RISSAY_ARCHITECTURE | CONSTRUCTION

Who doesn’t enjoy a fine bottle of wine?

Who doesn’t enjoy a fine bottle of wine?  Our one client definitely enjoys having a fine bottle of wine or better yet 1,395 bottles.  Ok, ok, he may not have that many bottles quite yet, but now that we have completed his new wine cellar (which can accommodate 1,395 bottles) I am sure his collection will eventually reach that number.  We didn’t want to merely store his wine collection, but to have it all on display. 

We designed a clean, sleek room with niches in the walls to truly emphasize the wine and not the space itself.  Transparency was an important design concept in this wine cellar.  Insulated glass double doors with narrow stiles provide entry into the room, while allowing you to see the entire collection at once.  One entire wall, 11 + feet, is floor to ceiling insulated glass that really allows you to see how vast the entire collection is.  Behind the glass are several free standing wine racks, with openings between every third rack, referencing the niches on the opposing wall.  Peering through the glass wall, freestanding racks, and the strategic openings provide a very nice layered appearance, while maximizing the space.

Once again we wanted to put the emphasis on the wine itself, so we decided to utilize Vintage View’s Platinum Series wine racks.  They are very minimal, streamlined metal racks that allow you to maximize your space, while storing the bottles on their side with the label facing you.  No more need to pull out every bottle in search of the one you want as you typically would with a bulky, rustic looking, wood rack design.  LED lights are mounted above all the racks to futher emphasize the ever important wine below.  The LEDs also do not produce heat, like most lights would, which could damage the wine.

Behind the walls is spray foam insulation which will keep the room at a constant temperature, as well as act as a vapor barrier.  The room also has its very own ducted cooling unit and humidifier.  Typically these units are within the wine cellar themselves, which can be loud and quite frankly an eyesore.  We strategically placed our cooling and humidifying unit in an adjoining storage closet with the air ducted into the wine cellar.  The humidifier used can fill the room with up to 80% humidity to ensure the corks never dry out, spoiling your wine (most units can only go as high as 60%, when its recommended wine is stored at 55 to 75%).

This is truly a wine cellar that a wine connoisseur could feel safe storing and displaying his collection in.  It is not just aesthetically beautiful, but also well constructed and highly efficient.   Please enjoy a few photos of the completed project below.  Additional photos, as well as renderings and progress photos will be added to the photo album on the right hand side in the upcoming days.

 

 

Trinity Transformation Completed

The Trinity project that we spoke about in several previous posts is finally complete and has been photographed.  The only things remaining from the original home are the masonry walls, wood joists, and stairs.    The house had a very well built structure, but all of the interiors had been neglected for decades and needed a major overhaul, in both style and functionality.  Infrastructure wise, it received all new plumbing, electrical, lighting, doors, roof, drywall, windows, and insulation. 

The windows are all Low E II Argon filled to try to minimize heat loss/gain through the windows. The spray foam insulation could realize energy savings up to 60% greater than if traditional insulation was used.  The windows, entry door, and insulation all qualified for the federal tax credit.  It is important to check what qualifies when buying these materials.  As for the windows, by paying an extra $300 total to get the more energy efficient windows, the homeowner will get over a $1,000 credit on his taxes.

The home also received all new custom milled wood flooring, marble tile, counters, and fireplace surround, plumbing and lighting fixtures, furniture, tile, appliances, custom millwork, etc.  Scott and Jim built a custom entertainment center for first floor (1^st picture below), which also incorporates a coat closet, which the 1^st floor previously lacked. Since most full beds would not be able to get up the spiral stairs or 3^rd floor window, we asked Springhouse Woodshop to create a custom wood bed and nightstand for us.  The two pieces were expertly crafted, and most importantly the bed completely disassembled to get up stairs. 

As you can imagine, the small space and stairs was an issue throughout the project, but alas it is complete and the homeowner is enjoying his new home very much.  Below you can find a picture of the 1st floor custom entertainment center, as well as some before and after photos.  Check back soon for the “Trinity Completed” photo album to see the whole project!

