CasaSugar

DIY: A Mailing-Tube Wine Rack

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:30:43 -0700

If the wine racks for beginners I featured earlier today don't fit your look or your price range, then perhaps you'll be interested in this project from ReadyMade on how to make your own wine rack from mailing tubes. The process is ridiculously easy, and the results are surprisingly cute, so you can have a bevy of bottle storage in no time.

Bottle Pocket Wine Rack via ReadyMade

What You'll Need

Cardboard mailing tubes (ours were 3 1/2" in diameter x 36")
Paint (optional)
Round color-coded stickers (optional)
Plenty of wine
Measuring tape
Pencil
Hand saw
Sandpaper (200 grit)
Paintbrush (optional)

For step-by-step instructions, read more

How to Make It

Measure the space where you want to install the wine rack. If it’s a shelf, make sure it’s strong enough to support all those bottles. (We put ours on a bottom shelf to be safe.)
Measure and mark your tubes in increments of 9" (just enough to cover most of a wine bottle).
Cut the tubes along your marks with the hand saw, taking care to keep the cuts even. Sand off any cardboard fragments.
If you want to paint the tubes, do it now. Make sure they dry completely before continuing.
Stack your tubes.
Gather your wine. OCD types may want to come up with their own systems of categorizing bottle caps with color-coded stickers (to parse out which vintages are for everyday drinking and which are special occasion Pinots).
Raise a toast to your not-so-hard work.

Bold Wine Racks for Beginners

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:45:03 -0700

Before long, even the most casual wine lover needs a wine rack. I'm hardly a wine cellar-worthy oenophile, but I still have at least five or six bottles in my house at any given time. So I've been on the lookout for a well-designed, eye-catching wine rack that's just big enough to accommodate a small but significant collection.

After finding a few lovely choices on Hostess with the Mostess, I've discovered a number of wine displays that are as bold as a good Syrah. Many of these are also expandable, so you can add storage as your collection grows. To see my picks, click on the photos below.

Good, Better, Best: Wine Racks

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:15:53 -0700

A friend asked me to find her a handsome wine rack for her bedroom because her recent grad roommates consistently drink any "booze" she leaves in the kitchen. Natch, I agreed. There are plenty of stylish wine racks, so I knew it wouldn't be a difficult task. There are lots of interesting modern ones these days, like the Harry Allen Pile Wine Rack ($65), Dennis Lin Cru Wine Rack ($150), and Crate & Barrel Shesham Wine Rack ($30), but when it comes to my own vino, I'm partial to simple, functional storage. To hear my picks for the good, better, and best wine racks, read more.

Cellar Wine Rack - $39.95	Riddling Wine Rack - $99.99
Design-Your-Own Wine Racks - $29.99

Good: The CB2 Cellar Wine Rack ($39.95) marks the spot! Its criss cross shape is visually interesting and a bit modern, especially when stacked to hold a larger collection. Made of sheet metal with a gunmetal finish, it's sturdy and will hold up well. Each rack holds 12 bottles, which is a decent amount for someone who's just beginning a collection, or the perfect amount for anyone throwing a cocktail party.

Better: The World Market Riddling Wine Rack ($99.99) is in the shape of original riddling racks used by vineyards to store champagne. Riddling is the process of slightly shaking or turning each bottle to consolidate the sediment in the wine so it could be removed. Vineyard staff had the laborious task of turning each bottle a fraction, sometimes over 30,000 bottles per day. Now, there are machines to do this task for them, but I think using the classic design as wine storage is a nice nod to history. This rack holds up to 35 standard-size wine bottles with corks facing down to keep them properly moist, but it is also available in a 12 bottle size.

Best: The Container Store Design-Your-Own Wine ($24.99) is notably less expensive than the Riddling rack, but there are a few reasons why it's my pick for best. For one, its simple, modular design allows for the storage to be expanded upon so if your wine collection grows, you can stack more racks vertically or horizontally. Also, the natural hardwood can be finished or painted to match any décor. And, it's classic and understated, keeping the focus on the collection of wine itself, rather than perhaps a love for modern design, which could be a passing phase anyways. The Container Store will likely always have this product in their inventory, but if not, it's a common design in wood factories, like J.K. Adams in Dorset, VT.
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Crave Worthy: Modern Cellar Skylight Wine Credenza

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:45:00 -0700

I'm a big fan of any piece of furniture that serves my drinking habit . . . and I don't mean a Tower of Power. I'm speaking more along the lines of a bar cart, but something about them sort of screams bachelor pad to me. So, when I came across a handsome credenza that doubled discreetly as a wine rack, I really had a reason to pop the cork. The Modern Cellar Skylight Wine Credenza (inquire for price) stores wine, stemware, plateware, and serving accessories: nearly all the necessities for a sophisticated dinner party (add friends and food, and blend). Hand rubbed with a walnut oil finish, made of one-pieced sides and top, it's truly beautiful, and will take on a wonderful patina as it ages. And, its sliver of glass on the top reveals your beloved wine collection. Just make sure to store your two buck Chuck on its lower level . . .

