I Make $200K and I Spent $15K on a Wine Closet Renovation

Considering a room revamp, but not sure where to begin—or how much to invest? In our latest series, One-Room Renos, we explore renovation projects big and small, from soft-good upgrades you can accomplish in a weekend to total overhauls that cost a small fortune and take months (or longer). 

Today, a high school counselor and wine aficionado shares how she converted an awkward alcove into a custom wine closet for $15,000.

Make Money Online Tell us a little bit about your wine closet renovation project. 

We’ve always had an issue with where to put our wine. Every year, we attend a food-and-wine festival, and one thing leads to another, and suddenly you find you’ve ordered 30 bottles and have nowhere to put them all.

Make Money Online What was originally in the space?

It was an odd alcove in the entryway hallway. I think it was designed for a secretary desk, but we were using it for a china cabinet we’d been given when we got engaged. It was such a large piece, and the alcove was the only space it fit. 

Make Money Online How long did the project take?

About three months. We started on Labor Day and finished the Friday before Thanksgiving.

Make Money Online What was the design process like?

Once we decided we wanted wine storage, our contractor, Kristian Bell, ran with it. He asked if we would just trust him and he could just do it. I had seen enough of his work so it was easy to trust him.

Make Money Online What were some of the choices he made?

His design included square paneling on the walls, a custom-built rack system, and lighting. He also built out the crown molding. But the most controversial decision involved color-drenching the room green.

Make Money Online Tell us about this green.

Initially, I was really unsure. My home is mostly blue, so green was a departure. One Sunday after church, I stopped by Sherwin-Williams and picked two shades. My girlfriend came over, and we laid the swatches against the wood floor. Immediately, we both loved the same color: Sherwin-Williams Westhaven.

Make Money Online Did you have any regrets?

Immediately after I committed to the color and painting the ceiling, I regretted it. It didn’t help that anyone who came to the house before the project was done questioned my choice. But, when it was finished, everyone loved it. They thought it was brilliant.

Make Money Online Where did the money for the renovations come from?

My husband works in sales and earns large commissions. That gave us cash on hand to take on a few remodel projects.

Make Money Online How did you keep costs down?

We trusted our contractor. For example, when it came time to choose the doors to the wine storage room, he said we could order them, but it was actually more cost-effective if he built them. He chose a light aluminum frame. Then he found these door handles on Amazon and asked me to order four sets. They cost a total of $250, but they looked amazing—very high end.

We also decided not to make our wine room temperature controlled. My brother-in-law is in the wine business—his family owns a vineyard—and he said that not all wine storage areas need to be temperature controlled. It depends on how cool you keep your house. We keep our home on the colder side, around 72 degrees. He said that’s a big expense, and it would be unnecessary in our case.

Make Money Online What do you love most about your wine closet?

It’s a beautiful display. I love that I can turn on the lights for a soft, cozy ambient light. The wine racks light up, and it’s a soft mood lighting. This space is right behind our sipping room (which we also worked on with the same contractor). I can open the doors, grab a white, chill it, pour a glass, sit in my chair, and listen to music.

Make Money Online What advice would you give someone about to do a remodel project?

Vet your contractor and designer. Pick someone you can trust, then defer to them. If you’re unsure, let them decide. There’s a reason they do what they do.