Trinity- Before Pictures

So here's a little update about the Trinity project we previously wrote about in July when we first got the commission (Original Trinity Blog Post).  In case you don't remember, a Trinity gets its name from simply consisting of three floors and makes reference to the Father, Son & Holy Ghost.  For most projects such as a kitchen or bathroom, clients do not have to move out and we make the best accomendations possible for them. In this case, given the size of the home and the entire property being essentially rebuilt, the client had to temporarily move out.  To help ease this transition for our client, in this case a 60 year old male librarian, we found an apartment for him and even moved everything from his home to the apartment and storage unit we set up for him.  We always strive to make our clients as comfortable as possible with the whole renovation process.

So once we moved the client into his temporary apartment, demolition quickly went underway.  Literally just about everything is being replaced except for the masonry walls & joists.  All new flooring is going in, new bathroom, kitchen, drywall, heating & cooling, plumbing, electrical, lights, closets, millwork, roof, etc. To help you get some idea of what the Trinity looked like before and a little bit during demolition, we have added a new photo album on the right titled "Trinity- Existing".  Next week we'll be posting some photos of how the Trinity currently looks (with drywall, cabinets, countertops, tile, fireplace stone surround, etc), so be sure to check out the "Trinity-Existing" album first, so you can see how long of a way it has come.  Keep checking back as we continue to keep you updated on the project.

Kitchen in Chestnut Hill- Completed

So the kitchen in Chestnut Hill that we gave you a glimpse of a few weeks ago is finally complete.  It was a rather small kitchen with an inadequate amount of storage and outdated cabinets, appliances, and finishes. 

Rissay completely renovated their kitchen with new tile floors and backsplash, natural cherry cabinets, Caesarstone countertops, and much more.  We added open stainless shelves by the window to allow the light to continue through, while still offering storage space.  The corner base cabinet that was once dead space, features a large lazy susan to once again maximize all the space available. 

The largest improvement by far was the brand new peninsula which added much needed storage space, more surface area, pull-out trash bins, and a dishwasher, which they were not able to fit before.  We switched out the old radiator with a more compact, efficient one and were able to neatly hide it beneath the peninsula countertop.  It features a custom panel that helps hide it within the peninsula, yet is easy to remove if need be.

Below are a few before and after photographs of the kitchen, but be sure to check out the photo album on the right to see more photos of this wonderful kitchen renovation.

Rissay FAQs

How long have you been in business?

Rissay Ltd. Architecture | Construction was first founded in January 2004 by Jason Thompson and Scott McLeer.  To find out more about the partners of the firm, please visit: http://www.rissay.com/aboutus.html.

 

How many people work at Rissay?

There are currently 4 full-time employees.  Jason Thompson, Partner & Principal Designer.   Scott McLeer, Partner & Principal Foreman.  Jim Epright, Lead Carpenter.  Dillon Rhodes, Designer & Administrator.  We also have a particular set of subcontractors we use for specialized work, such as plumbing, mechanical, electric, etc.  We hold all of our subcontractors to the same level of care and detail as we would expect if it was our own home.

 

Where do you work?

We work throughout all of center-city Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.  Predominantly our work has been located in Society Hill, Queen Village, Rittenhouse, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, and the Main Line.

 

What kind of projects do you do?

     We do mostly high-end residential renovations, additions, and custom millwork.  Projects can range from a beauty on a budget bathroom renovation to gourmet kitchens to complete home makeovers.  Rissay also has vast experience with roof decks, window and door replacement, framing, drywall, tiling, we do it all.

     We especially take pride in our custom millwork, which is entirely made in our own workshop.  We can custom design built-ins to fit any niche, create the ultimate entertainment system, fulfill your ideal walk-in closet, or for you to finally have your dream library. 

