Wine bottles as art!?

It's a thing, and it has nothing to do with dripping candles. According to Lori Morris, a Toronto-based interior designer who's helped several clients build luxe wine cellars, there's never been a better time to turn your covetable vino collection into a focal point in your main-floor entertaining space.

"Clients want to house and showcase the bottles in a way that is representative of their collections," she says. "[Cellars were] once reserved for the basement, but clients now want them to be visible and to incorporate them as part of the lounge and dining areas."

Contemplating the idea?

We chatted with Ms. Morris about the trend, and got some of her must-know tips.

How does one build a wine cellar in their home?

The most important thing is to consult with a mechanical engineer to design the cellar. (This will ensure the infrastructure and cellar function properly and that the proper temperature and humidity controls are in place.) Once the infrastructure has been sorted out, I (as the designer) have to guide the client on a location for the cellar within their home. Similarly, we need to design it in a way that relates to the rest of the home's design aesthetic.

When designing a luxury wine cellar, I always want to ensure there are high-end features. For example, I have worked with companies that offer cellar management, where they catalogue and organize the collection, even offering a maturity rating and labelling service.

What are some key things people should keep in mind when building a cellar?

It is important to ensure you build the type of cellar that will accommodate your collection. Making sure you have enough space for the size of the collection, for growth and for various sizes of bottles are all crucial elements. If the room permits, it is also nice to have a surface area to work with.

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Technical elements prevail when designing wine storage

14:11 13 February 2015

Emma Rice

The Hampstead flat Dasha worked on

Archant

A passion for beautiful objects, design and harmony is what Dasha Slavinskaya has built her interior design business on. The Russian born founder of Pret-a-Meubler sees her work as an ever-evolving process which brings together specifically sourced antique items, art and contemporary pieces.

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The company, founded just under a year ago was born out of Dashas passion for creating spaces that catch attention by mixing higher priced items with mainstream pieces.

A former accountant, who realised her true passion after undertaking interior design projects for friends and designing her own home in Chelsea, Dasha decided to set up the business last year and has since worked on design projects in Hampstead, Chelsea, Belgravia and Moscow.

Dashas work on a five-bedroom apartment in Compayne Gardens, Hampstead, alongside her interior designer, Olga Sedova, involved mixing two very different styles.

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Interiors: The website that helps you add personal style to your home

Labor takes minority government in Queensland

Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has been commissioned to become Queensland's 39th premier.

Beaches around Ballina on the NSW north coast will remain closed following a fatal shark attack.

Almost 100 children, plus staff, from an inner Sydney childcare centre have been tested for tuberculosis.

A 28-year-old female Taiwanese student has been killed in a motorcycle accident north of Perth.

University students hit by pepper spray while protesting have criticised how police handled the situation.

Indonesia is not wavering from its plans to execute two Australian drug smugglers.

Police and a prayer hall were among possible targets in a foiled alleged terrorist plot in Sydney.

1:05

The first dedicated cancer hospital in NSW has been officially opened by the Prime Minister.

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Rattle family shattered by sentence

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We admit it: Peets was a bad choice. When grabbingacappuccinowith celebrity interior designer Michael Smith theman responsible for the Ovals 2010 makeover, the 2008 redo of the private quarters of the White House, and the placesCindy Crawford,Rupert Murdoch, and Michelle Pfeiffer call home one does not suggest the neighborhood coffee shop.

Come to the Hay Adams, Smith sayson a recent Monday morning.Hes in town for the next 24 hours and then its off to New York, then maybe back to his home base in Los Angeles, and finallyto Madrid, where Smith lives 10 days out of the month with his partner,James Costos,theUnited States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra.

We caught up with Smith to chat about his famous clients (well, we chatted, he nodded) and how being the consort of an ambassador is akin to having a double identity. Comparisons to superman happened.

Okay, where do you actually live? Like where does your mail go?

I have to think about it. Hmm, where doI live? Well, I say I live in L.A. because my dogs are in L.A. I kind of live a lot on planes. Now, I know all the flight attendants.I just invited these two amazing flight attendants withAmerican Airlines tothe embassy.

That sounds interesting.

Theyre best friends and so senior that they get to fly the Europeanroutes, including Madrid. So, I said, Hey, come to the embassy. I think they thought I was completely like not for real. But they came and they were super excited. But what a sweet American story.

Whatsyourdouble life like as the partner of an ambassador?

Myactual translation is consort of the American ambassador, which is kind of hilarious. Look, Spain hashad marriage equality since 2005, so all the growing pains of that have been worked out. If I had never given a dinner before then yes maybe it would be a stretch. But the reality is thats something Ive always found very relaxing and fun. In L.A. I give probably two or three dinners a week.Thats an easy template to apply to an embassy.

Ambassador James Costos (L) and partnerMichael Smith (R) during the annual Foreign Ambassadors reception at the Royal Palace on January 21, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

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Reliable Source: 5 Minutes with celebrity interior designer Michael Smith