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The entire process went smoothly. Gavin was impressed
with the workers on site who put up screens and made
an effort to keep it all as tidy as possible. “Jenny was
heavily pregnant at the time so if it had all gone wrong,
it could have been disastrous!” says Gavin.
The cellar is in the hallway and is immediately noticeable
as you enter the house. Situated between the sitting and
dining rooms it makes a stunning feature of the hallway.
Fronted by a glass door with two glass panels either side
it’s an impressive sight often commented on by visitors.
To complete the experience, an enomatic (a gadget
popular with wine bars and shops) was installed as an
extra feature. An enomatic preserves the wine in opened
bottles, preventing it becoming ruined by the oxidisation
process. Gavin admits the enomatic hasn’t been used as
much as he’d envisaged: once a bottle is opened the wine
is usually drunk before it needs preserving!
The cellar can accommodate 2,800 bottles and is a
highly practical space, but it also looks fabulous.
“I enjoy my wines, but looking good was as important
as the practical considerations,” says Gavin. It was vital
for Gavin and Jenny that the cellar fitted in with the
existing decor of its surroundings and was consistent
with the rest of the house.
“I’m very pleased with the cellar. It has really made the
space come alive,” says Gavin.