A Thanksgiving Celebration!

The Aggenbachs share precious family time – and a Christmas feast – in their beautiful down-to-earth home.

- Johané Neilson, Marian van Wyk and Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

Christmas Day in the Aggenbach household is a time for reflection.

There’s always a fire or two on the go and the festive meal consists of dishes that can easily be prepared in advance.

“We’re not focused on gifts; our priority is the atmosphere and being together,” says Jolanda, the hostess and creative mind behind this Christmas gathering. “It is a thanksgiving celebration and there’s nothing out of the ordinary on the table. We simply make each member of the family’s favourite dish.”

So it’s no surprise to find items such as ‘Jana’s salted potatoes’ and ‘Yanke’s carrot cake’ on the menu; not to mention ‘Jolanda’s wild coleslaw’! ‘Hennie’s venison fillet à la Wellington’ is also a traditional favourite.

Hennie is one of three partners in a game farm near Hopefield. He feels very strongly about conservation and is, of course, passionate about wildlife.

“We appreciate the beauty of the animals and don’t just shoot indiscriminately,” explains Jolanda. Trophy heads as décor elements are, therefore, no surprise in this home and Jolanda takes inspiration from well-known French designer Philippe Starck, who ‘dressed’ trophy heads in the Vienna Hotel in Argentina.

The ones in the Aggenbachs’ household are often adorned with a cute hat or a scarf – or even a wreath around the neck over the Christmas period.

Décor style

Hennie, owner of paving manufacturer Cemstone, and Jolanda, one of the organisers of the popular CY Market in Durbanville, are both creative spirits who regularly bring interesting pieces home. They love unique décor and avoid commercial items, unless they need to add a contemporary piece or two to achieve a balance between old and new.