HGTV Ideas Magazine

Space to suit both their romantic style and their collection of wine was the priority for homewoners and newlyweds Tom Riley and Barb Ashworth, whose home overlooks a pristine lake.

"We originally had a finished basement with a wet bar, lots of cabinets and not much light. The whole thing looked like one big downstairs kitchen. One of our hobbies is visiting lots of wineries; we began borrowing ideas from what we saw," says Ashworth.

Those visits inspired a staircase bostered with impressive wrought iron balustrades and a gas fireplace framed in a massive, ceiling-high masonry enclosure. Wood beams accenting the ceiling were hand-pounded for an authentic artisan look.

"The most important thing in a project like this is to have the interior decorator work in concert with the (remodeler) on those detail, from the lighting and brickwork to the hand-pounded beams. It's important that both sides are truly comfortable with each other."