STAIRCASE BONUS SPACE

FIVE CREATIVE WAYS TO USE IT!

- JAY CORK

In most multistory houses, the space under the stairs is enclosed and unused. But with a little time and creativity, you can turn that wasted space into something special. Here are five ideas to inspire you.

WINE STORAGE

If you have a wet bar in the basement (or one on the way), consider building wine storage into your staircase. It's a beautiful project and frees up space in your bar or, depending on the size of your collection, maybe even an entire room.

1 START WITH THE CASEWORK 

Build this wine rack as you would a fixed shelving unit, using 3/4-in. plywood for the casework and shelves. Assemble and install only the casework-it will be much lighter to handle. Trim to match your style and apply the finish.

2 MAKE THE RACKS 

It's easiest to attach the dividers before the shelves are installed. With a 21/2-in. wide piece of scrap wood to space the dividers evenly, use a brad nailer to attach them to the shelves. Install the shelves with pocket hole screws.

3 TRIM IT OUT 

Trim the wine rack with a style that matches your space. Frame it with a wide base trim to create a bold look. For jobs such as this, I like to use chair rail for a unique look.

SIMPLE SHELVING

This easy upgrade to an under-stair space adds both function and style. Recessed shelves don't require any structural changes to the wall or staircase. You can trim each shelf or just paint them to blend into the drywall as shown.