Off the Leash in the Winelands

Old-world charm exteriors meet playful and colourful interiors at Chommies’ new location in the Cape Winelands – connecting with a wider community of family dogs, farm dogs and their humans.

WORDS Palesa Mohola PHOTOS Supplied

A new space with an old soul opens at Die Handelshuis, a historic community hub, retail space and lifestyle destination in the Western Cape, with an old-town feel and surrounded by lush gardens and greenery.

“Our Hatfield Street store has a more eclectic, contemporary city feel, while the Oranjezicht City Farm Market store is all about the energy of the market,” explains Nathalie, founder and Chief Creative Director of Chommies. “Simondium needed to feel like it belonged in the Winelands. It’s somewhere you can stretch your legs and explore. Dogs included, of course.”

The area’s sense of history and character was what captivated Nathalie, so the idea was to embrace the attributes of the Winelands while introducing the brand’s distinctive approach to colour, creativity and craftsmanship. The Chommies team – Devon Bräsler, Design Lead on the creative vision; Natasha Kurten, Head of Sales with hands-on support; and Nathalie’s brother Gideon, a carpenter worked alongside Danie Steenkamp, landscape architect and property owner, to bring the space to life.

“We’ve always wanted this to be a place to celebrate local businesses, but it felt like one crucial element was missing: dogs,” says Danie. “Chommies felt like a natural fit, not only because of its appreciation for design and craft, but because we share the belief that spaces should bring people together. We wanted to create somewhere that feels like a community, and having Chommies here is a wonderful part of that.”

This new journey began by drawing inspiration from Die Handelshuis, paying close attention to the architecture and the gardens – a process that led to carefully selected details that feel at home in the space. What followed was the structure itself: using aged timber and traditional farm-style fittings, the store looks as though it has always existed there.

“We wanted to create something that respected what was already here,” explains Nathalie. “Of course, it still had to feel unmistakably Chommies, so we brought in our colour and creativity and, naturally, kept the dog in mind as our most important customer. The space itself is quite understated, which allows the products and all the work that goes into making them to really stand out.”

Inside the store,  vintage frames were sourced and filled with historical dog paintings from the Rijksmuseum’s open collection; simplicity and character were prioritised when selecting the furniture and fittings, with most pieces sourced locally and from neighbouring Businesses.

Chommies at Die Handelshuis is a place where dogs and their people are encouraged to make themselves at home. chommies.com | @chommiescom

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