I have to admit that whenever I’m rounding up pictures for a wine storage story, my expectation is that they will all look the same, but they never do. Perhaps the most popular wine cellar photos added to Houzz recently will finally cure me of that misperception — they are not only diverse but also wowing.
Wine collectors have gone all-out when it comes to storing and displaying their wines, and the spaces range from old-world traditional to uber-contemporary.
Here are the most popular recent photos of wine cellars on Houzz, measured by the number of Houzz users who added them to their ideabooks in the past three months.
1. Innovative Display
Bottle display has certainly jumped from being strictly functional to offering an elaborate design element. This cellar in Massachusetts has Texas limestone walls behind the bottles, lit with LEDs from above and below. The racks themselves are made of steel and wood blocks. The modern grid, lighting and steel bring in the new, while the limestone walls and travertine floor nod to classic wine storage spaces.
In fact, the two most popular wine storage photos came from this same cellar. Usually, I would feature only one photo to represent each space, but this cellar has earned its close-up. Notice the play of light and shadow along that limestone texture behind the bottles.
Vinium wine storage: Charles River Wine Cellars
Here, in another popular photo, the same system works within a more traditional-looking space. Note how the design uses a different display system in the foreground.
2. Wine as Architecture
Some oenophiles appreciate their wine so much that they want to admire it from the living space. Large refrigerated cubes have been trending on main floors lately.
Be sure to talk with an expert before placing one of these, as you’ll want to prevent direct sunlight from hitting the bottles.
3. Wine as Art
Treating these wine bottles as art makes them the star of this dining room. Note the way the designer cleverly framed and lit the glass-front cabinets. It’s an appropriate way to sneak modern innovation into a stately home in Philadelphia.
4. Tasting Space
A place to uncork and unwind within the wine cellar has been trending for years. This particular wine room has strong contrast between the white ceiling and walls and the dark wood racks, which gives it a more contemporary look.
The patterned tile floor grounds the room in a more old-world element. This photo and the next two show how to create a comfortable tasting area using three different styles.
Stone walls, weathered ceiling beams, traditional furniture and that massive iron chandelier — this is the kind of tasting room that makes you feel as if you’re sitting underneath a 400-year-old farm building in an Umbrian vineyard.
5. Nearby Storage for Supplies
This beautiful “barmoire” keeps glassware, cocktail napkins and openers conveniently stored right next to the vino in this wine space.
Related: Shop Stylish Cabinet Pulls for Your Wine Storage
By Becky Harris, Houzz
