Our seventh nominee for the Boschendal Style Award at the Eat Out Restaurant Awards, Pierneef à La Motte mixes Cape culinary history with contemporary design in a beautiful farm setting. 

The mood: Modern and classically elegant, with nuances of the farm’s surroundings.

The designer: Two main aspects inform the concept of the restaurant’s interior: the history of the farm, and the owners’ love of Pierneef paintings, says designer Christo Barnard. He joined owners Hein and Hanneli Koegelenberg in bringing the restaurant’s décor – and indeed Pierneef himself – to life. The tone is set by the colour scheme: soothing whites and greens incorporate the shades of the old oaks on the farm. The rustic charm of exposed brick walls and polished rafters is neatly juxtaposed with the fine-dining experience.

The details: All the furniture was custom-made by Pierre Cronje and James Mudge, who support local talent as far as possible, with fabric from The Design Team. Ella Lu conceptualised the quirky porcelain chandeliers, which resemble the crockery of the first Dutch settlers in the Cape: soup terrines, platters and bowls of all sizes with delicate delft-imitation patterns. Pierneef linocuts from the family collection line the walls, and the artist’s paintings make an appearance on the bowl-lampshades just above the bar. The ever-present Pierneef and his daughter are also featured on the chairs.

The food: Dishes served at Pierneef à La Motte are based on much-loved recipes brought to the Cape by European settlers during the seventeenth century, and modified in the three centuries since. 

Does this restaurant have what it takes to win the Boschendal Style Award at this year's Eat Out Restaurant Awards?

By Monique Broumels