Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series: Part Two

Welcome to Part Two of my series Storing Wine In Your Kitchen.  To see Part One, click here. This post will feature ideas for storing wine in your kitchen’s upper cabinet area. Enjoy!

 

Source of photo unknown.

^Though there is no custom cabinet work for wine storage, this homeowner found an area on top of their upper cabinet that works well for wine bottle storage. If you like this idea, you need to make sure there is an appropriate amount of space between your upper cabinet and the ceiling to place wine bottles. You could work with your cabinet maker to come up with an inexpensive design to tilt the bottles in order to keep the cork wet and to prevent them from rolling around when a bottle is removed. Note that in this particular photo the ceiling is vaulted.

Source of photo unknown.

^In the photo above, a small area above the refrigerator could have easily been wasted space with decorative wood panels applied.  Don’t you think taking that space and creating storage for 24 bottles of wine was an excellent idea?

 

Source of photo unknown.

^In the same vein as the previous photo, a homeowner took what could have been an easily wasted space and created vertical storage for wine.

Source of photo: The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^Instead of using the space for an open shelf, in the photo above, this homeowner created a wine storage area which holds 15 bottles of wine.

Source of photo: Kitchen Ideas That Work by Beth Veillette

^Can you believe 40 bottles of wine fit in the space shown above? 

Source of photo: The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^The picture above does not tell the whole story because we cannot see how high the wine storage goes nor how far across.  What we can see is storage for at least 24 bottles of wine with at least six vertical cubby holes for mail and other correspondence. 

 

Source of photo unknown.

^After seeing the first photo of this post, another option for this homeowner would have been to create a single row for wine storage above the refrigerator in the narrow wasted space. This could have been in addition to the storage shown above or in place of the storage shown. However, I do like the aesthetic look of the wine storage in the photo above.

 

Source of photo unknown.

^In the photo above one has the option of adding cabinet doors, either glass or solid.  Cabinet doors would give them the ability to lock the cabinets, see illustration below. I like the fact that the cabinet designated for wine is at the end of the counter and near the living area which keeps the person retrieving wine out of the kitchen work area. Isn’t this an interesting home with a tree trunk in the kitchen?

^In a friend of mine’s kitchen shown above, a wine rack was built into an area above the mircowave and oven. Though a nice look, the heat that escapes when the oven door is opened might not be the best thing for the wine.

Wine storage illustrations from my

book,

Designing

Your Dream Home

 

 

 

 Check back to view Part Three of my series. It will focus on options for storing wine underneath the kitchen counter. Blessings.  …susan

Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series Part One

Welcome to my “Storing Wine In Your Kitchen Series”.  In this first post, I am focusing on storing wine in your kitchen island. Subsequent posts will look at other options for storing wine in your kitchen.

How many times have you found yourself standing in your kitchen in the middle of cooking dinner- maybe you are frying chicken, stirring gravy, keeping an eye on the rolls in the oven- (makes me hungry typing this!) and you need a bottle of wine. You need a bottle to serve with dinner or to drink with a friend who stopped by or you just want to sip some wine while you cook. It is a crucial time in the cooking process and you cannot possibly leave the stove to go to the wine cellar located in the basement or to your bar which is located on the other end of your home to get a bottle of wine. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to store a few bottles of wine in your kitchen?

How many times have you had a party and everyone ends up gathering in the kitchen? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a few bottles of wine stored in your kitchen to serve your guests?

As you design your dream home or remodel your kitchen, it makes sense to plan for a place to store wine even if you have a wine cellar or a bar (unless the bar in your home is located next to the kitchen). 

There are many decisions to be made about storing wine that are not right or wrong but are a personal preference. How many bottles of wine do you want to be able to store? What is the range in the size of the bottles of wine you plan to store?  What type of storage do you prefer? Hopefully the photos in this series will help you to identify the storage solution that is right for you.

^In the island above, the homeowner is able to store twelve bottles of wine; one bottle per square hole. The holes are large enough to accommodate the circumference of larger sized bottles of wine, though I cannot tell by this photo if the holes are deep enough to handle the height of the larger bottles of wine. Personally, I feel that this design takes up quite a bit of space to only hold twelve bottles of wine. However, I understand the symmetry of three drawers across and three cubby holes for wine as well but I think there are better designs, like the one shown in the photo below, that would look appropriate and provide more storage.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^Before you read any further, take a guess at how many bottles of wine you think can be stored in the photo above?  Obviously, wine is very important to the homeowner who lives in this home. Each of the diamonds holds nine standard size bottles of wine plus the six half diamonds hold three bottles of wine and the four quarter diamonds hold one bottle for a total of 103 bottles of wine.

