Case study · Upper North Shore, Sydney

Gordon

Designed by Eamonn Egan. A traditional sandstone cellar on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, for about 3,000 bottles, in Tasmanian oak racking. He consulted and designed. He did not build, supply or install it.

Wide view of Tasmanian oak racking between sandstone pillars, glowing with uplighting behind, above a travertine and spotted gum floor.
Warm-lit Tasmanian oak racking framed by sandstone, with uplighting behind the racking.
Designer
Eamonn Egan. Design consultancy only.
Place
Upper North Shore, Sydney.
Capacity
About 3,000 bottles.
Racking
Tasmanian oak.
Floor
Spotted gum panels with travertine tiles.

The room

Sandstone is applied over the tiled walls, with uplighting behind the racking, so the room reads as a sandstone cellar throughout. Cut-out niches in the sandstone, with LED uplighting, show feature bottles. Wrought-iron gates secure the premium wine section. An Axolotl-painted door gives the entry a historic character that suits the home’s sandstone exterior. The floor is spotted gum panels with travertine tiles.

The stone, the racking, the gates and the door were made and installed by the client’s own trades, from the design. Eamonn designed the cellar. He did not build, supply or install it, and he does not carry construction liability for the work.

Before and after

Drag the divider, or use the left and right arrow keys. Six pairs, from the works to the finished room.

Raw sandstone walls around a new doorway opening during works, soil at the base.
Before: the entry opening cut through the sandstone.
Narrow passage between sandstone walls leading to the dark cellar door.
After: Sandstone-lined entry to the cellar door.
Sandstone applied across the back wall, floor strips laid, before the racking was installed.
Before: During works: sandstone feature wall before racking.
Back wall of Tasmanian oak racking and bins with a display shelf, framed by sandstone pillars.
After: Tasmanian oak racking between sandstone pillars.
Low sub-floor space beneath the house with a brick pier and pipes.
Before: the sub-floor space under the house.
Racking, bins and display shelf across the cellar, sandstone pillars and travertine floor.
After: The finished cellar in daylight.
Ornate wrought-iron gate lying outside before being fitted.
Before: The wrought-iron gate before installation.
Wrought-iron gate between sandstone pillars, closing off a racked section.
After: Wrought-iron gate installed at the premium section.
Spotted gum strips and travertine tile bays being laid on the cellar floor.
Before: Floor panels being laid.
Floor of pale travertine tiles divided by spotted gum timber strips.
After: Spotted gum floor panels with travertine tiles.
Tasmanian oak racking units standing ready for installation.
Before: Tasmanian oak racking modules before installation.
Tasmanian oak racking and square bins along the walls, with sandstone pillars.
After: Racking and bins wrapping the cellar.

Before: the entry opening cut through the sandstone.After: Sandstone-lined entry to the cellar door.

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The finished cellar

  • Warm-lit Tasmanian oak racking framed by sandstone, with uplighting behind the racking.
  • Wrought-iron gates securing the premium wine section, beside lit sandstone niches.
  • Axolotl-painted door set into the sandstone, for a historical heritage feel.
  • Tasmanian oak racking between sandstone pillars.
  • Sandstone-lined entry to the cellar door.
  • Wrought-iron gate installed at the premium section.
  • Spotted gum floor panels with travertine tiles.
  • Racking and bins wrapping the cellar.
  • The finished cellar in daylight.
  • Sandstone cut-out niche with LED uplighting.
  • Feature bottle in an uplit sandstone niche.
  • Sandstone niches for feature bottles.
  • Stacked feature-bottle niches in a sandstone column.
  • Timber bench below the racking.
  • Through the wrought-iron gate.

Traditional sandstone gallery · Engineering & Climate gallery