     Rissay can not only do residential, but light commercial as well.  Rissay Ltd, was the designer and contractor behind Art in the Age (www.artintheage.com).  We custom built the majority of the displays ourselves, so stop by at 116 N. 3^rd Street to see some of our capabilities and craftsmanship.

 

What makes Rissay different than the rest?

     There are a lot of things that make Rissay more than a notch above the rest.  First off, we care and make sure we cover every little detail.  We approach everything as if it was our own home.  We take the time to ensure everything is done right the first time and of the highest quality.  To attest to that, most of work is from referrals.  Our clients love our work enough that they always pass our name along and continue to call us themselves for their next project.

     Rissay is an architecture and construction company, typically known as design/build.  We do everything in house from surveying, drafting, design, permits, and material selections to the complete build out.  We are also capable of doing 3D models of the project to better help clients visualize the project.  No need to go to a separate designer then to a contractor and try to coordinate the two.  Using one company, such as Rissay, will help guarantee accurate pricing, since it won’t be different companies with different processes and ideas.  Going with Rissay for both design & build services helps streamline the project in terms of cost, time, and coordination.  If you do however go elsewhere for design services (not sure why you would want to though with our excellent design team), you can still turn to Rissay Ltd.  for reassurance that your plans will be built with the highest quality. 

 

Do you competitively bid jobs?

No, we do not.  We are generally approached by a client as the preferred designer and contractor and at that time we start the estimating process.  Detailed and accurate estimating can take a significant amount of time.  We will then set up a meeting with the client, review the property and discuss a preliminary budget and the scope of work to be done.  The initial meeting is free of charge.  Following that meeting, we begin the detailed cost estimating and setting up allowances for materials and products.

 

What is your contract process?

     If the client decides they wish to proceed after the initial estimate stage, a contract is signed for pre-construction services.  Pre-construction services include surveying your property, the design process, cost estimating, scheduling, obtaining estimates from subcontractors, as well as resourcing materials and products.  During this process is constant communication with the client to ensure we are meeting their needs and wants in terms of design, budget, and time.

     After approval of the design, costs for construction & materials, and the schedule, a contract is signed for the construction of the project.  Within the contract are the project totals breaking down the costs for the client.  A deposit is made to start ordering materials for the project.  If the client wishes to change a portion of the design or materials cost change throughout a project, a formal “change order” will be written and signed by the owner for approval.

     All of our contracts follow PA’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) standards.  HICPA was passed by Pennsylvania Legislature late last year in an effort to protect consumers from disreputable contractors. Go to www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx for more information on the Home Improvement act.  On the attorney general’s website, you can also search for registered contractors.  To make it even simpler for you, Rissay’s number is PA035479.

 

How many projects do you manage at a time?

Rissay only takes on a handful of jobs at a time.  We take pride in being able to effectively manage all of our projects at once and keep everything right on schedule.  We may be in the design phase of several projects at once depending on the scope of work, while usually only building out one to two projects at a time. 

 

Will I get the lowest price with Rissay?

We may not always be the lowest price in terms of contractors.  Philadelphia has plenty of low budget contractors, but very few can match our quality and attention to detail.  With Rissay you streamline your whole project by having us both design and construct your project.   By going with one company for both design and build services, you can dramatically cut your costs versus paying for both a designer and contractor separately.  Each have different agendas, ideas, costs, and overhead.  Coordinating ideas, construction details, budgets, and time between the two is eliminated when it’s done all in house as it is here at Rissay Ltd.  We guarantee you’ll be more than pleased with our work;  ask all of our clients that keep coming back and referring us to all of their friends and family.

 

How do I find out more or get an estimate for my project?

Feel free to call our office anytime at 215-713-0750 or send an e-mail at [email protected]. 

We have references upon request, several with whom you may chat to discuss us and the process.