DIY: Recycled Glass Chandelier

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:00:19 -0800

This holiday season, many of us may be throwing dinner parties, and expecting more guests than usual on a typical Saturday night. Maybe we'll pull spare seating out of the basement, or rent chairs, fold-out tablecloths, and white linens for the evening, but the last time I checked party rental shops didn't rent light fixtures. So, the next best thing is to fashion one of our own. With a few recycled materials and some tea lights, you can make a gorgeous, energy-efficient, glass chandelier that you may just end up hanging year-round. Make one to hang about each table, and your guests will be well-lit. Just add good food, wine, and conversation! To learn the steps, read more.

Supplies:

10-12 spare glass jars (mason jars, baby food, jam)
Circular gridded cooling rack
Thick and thin gauge wire
Beaded chain and locking links
1 large S hook
10-12 small S hooks
Wire cutters
Sand or small pebbles
10-12 tea lights

Here's how, from Ecologue:

Wash all your recycled materials.
Turn over your cooling rack, and at its center cross two lengths of the thick wire, looping their ends through the feet on the rack and twisting them to secure them.
Attach the large S hook by twisting the wire at the point where the two wires cross (at the center).
Under the lip of your jar lids, wrap the thinner wire around the tops three or four times, and tuck the ends underneath the wire to secure it.
Cut various lengths of beaded chain using wire cutters at twice the length you want them to hang from the cooling rack. You may consider a random arrangement or some sort of pattern for hanging.
Loop a piece of beaded chain through the thin wire on one jar, and then lock its ends together with the links. Do this with all the jars.
Fill the base of the jar with sand or pebbles, and then place a tea light on top.
Hang the cooling rack above your dinner table, or wherever you'd like it to be.
Then, hook your candle-filled jars with the small S hooks onto the cooling rack.
Use a long lighter to light them right before guests arrive, and fini!

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Casa Craving Challenge: Fetching Magazine Racks

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:38:55 -0800

Since this is the last week of Home Entertainment month, I figured I'd relate this Casa Craving Challenge to one of my most cherished types of home entertainment - reading magazines. As my stack of design magazines grows, I'm always looking for polished ways to showcase them, like sfgirlbybay has here. So for this challenge, I'd like you to bookmark the most fetching magazine racks you can find. These racks can be specifically designed for magazines, or they can be made for another purpose (such as a wine crate)—so long they're easy on the eyes and can hold magazines, they'll pass! Show me all of your fabulous finds by creating Casa Cravings and tagging them with the phrase fetching magazine racks. I'll feature the results next Wednesday, Jan. 2. Please let me know if you have any questions. For a list of online home stores to try, read more

Amazon Home
Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Crate & Barrel
Design Within Reach
Gump's
Ikea
Jonathan Adler
Lekker Home
Linens and Things
Macy's Home
Pottery Barn
Restoration Hardware
Room & Board
Target
Urban Outfitters
Unica Home
West Elm
World Market

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:59:22 -0800

SFgirlbybay shares her weekend flea-market finds.
AT: SF has a top ten list of cloth napkins.
The Hardware Aisle has a great tip on saving energy and money with the Home Joule.
These cool light fixtures on Sub-Studio Design are made from vegetables.
Better Homes and Gardens reveals nine nature-inspired decorating ideas, just in time for Thanksgiving.
These Markow and Norris woven glass sculptures on MoCo Loco take over 100 hours of kiln time to make.
AT: NY spotted some pretty versatile apple racks that can be used as storage at home.
Design*Sponge's custom baroque-style cork-board DIY project have me reaching for the push pins.
NYC subway grab-holds ($45) are for sale to the general public, and both Danny Seo and I are itching to own a bite of Big Apple history.
Shelterrific and I have our eyes on this pagoda-esque bamboo wine rack that holds nine bottles of wine of choice, just enough to get me through Thanksgiving.

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Desire to Inspire offers some navy and gold inspiration for a bedroom redo.
Shelterrific reveals a secret weapon for fighting wine stains.
AT:LA shows us seven space-saving magazine racks.
YumSugar rounds up a hot selection of grilling thermometers.
Craft turns us onto a lazy Susan made out of a Scrabble board.
Design*Sponge finds a few new Frazier and Wing mobiles.
Poppytalk explores the refreshing, lovely home of artist Carolyn Quartermaine.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:34 -0700

AT:SF shows off an eclectic home I adore.
FitSugar advises on cooling foods to beat the heat.
Danny Seo takes in some mattress testing.
Desire to Inspire shows off Ellie Miller's home style.
The Hardware Aisle has tips for an easy AC installation.
Ikea Hacker hacks a wine rack and cabinet.
Oh Joy finds delicious things in everyday containers.
Elements of Style looks at the fab new shop Foley and Cox Home.

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:00:07 -0700

Desire to Inspire has gorgeous photos from Wendell T. Webber.
Shelterrific goes gocco.
Daily Dose admits love for Ikea textiles.
FitSugar discusses mosquitoes' preferences.
AT:SF finds a new use for wine racks.
SFGirlByBay mixes it up.
PetSugar looks at a PetBrella.
AT:LA introduces you to nature's deodorizer.
This Old House looks at house staging secrets that will sell your home.

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