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One very important feature of your wine cellar is the floor and your choice of flooring materials. With that in mind, the total weight of your wine cellar; i.e., the cellar build itself and its contents when fully stocked, must be taken into account when selecting a location. These include the base, subfloor and ultimately your selection of the flooring materials. These factors will be taken into consideration by your Luxury Elements architect when helping you select the materials and designing your cellar and its floor. First, let’s first discuss what not to use. It may be obvious but then again perhaps not, but carpeting is totally unsuitable as a covering for wine cellar floors. Carpeting can be difficult to maintain as dust and dirt can accumulated in the weave and padding, and wine stains are often difficult to remove. Carpeting can retain moisture and release toxins used in its production as well. Not a good choice! There are a myriad of suitable flooring options, many more than in years past. Let’s consider the most popular types:

Tile

There are numerous types of tiles to choose from. Porcelain is the latest “fad” which has actually been around for quite a while. This product comes is various shades and patterns that can be perfect for your cellar if you so choose. There are also slate ceramics that mimic natural slate, as well as marble, mosaics and wood grain tiles, all available in hundreds to colors, shapes, patterns and sizes. Anyone of these would make a dramatic and beautiful floor to your wine cellar.

Stone

Natural stone, such as slate, flagstone, bluestone, travertine, marble, pebbles and others will lend a rustic or natural look to a wine cellar. Patterns can be random or installed in a more orderly fashion. The range of colors and textures available can match any wine cellar design from rustic or traditional to ultramodern. Not sure? Ask your designer to show you samples.

Wood

If wood is your choice, there are many different types of wood flooring to choose from. There is, of course, traditional oak in a number of widths and colors. There is also hickory, bamboo, and many other exotic hardwoods including engineered hardwood available in a multitude of widths, grains and colors. Wood flooring can be installed in patterns (herringbone for example), or combined with other types of flooring materials to make a stunning statement in your wine cellar. Whatever flooring type you select, you need to make sure it suits your personal style and is compatible to the cellar design itself. Can’t decide? Talk with your Luxury Elements design consultant. They are experts when it comes to matching flooring to your wine cellar.

Wine cellars are not just for the wealthy. Today many homeowners are choosing to have wine cellars installed in their existing homes or added to new construction. But keep in mind, a wine cellar doesn’t necessarily have to be massive holding a thousand bottles nor does it need to be located in a basement. An aesthetically-pleasing wine cellar can be designed to fit almost anywhere in a home even in an underutilized closet or bedroom or unused space under a staircase for example. Your professional Luxury Elements designer will help you decide on the most desirable location in your home. A wine cellar is not only a status symbol as most homes do not have this feature; its presence becomes an additional selling point and adds to the resale value of your home. And don’t forget the convenience factor. No longer will you have to run to the wine store when you want to enjoy a fine Chardonnay or Merlot or when dinner guests are expected or when friends drop in. Many people stock wines for their own utilization while others amass wine collections as a hobby or investment. A wine cellar is a secure, dedicated location and has an ideal environment for wine and champagne preservation, i.e., regulated temperature and humidity. And then you have the added feature of being able to display your collection in beautiful surroundings with it readily available for your enjoyment if you so choose. When many wine collectors find a new wine they admire, it will often be purchased in quantity, not only to save money but to take advantage of vintage availability. However, this would be unlikely if they did not have a safe atmospherically-suitable storage location. Some wine aficionados opt to store their collection at off-site wine warehouses which is expensive and will either require delivery or a trip to the warehouse; hardly convenient. Careful planning is necessary if you are considering a custom cellar. A wine cellar of any size involves a myriad of decisions, additions and modifications before you can place the first bottle on a rack. It also involves a significant investment therefore particular care should be involved in the choice of location, design, materials and the selection of an expert wine cellar contractor such as Luxury Elements. Call Luxury Elements today at 630-885-3866 to arrange for an in-home consultation or use the website contact form.