To see more of our work, visit our website at www.rissay.com.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

     Art in the Age, located at 116 N. 3^rd Street, is quickly becoming one of the Old City’s most popular boutiques.    AITA was first founded in 2006, as an online store (www.artintheage.com) and distributor to other boutiques, but by the end of 2008, they decided they finally needed their own physical identity.  For that, they turned to Rissay Ltd.  We immediately loved the idea of the store, everything being handmade, one-of-a-kind goods not found anywhere else.  It was an avenue for high quality artists, designers, and fabricators to show how significant custom craft still is in this world of commodity and mass reproduction.

  It was our turn now to showcase our originality, ingenuity, and craft.  Rissay is more than just a design firm, we are capable of running the full show with our in-house construction expertise.  Nothing was to be lost in the details of going from designers to builder, since it is all one and the same.  If Art in the Age was to become more than just an idea, we had to design a built environment that encompassed everything AITA stood for.  To do just that, we had to follow the same process as all their products do, design it and build it ourselves.  All the displays and pieces you find around the store are either custom made by Rissay or antique pieces we refurbished and adapted.   The cashwrap and liquor display make use of reclaimed tongue and groove wood boards that came out of Rissay’s own office.  To contrast the darker green and bluish grey of the more industrial center pieces, they are flanked by much softer cream tones in the custom clothing displays which features elegant moulding.

  It is this mix of industrial, Victorian, and eclectic styles that help each piece stand out on their own, not like your typical stream lined matching interiors of your mainstream store.  Throughout the store you’ll find other pieces made in our fabrication shop, that feature that Art in the Age quality with more reclaimed lumber, steel banding, glass, and that overall one-of-a-kind feel.  Now Rissay can’t take credit for making everything, we did salvage a well worn metal door from an old downtown warehouse that now creates the boundary between AITA’s office and the showroom.    The store also features a 1923 record keeper turned apothecary, as well as a 1950s warehouse cart, which we converted into a bold, innovative clothing rack.

Art in the Age's store is a true embodiement of all the ideas their brand represents. To keep true to the character of the space we left much of the brick exposed, as well as the original wood floor.  We added a 33 feet long canvas to feature all of their artists’ work, along with continually changing exhibitions.  Quality lighting was essential to setting the mood of the store.  When you first come in you are greeted by a modern twist on the classic ring chandelier.  Over the cash register area, are numerous antique Edison bulbs hanging at various levels to give a soft ambiance.  There’s also plenty of lighting to highlight AITA’s ever changing exhibitions.  Feel free to check out the Art in the Age photo album found on the right side of the screen, as well as on www.rissay.com .  We’ll be uploading more sketches and photos soon.  Be sure to stop by Art in the Age sometime to check out our design capabilities, as well as craftsmanship, in addition to all of their wonderful products. 

   

HICPA- Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

    As of July 1^st, 2009, Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) is in full effect.  HICPA was passed by Pennsylvania Legislature late last year in an effort to protect consumers from disreputable contractors.    “The statute establishes minimum insurance requirements for contractors; requires contractors to provide their registration number in their ads and contracts; establishes required contract terms for home improvement contracts; prohibits unfair business practices; and creates a criminal penalty for home improvement fraud.” The law requires all PA contractors who perform more than $5,000 worth of home improvement work in a year to be registered.

    Want to find out more about HICPA?  Go to www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx for more information on the Home Improvement act.  On the attorney general’s website, you can also search for registered contractors.  To make it even simpler for you, Rissay’s  number is PA035479.

    Rissay has always been dedicated to protecting our clients and had no problem with the transition, since we already had all of the now mandatory requirements in place.  Our contracts are not only to protect us, but you, our clients.  We are fully insured, much higher than the act requires.  The act only requires $50,000 insurance for personal liability and $50,000 for property damage. *Note: although many contractors may meet the insurance requirements of the act, it may not be enough for your particular project.   With Rissay you will never have to worry, as we have $1,000,000 for both personal liability, as well as property damage.   Rest assured that it won’t have to be used though, as you can ask any of our previous clients, Rissay does whatever it takes to make our clients happy.  To many of our clients, we are not simply their designer and contractor, but a friend they can always count on.