Futon Heaven

Custom wine cellars are becoming a sound and cost effective way to store your large or small assortment of wine collections. Some vintages require aging and proper storage to bring them to their full complete potential. A custom wine cellar can allow you to enjoy your treasured collection in a room built for their requirements

A wine cellar will add value as a practical room and desirable amenity for your house. While the primary intent of building a custom wine cellar is probably for your private enjoyment while you reside in the home, it also increases the house’s resale value. Custom wine cellars, wine refrigerators and wine cabinets are amongst the most trendy additions and ‘must haves’ for luxury homes, and they are particularly appreciated in large homes situated in upscale neighborhoods.

Plan and construct a custom wine cellar mainly for your collection of wines, considering your existing space, finances, and the handiness of having complete access to your own superior wine. You can place it practically anywhere in your house. You may keep them in a vacant cabinet, corner of a room, in the pantry, beneath a stairwell, or in the attic. But some places, like basements, are more appropriate settings compared to others.

Each custom wine cellar needs sufficient space for placement of the racking and other mechanical structures. It can also hold a miniature counter and a small amount of crate, bulk, or tub wine storage space. The walls may require appropriate insulation to sustain steady temperature, and it must have a vapor barrier to avoid condensation inside its walls and so as to maintain its humidity.

The cellar’s entrance should be sealed with border climate stripping and insulated so as to keep cold, moist air inside the cellar. And, certainly, it needs appropriate refrigeration as well as humidity systems for climate control management, along with electrical wiring to provide room lighting.

The next step is finishing the wine cellar, specifically, erecting the custom racking. The racks should have capacity for your wine collection and fit the dimensions of your cellar. Wine bottles vary in size and shape. Not every wine bottle is capable of fitting into an average off-the-shelf wine rack. Once the wine cellar is properly erected, you are ready to add the finishing touches to it. Such touches may include crown moldings, lighting, flooring, baseboards, cabinets and countertops, a door, and various amenities. The hard work associated with designing your home wine cellar will surely pay off in the long run, as you will be able to enjoy your creation forever.

If you have a variety of vintages, a wine cellar is a sensible investment for storage and aging. A custom wine cellar with a wine refrigerator or wine cabinet increases the resale value of your home, particularly in large houses in upscale neighborhoods. You can build one anywhere; probably the best place is the basement. It should have adequate room for racking and storage, a mini counter, adequate wiring, and a vapor barrier to prevent condensation and maintain humidity and temperature (this may require adding insulation). Racks should fit the space and the bottles - some won’t fit in standard racks. Also consider adding special flooring, countertops, cabinets, doors, and other amenities.

- Summer Wilde