Long gone are the days of musty, no-frills wine cellars. Creating the proper environment for aging and storage, of course, remains the priority for these utilitarian spaces. But a lot of time and money can go into cultivating a wine collection, so many design-savvy oenophiles opt to show off their treasures in stylish layouts. Whether it weaves in striking lighting, vintage finds, or made-to-order furniture, the contemporary wine cellar is now regarded as yet another room to gather and celebrate. Here are eight eye-catching examples.
An Intimate Tasting Space with Polish
Hillsborough, California
Only four leather chairs surround the marble tasting table anchoring the wine cellar Heather Hilliard brought to life for a private California residence. She wanted to create an intimate, comfortable space for the clients to enjoy wine tastings with a small group of guests, but with “the polished atmosphere and sense of experience you might find in a favorite restaurant,” explains the San Francisco-based designer. It’s joined by stone flooring that grounds the cellar and glass walls that ensure it’s visually open. “The cellar accommodates approximately 1,000 bottles stored horizontally on lit shelves so the collection becomes part of the architecture while remaining easy to view and access,” adds Hilliard.
A Cinematic Cellar Starring Prized Bottles
Greenwich, Connecticut
Since her clients are avid wine collectors, Taylor Lagerloef, founder and principal designer of Studio Lagerloef in New York, designed a cinematic cellar in a Greenwich, Connecticut, home—in collaboration with Cardello Architects and builder Hobbs, Inc.—to showcase an impressive stash. “They didn’t want the collection hidden away; they wanted to live with it,” Lagerloef points out. Along one wall, Lagerloef and her team built open shelving to highlight large-format bottles, favorite labels, and wine crates, and the backlit stone wall further amplifies the display. “The lighting turns rows of bottles into something that feels almost sculptural, and because the room is glass-enclosed and visible from the living space, the collection becomes part of the home’s everyday narrative,” she says. Polished concrete flooring and VeroMetal soffits add intriguing contrast to the wood-paneled ceiling and framed vintage wine map.
A Clandestine Mountainside Cave
Teton Village, Wyoming
Underneath a nearly 10,000-square-foot ski-in/ski-out, stone-and-timber house in Teton Village, Wyoming, CLB Architects dug a well below the lowest footings. Here, the wine cellar, part of an addition, is a departure from the existing dwelling’s traditional mountain architecture. A blackened steel handrail leads down to a massive area capable of holding 7,500 bottles. “The vision was to create a wine cellar that felt like a secret cave carved from solid stone,” says Montana-based CLB Architects principal Sam Ankeny. To enhance the carved effect on the walls, a split-face, natural cleft is mixed with honed Valser Quartz, while the ceiling is lined with subtle barrel-vaulted mahogany on the ceiling to add “warmth and evoke the sensation of being inside a wine barrel,” Ankeny adds. One exterior wall of the chic, subterranean grotto is outfitted with a thin-profile sliding glass system to capture natural light and seamlessly connect to the Rocky Mountain landscape.
A Resort-Like Wine Escape in the Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Boutique hotels were the inspiration for this narrow, four-story abode set high atop a ridge in Beverly Hills. “Solving the long, skinny site problem created an opportunity for many levels and spaces,” says Marc Whipple, founder of Whipple Russell Architects. This includes an entertainment hub including a poker room, theater, and a hybrid wine cellar and custom humidor that the Sherman Oaks-based architecture firm hatched in partnership with Troy Adams Design. Floor-to-ceiling dark-tinted glass reveals illuminated bottle storage that meshes with bespoke furniture, a marble wet bar, Spanish cedar, and Henge lighting. Fresh air and gorgeous views await right outside on the adjacent covered terrace, complete with a cozy fire feature that’s a prime spot to enjoy a glass on a chilly evening.
A Euro-Inspired Shrine to Red Wine
Kleinburg, Ontario
Jessica Neilas, founder and creative director of Toronto-based Wolfe Interior Design, envisioned this cellar in an Ontario home as a place to settle in around the table in the center. ”Somewhere that could accommodate both a quiet glass of wine and a night of revelry,” as she puts it. The client’s passion for red wine translated to deep red marble and burgundy leather paired with aged brass tones. But the most dramatic element is the arched wood-and-glass enclosure. “There is a deliberate transition from the brighter architecture outside into something darker, warmer, and more intimate,” says Neilas. “It feels almost like looking into a tiny European bar or enoteca—a little hidden room where you expect to find great wine, music, conversation, and people lingering much longer than they intended.”
Climate-Controlled Centerpiece with a Luxe Touch
Atlanta, Georgia
The terrace level of an Atlanta townhouse beckons with a spa and golf simulator, but the bar, flanked by a duo of climate-controlled wine and spirits cellars is the focal point. Local designer Robert Brown, in collaboration with Kingdom Millworks for construction and cabinet designer Studio Entourage, opted for a dark grasscloth wallcovering paired with high-gloss trim, custom millwork, and steel doors.”Brass and marble accents add a luxurious touch, while warm-stained oak racking and limestone flooring bring warmth and balance to the space,” explains Brown. “The combination of textures, materials, and contrasting finishes creates a sophisticated backdrop that allows the artwork to take center stage.”
A Solar-Powered Hangout Spot
Chicago, Illinois
When local architect Matt Nardella, co-founder of Moss Design, revamped his Chicago basement, he craved a transparent, glass-fronted cellar that invited everyday hangouts. “This isn’t a space I just run down to in order to grab a bottle,” he says. “The cellar has become the place where we listen to music, entertain friends, and let the evening unfold.” Moss’s choice of materials—walnut, steel, polished concrete, and travertine—in the solar-powered cellar are intentionally beautiful in their raw state, and carry evidence of their roots, much like wine. The same two slabs of travertine were used to craft a countertop, backsplash, and custom tasting table, “allowing the material to move elegantly from architecture to furniture,” adds Nardella.
A Nostalgic Study for World-Class Wine
Highland Park, Texas
Following the remodel of a Highland Park house, the first thing one notices when heading downstairs is the cellar. It’s en route to the cinema beyond, so Naina Hotchkiss and Allison McAfee, partners and principal designers of Dallas-based Park Interiors, wanted it to feel like a transition into something relaxed, “somewhere that slows you down rather than a space you simply pass through. We leaned into a moody, confident palette and treated it almost like a study or trophy room that happened to house exceptional wine,” explains Hotchkiss. Velvety green plaster walls play with bespoke, brass-accented white oak cabinetry, and an antique Persian rug and framed tennis rackets infuse the space with an air of nostalgia. “The way every object was chosen and placed, down to the smallest detail tells you everything about who lives here, their passions, their wins, and their sense of humor about displaying it all so unapologetically,” says McAfee.
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