How to Design a Wine Cellar With Sketchup Pro

Google SketchUp Pro is a useful tool when designing your own wine cellar. You can easily adjust your design, create different options and even see a 3-D model before even beginning the construction of your wine cellar. Google SketchUp Pro offers different color and material options that you can test out on your model to find which option would best compliment your design. When your design is complete, you can add measurements and notes to reference while you are building your wine cellar.

Things You'll Need

• Approximate dimensions for your wine cellar
• List of design aspects you wish to include, such as a mirror or a light
• Number of wine bottles you wish to allow space for

Instructions

1. Develop a basic design for your wine cellar. Account for the number of bottles you wish to provide storage for and include any hard dimensions that you must keep your design limited to. You may find it helpful to do a quick sketch of the design on paper, including the plan and the elevations.

2. Begin to build your model in SketchUp. If you like, you can scan in your sketches and use those as a base from which to begin your model. Otherwise, you can begin by drawing the plan of the wine cellar in SketchUp using the "Top View" icon. You have the option of selecting the "Rectangle," "Circle" or "Arch" tools from the toolbar or you can start drawing with the "Line" tool.

3. Push and pull the faces of your plan by using the "Push/Pull" command. If your design is more complicated or if you would like to have a guide, import your hand sketch and work off of that elevation. Alternatively, you can adjust the view and draw the elevation in 2-D and then use the "Push/Pull" command on that face.

4. Add design aspects that you wish to include in your wine cellar. This could include a light, a mirror or perhaps a shelf for wine glasses. Create these design aspects in groups or on different layers. This will allow you to experiment with a variety of design options that you can turn off or on in the model.

5. Add color and materials by selecting them from the "Materials Browser" and then using the "Paint Bucket" to paint your model. You can upload custom colors and materials to the "Materials" browser if you have a specific type already selected.

6. Add dimensions and notes to help facilitate the construction of your wine cellar. Both functions are available from the main toolbar under "Tools".

7. Set up and print each view. Views you may want use include the top and any side view with information that you need to account for. Print any details that you will need to reference when building your wine cellar. Create a view using the "Section Plane" for any interior dimensions that you may need to reference.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind the standard wine bottle dimensions, as well as considering making space to store unusual-sized bottles.

• If the bottles you plan to store will be corked, it is best to allow for the bottle to be stored on its side or tilted enough that the wine covers the cork and keeps it moist.

• Consider the ideal temperatures for storing wine and accommodate for that in your design.

References

• Wine Racks America: Sample Designs

Resources

• Wine Racks America: Wine Cellar Design Guide
• Google SketchUp: Training
• Sketchucation: Beginner Tutorials