Erin Napier Turns A Ladder Into A Unique Kitchen Storage Solution

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There are countless ways to store your wine bottles, but Erin Napier's unique DIY idea will make you want to keep them on display. Erin and her husband, Ben Napier, are the hosts of HGTV's hometown, and this dynamic duo is known for their cozy, vintage-inspired approach to restoring historic homes in their small town of Laurel, Mississippi. Reflecting their love for all things handmade, the couple appeared on the TODAY show to share several clever DIYs that are easy to recreate — even if you're a beginner. One hack from the episode (shared on YouTube) simply involves attaching C-clamp bracket to the the back side of a wood ladder, then sliding in your wine bottles. This is definitely one of Ben and Erin Napier's brilliant kitchen design ideas you'll want to recreate in your own home.

Erin tells the audience that all you need to start this DIY project is a ladder and C-clamp brackets, which Ben explains are actually used to secure electrical conduit. They suggest sourcing them from your local Home Depot, but you can also order similar clamps on Amazon. To complete the project, you'll also need a drill and screws, and you may need attach additional thin boards to your ladder if it's wider than a wine bottle. If you've been researching how to get the look of HGTV star Erin Napier's Dreamy Cottage kitchen, you'll know that her approach is all about having a handmade touch. DIYs and personalized decor, like this wine bottle ladder, are a great way to give your kitchen a Napier-inspired look without spending too much time or money on a full remodel.

A wood ladder will look best for this project. Erin Napier noted: "An antique ladder is ideal because they're narrower. But this one is a little more modern, so we had to add wooden strips." A couple of 1-inch by 3-inch furring strip boards from Home Depot should do the trick. When it comes to purchasing the C-clamps, make sure that you order the correct size. A typical wine bottle neck is just larger than 1", and the body is just larger than 3". That means your clamps should be slightly larger. These Soimuk 2-inch diameter C-clamps would work for the neck, while these 3.5-inch diameter C-clamps fit the body. Keep in mind that your favorite wine may have different measurements, so it's best to measure the bottles you want to display prior to ordering your clamps.

Attach the larger C-clamps to one side of the ladder, and the smaller clamps directly parallel. This creates a perfect slot to slide your wine bottle in horizontally, with the neck of the bottle resting in the smaller clamp and the body in the larger clamp. Repeat the process, attaching as many bottle slots as you'd like from the top to the bottom of the ladder. Erin Napier recommended storing this DIY bottle rack in the cellar or in your kitchen for a creative and attractive wine storage solution. This easy DIY is proof that you can still decorate your home like HGTV's Erin Napier, even if you don't have a large budget, expert DIY skills, or access to antiques.