Trend 4: Cool It

Time was, only the pretentious, the rich, or the French would be caught dead in a conversation in which the words “varietals” and “sommeliers” were bandied about. But these days even America is lousy with wine enthusiasts. “There are some numbers that have been coming out over the last year which tell us that wine consumption is rising fast,” says Steve Stevens, associate editor of The Wine Report magazine in Atlanta. “The most striking might be the Gallup poll from last year which found that 39 percent of Americans said wine was their favorite alcoholic drink as opposed to the 36 percent who said beer was their favorite.” This love of wine is good news for vintners, but it's good news for wine storage manufacturers as well. Jeff Wimberly, director of sales and marketing for the home products division of Perlick Corp. in Milwaukee, also attributes the growth in wine storage products to the overall size of new homes, the trend toward home entertaining, and attractive new products in the genre.(see page 70)

WIDE LOAD: The manufacturer's new undercounter wine cellar measures an impressive 30 inches, which allows users to store more in a small space. The Chateau Collection wine cellar features glide-out shelves faced with select maple, which can be painted or stained to match surrounding décor. It includes electronic thermostatic temperature control, forced-air ventilation, and a whisper-quiet compressor that is the most powerful in its class, says the company. Marvel Industries. 800-428-6644. www.lifeluxurymarvel.com.
TRIPLE PLAY: A serious party family could find a use for this 72-inch, three-door wine cooler. The cabinet has three separate compartments, each with its own door. It is available as a stand-alone design statement in stainless steel, or it can be built into surrounding cabinetry, using a version with galvanized top and sides. A variable-speed compressor provides ultra-quiet operation and energy savings, the company says, and adjustable full-extension shelving glides all the way out for easy access to beverages. Perlick Corp. 800-558-5592. www.bringperlickhome.com.
SMALL FRY: So your buyers have only a small space but still want a wine cooler? Give 'em this new 15-inch version. This compact unit holds wine in a single compartment and has the capacity to hold up to 26, 750-milliliter bottles. It has six natural cherry wood–faced, roller-glide wire shelves that pull out to three-quarter extension, a quiet compressor, and a double-wall, tempered glass door. Sub-Zero. 800-532-7820. www.subzero.com.

Trend 5: Storage Space

We've heard it all before about cabinets: Buyers want fancy glazes; they want contemporary door styles; they want Old World hardware; and so on and so on. But these things don't really mean much if home buyers aren't able to store all of the junk they accumulate. Now that the kitchen is officially the heart of the home, the room is used more for gathering than it is for cooking. No wonder the need for organization is driving this year's cabinetry design trends, says Jasper, Ind.–based Aristokraft Cabinetry. In research conducted with consumers in key markets such as Los Angeles and Boston, the company found that buyers hate wasted space and prefer to fill in all possible surfaces with storage solutions. In addition to Aristokraft, manufacturers such as Timberlake Cabinetry, Kraftmaid, Wellborn, Omega, and Quality Cabinets have recently introduced storage options and accessories that are sure to bring order to the lives of many buyers.

SUPER CAB: The manufacturer says its new SuperCabinet is ideal for maximum storage even if the kitchen is small. Available in all of the company's wood types, the cabinet has door storage, two wire pullout baskets, and three extension trays, each of which holds up to 45 pounds. It is ideal for storing small appliances to reduce countertop clutter, the company says, and can be selected as a 30-inch or 36-inch base cabinet. Aristokraft Cabinetry. www.aristokraft.com.
AS YOU LIKE IT: The manufacturer says this multipurpose room shows the versatility of its storage accessories and pieces and can accommodate miscellaneous items and activities. The cabinetry can match the cabinets in the rest of the home to keep a consistent and connected look throughout and can be used for crafts, sewing, scrapbooking, and even tying fishing flies. No custom designs were used to create the room, the company adds. Merillat. 517-263-0771. www.merillat.com.
EASY DOES IT: Say goodbye to the unsightly yellow recycling bin in the corner. Timberlake now offers factory-installed wastebasket and recycling bins in its base cabinets, which allow easy and discreet access without having to sacrifice space under the sink, the manufacturer says. And for other storage needs, the company now offers a 3-inch pullout cabinet with three shelves for small bottles. Timberlake Cabinet Co. www.timberlake.com.

For more product information, visit ebuild, Hanley Wood's interactive product catalog, at www.builderonline.com or www.ebuild.com.