Maybe it's the February chill in Chicago, or our recent Presidential election. Or maybe it was a memorable trip to Sonoma. Whatever the reason for enjoying wine, it's time to start thinking about the environment in which the wine is preserved.
A basement flood inspired this couple to rethink their basement plans and add a wine cellar in place of a lightly used storage closet.
This wine cellar was created to hold hundreds of bottles in different formats behind insulated glass and a special door with a thermal break in the frame to maintain 55 degrees fahrenheit and controlled humidity. The walls and ceiling are fully insulated to help the cooling unit operate efficiently. The custom wine storage unit is a modernized take on the traditional dark wood cabinetry.
One design problem with wine cooling units is that they often project out of the wall much like a window-mounted air-conditioner. In this instance, we built a custom shelving unit with a grill to allow for additional storage, air transfer, and better visuals. Removable panels allow for easy access to the wine cooling unit if it needs service.
Another look at the wine storage with antiqued mirror glass in the center and multiple storage options to accommodate different wine formats. The custom wine storage unit is a modernized version on the traditional dark wood cabinetry commonly found in wine cellars. The bottom shelves are removable for case storage.
A custom wine cellar is a pleasure to build because it sits at the intersection of design and engineering; we want it to look smashing and simultaneously safeguard the valuable contents. We certainly think it's an efficient use of a former storage basement closet! A day could come when your wine collection outgrows the storage capabilities, and we would be honored to assist you on that happy day :)
It was great fun to complete this project with the input from a great couple. We hope they fill and re-fill this wine cellar many times!
