Why Luxury Custom Homes Should Be Built by Architect-led Firms

Building a luxury custom home requires a certain level of expertise that can be hard to find. For the perfect custom home, you need to strike the right balance between the actual construction and a strong architectural focus. It’s not uncommon for people to contact a local home builder only to find that they can’t meet the needs of the client. Unfortunately, many people don’t know that architect-led design-build firms are the best choice for getting everything you need for home building in one place. From personalization to open communication, these firms are the way to go.

Architect-led firms focus on everything from the initial design to ensuring that your ideal home is built to fit your specifications. Working with this type of firm allows more insight into your home design and feels more “hands-on” than working with traditional firms. As a client, you’re part of the review and design process from day one. This in turn provides you with greater control during the project.

Luxury Custom Homes by Architect-led Firms

The benefits of these firms don’t end at having more control over the project and process itself. The unique approach that architect-led firms take offers more visibility into the progression of your custom home. Since you have access to the reviewed and approved initial design, the firm works with you to make sure the finished project is just as you envisioned.

Have special requests for your new home? Architect-led firms are equipped to provide the flexibility that many other firms don’t have experience with. An architect can provide helpful information and insights to help better design your home. Most importantly, architects and designers are experts in building laws and state regulations. Finishing your custom home safely and efficiently are the main goals.

In addition to the communication between you and the architect, the architect and the engineer are also in close contact. This relationship is crucial for making sure nothing falls through the cracks and every change to the design is communicated for implementation into the final build.

RS Mannino is one such firm that helps plan, coordinate, and build dream custom homes. See our other luxury homes for an idea of why we’ve won multiple awards from Houzz. Interested in having a world-class architect-led design-build firm create your luxury custom home? Contact RS Mannino today for projects in the New Jersey and New York City area.

Design NJ Interview on Kitchen Design Trends

Design NJ magazine recently interviewed Principal Architect Rosario Mannino on creative ways to conceal outlets in the kitchen.

Mannino explains that all kitchen islands require an outlet by code, so kitchen designers need to invent clever solutions like hiding outlets in drawers, behind panels or pop-up outlets in the island. Kitchen islands have become the focal point of the home, so it’s important to combine functionality without compromising the design aesthetics. As our need for technology increases and family home work spaces are centered around the kitchen, more outlets are in demand.

Design NJ Interview on Kitchen Design Trends with Rosario Mannino

The good news is that numerous options are available to hide outlets that integrate well into the kitchen design without having to compromise the beauty of the design. In fact, it has become a standard practice for Mannino Cabinetry to incorporate a hidden outlet in all of our kitchen design projects.

Mannino offers more solutions on this classic kitchen design project pictured here. “The hidden outlet fits perfectly in a symmetrical flush panel that, when closed, is almost unnoticeable. Concealing outlets can become more challenging when the end of an island is a stone waterfall or a single wood panel. We would then provide a push activated hardware to open a flush slab to access the outlet.”

Contact RS Mannino today for kitchen renovation and design work in the New York City or northern New Jersey area!

The Architecture Details Behind Modern Homes

Modern homes offer a luxury look and feel that is completely unique to this style of home design. With the right architect and design build firm, modern home design offers a stunning exterior built to the specifications of modernist design. This unmistakable style offers both aesthetic and functional benefits that make these homes highly sought after. 

Here are a few of the architectural details that make modern homes so appealing.

Large Windows

Fans of natural light have a lot to love about modern home design. Large windows, often floor-to-ceiling, are a staple of modern homes. This feature provides a sleek edge that also offers a functional purpose with the amount of light the house receives. Whether it’s for adding views of nature, providing a sense of spaciousness, or just for the unique curb appeal, this architectural detail is one of the many things that make modern homes special.

Focus on Natural Materials

There’s more to modern homes than just the design elements. The architecture often includes some interesting and unique structural details as well. One common feature of modern houses is the use of natural materials. Materials including wood, marble, and stone can be found within the walls, floors, and ceilings of a modern home. These versatile and eco-friendly materials serve as the perfect selling point for countless modern homes.

Minimalism

Transitioning to the interior, minimalist design is typically present in modern homes. The trend of clean lines on the exterior translates to a clean and simple interior. Homebuyers looking for simple design with a luxury feel often gravitate towards modern homes. The simplicity allows for incredible interior design and furnishing choices.

