Importance of Proper Insulation and Lighting in Wine Cellars

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

A properly functioning wine cellar needs more than just a cooling system to help achieve the necessary conditions for storing and aging wines. Efficient insulation is an essential aspect of proper wine storage. A highly insulated wine storage room ensures that the storage environment is stable enough for wines to mature to their full potential.

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Custom Wine Cellars Chicago Illinois

There are three primary reasons for insulating custom wine cellars in Chicago Illinois: it lowers energy costs, prevents temperature swings, and maintains the humidity at ideal levels. Poor wine cellar insulation causes the cooling unit to work doubly hard to meet the required climate conditions, which can lead to the system breaking down more often and thereby contribute to higher energy bills.

In order to keep temperature levels within 55 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity at 60% to 75%, all components of a wine cellar that can potentially bring outside air into the storage space should be thoroughly insulated. This means that insulation should not only be limited to cellar walls, but also extend to the cellar entry door, the floor, the windows, and the ceiling.

Common materials used for insulating custom wine cellars are fiberglass, foam board, and drywall. Fiberglass insulation materials are water resistant and offer versatility in installation because they can be used for various structural applications. Foam board provides ease of installation and requires no maintenance because it is not prone to decay. Drywall has mold and moisture-resistant features that help prevent mold and mildew growth.

Custom Wine Cellar Lighting

Another important aspect that can impact the overall condition of wine cellars is the lighting system. Using proper lighting will keep wines safe from the effects of harmful light sources. A minimal amount of light not only accentuates the various wine bottles on display but also creates the perfect mood for the wine cellar.

The right kind of wine cellar lighting should provide enough illumination to view wine labels properly, find your way around the room, and conduct wine soirees without generating too much heat that can cause irreversible damage to your wine collection.

Keep in mind that not all light bulbs are suitable for wine cellars. Regular light bulbs should be avoided because they have higher heat emissions that can drive up energy costs and increase room temperature. On the other hand, LED-based lighting is ideal for wine cellars because of its energy efficiency and low heat generation.

Wine cellar lighting options come in various designs and configurations, such as recessed can light, track lighting, wall sconces, and recessed halogen lighting systems. Recessed can lights are installed on ceilings that allow you to accentuate specific areas of the wine room. The track lighting system is mostly used for highlighting wine labels stored in wine racks with a high reveal display row.

Wall sconces provide better light distribution. They are usually mounted at eye level to create the desired lighting effect. Recessed halogen lighting systems can add a dramatic flair to any wine cellar interior. This lighting system is equipped with baffles to reduce brightness. Remember to only use halogen bulbs with UV protective coating to protect wines from UV damage.

Installing dimmer switches and light timers in your wine room can provide additional protection to your investment. Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the brightness inside the wine cellar. Light timers help save energy, lower energy bills and minimize exposure of wine bottles to light.

A Look at Beautiful Santa Barbara Project Designed by IWA Design Specialist Jimmy Simmons

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

If you’re looking to create your very own custom wine cellar, keep in mind both functionality and aesthetic appeal. For example, this wine cellar was built in Santa Barbara California. It was made with black-finished, earthquake-proof metal wine racks.

The racks were Vintage View Metal Wine racks, and the builders included special straps to secure the bottles to the racks. Thanks to this addition, the wine bottles would be held firmly in place in the event of an earthquake.

The client also requested a label forward display aspect, for the purpose of more easily distinguishing between the many wines within his large collection. The racks were able to hold a variety of bottle shapes as well, allowing the client to store all of his wines in one cellar.

The building of the wine cellar began in March and was completed in May, just a couple of months after. International Wine Accessories’ had Jimmy Simmons, one of their most experienced wine cellar designers, take on the project.
Jimmy Simmons took a few key aspects into account. First off, the cellar required a proper refrigeration system, to maintain the ideal temperature and humidity. It also needed to hold as many wine bottles as possible, as well as protect those wines during earthquakes.

