How your home looks tell a lot about your personality and character. For some, integrating trinkets here and there is a means of preserving memories that have shaped the core of the home.
Wine collections are no different. They speak volumes about your experiences and the places you’ve visited, making them an important part of your life. Storing them in a special place will not only add some character to your living, dining, kitchen, or wall space, but it will provide you with a lifetime of delight.
If you’re looking for contemporary design inspirations for your dream wine storage space, here’s a residential wine cellar design you can grab some ideas from, brought to you by the experts at Wine Cellar Specialists!
The Story Behind This Rich Custom Wine Cellar
While it only took months to build this wine cellar, this space has been years in the making. It all started back in 1983 when the owners picked up a single case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild Futures. That first purchase sparked a love for wine, and by 2000, they were hooked on collecting, eventually growing their collection to an impressive 800 bottles.
For a while, the owners kept their wines in a few wine fridges at their previous home. But when they decided to build a new house, they knew they wanted a dedicated space for their collection. Now, this custom wine cellar is the perfect place for them to enjoy and preserve their passion.
Crafting a Contemporary Wine Cellar Oasis
One couple’s shared love for wine inspired a unique project that would bring their collection—and their passion—to life. The husbance focused on growing their collection, while the wife channeled her creativity into designing a one-of-a-kind wine cellar. With the guidance of Wine Cellar Specialists, they transformed their vision into a beautiful, climate-controlled space that celebrates both form and function.
A Striking, Functional Entrance: The Barolo Door
At the entrance, a custom eight-foot Barolo door, crafted from solid alder wood and stained black, makes an elegant first impression. Dual-pane glass lets you glimpse the treasures inside, while a full suite of temperature-control features keeps the cellar sealed off from outside conditions. With an automatic door bottom and weather-stripping, this door protects against temperature and humidity fluctuations, ensuring every bottle is safe and undisturbed.
Flexible Windows for Privacy and Added Insulation
While this remarkable wine cellar is a highlight of their home, the couple sometimes prefers privacy, especially during certain events. To achieve this, they opted for an automatic blackout shade on the inside of the cellar. With the touch of a button, this shade can be closed to conceal the room, adding a touch of sophistication and convenience. An additional white shade also offers a layer of insulation, shielding the wine room from the strong summer heat that visits this region and helping to keep temperatures consistent.
A Harmonious Mix of Racking Styles with a Vintage Feel
Incorporating black-stained alder wood, the wine racks in this cellar blend traditional elegance with a sleek, modern finish. The mix of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal arrangements adds a dynamic, visually interesting design that enhances the space’s character. Alder wood’s unique ability to absorb stain beautifully made it a perfect choice, bringing out a rich black tone that highlights the cellar’s structure while offering an upscale yet approachable aesthetic.
Horizontal Racks for Convenience and Vertical Racks for Statement
To make selecting a bottle easy, horizontal wine racks line the left wall, holding each bottle in a label-forward position for instant recognition. This 13-layer arrangement accommodates up to 156 bottles, giving the couple ample space for their favorites. Next to the horizontal racks, a vertical display spans from floor to ceiling, displaying the bottles cap-forward. This setup not only adds variety but also reveals the emblems on each bottle, offering a unique look that accentuates the collection’s vastness.
Additional Storage with Diamond Bins and Wooden Case Display
For added charm and practicality, the couple chose diamond bins with a 62-bottle capacity, strategically placed beside the main display. Along with these bins, rustic wooden case storage adds a layer of character to the sleek design, creating an inviting atmosphere for any wine enthusiast. These cases not only hold hundreds of bottles but also serve as a visual focal point, making wine selection a delight.
The Perfect Table-Top Décor and Magnum Racks
Beneath an arched alcove, a few vintage pieces enhance the space’s contemporary-classic appeal. Displaying magnum bottles horizontally above this arch, the couple maximizes storage while keeping the display stylish and compact. This area holds 48 large-format bottles, emphasizing the range and scale of their collection.
Cooling System Designed for Texas’s Climate
Climate control is crucial to safeguarding fine wines, particularly in a large collection like this. Wine Cellar Specialists installed a Wine Guardian D050 cooling system, specifically chosen for its reliable cooling power and near-silent operation. The D050 system, discreetly placed in the attic and ducted into the wine cellar, is designed to maintain optimal conditions year-round—even through Texas’s scorching summers.
The Wine Guardian D050 stands out for its durable, corrosion-resistant aluminum frame, ensuring longevity and resilience in high-temperature environments. It’s also engineered with an energy-efficient design, making it ideal for residential and commercial wine cellars alike. The unit’s multi-panel construction allows for easy maintenance and servicing, so temperature and humidity levels can be adjusted as needed without a hassle.
Another key feature of the D050 is its ability to handle high ambient temperatures of up to 115°F, providing consistent performance in even the harshest climates. Equipped with variable-speed fans and advanced sensors, the system accurately monitors and adjusts both temperature and humidity, preventing issues like mold, cork drying, and wine spoilage. Additionally, its self-contained, ducted design minimizes noise within the wine room itself, keeping the ambiance peaceful and undisturbed for guests.
The D050’s flexible installation options allow it to be positioned remotely, with ducts easily routed through walls or ceilings. In this wine cellar, the cooling system is color-matched to blend seamlessly with the ceiling, ensuring that aesthetics are preserved while high-performance climate control operates in the background. This dependable system preserves the quality and character of the collection, so every bottle remains at its best for years to come.
Where Can You Start?
Entering this custom wine room is like stepping into a sanctuary designed to celebrate the art of winemaking. Every element, from the sleek black-stained alder racks to the well-crafted door and innovative cooling system, brings the couple’s dream cellar to life. They’re thrilled to share this space with friends, making it a gathering place for fellow wine lovers. And you can have this kind of experience too!
If you’re inspired to create a custom wine cellar in your Shaughnessy Height home, Custom Wine Cellars Vancouver is here to help.
We bring years of experience and a passion for fine craftsmanship to every, whether it’s a modern cellar, a timeless classic, or a unique fusion of both. Our team work will closely with your from start to finish, since you are an essential part of the design process.
Reach out to us today at +1 (888) 400 – 2675, and let’s start making your residential wine cellar design come to life!