Open Plan Living

Open concept spaces have been a major talking point over the last couple of decades and it’s easy to see their benefits within a modern home. Open concept kitchens seamlessly blend into dining rooms, creating a better environment for entertaining. These spaces are incredibly versatile, both in terms of uses and furnishings.

Interested in hiring a world-class architect-led design-build firm to create your luxury modern home? Contact RS Mannino today for projects in the New Jersey and New York City area.

Best Features of Contemporary Home Design

Contemporary homes are known for their clean design and modern look, but what makes this style of home so appealing?  

Top Features of Contemporary Home Design

If you’ve been looking to build a new home, you might have looked into contemporary homes for inspiration. This stylish trend has many benefits which have contributed to its increase in popularity. From its unmistakable design to the modern look and feel of the home, it’s a great choice that won’t be going out of style any time soon.

Here are some of the key features of contemporary homes.

Clean Design

Often characterized as having “simple and clean lines,” the design of contemporary homes offers a sleek and modern look. This style of home often focuses heavily on square shapes and straight lines. 

If you’re looking to furnish the interior with modern furniture, this is the perfect style to compliment that theme. Contemporary and modern decor fit well within the clean and often minimalist design of the home itself. 

Sophisticated and Up-to-date

Contemporary homes earned that name for a reason. For architects, builders, and home buyers, this is a highly sought-after design type. Their relatively recent rise in popularity makes them a trendy, yet unique, option for new construction. Given their unmistakable look, contemporary home design has become synonymous with sophistication. 

If you’re looking to be on the cutting-edge of home design, contemporary is a perfect choice. Take a look at one of RS Mannino’s contemporary designs.

Unlimited Potential

Some older styles of homes are limited in areas such as size, privacy, aesthetics, and lighting. Contemporary homes, however, are incredibly flexible. For example, RS Mannino recently designed and built a contemporary home in New Jersey that exemplifies the uniqueness and customizability of this style.

This beautiful home features unparalleled views, in part because of its roof-deck and floor-to-ceiling windows that fit perfectly in a contemporary home. A common feature of contemporary design is an open floor plan, which can be seen in certain areas of this home. This allows more flow between rooms and makes these houses great for hosting events or gatherings.

Interested in hiring a world-class architecture and design firm to create your dream contemporary home? Contact RS Mannino today for projects in the New Jersey and New York City area.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Hire an Architect-Led Design-Build Firm

Beginning a home addition or whole renovation can be very intimidating. Do you hire an architect first? A general contractor? An interior designer, or even a kitchen and bath designer? There are many professionals to consider when undertaking a large-scale home project.

If you feel overwhelmed, it's ok. It's normal, especially if it's your first time renovating a home.

Today I am sharing with you some of the benefits of hiring a design-build firm to streamline all the different disciplines involved in a home renovation or addition. Let’s jump right in…

1. A Design-Build Firm Excels in Organization

Normally you may be inclined to hire an architect first. Which makes sense, because you start most projects with design and planning before you execute them, right?

But what about budget? Everyone has a budget in mind. That’s the advantage of hiring an architect-led design-build firm. They can manage your design wishlist and budget simultaneously. Just think of it as a more balanced approach to design.

You may hire an architect only to find out that your dream home is twice your budget after investing many months into design and planning. With a design-build firm there are 3 priorities that will be managed from the start: scope, budget, and schedule.

Since the construction management team is all in-house, the budget and schedule can be estimated while the design is developing to prevent any decisions that could possibly lead to going over budget or lengthening project timeframes.

As the Principal of an architect-led design-build firm, I work with every client from the very beginning, discussing the conceptual design all the way through to the overall budget and schedule of the project.  Although I have an entire team working on different aspects of the project, I look at the overall big picture goal for each project as my team of experts work out all the details to bring it together.

2. A Design-Build Firm Reduces Risk for the Client

In the traditional design-bid-build method, you as the homeowner sometimes feel stuck in the middle of the “he said, she said”, or even the “it wasn't my fault, it was his fault” game. That more traditional method has plenty of adversarial complexities that can take all the fun out of a project.

When there is one team working to get to the same goal, it is a much smoother communication process with a lot fewer egos in the room. We are one team, under one roof, with one goal.

They say one of the biggest problems as the design-builder is that there is no one else to blame for your mistakes. Which is why it is very important for our team to rely on their experiences and help the rest of the team, even if it's not their department.

