Wine
Stare-Worthy Cellar
A Leawood homeowner put her creativity to use in a space normally used to hide junk and clutter.
BY
Brooke Pearl
PHOTOGRAPHY
James Maidhof

“Since I've lived here, I could envision something neat under the stairs.”
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After Lisa Donegan’s parents passed away, remodeling her home became her therapy. What started out as a sunroom addition shortly turned into a whole-house remodel decorated with well-designed, innovative spaces, including an Irish pub basement that represents her heritage.

“Since I’ve lived here, I could envision something neat under the stairs,” Lisa says. Instead of using it for storage space and closing it off with a door, she came up with the idea of turning it into a walk-in wine cellar, but it was the ingenuity of ALH Home Renovations that brought the project to life.

To provide a cave-like feel to the space, ALH’s president Allen Harris integrated natural cut stone into the walls, curvature of the ceiling (attached with proper substrates because of the winding staircase) and around the outer edge of the entry. Stone also was used as a shelving unit on top of the cabinets within the wine cellar, and if you look closely, each tier displays its own Irish memento. To soften the space, specific lighting was needed, which was the most challenging part of the project, Allen says, noting that the electrician had to visit the home three different times. Miniature halogen light fixtures with adjustable eyeballs were put in the wine cellar’s ceiling as well as behind a stone ledge on the wall, casting light throughout the cellar to make the space seem more open and inviting.

Four custom mahogany wine racks, complete with a satin finish and tiered shelving, create space for more than 100 bottles of wine. The wood and tile used here match the rest of the materials throughout the lower level. And, for added interest, the dark stain on the mahogany was made to emulate a set of candlesticks Lisa brought back from Haiti in 1980.

With its unique design and personal touches, the lower level is the place for entertaining, which is when Lisa often hears rave reviews about her (and ALH’s) creative invention under the stairs. And she has to agree, saying with a smile, “I frequent it more than what’s good for me.” As she settles into her freshly remodeled home, Lisa foresees herself spending additional time in the wine cellar, wrapped up in a blanket with a good book and glass of red wine — with plenty bottles to choose from and little risk of spiders or bugs.
This project calls for a toast — it’s originality fitting for an Irish pub-themed basement, perfect for a wine connoisseur and a space that will probably be frequented by many more than just Lisa.

RESOURCES
Designer/Contractor: ALH Home Renovations
Specialty Painting: Eric Doucette
Cabinets: Design Products Distributing
Tile & Stone: McLoughlin Stone and Tile
Tile: Kenny's Tile & Floor Covering
Stone: Sturgis Materials
Electrician: Parker's Electric