A CellarPro 3200VSi cooling unit with a rear duct kit and an aluminum filter was chosen, and wine racks 3 bottles deep were constructed (holding a total of 936 bottles) and were made earthquake-proof through the method entailed above.

The cooling unit was ducted through the new wall by the door, making it unnecessary to engineer the existing concrete walls. The bare concrete was framed out, insulated, and clad with marine-grade plywood. The CellarPro Wine Cellar Cooling unit used was unique, because a filtration system was included. In fact, CellarPro is the only manufacturer that offers a filter like this.

Although earthquake resistance isn’t necessary for Chicago, the fact remains that IWA can create the optimal wine cellar taking any environment and aesthetic appeal into account.
If you want to learn more about this project, or about the people that made it happen, click here:
http://www.iwawine.com/custom-wine-cellars-santa-barbara-california-bishop.html

Custom Wine Cellars Specialists – 2013 Best of Houzz Awardee

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Nancy Noga, owner and founder of Wine Cellar Specialists Chicago, recently picked up an award for Houzz’s “Best of Houzz” 2013. Houzz is a popular online community that focuses on architecture, home improvement, design, and decorating. Based on reviews and ratings of 11 million monthly users, Wine Cellar Specialists emerged as the winner in the Customer Satisfaction category.

Houzz has an extensive collection of interior and exterior photographs of residential homes, and it features articles written by remodeling professionals and home design specialists. The website is a useful tool for homeowners who may require the services of home improvement experts.

The aim of Houzz’s Best of Houzz award is to give recognition to professionals in the field of remodeling and design. Top-notch professionals and experts are singled out by the Houzz community for their high-quality customer service and excellent design skills.

Best of Houzz 2013 has two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Winners of the Customer Satisfaction award are chosen by homeowner members, and they are evaluated according to their work quality. As evidenced by the number of professional images saved to Houzz ideabooks, the works of Design awardees are popular amongst the Houzzers (or Houzz users).

Houzz’s Best of Houzz 2013 is regarded as the yardstick of remodeling and decorating excellence. This award also serves as the platform for influencing architectural styles and design ideas worldwide. Best of Houzz 2013 is awarded to remodeling experts like Custom Wine Cellars Chicago Specialists for their creative contribution to renovation and design projects for residential properties.

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Custom Wine Cellars Chicago by Wine Cellars SPecialists

Custom Wine Cellars Chicago Specialists has been in the custom wine cellar construction business for many years. With numerous wine cellar projects under their belt, they are the leading experts in building the perfect wine storage room for residential and commercial use.

This design-build firm works individually with clients from beginning to end of wine cellar projects. They offer free consultation and 3D wine cellar design services for clients to better visualize the outcome of the project. Wine Cellar Specialist Chicago also provides the best custom racking systems, wine cellar doors, flooring materials, and cooling systems.

With every wine cellar project they take on, their main objective is to turn a remodeling idea into a reality, using only the best materials available and staying within the client’s budget. Wine Cellar Specialists Chicago makes it a point to understand the storage needs and desires of their clients and integrate this information into the actual construction of the wine cellar.

Whichever location you choose for your storage space – be it a closet, basement, or under the stairs – Wine Cellar Specialists Chicago is committed to creating a beautiful and dedicated wine cellar based on your design preferences and specifications.

Their dedication to providing quality products and services to clients is the reason Wine Cellar Specialists Chicago is this year’s recipient of Houzz’s “Best of Remodeling” Customer Satisfaction award. This award is solid proof of their creativity and professionalism, as well as a reflection of their innovative and unique design ideas.

Read the press release here http://www.houzz.com/press/7/Houzz-Unveils-2013—-Best-of-Remodeling—-Winners?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolv6vBZKXonjHpfsX56%2BksXKag38431UFwdcjKPmjr1YEDRMt0dvycMRAVFZl5nQRXD%2FqP

Wine Cellar Specialist, an Award-Winning Wine Cellar Builder

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Wine Cellar SPecialists – Award-Winning Wine Cellar Project.

