loved the idea of having a little wine cellar; it’s a warm and comfortable room that no one ever wants to leave,” says Lara.

The textures of wood, exposed brickwork, glass and cement all add to the ambience. The panels under the counter are made from various pieces of wood salvaged from the original renovation; they’ve been colour-washed to create a bespoke look for a fraction of the cost. The rest of the features are the handiwork of architect Haydn Ellis of Ellis Associates Architects and Lara herself.

The perfect fit

Serial renovators Kelly and Jonathan Croeser of Fish Hoek wanted a centre island in their new kitchen but a tight budget didn’t allow for a custom-made solid wooden piece. Kelly decided instead to upcycle a large double-sided imbuia office desk she found on Facebook Marketplace.

“I was confident that once adapted the desk would work and at the same time add a quirky touch to the space,” explains Kelly. First of all, the gap in the middle of the desk was boxed in to accommodate a gas hob and oven but that left an unused space at the back of the oven that was not quite deep enough for a cupboard. Kelly decided to turn this into wine storage with an old wine rack found at a local charity shop. “It was the perfect fit,” says Kelly.

The back panel had to be insulated with Rhinoboard to control the heat emanating from the oven so as not to spoil the wine. In the end, their DIY kitchen island ended up costing a fraction of the price of a new one – and now the wine is always close at hand!

Bricks from old demolished walls were re-used to create a lovely feature wall. Decorative cast-iron brackets by Hanga Steel

The desk was lower than the average height of an island, so Kelly and Jonathan simply raised its original top, and then sanded it and sealed it with Novathane Polyurethane Matt Varnish.