Customized split cooling
The enclosure uses an LPQ 12000 TE split cooling system developed with US Cellar Systems. Its 12,000 BTU capacity and split configuration allow the principal mechanical equipment to be separated from the visible display.
Bal Harbour, Florida · Residential Project
Custom Glass Wine Cellar
in Bal Harbour
A structural column becomes an illuminated, climate-controlled gallery for a collection of meaningful wines.
A collection in the spotlight
A wine cellar conceived as part of the architecture.
This custom glass wine cellar in Bal Harbour transforms a structural column between the living and dining areas into an illuminated architectural wine display.
The homeowners wanted a contemporary South Florida residence that felt sophisticated without formality: pale stone, warm natural wood, soft furnishings and abundant natural light. Rather than adding decorative excess, the interior was organized around a small number of carefully composed statements. The wine display is one of them.
Designed by Origin Wine Cellars, the floor-to-ceiling enclosure combines suspended cable racking, concealed refrigeration and carefully engineered moisture protection. The result showcases a changing selection from the homeowners’ collection while preserving the room’s openness.
LocationBal Harbour, Florida
Project typeTwo residential wine cellars
DesignDisplay gallery + bulk storage
RackingCable and high-capacity systems
ClimateConcealed cellar cooling
Combined capacityWell over 1,000 bottles
01
Two wine cellars with different purposes
The homeowners needed substantial storage for a growing collection, but they also wanted wine to have a visible presence in the principal living area.
The illuminated glass display was designed to feature a changing selection of their most precious bottles: important vintages, memorable discoveries and wines connected to particular people, celebrations or travels. It gives those bottles a place of honor and makes them part of the experience of welcoming guests into the home.
In a different room, Origin built the high-capacity climate-controlled cellar shown here. Floor-to-ceiling racking provides the organized bulk storage required for the wider collection while maintaining the same modern architecture, warm natural materials and restrained detailing found throughout the residence.
Together, the display cellar and the high-capacity storage cellar accommodate well over 1,000 bottles—one presenting the stories the homeowners most want to share, the other protecting and organizing the collection as a whole.
02
Turning a structural column into a wine gallery
The column’s position makes the installation visible from several parts of the open interior without obstructing the home’s sightlines. From the living area it appears as a slender glass sculpture. From the dining table it creates a natural visual connection to the wines that will eventually be opened and shared.
Clear glass preserves the openness of the room, while a slim perimeter frame gives the display a crisp architectural outline. Without heavy cabinetry, the installation remains visually light and consistent with the home’s pale stone, warm wood and restrained detailing.
Instead of appearing as a conventional small cellar, the enclosure reads as a carefully curated gallery.
03
Floating bottles with suspended cable wine racking
To achieve the floating-bottle effect, Origin selected a suspended racking system from Cable Wine Systems. Tensioned stainless-steel cables replace traditional wood racks, while discreet solid-brass connecting clamps secure each bottle in an individual horizontal position.
The bottles are arranged in an open composition with generous space around every selection. Against the transparent glass, the slender cables largely disappear and the bottles seem to hover inside the column.
Horizontal presentation keeps labels and distinctive bottle shapes visible. It also allows the featured collection to evolve. As different wines acquire personal significance, they can be moved into the display and given a temporary place of honor.
04
Lighting the collection like a work of art
Integrated linear lighting illuminates the column from above and below, tracing its full height and catching the edges of the glass. A warm color temperature complements the natural wood finishes and creates a soft architectural glow rather than the harsher appearance of a commercial display.
Because the cable racking is visually restrained, the light falls primarily on the bottles. It reveals the changing colors of the glass, highlights the labels and strengthens the illusion that each bottle is floating.
After sunset, the column becomes a luminous landmark between the living and dining spaces—dramatic in presence, but personal in purpose.
Engineering for Bal Harbour’s climate
Beautifully effortless.
Technically exacting.
A refrigerated glass enclosure in South Florida must do more than showcase a collection. It must protect wine through year-round heat and humidity while preventing the cooling equipment from compromising the architecture.
Concealed mechanical installation
The system is positioned above the wine column and concealed within the ceiling. Guests see illuminated bottles, transparent glass and barely perceptible cable racking—not exposed equipment or ductwork.
Insulation and vapor protection
Closed-cell spray-foam insulation incorporating a vapor barrier was applied within the U-channels and the ceiling cavity, reducing heat transfer and limiting humid-air movement into the cooled assembly.
Condensation control
Restricting moisture migration toward cold surfaces reduces condensation risk and helps the cooling system maintain stable conditions without unnecessary cycling.
The homeowners’ perspective
A vision brought to life.
“Working with Kristen at Origin Wine Cellars was an absolute pleasure. She took the time to understand our home, the way we entertain and what our wine collection means to us. We wanted something that would be more than storage, we wanted a beautiful architectural feature one that felt completely integrated into the house.
Kristen brought that vision to life for us with creativity and a lot of attention to detail. From the floating cable system and glass enclosure to the lighting and cleverly concealed cooling equipment, every element was thoughtfully considered. We think the finished display is elegant, dramatic and even more beautiful than we imagined. It has become one of our favorite features in the home and invariably starts a conversation when friends visit.
We could not be happier with the experience or the result.”
— Bill and Margaret, Bal Harbour
Designed around the way its owners entertain
The storage cellar protects the collection.
The display tells its story.
Wine here is not simply accumulated. It is selected for the table, connected to memories and shared with friends. The dedicated high-capacity cellar performs the serious work of organizing and protecting the bulk of the collection; the illuminated column gives a small number of the homeowners’ most precious and meaningful wines a place of honor.
Together, the two Origin wine cellars store well over 1,000 bottles. The combination of substantial capacity, visual restraint, technical performance and personal meaning makes the project part of the architecture—and part of the experience created whenever the homeowners open their doors.
Bal Harbour wine cellar FAQs
Designing for glass, climate and collection.
Can a glass wine cellar work in South Florida’s humidity?
Yes. The cooling load, enclosure, insulation and vapor protection must be engineered together for the surrounding conditions.
Can wine cellar cooling equipment be concealed?
Yes. Split and ducted configurations can locate major mechanical components away from the visible enclosure, subject to the property and available service space.
What is cable wine racking?
Cable wine racking suspends individual bottle supports from tensioned cables, producing a visually light presentation in which bottles appear to float.
Can one project combine display and collection storage?
Yes. A prominent architectural display can feature selected bottles while a larger climate-controlled cellar protects and organizes the main collection.
Planning a custom wine cellar in Bal Harbour?
Let’s create something original.
Origin Wine Cellars designs glass wine displays, large-capacity residential cellars and fully integrated wine rooms for Bal Harbour and communities throughout South Florida.
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