RISSAY_ARCHITECTURE | CONSTRUCTION

The Holidays Are Coming, Time To Show Off Your New Wet Bar!

So in the last entry we showcased a new fireplace and art centerpiece that we did for a client out in Phoenixville.  Our client wanted to spruce up their main living space not only with the warmth of the new fireplace, but with the addition of a new wet bar.  They are huge wine enthusiasts and their next project is a full wine cellar, which of course we are designing for them.  The wine cellar will be in the basement, so of course they would still love to have access to some of their collection on the main floor.

There was a perfect niche for the wet bar located in the dining room, which is in between the kitchen and living room in their semi-open floor plan.  We wanted to make it appear as if it was always there.  The cabinets were all custom built and stained with a special ebony blend to match their current Wenge furniture.  The upper cabinets feature sliding pocket doors to tuck out of the way when they are open.  These upper cabinets house all the stemware, as well as bottles that are to be stored at room temperature.  We added a floating soffit to make the entire piece look much more integrated.  We kept it slightly off the ceiling to give a nice shadow line.  The soffit also houses recessed lights on dimmers that accentuate the counter and glass shelves.

The stone we used is a gorgeous variety of CaesarStone called Misty Carrera.  This stone makes up the countertop, which then wraps around to cover the side as well.  The solid Misty Carrera backsplash between the dark upper cabinets contrasts perfectly.  The stone was also used to create an integrated sink.  The German made Dornbracht faucet's sleek lines, play well off the geometry of the overall wet bar.

Below the counter is where all the precious wines and beverages are stored and displayed.  We used top of the line Marvel, Chateau Collection appliances.  They feature custom wood frames to match the cabinetry with a full, insulated glass door.  It also features full extension glides for each shelf, interior lighting, and hidden controls within.  You can also adjust the temperature between 40F and 65F, depending on the beverages you are storing.  The one Marvel unit houses 54 wine bottles, while the other can store up to 14 wine bottles and 114 cans.

Below you can find a before picture and a few after the project was completed.  More photos of the wet bar, as well as the fireplace can be found in the "Phoenixville Living" album on the right.  If you would like Rissay to help prepare your home for better entertainment, feel free to call us at 215-713-0750 or e-mail [email protected]

Time To Warm Up Your Fireplace

If you haven't realized by now, Rissay can do pretty much any project from smaller, custom focal pieces to full, all out renovations.  Recently a client of ours wanted to improve upon their main living space with a much more revamped fireplace.  The fireplace is the main focal point of the room and is also the first impression when you step foot in their home.  The old one was just your typical builder grade/ Toll Brothers wood mantle with dentil molding. It had no character to it, no wow factor, and was the same as all of their other neighbors.

We removed the old "traditional" surround and mantle, and replaced it with a more modern, sleek black absolute granite with a honed finished.  The same gorgeous stone was used for a flush hearth.  We also created a 3" mantle ledge with the black absolute granite to provide a transition to the art above, as well as provide space for candles, decorations, etc. Above the new stone surround and mantle, we built out the wall to continue the lines of the fireplace all the way to the ceiling.  This helps to further emphasize the importance of the fireplace, as well as provide a niche for the new feature art piece.  The piece is an "Iconic Panel" by B&N Industries. It is quite a piece and sure to make a statement at 4 feet wide and 8 feet tall.  Of course with any new wall feature, you have to have recessed lights, which further makes the Iconic Panel and fireplace the focal point of the living room.

The fireplace was not the only improvement to the living space though.  We also made and installed a custom wine bar for the client to further enjoy the space.  The wine bar will be featured in our next blog, so be sure to come back to check it out.