Wine Racks for Every Budget
April 21, 2016
Whether you are an occasional wine enthusiast, entertainer, or serious wine spectator, we have wine racks and cabinets made from a range of materials, in a variety of styles to fit any budget. Along with price and material, it’s important to monitor the temperature of wine and store it in a stable environment, free from a lot of vibration or traffic. Storing on top of a refrigerator, for instance, is always a bad idea.
Other things to consider when storing wine and purchasing wine racks:
- Collection size – how many bottles do you need to store and do you anticipate growing your collection?
- Chilled wine storage, or not? How much wine will you consume? Do you drink red or white wine? For short term storage, refrigeration is NOT needed – however, you never want to store wine in really warm temperatures.
- Do you plan to resell the wine? Maintaining a 55 degree temperature is recommended for long term storage of valuable and/or vintage bottles.
- What kind of floor space do you have available for a wine rack? We sell large floor racks, smaller countertop racks, wall-mount displays and racks with integrated bars.
- Are you a handy person who enjoys assembling things? Some of our wooden wine racks are kit-based and fun to build. We have everything from a massive, 84-bottle redwood kit to a modest countertop six-bottle wood rack. The six bottle kit takes only minutes to assemble and comes in finished and unfinished models, which are great if you want to apply a unique stained effect or match your decor.
- What material are you looking for in a rack? Wood, metal, composite and bamboo racks are available to match your decor. Simple wire racks lend a modern look to your kitchen or bar. Industrial, large chromed racks come in a variety of sizes for serious collectors.
- What is your budget? Here are some racks listed by price ranges from: 10-50 dollars, 51-150 dollars, 151-300 dollars and 1400-1500 dollars:
10-50 Dollars:
- Metal Wine Bottle Holder – Clean lines make this black metal four-bottle rack an attractive accent for countertop use and an excellent choice for frequent wine drinkers.
- Stackable Bamboo Wine Rack – is eco-friendly, simply-designed, and modular so you can build your own system or add on later, should your collection grow.
51-150 Dollars:
- 24 Bottle X Wine Rack has a classic design and costs less than 60 dollars. It’s small enough for counter use and great for small wine collections.
- Wooden Wine and Stemware Rack includes a tabletop for pouring and storing open bottles, holds 24 bottles and 10 glasses, and, at less than 106 dollars, is an absolute steal.
151-300 Dollars:
- Home Martini Bar has everything you need to entertain in a compact footprint. Contemporary steel, complemented by black, kidney-shaped contours make a contemporary statement for your home bar. For under 220 dollars you are ready to entertain in style with this affordable piece.
- Wine Storage Cabinet – another low-cost, attractive way to display wine. This has glass doors for easy viewing, a stemware shelf and a utility shelf for other wine supplies. Less than 210 dollars – affordable, while offering style and a lot of storage.
1400-1500 Dollars:
- Commercial Wine Racks come in a variety of sizes to fit the professional wine collector’s storage needs. 36 and 48-inch widths are available with storage capacity of up to 169 bottles. Chrome-covered steel will last forever and make ideal storage in a cellar or other dedicated space.
Whatever your needs for wine storage, big or small, we have something that will work for you in our store. We also carry stemware displays and other wine accessories.
by Laurie Halbritter
Seasonal Clothing Storage Solutions
April 15, 2016
Clothing Storage Solutions for All Seasons
It’s April, and while we could be in for more snow here in Michigan, it’s really time to start packing away winter clothing. In with the shorts, out with the sweaters and, crossing fingers – no more snow! I also like to change out my linens, stash away the comforters, and replace them with cotton and lighter blankets. Seasonal clothing storage frees up space for warm-weather clothing and linens.
Airtight Storage Containers
I live in a small schoolhouse, where space is limited, so seasonal items usually go in my occasionally-damp basement, and longer-term storage items are relegated to the barn or shed. We sell two airtight storage boxes that are ideal for basement, shed, rented locker, or garage storage. Both have foam gaskets and locking latches to keep air, moisture and insects out. One is 63-quart capacity, and the other holds 30.6 quarts. A clear body allows you to see the contents and a stackable design means maximum space efficiency – just stack them ceiling high in a corner, out of the way.
