Under the Stairs Wine Cellar: Glass Enclosed and the Focal Point in this Keswick Home in Asheville

If you’ve been eyeing that unused closet space under your stairs, you might want to consider turning it into something spectacular—like a wine cellar with acrylic wall wine rack. Our client in Asheville did it! Imagine walking into your home and seeing a sleek, glass-enclosed wine cellar nestled under your staircase, showcasing your prized bottles like works of art.  

For this Asheville homeowners, Harvest Custom Wine Cellars thought transforming their formerly underutilized space into a walkable wine cellar was a great idea. Our team accomplished this by extending the cellar out from the stairs, creating more room to move around. The secret to this transformation? A clever use of acrylic wall wine racks that beautifully highlight the bottle labels, coupled with a cooling unit discreetly placed in the crawlspace below to keep the wine at the perfect temperature.  

Let’s take a look at how this was made possible. 

Let’s Talk About Acrylic First… 

So, what makes acrylic so special for this glass wine cellar? Acrylic is a lightweight, shatter-resistant material that offers the clarity of glass without the fragility. It’s a popular choice in modern design for its sleek appearance and versatility. When used in wine cellars, acrylic brings an air of sophistication while allowing for creative design elements that highlight the wine bottles rather than the racking system itself. 

But is acrylic commonly used in wine cellars? Absolutely! Acrylic is becoming increasingly popular in the world of wine cellar design, particularly for those who want a contemporary look. Its benefits are manifold: it’s durable, easy to clean, and doesn’t obstruct the view of your wine collection. Additionally, acrylic’s ability to be molded into various shapes and forms means it can be tailored to fit any space, making it an ideal material for customized wine cellar projects.  

And that’s what makes this acrylic wall wine rack a practical choice for our Asheville client. 

An Elegant Wine Cellar Under the Stairs with Acrylic Wall Wine Rack Asheville Neighborhood Would Surely Be Impressed 

Turning the space under your stairs into a wine cellar is not just a smart use of space, but it’s also a way to add a touch of elegance to your home. The wine cellar discussed here does just that, using an acrylic wall wine rack to create a visually stunning display. The combination of glass walls and acrylic racking creates an airy, open feel, making the space look larger than it actually is. This design not only impresses guests but also allows homeowners to showcase their wine collection in a way that is both practical and beautiful.  

Using a Proper Cooling Unit for a Special Wine Cellar  

One of the key components of the wine cellar acrylic wall wine rack in Asheville is the cooling unit. Rather than using the standard DO25 model, which would have sufficed for a space this size, the team at Harvest Wine Cellars installed a Wine Guardian DO50 cooling unit. The reason for this upgrade is the glass enclosure. Glass is a notoriously poor insulator, and with an exposed wall in the design, it was crucial to have a cooling system that could handle the unique challenges presented by the space. The DO50, which is a more powerful unit, was installed in the crawlspace below the cellar. 

The crawlspace itself is well-insulated and spacious enough for the unit to be placed there comfortably. The supply vent is routed through the wall, directing cool air back into the cellar to maintain the perfect environment for the wine. Typically, in wine cellars, you want the cool air supply to be high and the return low to ensure proper circulation, and in this case, they were able to achieve that setup perfectly.  

Why Install the Cooling Unit Underneath in a Crawlspace? 

This Asheville home’s wine cellar with acrylic wall wine rack is special, but what make it a little more interesting is the cooling unit placement. Why place the cooling unit in the crawlspace instead of outside? The decision was driven by practicality and performance. In this situation, a split system, which typically has the condenser outside and the evaporator inside, wasn’t feasible due to space constraints. Instead, the all-in-one Wine Guardian unit was chosen for its ease of installation—it plugs into a standard GFCI outlet and requires no special setup. Importantly, this unit needs to be placed indoors, in a location that doesn’t carry a significant heat load. 

In the Virginia climate, where summer temperatures can soar over 100 degrees, placing the unit outside would have compromised its efficiency. By placing it in the insulated crawlspace, the team ensured that the cooling system could operate at peak performance, maintaining the ideal conditions for wine storage.    

The Perfect Insulation Technique for a Sun-Exposed Wall 

One of the challenges of this particular wine cellar with acrylic wall wine rack in Asheville was dealing with the sun-exposed interior walls and ceiling. To ensure that the wine cellar remained cool despite the external heat, the team opted for R31 closed-cell spray foam insulation throughout the area, far exceeding the typical recommendation of R19. This higher level of insulation works in tandem with the Wine Guardian DO50 cooling unit, ensuring that the temperature inside the cellar remains consistent, regardless of the weather outside. 

Building the Glass Wine Cellar Walls/Enclosure 

Creating the glass enclosure for this under-the-stairs wine cellar involved some creative design work. Initially, the closet that was converted into the wine cellar was flush with the wall, but the team decided to extend the cellar outwards to create more walkable space. This design choice not only made the space more functional but also added a unique design element that sets this glass wine cellar apart from typical under-the-stairs conversions. 

The glass itself is double-pane insulated glass, a crucial factor in maintaining the temperature inside the cellar. Double-pane glass provides better insulation than single-pane glass, which was an important consideration given the cooling requirements. The challenge of installing the glass at an angle to match the staircase was significant, but the end result was well worth the effort, providing the homeowner with a stunning, accessible wine cellar.  

The Functional Acrylic Wall Wine Rack 

One of the standout features of this wine cellar is the acrylic wine rack system. The team used double-deep elevation racking with acrylic cradles on both sides of the cellar. This design not only maximized the storage capacity but also elevated the aesthetic appeal of the cellar. The acrylic cradles are designed with cutouts that hold each bottle securely while allowing the label to be prominently displayed. This turns the wine collection into a work of art, with the bottles themselves taking center stage. 

The use of acrylic is particularly effective in this design because it draws attention to the wine rather than the racking. The transparent material almost disappears, allowing the eye to focus on the bottles and their labels. This approach transforms the cellar into a gallery of fine wines, where each bottle is highlighted and celebrated. 

A Simple but Impactful Lighting System for a Glass-Enclosed Wine Cellar 

Lighting plays a crucial role in showcasing the beauty of this wine cellar with acrylic wall wine rack in Asheville. The design includes lighting strips on both the left and right sides of the ceiling, which is situated under the stairs. These lights not only illuminate the space but also enhance the overall design by drawing attention to the wine collection. The lighting is carefully positioned to shine down on the bottles, creating a warm, inviting glow that makes the cellar feel like a cozy, elegant retreat. 

Challenges of Building an Under-the-Stairs Wine Cellar with Acrylic Wine Rack in Asheville

More about this under the stairs, glass enclosed wine cellar coming soon!