A Fine Vintage: How to Create Your Own Wine-Themed Kitchen

Are you a wine lover? Or do you simply love to decorate with the myriad bottles in which wines are sold? Some of them, truly, are works of art in themselves, and they might even inspire you to carry that décor theme further into a wine-themed kitchen. If that sounds appealing, the folks at Diamond Kitchen and Bath suggest a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when planning this hospitable approach to the heart of your home.

YOUR LOCALE…IN MANY SENSES OF THE WORD

The idea of “location, location, location” isn’t limited to real estate concerns; it’s also good to remember in terms of your interiors. What does your kitchen look like now? What mood does it project? Do you like that mood in general, or do you want to change things up? Answers to these questions will go a long way toward zeroing in on the specific type of “wine décor” that will make you feel most at home. If you’re using lots of bottles as accents, you can build your kitchen style around the countries of their origins.

For example, Tuscan wine décor can feature beads, charms, and other ornaments. French Country, on the other hand, employs decoupage, collage, and art-paper techniques to create its special ambiance. If your wine (or decorating) tastes are as laid-back as California, you’ll love a simple, no-fuss approach such as a few shelves to display bottles that have attachments to special occasions, are of unique vintages, or have some other sentimental or personal connection.

KEEPING AND SERVING WITH A FLOURISH

One of the more popular features of new upscale kitchens is the wine cooler, the place where wines are kept at optimum storage temperatures prior to serving. If you’re a wine connoisseur, you no doubt have that on your kitchen’s “dream list” already. But you don’t necessarily just want to grab a bottle out of the cooler and pour it casually, either.

For this reason, many wine lovers also create special “wine tasting” kitchen spot, with grapevine-painted tile, decorative signs for reds and whites, and ornamental accessories such as bottle trims and colorful corkscrews. The best place for this is often away from the major kitchen traffic pattern, in its own alcove, or on a movable island. Thus, presenting your treasured wines becomes both a focal element of the kitchen and a memorable portion of an evening’s dinner party.

GOING THE DISTANCE

Of course, if mere grapevine-inspired tiles, grapevine napkin rings, purple trim on a tablecloth, or wine-crate wooden backsplashes aren’t enough for you, you might be enamored of a kitchen that not only shows off wine or wine bottles but lets you imagine you’ve stepped into a winery or the main house of a venerable vineyard. This impression can comprise several ingredients:

• Wine bottles displayed in mountings such as antlers or wrought iron holders — or used as lamp bases, vases, or candelabra
• Walls painted colors such as sand, beige, off-white, or cream to simulate cottage walls
• Rag painting for additional texture and “stone” effects
• Dark wood beams across the ceiling
• Simple wood tables and benches in place of typical kitchen tables and chairs
• Open shelves, rather than closed cabinets, that display your dishes and glasses
• Antiqued or distressed finishes on accessories or furniture
• Vintage or antique accessories in place of modern appliances

Combining these touches with a state-of-the-art wine cooler might be a bit of a challenge — but with a little thought and planning, you can integrate things you already own and new rustic touches in a way that contributes to an overall warm, homey feel your guests will love.

MORE ABOUT LOVE THAN MONEY

A love for wine has inspired everything from volumes of cookbooks to entire home designs; the good news is you don’t have to spend a lot to create an enjoyable kitchen centered on the fruit of the vine. The staff at Diamond Kitchen and Bath can offer a wealth of help in putting together your best “vintage” look on a budget that will make you smile, too. Just ask us about it!