De Warenmarkt’s Designer Table

PHOTOS Jac de Villiers WORDS Michaela Stehr

Designer Cornelis Dumas and decorator Jackie Fitzgerald put their heads together and created a collectable piece of furniture.

Situated in a beautiful historical building in Stellenbosch is De Warenmarkt, a social hub with trendy restaurants and market stalls selling good beer and wine, delectable cheeses, free-range meats and delicious snacks – with the stylish furniture to match.

Cornelis Dumas, with the help of Jackie Fitzgerald, took on the project to design all the furniture for De Warenmarkt, including the bar counter, light fixtures, stalls, and a parquetry table that caught our eye.

“Jackie asked me to consider parquet blocks for the tabletop,” Cornelis says. “The herringbone design was used in other places in the building, so that was an easy decision.

“I wanted to use reclaimed wood, but the only blocks I managed to find were the smaller type. I was reluctant to use them at first, due to the size of the table and the amount of work it would require… I was on a very tight deadline. In the end I think the small blocks turned out to be a good choice; their proportions were ideal for the 3,2 x 0,9 m table. The wood was treated with a wax sealant with a matt finish, which shows the natural beauty of the teak. The metal was not painted, only treated against rust with a black electroplating process.

“I think the table complements both the classic and modern features of the interior.”

This Stellenbosch hot spot is open Monday to Saturday, between 7 am and 7 pm.