We have created our own checks and balances, if you will. Our construction team reviews our design team during design, and our design team reviews our construction team during construction. Extra sets of eyes all looking out for each other is a beautiful thing…and that can only happen in a single-source design-build firm.

3. A Design-Build Firm Means One Party to Pay

Our construction process is a little different from the traditional general contractor "lump sum" or "fixed fee" contract. Our agreement is based on management and all of our subcontractor costs are "open-book" and accessible to our clients for their understanding.

Most importantly, we still manage all of the subcontractors and verify all proper insurance is in place prior to any crew starting on our jobsites. We take all of the administrative work out of our clients’ hands, but keep the details available and viewable for their comfort and understanding.

4. A Design-Build Firm Provides a Unified Vision

Constructability is another key advantage of hiring as design-build firm. Not only do projects often come in over budget in the traditional design-bid-build firm, but sometimes they aren't even practical designs that are buildable. Because we have a team of construction experts all in-house, we review the plans (and the existing conditions if it is a home alteration or addition) to confirm that the design is realistic and doesn't have any unrealistic structural parameters to deal with.

Because there is a project architect and construction project manager on every project, it allows me to focus on the bigger picture of the design direction at all times. This is a critical process to ensure that the project is not moving forward with tunnel vision.

By far the greatest advantage for a client is that we manage their wishlist. We can make their wishlist a reality and get practical from the start. I have heard numerous nightmare stories where clients were expecting to start their dream home after they had completed their architectural plans, only to find out that all the bids came in way over budget.

In our process, we do the exact opposite to avoid this very problem. We stop and put the pens down at multiple intervals to check our design against the budget. If we see that we are creeping up in cost, it is much easier to make adjustments early in the design process rather than after the drawings have supposedly been "completed".

5. A Design-Build Firm Shortens the Length of the Project

One of the clear, undisputed reasons for the design-build method is that it’s a fast track process. There is no hand-over of the plans to another company, only to wait for them to "digest" the project design intent. There is no baton to relay…just one, smooth consistent progress of the design.

On all our projects, we know we are going to be working with our loyal and craftsmanship-oriented trade contractors. This allows us to engage with the men and women who are actually executing our designs and affords us the opportunity to get their expertise early on in the design process…which oftentimes leads to a better outcome, because who else knows ironwork better than an artisan ironworker?

Because we are working hand-in-hand with our contractors from the beginning, it gives a greater understanding and appreciation of all the homes we are building. When the plans are actually complete, many times it's not the trade contractors’ first time looking at the plans. They are able to hit the ground running and save us a lot of time in our project schedules.

So if you’re contemplating doing a home renovation, addition, or even building a new home, rest assured…if you hire a design-build firm, you will have better peace of mind knowing that a single source is responsible for making your dreams a reality. Which frees you up to focus on the fun stuff: the design. You’ll never have to feel like you are orchestrating a symphony of musicians that you've never met or even heard of!

Have any questions about working with a design-build firm? We've got you covered! Leave us a comment below or book a discovery call with us.

Until next time,
Rosario

RS Mannino Celebrates 5 Year Anniversary

RS Mannino is celebrating five amazing years today! Our founder, Rosario, has this to say: ⠀
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"It feels like just yesterday when I was working from home, in the throws of starting this business. My office was next door to my daughter Giulia's room. She was a year old...and let's just say it was difficult to stay focused! ⠀
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"So much has changed since then. Has it really only been five years? If someone told me that I would own a design-build firm and a cabinetry business by age 40, I wouldn't have believed them. I am so grateful for the amazing and dedicated team that I have. We would not be where we are today without them. I'm also grateful for my extremely patient, caring, and beautiful wife, Elisa. She supports my dreams and is the secret to my success. ⠀
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"I can only imagine where another 5 years will take us. Thank you all for following along. We've worked with many of you and look forward to working with many more. Here's to your next beautiful home!"

To celebrate, we asked Rosario to gather up his top 5 favorite architectural renderings of distinctive homes from the last 5 years (above).

Luxury Home Tour in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Dream Home Work in Progress. Take a Behind the Scenes Tour at our latest luxury home renovation in Franklin Lakes, NJ.

What do you think of the incredible grand radius staircase? Stay tuned for more project update videos! Follow @rsmannino for more home inspiration!

Contact us today to begin planning your luxury dream home!

Luxury Home Tour Video

Contact us today to begin planning your luxury dream home!

