May 7, 2008
Doesn't this wine cellar look nice? Would you believe it was installed beneath one family's staircase in space that was once a storage closet?
It just goes to show that you don't need a whole room in the basement (hey, some of us don't even have basements!) to get the wine cellar of your dreams.
The work of Grotto Custom Wine Cellars and Cabinets, this wine storage spot certainly makes great use of space. Made using beautiful mahogany, the under-stair wine room stores 345 bottles. A hand-painted mural, fancy Tuscan door, and rope lighting really add the wow factor.
So just because you don't have a basement or a lot of extra space around the house doesn't mean you have to give up the dream of having a wine cellar.
April 15, 2008
A patio storage bench is a great way to add some seating to your deck or patio area while also providing a spot to tuck away hoses, tools, gardening pots, etc.
This hardwood storage bench from Brookstone has an attractive wooden exterior (a little nicer looking than the plastic versions cropping up everywhere) and a durable frame (so you shouldn't have to worry about your guests denting the top of the bench after a few too many hot dogs and beers. The cushions also look like they'd be more comfortable to sit on than a simple plastic box top.
The bench has some thoughtful features such as ecologically farmed topical wood that resists rot, mildew, and insects. There are also drainage holes in the storage compartment to allow water to escape and air to circulate.
The price is $249.95 with the cushions and a furniture cover sold separately.
Hardwood Patio Storage Bench
April 14, 2008
Need a storage box that will do more than just hold your knickknacks? This stained glass piece is sure to get visitors to comment. I'm not sure it's exactly my cup of tea (I can say that about stained glass in general), but I'm impressed by the work that must have gone into it to create the stained glass flowers, leaves, and even those dragonflies perched on the tips.
The glass is hand-cut, hand-copper-foiled, and soldered together. If you like hand-crafted pieces, you might appreciate this colorful storage box.
It's the work of an Etsy artist named Beck who goes by "Rat" (hey, we don't ask, we just talk about products.), and she's got a number of decorative stained glass pieces in her shop. The prices are quite reasonable (actually, without knowing anything about the work involved in creating something like this, I'm inclined to say too low) so check her out:
Scrap Art by Rat
Oh, and the little glass storage box is $25 if you get there before it's gone.
March 28, 2008
If you need more room to display knickknacks, plants, and the like, then it's hard to go wrong with corner shelves. Some perks are that they don't take up a lot of room, ones like these are mounted on the wall (so no hogging floor space), and when they're located in the corner it's not likely anyone will bump them and knock things off.
These stylish floating corner shelves come in three different sizes, so you can stack them to create a little additional interest on the wall.
The wrought iron frames on the bottom can be decorative, or they can also be used to rest the shelf on a table or other flat surface, in case you decide not to mount all of them.
From Tripar
March 26, 2008
It's relatively easy to find fun and colorful shelves, cabinets, and other storage options when it comes to furniture designed for children's rooms, but when you wander into the adult section of the store, choices become a little more... sedate. If you're bored by traditional grown-up options, you might enjoy the whimsy of the tables, wine racks, cabinets, mirrors, and bookcases from Dust Furniture.
The small husband and wife company from Indiana hand builds all their pieces, and there's nothing "dusty" about the vibrant units. Select the piece you want, and choose a color, and they'll make it special for you. Some of the colors include apple green, cobalt blue, and violet (if you're set against such daring colors, you can also get black and white and gray).
So, if you're ready to break the mold with your furniture selections, check them out.
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