Source: The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design by Susan Maney

^The wine storage shown in the photo above is simple yet functional.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

In the contemporary kitchen shown above, the wire wine racks work well in the center of this island. They are far enough recessed so that the person sitting on the bar stool will not bump their knees. It appears that there are a pair of wine captains on each end of the island. It is important when retrieving wine stored on an island it does not interfere with the cook.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^The criss/crossed wine storage used in the photo above is not a favorite of mine for several reasons. First, it is expensive to build because there are two rows of the criss/crossed pieces of wood – one to hold the neck of the bottle and one to hold the base. Second, the wooden criss/crosses are usually thin pieces of wood and they can break.  It is an expensive repair and an eyesore. Third, you have less bottle storage because of all of the wood.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^This vertical storage of wine- bottle on top of bottle works because the bottles are only three deep. Imagine if you have more than three bottles and you were trying to pull out the one on the bottom? I think the large diamond design shown in the third photo would have been more functional.  I do like the custom door used on the wine captain. 

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^For the amount of space dedicated for wine storage in the island shown above, this design works.  If you are a senior citizen, you may not want to bend over to retrieve wine from a lower shelf.  If you have children, this design will not be safe for the young children or for the wine.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

I cannot tell from the photo above and below if these drawers are located in a kitchen island, a lower cabinet in the kitchen, in a bar, or perhaps in the butler’s pantry. However, this storage method would work in all four areas. The drawer above is more custom fitted to the standard size wine bottle. It appears that the bottles fit rather snug so when opening the drawer they will not roll around.

Source of photo above unknown. Please contact me if you know the source and I will note it.

^Unlike the wine in the drawers in the previous photo, the bottles in the photo above do not appear to be tilted downward in order to keep the cork wet.  A slight tilt to keep the cork wet is a good idea. Personally, I do like this wine storage method because you can pull out a drawer and easily see the bottle labels. There are four drawers above with each drawer holding nine bottles of wine. That is a pretty good inventory in a small amount of space. An added feature is the labeling system on each drawer. Because there is a cabinet door in front of these drawers, a lock could be added if that is the preference of the homeowner.

Be sure to check back for Part Two of this series.  Blessings.  …susan

Source: Kitchens by Chris Casson Madden

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday October 25, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and  inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

The following are random quotes about prayer I jotted down here and there.. Many were heard when listening to a friend named John DeFoore. When I read these when I pray, they help me remember to get honest, surrender my thoughts, and focus. I hope they will do the same for you.

Prayer Quotes

“Don’t pray for an easy life, pray to be a strong person.”

“Make prayer positive and receptive.”

“Make prayer an act of surrender and honesty.”

“Wait on the Lord, he will strengthen your heart.”

“Pray positively and regularly at the thought of a coming event.”

“You are what you pray.”

“Pray honestly to bring to light all the fear, guilt, hate, and inferiority in my mind and address those issues in prayer.”

“Pray the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.”

Blessings. …susan

My Other Blessings

The month of October proved to be a good month for me because I was able to spend time with all four grandchildren, though not together. Because they live in different states it is not very often that all are under the same roof. But when I am able to be with all four at once, it is a wonderful type of chaos. The four of them were born in a three year period almost to the day.

I recently did a post on Pass Christian, MS rebuilding after Katrina. It was on that trip that I spent time with my son Hastings’s two boys, Peyton and Parker shown in the first few photos below. 

^I introduced Peyton and Parker to water balloons.  For two days I filled the balloons with water and tied them off. Peyton and Parker had so much fun throwing them at each other and just busting them on the driveway.  Here is a photo of Peyton, who turned four years old in July with his balloons.

^Above are my grandsons who are brothers. Parker will be three in February and Peyton turned four in July.  Although my daughter-in-law does not sew, she does find great fabric from which to have matching shorts and pants made for  the boys and then has embroidered designs complimenting the fabric sewn on their shirts. As you can see in the photo below, their shorts have tractors on them so this tractor embroidery compliments the fabric.

^Parker on his riding toy at his home in Ridgeland, MS which is in the Jackson, MS area.

^About two weeks ago, Parker came to visit me in Nashville. Peyton was going hunting with his dad, so he did not join him.  We went to the park to feed the ducks and geese. He had so much fun throwing the bread into the water and watching them eat it. To be honest, I had fun as well.

^Parker saw this fish at the park and decided to climb aboard! 