Haven Road Reno Interior Design Process video highlights

Check out this video of the interior finishes at our #havenroadreno luxury residence remodel in Bergen County, New Jersey. The renderings in the video showcase the custom products and finishes selection, including tile, flooring, doors, trim and cabinetry. Stay tuned for more progress videos of this incredible French inspired home renovation.

How to Easily Design the Perfect Dining Room

When designing a Dining Room, the RS Mannino Architect Design and Build Team, will base the room design around their client’s desired flow and function of the room.

For a Dining Room table, the ideal distance between table and wall is 48 inches. This particular Dining Room was 13 feet wide, which created a very comfortable size room, giving more than 48 inch clearance from the edge of the table to the wall.  This home owner was able to achieve a 57 inch clearance, allowing for ample flow around the table and a great entertaining space!

As a rule of thumb, most dining room tables are between 36 inches to 40 inches wide. So if you have 48 inches on each side, plus a 36 inch table, your minimum dining room width should be 11 feet. The architects at RS Mannino always design dining rooms at a minimum of 12 feet. They remind their clients to keep in mind this does not include furniture. Ideally, the dining room will be designed with a credenza or china cabinet on at least one side. The design team will then take into account the depth of the furniture when designing the room.

When starting down the path to your next home renovation, make sure to turn to Rosario Mannino of RS Mannino for all your architectural and design needs!

Building a New House with Limited Space

Mannino Architecture+Design is excited to announce our principal, Rosario Mannino, was sought out by @redfinrealestate to contribute tips and insights for their “Building a New House with Limited Space” article! We are honored to be featured with a group of talented architects and firms; check it out!

https://www.redfin.com/blog/build-a-new-house-with-limited-space/

Featured in Houzz

Excited to be featured in this excellent article by Laura Gaskill

How to Have Fun and Stay Connected When You’re Stuck at Home

Check out this article here

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-have-fun-and-stay-connected-when-youre-stuck-at-home-stsetivw-vs~132765846

Architecture: @rsmannino⠀

Decorator: homeowner @4theloveofgray Construction: @manninobuilders⠀

Photo Credit: @anomadheart⠀

Project: #mountainwayreno

Stuck in the House? Here's How to Plan Your Next Dream Home

Photo: Iris Bachman

Just like you, I am stuck inside as well…needing a change of pace and some visual distraction.  And if you're like me, you might also need some inspiration to keep you motivated and away from the refrigerator during all this commotion. 

Which is why now feels like as good of a time as any to share several good ideas to jumpstart your next dream project.

1. Assess Your Current Home

Since we will all be spending a lot more time in our homes in the near future, it's probably also a good time to ask yourself, “What part of my home needs improvement? Or an addition?”

Maybe it's adding a home gym or yoga studio, a home office, or even a meditation room. What are you wishing you had right now to feel as supported, comfortable, and luxuriously taken care of as you’d like to be?

2. Start to Pin Your Design Ideas

One way I look for inspiration is books. I'm an architecture bookworm, though, so obviously I wouldn’t expect you to have as much hard copy inspiration as I do. So what’s the next best thing? Pinterest. Pinterest is a great way to collect ideas, sort them, and prioritize them.  It's a great tool to help get the juices flowing.

One of the great features of Pinterest is the ability to create "boards". Boards are a place to organize your wish list by room. Keep in mind, it's great to separate and organize, but it is also important to make sure your decisions are all in line with a single theme or design aesthetic.

It's a good idea to create boards that will represent the overall feel for your new or renovated home. That way, when you’re getting side-tracked by other beautiful images, you can always go back to your main board. Whatever you end up calling it - "big ideas", "starting point”, or even "main inspirations" - this board will help bring you back to the overall feel you desire in your new space.

As you browse and pin things on Pinterest, the images don’t necessarily have to be so literal. Meaning, you don’t just have to pin images of kitchens you like. You can pin an image of a beautiful piece of walnut wood, representing warm, earthy tones that you feel are important to your new home.

As an Architect, a client who brings a well-organized Pinterest board is a tremendous asset to us. It helps start the conversations early. In our pre-design services phase, we spend a lot of time scrolling through books, Pinterest, Houzz, etc. to see what sparks our clients’ interest. So, when these inspiration collections are already created, we are one step closer to the final drawing board.

