Our Wine Cellar: part 1

When we purchased our house one of the first things that had to be done was the balcony off the kitchen. It was small, old, unstable, and dangerous. We knew we wanted to build a large balcony off the kitchen (about 14x11 feet) and got to work getting some quotes. The quotes for a fiberglass or concrete balcony were all so expensive! So we then decided to see how much it would cost to build an extra room in the basement that would double as the balcony off the main-floor kitchen. The price difference wasn't significant so we went with option 2 and turned the extra room into a wine cellar. My husband loves to make and collect wine bottles and I love to drink them!:)

Here are some pictures of the construction process. Needless to say, this part we did not do ourselves! 

This is the dug up space for the wine room.

The pouring of the cement.

Once the room was built, Tony and I framed the wall with 2x4s. On the right side of the image you can see the door opening into our house. This used to be the window opening before the building of the cellar.

The room was then insulated with urethane spray foam. The walls were sprayed with 2 inches and the ceiling with 3 inches. A wine room has to be very well insulated to keep the temperature and humidity stable. The benefit of urethane is that it expands into every nook and cranny and provides a thermal break.

Another image of the insulation- it looks like the background of a high fashion photo shoot- lol!

Tony and I had to then scrape the urethane off the edges of the wood so as to install the drywall (very long and frustrating!). A good company should do this for you since it is much easier to do right after the insulation is sprayed. Oh well, live and learn. On the left side of the image you can see the door to the exterior. Because wine is sensitive to light and temperature change a solid insulated door is best, especially if the door leads to the outside.

We purchased a Breezeaire cooling unit specifically made for wine rooms. Esthetically, it's actually dated looking and unattractive but one of the best we could get and luckily it's off in a corner of the room. The reason for a cooling unit specifically made for wine rooms as opposed to a simple air condition is that the cooling unit controls both the humidity and temperature of the room that is adequate for wine.

We ordered it from Rosehill Wine Cellar online and the service was great.

If you are interested in the many little necessary details in the creation of a wine room see the following information sites:
Bracksco Wine Nook
Wine Cellar Creations
Maitre de cave
Vintage Cellars

Later in the week I'll post about the pretty part of the process- flooring, wine racks, paint color, etc. Check back soon.

Now let me get back to my glass of red wine:)

Nancy

DIY outdoor towel rack

When the spa was installed we quickly realized we needed somewhere to hang our towels.  We've received many compliments on our towel rack so I thought I'd share it with you.


This is our DIY towel rack:

 

First, we went on a hunt for hooks. I found these at Home Sense for $4.99 each. I then saw them at a fancy schmancy store for $15 each!

You can use any hooks that appeal to you but remember that if your are keeping them outside they need to be weather resistant

Steps to getting this look:


1. I purchased a piece of untreated pine wood 3/4 inch thick by 6 inches high and 8 feet long (the size depends on how many hooks you need and the size you want the piece to be). I used untreated pine because it's cheap ($7). The wood plank was cut to the desired length (6 feet).


2. Spray paint the wood red and let it dry.

We used Rust-oleum American Accents in Colonial Red

3. Spray paint the wood white and let it dry.

We used Rust-oleum American Accents in Blossom White

4. Using sand paper, lightly sand the white paint so that the red paint shows. This gives the plank a distressed look.  


5. Seal the entire plank and also the hooks with a weather protector.

This is what we had on hand but any type of outdoor wood protecting sealer will do the job.

6. Using a drill, screw in rustproof screws to hang the hooks at equal distances.

7. To hand it on the fence, I drilled two holes at both ends of the plank so as to pass a long tie wrap that would hang the towel rack to the fence post.

The holes were drilled behind where the hooks would be located so as to not be visible in the final product.

8. Hang the hooks on the screws and install on the fencepost.


9. Hang your towels!

With the remaining two feet of the wood plank, I repeated the process and installed garden tool hooks (also purchased at Home Sense).

Enjoy!
Nancy

Doilies reinterpreted

Doilies were prized possessions in my mothers home. She is from the Azores and women there would (pr-1960s) make these by hand  and sell them to earn some money. At my mother's house we had them placed on all the tables and consoles. When I got married I inherited some of these little beauties but I honestly can't see myself placing them on tables.

So for years they've been in a drawer in my dinning room, which is a total shame. Last week I decide to create a wall art piece that would show off some of my dollies.

Pretty doilies make great wall art.

How to do this:


1. I purchased a 30"x40" framed canvas at Omer Deserre (any other art store should also sell these) for $15.

2. I purchase 1.5 meters of fabric (I picked a royal blue fabric)

3. Lay the frame down on the fabric and cut the fabric so that it raps around the frame by about 2 inches on each side. At this point iron your fabric.

4. Staple the fabric tightly around the frame. Remember to fold the corners as you would a gift to minimize bunching.

5. Decide on the pacement of your doilies and pin them in place.

6. Using a needle and threat the same color as your doilies sew the edges of the doilies in place. This takes a little bit of patience.

Looks like snowflakes, don't they?

My doilies are now sitting pretty in our home office. Haven't made up my mind if I should hang it vertically or horizontally.

Smiles,
Nancy


This project was included in the DIY project parade features on DIY Showoff. Thanks!


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