^In an old-fashion park swing.

 

Two days in a row we went to the gym so he could play basketball. He is obsessed with playing basketball. He shoots hoops all the time at home- both inside and outside! Although the goal is quite a bit taller than him, I was amazed at how often he made the shot (35% of the time).  He is so determined and so focused. After an hour of constant shooting, I had to bribe him to leave.

^Looks like two points to me!

I plan to be getting back to my posts on designing your dream home and spiritual and inspiration quotes real soon.  Please keep checking back.  I hope you have enjoyed seeing all of my grandchildren “blessing”.   …susan

Counting My Blessings!

Well, I am back in Nashville after spending several days with two of my grandchildren- my daughter Suzy’s children. While working out this morning a friend asked me what was making me so happy- noting that I appeared to be glowing. I quickly replied- “I just spent a few days with my grandbabies and that always fills me up with love and happiness!”

Below are my two youngest grandchildren, Blake and Allie. They are modeling their new tote bags before heading to school. Their fraternal grandmother made these for them. Lucky they have Robyn, as sewing is not a talent of mine. Robyn has taught my daughter to sew. Suzy made Allie’s dress as well as Blake’s matching pants.  In the pumpkin farm photos further down, check out the monogramming/embroidering on their t-shirts. Suzy bought a monogram machine and is having a great time personalizing their clothes.  She said Allie’s monogramming took 23 different thread color changes!

Blake is 15 months old and Allie is 27 months old. That equates to one year and two days apart in age. Allie insisted on wearing her red rain boots even though it was not raining. She looks so cute in them!

Blake is so proud of his bag with all kinds of balls on it.  He has not yet had his first haircut.

With big sister Allie is leading the way, they headed for all of the action going on at the pumpkin farm.

I am actually hiding behind Blake holding him up so he can peer through the Cool Bus window.

There were lots of homemade creative activities for the children to do. Allie loved jumping on the tire tube.

Blake made some new friends at the pumpkin farm.

He loved sitting on the pumpkins moving from one to another.

You can pick apples from apple orchard.  Allie sure enjoyed hers.

My daughter, Suzy, and her daughter, Allie.

Grandmommy and Blake!

Grandmommy and Allie!

Yes, I count my blessings- Allie and Blake being two of them!  …susan

Traveling

Hey there! This past week has been a whirlwind. Besides having the most precious visitor in my home, my grandson, Parker, (I will be posting photos), I was able to present a television show idea to the Scripps Network in Knoxville, TN which produces HGTV, GAC (Great American Country), DIY, and other television programs. The presentation does not involve me, but a friend who is an incredible talent. Though the TV show is a long shot, the presentation yielded some “homework” to do and a follow up meeting.  After leaving Knoxville, I headed to Charlotte, NC for the weekend and ended up in Greenville, SC earlier today to spend a few days with my daughter and her family.  I am hoping to get a post on my blog but with a fifteen month old grandson and and 27 month old granddaughter, it will be a challenge.  Blessings.  …susan

I am blessed!

Hi!  I  was blessed with an unexpected opportunity on Saturday…that being my 2 1/2 year old grandson, Parker, has come to visit me for several days.  In fact, as I am trying to type this post, he is curled up next to me pushing on the keyboard and pulling on my fingers. He wants me to pull up photos of his younger cousins on my computer.  

I will get back to publishing a post either Tuesday night or Wednesday.  Please check back.  Blessings.  …susan

Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday October 4, 2009

Welcome to my Spiritual & Inspirational Sunday post. For over twenty-five years I have collected various spiritual and  inspirational quotes and messages. My hope is that when you read these, you will pause and reflect. Perhaps you will share this post with a friend who just so happens to be in need of reading what I am sharing today.

Quotations of Former Presidents

George Washington- “to err is natural, to rectify error is glorious”

George Washington- “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence”

Abraham Lincoln- “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing”

Theodore Roosevelt- “The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing”

Woodrow Wilson- “I not only use the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow”

Calvin Coolidge- ‘I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say”

Stephen Grover Cleveland- “Above all, tell the truth”

Thomas Jefferson- “One man with courage is a majority”

James Madison- “The happiness of society is the end of government”

Millard Fillmore- “An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory”

John F. Kennedy- “Once you say you are going to settle for second, that’s what happens to you in life”

Dwight D. Eisenhower- “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it”

Richard Nixon- “A man who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself has missed one of life’s mountaintop experience. Only in losing himself does he find himself”

Blessings.  …susan