RISSAY_ARCHITECTURE | CONSTRUCTION

Complete Audio Immersion

It is time to change how you listen to music in your home.  No more having different devices that can’t communicate with each other.  No more plugging your laptop into the speakers in your office, then turning that off and settling for what’s in your CD player when you move to living room.  More and more often people are opting for multi-room audio systems.  Today, we’ll be telling you more about Sonos, the best multi-room audio system we have encountered yet.  We have installed it in several of our projects and more people keep requesting it.

Sonos is a truly customizable multi-room system.  You can simply have two rooms/zones or up to 32!  It is entirely your choice.  With its wireless capabilities (you also have the option to hardwire) it is extremely easy to add more zones on at a later date if you choose to expand.  Essentially, Sonos allows you to play music on every zone, either all at once or one zone at a time.  You can have a rock song playing in your living room, classical in the kitchen, and radio in the bathroom at the same time, all from one control.  You also have the option of having all the zones playing the same song at once, so you never miss a beat while moving throughout your home.  The Sonos control is extremely user friendly with its LCD display.  It is easy to navigate and highly intuitive.  You can also download a free app for your iPhone, iPad, or PC.  The control of your audio is nearly endless.

The music options compatible with Sonos are also nearly limitless, as you can play any song on your computer, network attached hard drive, over 100,000 free radio stations, shows, podcasts, as well as music subscription services, such as Rhapsody or Pandora, as well as any other external audio source.   The Sonos system has several different “Zone Players.”  They can be tied into any existing audio equipment you have, utilizing your existing speakers or you can get a completely stand-alone Zone Player, which includes a 5 driver speaker system (5 digital amplifiers, 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range drivers, and 1 subwoofer.  The stand-alone Zone Players are perfect for rooms that you don’t want to add new built-in speakers to. 

Sonos is truly a phenomenal multi-room audio system.  It will forever change how you experience audio in your home for the better.  You’ll never want to part with it and with its wireless capabilities, you won’t ever have to, as you would be able to pack up the entire system and bring it with you if you ever move.    With the ability to effortlessly add on additional zones over time, it’s easy to get started with a simple starter bundle.  I guarantee though, once you try it, you’ll be hooked and want to expand Sonos to your whole house.  Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!

Wine Cellar- Photo Album

Please check out the Wine Cellar's Photo Album!  In it you will find all of the drawings, renderings, and completed photos of the Wine Cellar!

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.

 

 

Furniture by Rissay

I apologize for it being a while since our last post.  We have been extremely busy with projects and our focus, as always, has been on keeping our projects going smoothly for our clients.  Today I decided to post a few pictures of a custom ottoman and mirror Scott has created for the owner of the Trinity.

I hope these pictures, as well as all of the other pictures on this blog and our website, show the full range of what Rissay can do for you and your home.  We try to analyze and design every detail to our clients' satisfaction, whether it is a full home renovation, kitchen, built-in, or a small furniture piece.  Rissay pushes to exceed our clients' expectations.  We strive to have every minute detail figured out before beginning a project to keep the entire project on budget and schedule.  We don't cut corners and strive for the utmost craftsmanship regardless of the size of the project, as you can see in today's photos.

More to Come by Rissay + Steven Grasse, AITA Owner

Be sure to check out Philadelphia Magazine’s February edition, which features an article on Steven Grasse, owner of Art in the Age.  Art in the Age, as you may recall is the store we designed and built for him on N. 3^rd Street with the concept of his products being homemade, one-of-a-kind goods not found anywhere else.  You can find our original post here: "Art in the Age 07/28/09" 

The Philly Mag article, which can be found here "The Mad Man's Next Act" speaks of how Steven Grasse’s successful career and company has progressed over the years.  Steve’s company, Quaker City Mercantile (previously Gyro Worldwide) is a premier advertising company representing big names including Coca Cola, Budweiser, Philly Car Share, Ecco, Rock Band, Wawa, Virgin Records, and the list goes on.  

While still successfully promoting others, Mr. Grasse decided to start making his own products and lines.  He wants something that is pure, genuine, and untainted from so many influences.  He began to do so with Sailor Jerry; a store, clothing line, and rum based on the late great tattoo artist Norman Collins, aka Sailor Jerry.  It quickly gained national acclaim selling $16 million in merchandise in 2007.  

In 2008, Grasse sold Sailor Jerry to William Grant & Sons, the 122 year old Scottish distiller, who actually produced the Sailor Jerry Rum for Grasse.  Grasse still continues to do the advertising for the line.  When William Grant & Sons were creating a new product, they once again turned to Grasse to create the entire brand image for Hendrick’s Gin.  

With the profits from sailing Sailor Jerry, Grasse started Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, based on the article by Walter Bejamin.  The store Rissay designed and built emits homemade authenticity, just as the products it houses.  Steve wishes to continually offer genuine goods that you can trace to their roots.  With the store and that concept, he created Root, a liquor of its own kind based on a drink made by Pennsylvania’s indigenous people.  The drink itself, which is quite good if I may say, is a huge success as sales keep climbing.  It is produced by an organic distillery in California, which is producing a new liquor for him called Snap, base on gingersnap cookies, which should be available this spring.  