Underbed Clothing Storage
Underbed clothing storage is another way to organize, and it’s a great way to utilize unused space – for long or short-term storage of clothing, shoes, toys, memorabilia and more. Using under-bed storage boxes is especially convenient for storing linens, as they’re right where you can access them. The Stor-n-Slide Container is 28.5 inches long with a low profile, latching handles and gliding discs on the bottom for sliding across carpet and floors.
Underbed Shoe Storage
Underbed shoe storage is easy with the Cedar Underbed Shoe Storage Organizer. Made of canvas with a zippered clear vinyl top and sewn-in side pockets, this storage container can hold up to 12 pairs of shoes. The cedar lining repels insects and keeps your shoes smelling fresh. Side handles make it easy to slide out from underneath your bed. We sell a variety of other underbed storage containers on our Under Bed Storage page.
Cedar and Air Fresheners
For longer term or outdoor clothing storage, adding some eastern cedar or other odor-absorbing products helps keep your clothing and stored items smelling fresh, while discouraging moths and other insects from ravaging your clothes. The Bamboo Air Purifiers are an eco-friendly product made from bamboo carbon and are great for keeping shoes and other items fresh. Cedar balls and similar products are great for containers, closets or inside drawers. We sell a variety of other cedar products on our website including the Cedar Woodlore Basics Kit, which includes hang-ups, sachets, blocks and everything you need to keep your clothes moth-free and smelling fresh.
Also check out this blog post for Christmas storage ideas.
by Laurie Halbritter
Five Meal Prep Tips for Beginners
March 12, 2016
Between work, school, kids, family, appointments — all of the things we juggle day in and day out, making meals is just another stress factor. Meal prep is a growing fad and for good reason. Preparing a week’s worth of meals ahead of time not only saves you time, but ensures you have access to healthy, quick meals and stay away from the junk. And if you do it right, it can save you some cash. What’s not to like?
We understand that undertaking a project like this can be overwhelming. That’s why we have collected our top five tips to help get you meal prepping like a pro.
1.) Meal Planner:
Search online and find a template you like or create your own, but you will need an easy-to-use meal planner. This will let you properly plan and shop for the meals you want to make. Once you start planning, you can make a grocery list for the things you need. This is the most important step. It is hard to continue successfully prepping if you do not have the supplies you need, and as a result are either not making enough food to last you the time you need or are finding yourself returning to the store and cooking throughout the week.
2.) Recipes:
Sit down and make a list of all the meals you already make and love. While prepping is important to save time, you want to ensure the meals you are making are something you will actually eat. If you don’t like the recipes you choose, you are more likely to ignore the food in the fridge and order out or just stop prepping all together.
Use the internet, too. There are millions of recipes out there. Find some that you like.
Now take these two lists and try to fit your recipes into categories. This is an easier way to plan. You do not have to stick to strict recipes every day, but make the staple items and have them available. A little wiggle room will allow you to still be creative and satisfy any cravings you have without falling off course.
Keep variation in mind, too. You won’t be looking forward to three nights of pasta. Or maybe some of your will. Do what works for you!
- Easy meals for prepping: Pastas, soups, stews, stir fries and Mexican (i.e. tacos, enchiladas, burritos). For breakfast, think things you can make in bulk: individual quiche, muffins, protein bars, cold oats.
3.) Gadgets:
For the actual cooking, stock your kitchen with the right tools. We recommend having:
- A veggie slicer or mandolin: Cut veggies properly for steaming, sauteing or roasting. Having veggies at the ready will help you make better choices when you’re hungry.
- Salad spinner: Keeping a bowl of clean salad greens in the kitchen and use your prepped meats and veggies to create a salad.
- A good cutting board: Keep your meat and veggie boards separate.
4.) Food storage:
Cooking ahead of time is great, but you want to make sure you are storing foods correctly so they do not spoil.
Things like soups and stews lend themselves to freezing. The easiest way to store them is pouring them in plastic freezer bags. Make it easy on yourself and use a counter-top storage bag holder. This life-changing gadget will make it easier for you to store your food in disposable bags and not worry about cleaning out your Tupperware.
For meats and veggies, go for glass over plastic. The less porous material will lock out air, will not absorb odors and will keep your foods fresher for longer.
5.) Don’t forget dessert:
Give yourself something sweet to eat and you will not be tempted to cheat. Fresh fruit keeps well and is a great go-to snack. Either keep fresh fruit cut up and stored in the fridge or add a fruit bowl to your counter.
Get prepping!