Erin Hedley
Above: Share your enthusiasm for the grape in a custom wine cellar
Wine enthusiasts like to share their collections with friends, along with a visually dramatic wine cellar. While a well-designed space will put a dent in that fund you’ve put aside for a couple cases of 1964 Chateau Latour, most wine connoisseurs say the investment is worth it. To learn more about trends in wine cellar design, we talked with Erin Hedley of New Canaan, marketing director for Revel Custom Wine Cellars.
ARCHITECHTURE: Wine cellars are often an extension of the style of the home, says Hedley. “Inspiration may come from the Old World charm of a French chateau, or the clean lines of a contemporary,” she says. One Key Biscayne homeowner asked Revel to build him a statement cellar to complement his modern home, while a Memphis collector designed a traditional house around a wine cellar with beautifully crafted millwork of Fijian mahogany.
UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS: A wine cellar doesn’t have to be in the basement. Revel has installed them in kitchens and other rooms used for entertaining. One customer in Florida put a wine cellar in his poolhouse; another made use of the space under the home’s main staircase. When wine cellars are built in locations other than basements, special considerations are given to maintaining the proper environmental controls.
USER-FRIENDLY: Gone are the days of moving wine bottles around by hand to see the labels. New designs let you read labels without touching a single bottle, and that eliminates the risk of breakage. Revel was at the forefront of this trend, with its patented sliding pullout drawer design and corner wine wheels.
STYLE AND SAFETY: Transitional designs are popular, combining the warmth of wood with the cool feel of steel and glass. And security monitoring systems are becoming standard features.
A traditional cellar complements the home’s design.
ABOUT REVEL
To begin the build process, clients view images of existing designs on the Revel website, then discuss their needs with Jim Cash, who founded the company in 2009. These clients then work with a local contractor, who measures the available space. Cash sends a rendering of the proposed design for approval or modification. The final design is produced in the Revel studio in Michigan, shipped to the client, and installed by the contractor. revelcellars.com