Steven Grasse isn’t stopping there.  He has bought an old general store in Tamworth, NH, and has plans to create a micro-distillery.  After much success with the Art in the Age store, and work done by us at his personal residence, Steve has commissioned Rissay to design and coordinate the construction of the new micro-distillery.  After a trip up to his personal farm house in Tamworth, we were excited to begin surveying and designing the distillery.  As with all things involving Steven Grasse, big things are in the works.

You can see more of Art in the Age here, "AITA by Rissay Ltd. on ABC 6" (approx. 3:25 into the video), as Steve personally gives a tour to ABC 6 of the store. Although the video walks you through the store, nothing can beat visiting 116 N. 3^rd Street and experiencing it in person.

Time to Prepare for Spring

Here are a few photos of two planter boxes we have just completed for a client in Society Hill on Delancey Street.  As we approach March and the coming of Spring, it is time to start preparing for warmer weather.  What better way to spruce up your curb appeal, but with custom planter boxes and some fresh vegetation!

These expertly handcrafted solid cedar windows box planters with a raised panel are built for years of carefree enjoyment.  They feature full bottoms with drainage holes for direct planting inside the box. Each planter is custom built to fit your window and painted in your choice of color.

Individual planters range from $400-$500 and includes installation and hardware. Price may vary depending on size. Save money when you buy 2 or more! Quality Workmanship and Parts Guaranteed 100% for a full year!  So act now to beat the Spring rush!

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]

Granite vs. CaesarStone

One significant aspect of any kitchen remodel is what is the countertop going to be?  Two popular choices are Granite and CaesarStone.  So what are the differences? What are the pros and cons?  We’ve done countless jobs with both materials and would like to give you a little insight into the two products.

 

Material

Granite is obviously a solid slab of stone.  There are countless varieties of granite.  Granite differs mostly on where it comes from, chemical makeup, colors, density, porosity, amount of pitting, etc. 

CaesarStone is a manufactured product using 93% quartz aggregates and 7% pigments and resin (which bonds the stone together). 

 

Color

Granite comes in countless colors and variations (check out http://www.tropicalstone.com/ for a glimpse of the many choices).  Since it is a natural stone, no two are alike.  Each slab of granite, even if it is the same kind/name, can look completely different than the next slab. 

CaesarStone currently offers 40 variations (http://caesarstoneus.com). The quartz is completely natural, but because it is smaller pieces, with pigments added, and the final product manufactured in a factory, the same color/variation is going to look the same everywhere you see it.

 

Staining 

Granite- Although many people don’t realize it, granite is porous and susceptible to staining.  Lighter variations are more vulnerable to staining than darker colors because it is more porous.  Granite needs to be resealed once a year minimum to help reduce the likelihood of getting stained and prevent it from getting a dull appearance.  You also have to watch what cleaner you use on granite because some can counteract the sealer and damage the stone. 

CaesarStone is approximately 17 times less porous than Granite and thus virtually stain resistant.  There is no need to ever seal CaesarStone and there is no annual maintenance.   You can also use any product to wipe the surface.

 

Durability

This category is going to be a direct comparison.  CaesarStone is much more crack and break resistant than granite, as it performs over two times better in sudden impact tests and almost four times better in flexural (slow, constant pressure) tests.  Both materials are highly scratch resistant.

 

Warranty

Granite- Warranties for granite are really going to depend on the supplier of the stone and the fabricator of the stone.  The majority of the places will offer no warranty on the actual piece of granite itself because it is a natural stone and they cannot guarantee it will be free of defects.  Most fabricators will offer a one year warranty on the installation though.

CaesarStone offers a lifetime warranty on its product and installation.  The warranty is for residences only and indoor use; they have a different warranty for commercial properties.  It also must be installed by a CaesarStone Certified Fabricator, which there is an abundance of.

 

Price

Granite can range as low as $50 per square foot installed to $150+ easily depending on the variation.  Not all granite is equal.  As mentioned before there are many variations affecting the quality of granite.  Low end often has pits in the surface.  Some granite is priced low because that type is so readily available and often the lower end can be more porous and susceptible to stains.  The biggest thing is ensuring you have a quality fabricator and installer.  Last thing you want is to spend several thousand dollars for a good stone and have the installer permanently mess it up.

CaesarStone typically ranges from $60-98 per square foot installed.  The cost difference solely depends on the color/variation you pick.  All of CaesarStone is of the same quality with lifetime warranty.  With a CaesarStone Certified Fabricator, you are sure to have a good installation since it will be under the company’s warranty.

 

Final Choice

Of course the final decision is always up to the homeowner.  I hope this entry helped shine a little light on the subject and will help you make your decision.  Both are good choices and it ultimately comes down to your preferences and what works best for you and your lifestyle.  We consistently use both in our kitchen renovations (as well as bath vanities and custom built-ins).  Thinking about remodeling?  Rissay can always help with both the design and construction of your project.  Feel free to e-mail us at [email protected] or call 215-713-0750.