Relocating from San Francisco, this young family immediately zeroed in on the wonderful historic homes around downtown Chicago. Most of the properties they saw checked a lot of wish list boxes, but none of them checked every box. The house they landed on had beautiful curb appeal, a dramatic entry with a welcoming porch and front hall, and a really nice yard. Unfortunately, it did not have a kitchen that was well set-up for cooking and entertaining. Reworking the kitchen area was the top priority. The family had met with a few other designers and even had an architect take a crack at the space, but they were not able to come up with a viable solution. Here’s how Senior Designer Diana Burton approached the project… Design Objectives: Respect the home’s vintage feel while bringing the kitchen up to date Open up the kitchen area to create an open space for gathering and entertaining Upgrade appliances to top-of-the-line models Include a large island with seating Include seating for casual family meals in a space that won’t be a replacement for the adjacent formal dining room THE REMODEL Design Challenges: Remove a load-bearing wall and combine smaller rooms to create one big kitchen A powder room in the back corner of the existing kitchen was a huge obstacle to updating the layout Maintain large windows with views of the yard while still providing ample storage Design Solutions: Relocating the powder room to another part of the first floor (a large closet under the stairs) opened up the space dramatically Create space for a larger island by recessing the fridge/freezer and shifting the pantry to a space adjacent to the kitchen A banquette saves space and offers a perfect solution for casual dining The walnut banquette table beautifully complements the fridge/freezer armoire Utilize a gap created by the new fridge location to create a tall shallow cabinet for liquor storage w/ a wine cubby Closing off one doorway into the dining room and using the “between the studs” space for a tall storage cabinet Dish organizing drawers offer handy storage for plates, bowls, and serving dishes right by main sink and dishwasher Cabinetry backing up to the dining room offers ample storage for glassware and functions both as a coffee station and cocktail bar Open shelves flanking the hood add storage without blocking views and daylight A beam was required where the wall was removed. Additional beams added architectural interest and helped integrate the beams into the space Statement lighting adds drama and personality to the space THE RENEWED SPACE This project exemplifies the transformative power of good design. Simply put, good design allows you to live life artfully. The newly remodeled kitchen effortlessly combines functionality and aesthetic appeal, providing a delightful space for cooking and spending quality time together. It’s comfy for regular meals but ultimately outfitted for those special gatherings. Infused with classic finishes and a timeless charm, the kitchen emanates an enduring atmosphere that will never go out of style. This is the special feature utilized a gap created by the new fridge location to create a tall shallow cabinet for liquor storage w/ a wine cubby

Walnut wine racking w floating wine barrel,backlit onyx,glass front,tile floor, and custom spirits
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional wine cellar in New York with porcelain floors, storage racks and grey floor.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional wine cellar in Miami with display racks.

Martin Vecchio Photography
Mid-sized transitional wine cellar in Detroit with slate floors, storage racks and grey floor.

This office off a living room area was converted into a custom wine cellar. Three walls featured lighted display bottles. Note the importance of using blending paint color on walls instead of leaving it white. Custom Wine Cellar Orange County . Newport Beach, CA. Corona Del Mar, CA. Laguna Beach, CA. Dana Point, CA. San Clemente, CA.

Martin Vicchio
Photo of a large transitional wine cellar in Detroit.

Former formal livingroom converted to a temperature controlled enclosed wine cellar. Custom maple live edge bar table with wrought iron base. Cooper Photography

Azul Imperiale Quartzite Bookmatched Wine Bar
This is an example of a large transitional wine cellar in Dallas with marble floors and diamond bins.

Photo of a large transitional wine cellar in Minneapolis with diamond bins, concrete floors and grey floor.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional wine cellar in Orange County with dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Premier Cru Wine Cellars designs and build elegant, tasteful designs with artistic individuality. Make your custom wine cellar one that makes a statement about your lifestyle and about your love and appreciation for fine wine. Wine Cellar Designer: Paul LaRussa Premier Cru Wine Cellars www.pcwinecellars.com (310) 289-1221 Los Angeles

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional wine cellar in Houston with medium hardwood floors and diamond bins.

There comes a time in nearly every wine enthusiast’s life where a carefully curated selection deserves more than a kitchen cupboard for storing and displaying. A wine cellar is the connoisseur’s way of savoring and sharing his selection in a manner that only a select few from bygone eras were able to lap up.

Photo of a small transitional wine cellar in Minneapolis with slate floors and display racks.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional wine cellar in Los Angeles with dark hardwood floors and storage racks.

Basement wine cellar
Photo of a mid-sized transitional wine cellar in Other with porcelain floors, display racks and grey floor.

“Wine & Hockey” is in this family’s blood. Long time Washington Capitals fans and wine collector. They have lived in this prominent golf-course neighborhood for several years and now it comes time to finish their basement. He has been collecting more than thousands of wine bottles from all over the world, possibly worth over a couple hundred thousand -- this is the time that he wanted to display and show it all off. Tailgater and diehard Capitals fan that they are, they own several memorable autographed player jerseys and lots of collectables worth being in hall-of-fame stands. With all these ideas in mind, we have started the construction of this basement. The main event room with big pub style bar fully equipped with a wine cooler, beer fridge, and a built-in wall for all top shelf liquor. Built with dark cherry wood and exquisite stone top under stylish pendent lights is a heart of this space. A hidden storage door built with display shelving just to the right of the bar, giving access to storage behind this bar. To the left of this a stone wall, an embedded fireplace giving a cozy feel for seating and gaming area while facing the giant screen TV. This carefully designed wine cellar features the best of the best wine collection in wrapped around mahogany wine racks, beaded stain grade paneling, exotic stone counter, Muriel center stone, equipped with high efficiency chiller system, all just behind custom made door arch panel glass door. “This view is spectacular.” Wide plank flooring throughout leading into the end of hallway. There is a Gym with mirror walls and rubber floors, room to burn off all the wine calories! The full bathroom with stoned shower, and immaculate fixtures just outside of the gym. The lighting effect is a highlight of this project. We designed a feature wall for framed memorable jerseys and hidden storage for all of their valued VCR tapes of capital games. This basement is not a regular space, but it is a hall of fame for Hockey and Wine.

Basement Remodel with multiple areas for work, play and relaxation.
Design ideas for a large transitional wine cellar in Chicago with vinyl floors and brown floor.

All Glass Wine Room with climate control under the glass staircase. Frameless 1/2" Ultra Clear Glass was used for the oversized angled panel and 9' tall door. Clear Seals on the glass door discreetly keep the temperature and humidity in the desirable range. Vintage View Brushed Nickel Racking, double bottle deep, provides wine storage for almost 200 bottles.