Photo: Laura Moss

3. Hone Your Aesthetic

After you've created all your Pinterest boards, it's a good idea to step back and review each board or room individually to see what the images have in common. If you have images that are contradicting, decide why you picked those photos and determine which direction fits closer with your main "big picture" board. This is a very important task before showing your Architect or Designer your Pinterest account so that everyone is on the same page.

4. Define Your Non-Negotiables

Create a list in a separate document that captures all your “must-haves”. They can be items, features, or functions (like natural light).  Another example would be wall sconces - you might prefer decorative wall accent lighting over general non-decorative lighting, etc. Or how about an apron sink with a view?

Photo: Laura Moss

5. Separate Your Wants from Your Needs

Now comes the difficult part. Create a list of what you really want, but could probably live without if you had to. I call this the “release valve”.

It's a good place to go back to when the design is starting to exceed your desired investment (like that tub you really wanted but know that you will probably only use twice a year OR the built-in cubbies in the mudroom when you could use coat hooks instead). There should always be a little room for compromise.

6. Describe Your Dream Home in a Wish List

Now onto the most exciting step, your ultimate wish list!  This is a place to express your ultimate dream home. What will it look like? Where will it be? What will the views look like? Where will the fireplace and gathering rooms be located? This is the time to have fun, dream big, and be as expressive as possible. This will be a tremendous help when working with your Architect.

7. Locate Your Design Team

Now that you've created your lists and accumulated your Pinterest boards, you need to find an Architect and Designer that mesh well with your goals. Pinterest and Instagram are great places to search for your design team. You can quickly see the designer's portfolio and determine if it connects with you.

Photo: Laura Moss

As we are all sitting inside our homes, think about all of those times you wished you had a weekend to yourself. With our current circumstances, you might not have it entirely to yourself (since your kids are home, too) but I'm sure you can still find plenty of time on your tablet, phone, or computer to finally do the things you've been putting off, like creating your dream home inspiration board.

Hopefully, we won't have too much time to take advantage of this lockdown. So, let’s make the best of it and have fun by being imaginative.

If you're interested in scheduling a free consultation phone call about your next home renovation, addition, or new home build, please give me a call (as long as you don't mind some screaming kids in the background), because like you, I have plenty of phone time.

Until next time,
Rosario

Everything You Need to Know about Our Luxury Kitchen Design Process

Most of our clients with existing homes have dysfunctional kitchen layouts… but they dream of a luxury kitchen. Originally, their kitchens were often designed as "servant" type kitchens with closed doors – not very inviting and definitely not enough counter space.

These dated kitchens typically have dark and weary cabinets and lack modern accessories like garage doors for your mixer, under-cabinet lights, paneled dishwashers, etc. The layout doesn’t serve open space for gathering or amenities for entertaining in the kitchen.

We are experts at updating these features, bringing your home into this decade, and making it personal to you. Here’s how we create our incredible luxury kitchens.

Pre-Consultation

When thinking about your luxury kitchen renovation, there are many decisions to be made. Our team will help prepare you by giving you some questions to ask yourself before meeting with the architect to design your kitchen.

• Do you like to entertain? If so, how many are you typically entertaining?

• Do you like to cook and bake? If so, do you need more than a range? Maybe even a double oven with one combi-steam oven?

• Would you like views from the sink looking into the backyard?

• Do you want a focal point range/hood?

• And many more…

Our step-by-step process and dedicated team of designers and architects will help you move from consultation to completion with ease.

Step 1: Initial Discovery & Consultation

The first step in our luxury kitchen design process is a consultation phone call where I get to understand your project goals, budget, and timeline. If I feel that you and I are aligned in aesthetics, budget, and schedule, we then set up an on-site consultation.

On-site we dig a little deeper into your goals and style. This site visit also gives me an opportunity to express some potential design ideas that might be different, new, or further develop your project.

Photography by Iris Bachman

Step 2: Design & Budget

After the consultations, I provide a total project budget as well as a design agreement. The project budget breaks the project into 2 main categories:

1. Hard costs (which includes construction costs of labor and materials, as well as construction management fees to manage and supervise the entire project.)

2. Soft costs (which is another name for professional services. These are the intangible costs of the project – architectural fees, cabinetry design, structural and mechanical engineering, styling, and furniture design/selection, etc.)

All of this gets totaled up to determine if our design intent is aligned with your budget.

Remember, at this point, the only fixed proposal you will receive is the architectural design. It is critical to have an accurate budget of all the future costs before designing to make sure we have a target budget while designing.

