In 2025, MBAKS built momentum—together. From policy wins and strong member engagement to measurable returns and meaningful community impact, this year reinforced the power of our collective voice and commitment to making home happen across King and Snohomish counties.

Advocacy That Delivers
MBAKS continued to push for smart housing policy, supporting reforms that expand supply and reduce barriers to building. Highlights include advocacy around HB 1096, ongoing implementation of middle housing and ADU/DADU reforms, and the Affordable Housing Council’s endorsement of 89 pro-housing candidates across 34 jurisdictions.

Community Impact in Action
Members gave back in tangible ways—constructing 27 access ramps across 15 cities through Rampathon, planting 64 new trees in Shoreline, and celebrating 25 years of Built Green, which has certified more than 48,000 units statewide.

Engagement That Strengthens Belonging
Member retention remained strong at 88% year-to-date, outperforming industry benchmarks. Builder members who actively engage with MBAKS programs, events, and councils reached a 94% retention rate—proof that connection matters.

Value You Can Measure
Through GRIP and other benefits, MBAKS delivered real financial returns, with the average GRIP refund totaling $9,459.

Here’s to a great year, and to carrying our shared momentum forward in 2026!

Q: We’re considering building a cellar off our kitchen for storing and displaying our wine collection but have no idea what our options are. Can you help us out?

A: Over the past few decades wine cellars have evolved. No longer just glorified wine racks in your basement, modern wine rooms are central features in the home and showpieces of personal style. These days, how you display the wine is as important as proper temperature control.

Before you jump headfirst into the world of wine rooms, you’ll need to get a handle on your range of options. Here’s a short primer to get you started.

Design Elements

Loving fine old wine doesn’t mean that your wine room has to look old. There are many contemporary, custom options available for both casual wine lovers and diehard collectors. Custom designs can complement any style of décor and can be expanded as the collection grows. Here are a few design elements to consider.

• Label-Forward Racking: Wineries put a lot of effort into wine bottle labeling, so it can be fun to feature them. Plus, it makes the bottles easy to find.
• Design Finishes: There are countless metal finishes, wood species, and stain options. Timeless finishes, like matte black and chrome, are very popular. Elevated finishes like gold and bronze are also available.
• Traditional: These wine rooms—built with humidity-resistant woods—will transport you back in time with their cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Racking features like lattice and diamond bins, wood case storage, and cork-forward storage can pack in large quantities of bottles. Cork flooring, oak barrel stays, and large-format bottles all shine in traditional cellars.
• Transitional & Rustic: This trend mixes metal, wood, and glass, often merging Old World style with modern metal racking. Mixing natural elements like stone and metals with repurposed-wine-barrel flooring and countertops is common. Reclaimed wood can create a magnificent look.
• Contemporary: Functional and fun, modern wine rooms break from traditional wood. Featured in the main areas of the home, they often show off the wine as much as store it. Darkened wood, aluminum, or acrylic pegs and suspended cable racking that creates a dramatic floating appearance are popular options.

Location

Just as important as design is picking the best location. Wine rooms can now be placed anywhere you like. Kitchens and dining rooms are especially popular as they allow you to engage the wine while cooking. Just be careful to place the racking in a location that minimizes potentially damaging light exposure. Another popular location is under the stairs—just pop out the wall, replace it with the right type of glass with brackets, and add cooling for a spectacular showpiece.

Other storage options for public display include glass doors and wine walls—a great way to show off your wine collection while keeping your fine wines cool—and room divider wine cellars. Dividing a room with two glass walls is a simple way to add a transparent, passive barrier that is as stunning as it is functional. Your wine will be a jewel box surrounded by glass. Remember to include a drawer and cabinet so corkscrews and wine glasses are in easy reach.

If you have space next to your wine room, you can also include an adjacent tasting lounge with comfy seating, creating the perfect space to crack open your finest bottles.

Tech Options

Today, technology is fundamental to proper wine storage, and continues to evolve. Your cooling system can now be linked directly to an app on your phone, effectively creating a smart wine cellar with remote temperature control. Other features include automatic lights and thumb print readers for locking the cellar. LED lighting is a great, sustainable way to create a mood and give favorite bottles the spotlight in your collection. Be creative.

Planning Ahead

Whatever you decide, it’s important that the room is built correctly to protect your wine over the long haul. To do it right, you need to plan for insulation, cooling, and wall materials at the beginning of the process—don’t make the rookie mistake of waiting until after you install the racking.

Working with a talented wine cellar professional is a great way to get it right the first time. They’ll know what racking options will best showcase your collection, and will be happy to discuss room preparation, wine cooling, storage needs, and even which bottles to feature.

Now that you’re ready to begin, have fun creating the cellar design of your dreams!

Doug Smith is the president and chief designer of Rhino Wine Cellars & Cooling Systems, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ more than 2,600 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Photos courtesy Rhino Wine Cellars & Cooling Systems.

By Terry Phelan, Architect, Living Shelter Design Architects

Driven by increasing energy costs and a growing awareness of health risks associated with indoor air quality, there has been an increase in interest in sustainable home design choices. Studies show homeowners are willing to pay 4 to 7 percent more for sustainable upgrades, especially for those that create direct savings. Here are a few ideas you might consider that fit the bill:

Health and Ease of Maintenance

A healthy home can reduce medical bills and time missed from work or school. Improve indoor air quality with healthy building products, from glues to floor coverings. For finishes, choose easily cleanable and maintainable products made from sturdy non-toxic materials such as stone, tile, wood, recycled glass, and metal. Look for ecolabels on the materials and products you purchase.

Heating and Ventilation

Before adding the cost of a heating system upgrade or other technology to your wallet, be sure to improve the shell first—don’t put a new motor on a leaky boat! An energy assessment and a day sealing energy-wasting cracks is a wise investment for a remodel.

Heat from the Sun

Passive solar design can balance summer-shaded southerly windows with inside thermal masses, like a tile floor or stone fireplace. The thermal mass absorbs heat during the day and radiates it at night, flattening out temperature fluctuations. Even without a designated thermal mass, sun in a room can help save money on winter energy bills. Indoor thermal shades help keep heat in overnight.

An approach to outdoor shade that works well is a simple trellised deciduous vine. The leafless vines will allow the sun’s warmth in through chilly winters and the leaves filter sun in the summer.

Natural Light

Natural light can improve our mood and lower the amount of power used for electric lights. Tubular skylights are a nice way to light utility spaces like hallways and bathrooms; they are less expensive than rectangular skylights and are more energy efficient. Some find rectangular skylights more attractive, but they are hard to shade from summer sun, so use them judiciously. These offer the option of opening for natural ventilation and come in egress sizes, which can be useful for attic bedrooms.

Connecting to Nature

Everyone loves a view of nature and integrating the inside and outside expands living space without adding more square feet. Covered porches and low fences are gaining popularity, as are herb and vegetable gardens. Keep a sunny garden space in mind when planning a house or addition to increase your options for healthy, local food.

These ideas add value to any project, whether you’re building new or remodeling. The market demand for healthy, energy-efficient homes continues to grow and including these options now will protect your biggest investment. A little creativity goes a long way and comfort and human delight will never go out of style!

Terry K. Phelan is the president of Living Shelter Design Architects, a woman-owned architectural firm specializing in energy efficient custom homes, home remodels, cottage communities, and smaller community buildings. Phelan is a contributing writer to HomeMatters, a consumer publication of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.