In November 2012, Wine Cellar Specialists won the Dallas Builders Association ARC

ARC Awards for Wine Cellars SPecialists

Award for converting a small kitchen pantry into a fully functional, climate-controlled wine cellar. This wine cellar project was created for the Dann family in Frisco, Dallas.
The family wanted to transform their underutilized kitchen pantry under the stairs into custom wine cellars Dallas Texas. The design phase of the project started out with a free 3D illustration provided by Nancy Noga, the owner of Wine Cellar Specialists. The 3D design provides a preview of what the actual wine closet would look like, as well as outlines the type of racking system.

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Wine Cellar Construction Dallas

Wine cellar construction began by installing green board interior walls, along with proper insulation and vapor barriers. All these materials are necessary to maintain proper climate conditions for storing and aging wines.

The addition of the racking system was the most challenging part of the construction phase. Since the kitchen pantry was located under the stairs, the wine closet had a slanted ceiling. In order to address this architectural impediment, the builders installed a waterfall wine rack that perfectly matched the contours of the ceiling.

The waterfall racking system was placed on the left wall of the wine storage room. It has 13 ½ inch depth with 1 ½ inch toe kick and base molding and 2 ¾ inch crown molding at the top. Diamond X storage bins with a horizontal rack above and a little serving table were installed on the back wall. Diamond bins are ideal for bulk storage because they can hold wine bottles of various sizes.

Racking systems with horizontal reveal display rows were also installed on the back wall, which allow the collector to showcase his favorite wine labels. A six-inch deep horizontal display rack was placed on the right wall near the entryway. All the racking systems are designed to hold 750 ml wine bottles.

Watch this video to see the wine cellar design process.

Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Texas

The builders used mahogany in constructing the racking system and had it lacquered in order to achieve a beautiful effect. For the cellar entryway, they opted to install a Tuscan wine cellar door which has an automatic bottom feature that helps prevent scratching of the wine cellar flooring.

For the refrigeration system, the builders decided to use a US Cellar Systems RM 2600 split system. In order to hide the cooling unit from view, they built a unique case and grille using the same wood material used in constructing the wine storage racks.
LED-based spotlights were used to highlight wine labels and to set the right mood inside the wine closet. Lighting systems that are LED-based are ideal for wine cellar use because they produce less heat compared to regular light bulbs. They are extremely energy efficient and are not susceptible to vibration and breakage.

The wine closet was originally built to hold 496 wine bottles, but upon completion, the Dann family was able to store 514 wine bottles.
Wine Cellar Specialists is the recipient of the 2012 ARC Award for the Best Wine Cellar Remodel, which is a true testament to their commitment to exemplary design skills and work quality.

Click here to read more about this great news – http://www.winecellarspec.com/the-awarded-project-the-dallas-custom-wine-cellars-frisco-texas-job/.

Keep Your Wine Cellar Cool in the Hot Chicago Heat with Advanced Wine Cellar Cooling Systems

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Chicago is no Los Angeles in terms of heat, but it is still important to keep your wine at the perfect temperature and humidity to enjoy it better.

So if you are serious about your wine, then you will want to invest in a custom wine cellar. Storing your vintage and expensive wines properly is key to great wine for years to come.

Every wine cellar needs to have a wine cellar refrigeration system. They are a lot more advanced than simple window cooling systems and can maintain an exact temperature and humidity for your wine collection.

To properly age wine needs exact temperature and humidity levels, making the refrigeration system key to your wine cellar. Cutting money here could mean ruining your wine collection through overheating.

Investing in a cheap refrigeration system might keep your wine safe for a short time, but can be just as devastating as not having a refrigeration system at all.

Refrigeration systems may fail when they are under a lot of stress if they are built with cheaper components. Unfortunately, most wine cellar refrigeration system manufacturers cut costs to make as much profit as possible.

