RISSAY_ARCHITECTURE | CONSTRUCTION

Artist Loft Design

Although we are a design / build firm, we also take on work that is either just design services or just construction.  We are currently pricing several jobs for just the construction of built-ins designed by others.  Our design services can range greatly from quick sketches with design direction, to space planning, schematic drawings, cost estimating, 3D modeling, renderings, and finally to full construction documents.  You can enlist us for one or more of these services or for the full range of services.

For the project below, we were approached by a repeat client who is a painter.  Since it is for her art studio and loft, she wanted to keep it to a modest budget, but with high functionality and quality design in mind.  Since it is just her studio, with no rush, and a handy husband with weekends free, she just enlisted us for a quick design direction and simple renderings to show the vision for the space.  Below you can find a few of the simple images, but please keep in mind we also do much more intensive renderings as well.  Just can't picture how 2D drawings transfer to your actual space? 3D models are a great way to help you envision your future project.

 

Millwork- How Old and New Can Coexist

Our one client, who is a lawyer in Center City, already had an existing Mahogany closet that didn't offer enough storage.  He wished to add on to the existing character of the piece with a built-in next to it for storing his collection of books and display pieces.  There was also the issue of the existing radiator, which hampered anything he tried to do with the space previously.

As you can see from the sketch, we designed it so one bottom box houses the radiator, while the other offers more concealed storage.  Both will have a decorative laser cut wood panel to enhance the elegance of the piece without hampering the flow of heat from the radiator.  The radiator box will also be lined with a bubble foil insulation that reflects 97% of the heat out the opening, and not wasted by heating the built-in itself.

The style and proportion of the new piece plays well off the old piece, while offering a different purpose.  The existing piece will also get a face lift, sanding, new clear coat, and new hardware.  The old crown moulding and baseboard are being replaced to offer a better continuity with the new Mahogany built-in.  Below are a few pictures of a sketch and the beginning of construction.

 

 

Trinity Transformation

As mentioned in our last post, we are full speed ahead with our Trinity transformation.  On the interior design side, part of this project’s fun is finding furniture that doesn’t overwhelm the small space, but is still a comfortable fit for its six foot tall owner. 

We wanted to show you some of the selected pieces going into the first floor entrance and living room.  Here we are keeping the color palette mostly neutral, while introducing a hit of color with the fabric on the wing chair.  Another key element in this scheme is the aged brass finishes of the lighting fixtures which really complement the distressed, red oak flooring.  In addition, we are also installing custom wainscoting and a built-in media center.  Next up in the interior agenda is selecting the window treatments and bedroom furniture.  

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.

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.

 

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.

Custom Millwork

For those that may not know, Rissay does custom millwork.  All of our millwork and built-ins are 100% custom designed for each client to fit any needs or space.  The built-in featured in this entry was for more than your average music enthusiast.  The client is a professor, music historian, and prize winning author of several music books and articles. 

He desired a built-in in his living room that would meet all his audio and video needs.  The counter and upper open cabinets were designed so he would have plenty of space for his record player, as well as his laptop if he wishes to sync it to the speakers.  The base cabinets were made with the depth and integration of all his audio and visual components in mind.  It features full extension drawers, so you get maximum use of the entire drawer.  Rissay also made custom CD trays that each hold approxiamately 100 CDs in custom sleeves.  The drawers alone in this one-of-a-kind built-in house 1,200 CDs with plenty of room to browse through them.

Although a music buff, he doesn't watch TV on a normal basis.  Sliding pocket doors conceal the TV when not in use, but easily tuck away when it is time for a movie.  The flat screen is mounted on a telescopic, swivel arm, allowing perfect viewing from any angle.  No unsightly cables can be seen either, as they are actually hidden within the telescopic arm and plugged into a recessed surge protector.

Below you will find a few pictures of this music extraordinaire's custom built-in, but make sure to look in the photo album on the right to see all of the photos.  Do you have different needs or requests for your built-in? It's not a problem, no matter what your needs, Rissay can design and build your 100% custom built-in.

 

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.

AITA- Ladder Display

So Art in the Age approached us to make another feature display piece for their store.  Of course we were immediately interested.  This time they wanted a display that could showcase various textiles and accessories, such as quilts, scarves, belts, hats, etc.  We decided we didn't want to make a typical piece that the products would simply sit on.  It wanted to be something more.  Then we came up with the solution of creating a custom, handmade wood ladder.  The ladder would make the display extremely portable, so it could be relocated anywhere in the shop.  It would take up a minimal amount of floor space, while maximizing the area it could display goods.  Quilts,textiles, and belts could hang on and span the various rungs. 

     We made it using true Southern Yellow Pine 2x4s salvaged from a renovation of a 1920s Tudor located in East Falls that is slated for the Historical Registry in the near future.  First we made a mockup for the store to review and they loved the idea, so we got to work.  The frame of the ladder was mortised out to receive the rungs.  We routed the edges of the rungs to make a soft radius so the textiles wouldn't snag. The ladder could be held together entirely together with just friction (of course we had to try climbing it) and it worked beautifully.  Just to be safe though we added steel cut nails to ensure its strength and added rubber to the bottom so it wouldn't slide. Then the wood was sealed to protect it from moisture and to give it a nice little sheen.  This one-of-a-kind display piece can now be found at Art in the Age on N. 3rd Street.  The pictures below (and more!) can be found in the "AITA- Ladder Display" photo album.  It looked perfect in the store with the quilts and belts they had on it, but unfortunately I didn't have a camera on me, so pictures of it in the store are still to come.