Conversion of Residential Wine Rooms: A Custom Wine Display Project in Laguna Beach, California

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Converting a cluttered California home living space into a beautiful climate controlled wine cellar requires careful design.  To ensure that optimal storage conditions are achieved, the installation process is also critical. Follow Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders through the design and installation of this California garage wine cellar conversion project.

Walk Through of Wine Cellar Design Plans

This was the situation before the construction of the residential wine room. The owner already had 3 refrigerated wine cabinets, but because he had a growing wine collection, he needed more storage space.

This is the small storage room found in the garage which we converted into a small wine cellar.

This recently completed residential wine room in Laguna Beach, California was originally a junky storage room, located adjacent to the garage area.  Sitting around the room were three refrigerated wine cabinets and several boxes.  These were all removed before the actual construction took place.

Initial Key Steps to Weather-Proofing Residential Wine Rooms

Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders took down the wall covering and applied a vapor barrier, insulation, and moisture proof drywall.

The importance of a vapor barrier in wine cellars cannot be overstated. A vapor barrier is a crucial element in ensuring the optimal storage conditions for your wine collection. It plays a vital role in maintaining proper humidity levels and preventing moisture-related issues that can negatively impact the quality and longevity of your wines.

Temperature differentials between the inside and outside of the wine cellar can cause condensation to form on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. This condensation can lead to moisture buildup and subsequent damage to the cellar structure, insulation, and wine bottles. A vapor barrier acts as a barrier to prevent condensation from occurring and protects your cellar from potential moisture-related issues.

Adding in a moisture proof drywall, instead of a regular wooden wall, can further enhance the cellar’s insulation. One of the initial signs that our insulation was working in this wine room was the distinct change in temperature compared to the outside. It was  starting to feel warm inside, before we switched on the wine cellar cooling unit.

Single Bottle Custom Wine Racks and a Quarter Round Wine Display Rack

The upper portions of the custom wine rack consists of standard 750ml storage.

Various custom wine rack styles were installed to accommodate the client’s different selections of wine bottles, as well as his collection of wood cases. These wine racks were designed and manufactured by Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders.

Quarter-round display racks are great for corners and for softening the sharp edges of custom wooden wine racks.

Starting off on the left side wall is a beautiful quarter round wine display rack, which the client used to display his collection of double magnums (or 3-liter bottles). Aside from storing large format bottles, a quarter round wine display rack is also a great place for displaying decorative pieces, such as decanters.

Single bottle custom wine racks dominate the Laguna Beach residential wine room.  Individual bottle slots have universal openings that measure 3 3/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches. They are called universal openings because they can accommodate most standard size wine bottles into the cubbyhole, including California Blue Chips, Oregon Pinots, and standard champagne.

Custom Wine Racking with a High Reveal Display Row

Residential wine rooms can benefit a lot from high reveal display rows. Convenience is one of its top benefits.

Just below the individual bottle racking is a high reveal display row that stores wine bottles at a 15 degree angle, which allows the client to highlight some of his favorite wine bottles.

It provides eye-level display of wine labels, providing ease of identification and selection.  Custom designed wood case openings are provided at the very bottom, to house the client’s wood case collection.

Moving towards the back of the Laguna Beach California home wine cellar, the wall is entirely made up of single bottle custom wine racks, with a high reveal display row. The Coastal wine cellar installation team did an excellent job of following the odd contours of the wall, which ensured a smooth continuity in the arrangement of the wine racking system.

Stylish Arch, Tabletop and Diamond Bins

Stylish arches, tabletops, and diamond bins in residential wine rooms can elevate a custom wooden wine rack design.

The right interior wall of the residential wine room features a standard arch with a solid tabletop.  The arch comes with a whittle board effect that brings a unique character to the home wine cellar.

Puck lighting was installed overhead, to illuminate the area.  The tabletop is constructed from solid wood, and provides an area for serving and decanting wines.

The arch is flanked by single bottle custom wine racks with a high reveal display row.  Below the display area on this particular wall are horizontal label forward display bins, for large format bottles like magnums and double magnums.The opening can accommodate several vintages, depending on the size of wine bottles.  For instance, a total of 6 Bordeaux style bottles can fit into the display bin.

