Creative Ways to Utilize Space to Install a Wine Cellar
When most people think of a home wine cellar they often think of a dedicated, soft-lit room in the basement that is fully wrapped in stone with wine racking adorned in rich woods. Not everyone has room for this type of wine cellar, especially the many homes in Arizona that are not constructed with basements. A fully dedicated room wrapped in stone can also exceed most budgets. However, dedicated rooms and costly finishes do not mean you have to give up on your dream of having your own wine cellar. There are many new ways to creatively utilize existing space to not only install a great wine cellar but make it a focal point of the room. We also have some ideas that will showcase a beautiful wine cellar and not “break” the budget. AFT has had many opportunities to work with design professionals and homeowners to come up with outstanding solutions to install wine cellars in underutilized or even completely wasted space.
Recently, we at AFT worked on a home remodel where the client wanted a wine cellar but was lacking space. We opted to use an area of the home that is most often overlooked, the storage under the stairs. We converted this space from a standard closet to a completely temperature controlled wine cellar. A dedicated “mini-split” was installed with custom storefront glass doors to keep this wine cellar isolated and chilled. Not only did this maximize storage space and give the client the wine cellar they wanted, but also became a unique showpiece in the living space.
For the Chateau on Central - Design Challenge Arizona, the designers of each of the three residences sought creative ways to incorporate a wine cellar into their homes.
The BETH (above) created a showpiece by installing a cellar along with a wall on the entertaining floor. The cellar utilizes a small footprint by following the contour of the wall and taking advantage of the floor to ceiling storage. Unlike traditional wine cellars, contemporary wine racks have used that cantilever from the wall to create the illusion the racks are floating. The racks are enclosed by glass, which allows the wine collection to become wall art.
In The ROBERT, the designer chose to repurpose a space underneath the basement stairway that had generally been used as closet space. Floor to ceiling racking was installed to maximize the wine storage in the narrow space. French doors were installed to showcase the wine cellar that was boldly painted red.
In The CHARLES (below), a hallway location on the top floor was chosen for the wine cellar. By once again utilizing floor to ceiling wine racks, storage capacity was maximized while maintaining a small footprint. Glass doors were installed to add a contemporary feel while allowing the wine collection to be shown off.
