From Bomb Shelter to Bordeaux: Our Cellar's Cold War Makeover

When we first inspected the property, this corner of the house was buried under piles of old hay, rubble, and a graveyard of disregarded bicycles. It wasn't until we started clearing the debris that we found a door that seemed to lead straight into the earth. We rubbed our hands together in glee, imagining hidden treasures or a secret passage as we pried the somewhat shaggy door open—only to discover we were the proud new owners of an underground pool.

The Cold War Mystery

Once we managed to look past the water, we realized this wasn't just any cellar. While the rest of our house dates back to 1776, this concrete bunker screamed "Cold War addition". During the Soviet era in Estonia, from the 1950s through the 1980s, many sturdy old buildings were retrofitted with reinforced concrete shelters to protect against potential attacks. Our 18th-century coachhouse had been given a mid-century survivalist makeover, complete with heavy concrete walls that were clearly built to withstand everything—except, apparently, groundwater.

Drying Out the Bunker

For years, the "pool" was a recurring feature. We fought a constant battle, pumping the cellar empty only to watch the water creep back in. The turning point finally came during our massive excavation project between 2007 and 2011. By digging deep trenches around the perimeter and installing proper drainage, we finally managed to divert the water and give the concrete walls a chance to dry out for the first time in decades.

Custom Shelves for a New Era

With the water gone, we could finally tackle the interior. Given that we aren't exactly a family of prolific jam-makers, the cellar needed a new purpose. Enter Heiko, with his trusty tools and an eye for custom solutions.

Every inch of the shelving in this unique space was handmade and custom-fitted by Heiko.

• Purpose-Built: He designed a dedicated, heavy-duty space for potato storage (because some traditions are worth keeping) and sturdy shelves perfectly sized for jam pots.

• Adapting to Our Needs: The beauty of these handmade shelves is their versatility. Today, instead of being a damp underground pool or a jam factory, our concrete bunker serves a much more "noble" purpose: a wine cellar. It turns out, adapting a Cold War relic into a cozy spot for a good vintage is a deeply satisfying kind of "defense."

From potential bomb shelter pool to a custom-fitted wine sanctuary, our cellar has seen quite the transformation.

-Liidia