Lattice style diamond bins are installed just below the horizontal label forward racking.  Diamond bins are ideal for storing wines in bulk. They are excellent management tools for wine collectors who prefer to buy in 6 packs or 12 lots.  The lattice style feature also allows better air circulation in and around the wine bottles.

A horizontal opening above the arch provides additional label forward storage for large format bottles, and below the solid tabletop is more storage for individual bottles.

The various custom wine rack styles in the Laguna Beach California home wine cellar achieved a total storage capacity of 837 wine bottles.  All wine storage and display racks are constructed from unfinished premium redwood.

Premium redwood was the wood of choice for this residential wine room.

Premium Redwood is a very good choice of wood species for wine rack construction because of its durability, attractive wood color, and compatibility with the climate conditions inside the cellar.  This wood species can be stained or left unfinished.

Home Wine Cellar Climate Conditions, Lighting and Flooring

This CellarPro Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Model 3200 is a self-contained wine cooling unit perfect for compact residential wine rooms.

Most modern California home wine cellars are actively cooled, which means they need to have proper insulation and refrigeration system to help maintain the ideal temperature and humidity levels. Ideal climate conditions in the California residential wine room are maintained by a CellarPro Model 3200 Vsi, which is a self-contained cooling system.

This type of climate control system is the easiest to install, and does not require professional installation.  The unit is mounted to an opening in the racking frame on the right interior wall, and exhausts warm air to the garage area.

Lighting This Residential Wine Room

LED lighting along the display row not only illuminates the various wine bottles that are on display, but also brings a subtle ambiance.  The lighting fixture on the ceiling is a directional, low profile track lighting, which was supplied by the client. The lighting system can also be rotated to accentuate or highlight any area of the home wine cellar.

Rustic Wooden Flooring and Glass Door for this Rustic Wine Room

Aside from the light fixture, the client also provided wood flooring and a paint color.  For the wine cellar entry door, the installers fitted a Barolo glass door.  It includes dual pane glass, weather stripping, casement molding, a door jamb, and automatic door sweeps, as well as stain and finish.

All in all, it was a beautifully designed California residential wine cellar project.  Although the room had limited space, the Coastal Custom Wine Cellar Builders managed to put together custom wine racking that allowed for maximum storage capacity, as well as efficient presentation of client’s wine collection.

This solid arch in this residential wine cellar was illuminated by a single LED puck light.

Take a video tour of this California residential wine cellar project!

This is the isometric render of our residential wine room. Since this was a custom made wine cellar, every minute detail had to be presented to the client.

From an isometric drawing to the actual. This was the finished wine cellar rack for our converted garage wine cellar.

The white storage room door was replaced by a barolo door so people could see into the cellar without going inside.

Our client’s beautiful contemporary home in Laguna Beach, California.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars: Your One-Stop-Shop for Residential Wine Rooms

If you are a wine enthusiast or collector, having a dedicated space to store and display your prized bottles is essential. A residential wine room not only provides an elegant and functional storage solution but also adds a touch of sophistication to your home. When it comes to creating the perfect wine room, Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is here for you.

We are a team of highly skilled designers and craftsmen who are passionate about creating wine rooms that are not only visually stunning but also functionally efficient. We understand the unique requirements of wine storage, including temperature and humidity control, proper lighting, and racking systems. Whether you have a small space or a large basement,  our experts can maximize your available area to create a wine room that exceeds your expectations.

We always take the time to understand your vision and work closely with you throughout the design process, ensuring that the final result reflects your individuality. From traditional and rustic to modern and contemporary, we can create wine rooms that harmonize seamlessly with your existing home decor.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars takes pride in providing comprehensive services that cover every aspect of your wine room project. From the initial consultation and design phase to the installation and final touches, our team manages the entire process, allowing you to sit back and enjoy a hassle-free experience. From cooling systems, lighting options, flooring, and other essential elements, we can be your go-to resource for all your wine room needs.

(Check out the Wine Cellars in Homes Custom Construction Contractor Project here)

Don’t wait any longer to create the wine room of your dreams! Contact Coastal Custom Wine Cellars today and take advantage of our comprehensive services. Visit our custom wine cellar gallery here for more residential wine room designs or schedule your consultation at +1 949 200 8134 to begin the journey towards an exquisite wine room that will impress both you and your guests!