And since you are buying from a manufacturer and having the unit installed by a local HVAC contractor it can be confusing who to ask to get your unit repaired or replaced. Often you will have to pay out of your pocket for the repairs and the whole thing can be a huge hassle.

The hassle can be avoided by avoiding these types of manufacturers…

Shopping from a licensed refrigeration contractor such as Arctic Metalworks is your best choice. They’ll take responsibility for the reliability of your system and will provide you with the best service and maintenance you could ask for.

Not only that but their systems are made from the highest quality components in order to give you one of the most reliable systems on the market.

Read more about these amazing contractors here… Arctic Metalworks Custom Wine Cellar & Refrigeration Systems

Building a Wine Cellar in California|By Coastal Wine Cellars

Written by CustomWineCellarsChicago

Custom Wine Cellar Builders California, Laguna Beach Project .

Custom Wine Cellar Builders Laguna Beach, California – Processed Video Transcription

Hi! Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders is here today in Laguna Beach. Actually, about

Visit Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders' website here!

Wine Cellar Builders California

a thousand feet above Laguna Beach at a house that was built in 1956 actually and we renovated an area that we’re going to take you on a short tour of; we’ve added a custom wine cellar Laguna Beach.

What a beautiful gorgeous day we’ve got! We’re overlooking Laguna Beach. Catalina Islands is off in the distance. Come with me, I’ll take you on a short tour

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A Dry Sauna Turned Into a Wine Cellar Laguna Beach

of this area. It has been remodeled as early as 2008. This area back here, which we turned into a wine cellar, was originally a dry sauna that was added to the house in 2002 and our clients didn’t really have a need for the dry sauna so we’ve turned this area into a custom wine cellar in California.

Wine Cooling Unit, Wine Cellar Door & Table Top

It’s about 10’ deep and at its widest point maybe 5’ and I want to show you, folks, that here we’ve used a self-contained wine cellar cooling unit.

This is the back end of the wine cooling unit where the exhaust and the fan are away from the wine room. This is an electrical panel that controls all the electrical for the wine room.

Barolo Style Wine Cellar Door

This beautiful door is our Barolo-style wine cellar door. It’s a mahogany door with a light-stained finish on it, dual paned glass, and weather-stripping. It’s a total seal to help keep the air for the wine room airtight. So, if you’d come into the wine room, this was originally just a series of benches.

It had the dry sauna material here in the bottom right. There was a Jacuzzi poke because just on the other side of this left side wall is the master bath, so we had some challenges in this wine room we had to overcome. We had to conceal a pump that we couldn’t remove.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders Laguna Beach actually did a beautiful job of including a removal panel should we ever need to get to that. This wine cellar is mostly single-bottle storage. We obviously have a beautiful, what we call solid arch here. It’s got a pub light here and there’s a nice solid premium redwood tabletop area for decanting or serving.

Wine Cellar Lighting, Tongue & Groove Paneling & Wine Racks

A lot of single bottle storage. The display row we can illuminate here has some LED lights

LED Wine Cellar Lighting

that illuminate this area as well as the LED light for the arch. This wine cellar was originally a dry sauna as we mentioned and at its deepest point is maybe 10’ and its widest point is about 5’ with just about 7’ ceilings.

There was a series of benches, and dry sauna equipment; the entire walls were kind of a tongue and groove paneling if you will with concealed nails, so there were a lot of obstacles in this wine room. We actually created here a removable compartment because of some Jacuzzi equipment back there. But for the most part, we’ve got in the neighborhood of 800 bottles of wine that were stored.

Single Bottle Storage Wine Racks

For the single bottle wine storage racks, we’ve got high reveal display lighting or the rope lighting which you can see there. These bottles are pitched to a 15-degree angle. We’ve got a beautiful arched area here for decanting with diamond bins storage below the table top and beautiful wood flooring. Cheers!