Step 3: Approval & Project Launch

After you have approved the design agreement, our team begins with pre-design. (The pre-design phase is typically unique to existing homes with an addition or alterations.)

During this phase, we will survey and document the existing home and import it into our 3D software. Then we go back to the basics with those floor plan backgrounds and start sketching broad stroke ideas on paper.

First, we focus on the basic diagrams to demonstrate the main goals of the project in sketch form (i.e. views, sun orientation, the flow of the space, focal points, etc.)

After the diagram is all worked out, we start to layer our sketches with more refined plans and elevations to think about the design as a three-dimensional space.

Photography by Iris Bachman

Step 4: Project Management

Our architect-led design-build service is quite unique in that we are designer-led (not the more common contractor-led design-build in which the design is often subbed out).

What that means is that we, as the architects, play the critical role as the homeowner’s liaison to the subcontractors. In essence, we are cutting out the general contractor.

Don't get me wrong, I am not implying that you are saving money with this method because we still provide a dedicated project manager. The difference is a more streamlined process from design to construction. There are fewer communication errors because our project manager is brought onto the job site during design and is familiar with our team.

Besides the traditional project manager, we also put a dedicated selections coordinator on all jobs during construction. The selections coordinator assists the project manager, client, and design team to ensure all material deliverables are being met according to the project schedule.

Our clients love our design-build service because of the relationships they build early on with our whole team. It makes the job more personal, fluid, and most of all, easier on you.

Photography by Chris Veith

Step 5: Kitchen Installation

Once our project is in the punch list stage, it is truly all hands on deck. We try to tackle as much as we can prior to you moving in. In essence, we are actually trying to eliminate the punch list.

The design team, selections coordinator, project manager, and myself go through each appliance, plumbing fixture, and cabinet hardware to make sure everything is installed as per spec.

Next, we make sure there are enough champagne glasses for the team and you to start celebrating and enjoying the space.

Photography by Iris Bachman

Step 6: Move-In Day

In reality, most of our projects are not like the ones on TV where the homeowners have no idea what to expect. We work closely with you throughout the whole process, so move-in day is very exciting but isn't necessarily the big reveal. It's more of a "I finally I get to enjoy my dream kitchen" day.

The kitchen is by far the most dramatic lifestyle change of any room renovation in a home. It's where we gather with our family. It's where we unwind. It's where we spend the most time, which is why it's so life-changing.

Yes that may seem dramatic, but it's true. When you upgrade from a dated range top to a steam oven, a pot filler, and so many other functional design decisions, your life does change.

I encourage you to read our newsletter for other articles related to kitchen renovations or visit our sister company's Instagram account @mannino_cab.

And if you’re ready to love your kitchen and feel proud to call it your own, we can help.

Warmly,
Rosario

Best of Houzz 2020 : The Design Award

It’s that time of year again! The Design Award honors professionals whose work was the most popular among the millions of users on Houzz. We are extremely honored and would like to thank everyone in the Houzz community for helping us win the Best of Houzz Design Award.

Luxury 72-unit Mixed Use Apartment building

Mannino Architecture + Design has recently completed it’s design presentation for a proposed 72 unit mixed-use multi-family project in Teaneck, New Jersey. 7-story building with 72 residential units, 2-level subterranean parking with 73 units, 2,000 sf of multi-purpose recreational rooms, a roof terrace for entertaining, and 3,500 sf of ground floor retail space to enhance the neighborhood’s retail district.

Completion of our two-family gut renovation located in Rutherford, NJ.

Our two-family gut renovation in Rutherford, NJ is now complete.

Architecture by RS Mannino

Construction by RS Mannino

Cabinetry by Mannino Cabinetry

Contemporary Classic - The team at Mannino Architects + Builders transformed a 1970s - style first floor into a contemporary oasis in Cedar Grove.

The exquisite first floor of this Cedar Grove home was not always the design masterpiece it is today. With its perfectly paired hues, deliberate accents, and on-trend furniture, it may be difficult for visitors to envision the home in its former state. While the residence boasted desirable amenities like a sprawling backyard and inground pool, the interior hearkened back to a much earlier time — a misrepresentation of the young couple who purchased this home. For the team of architects, builders, and designers at Mannino Architects + Builders, the challenge was to transform the dated home and bring to life an aesthetic, function living space fit for a family with contemporary style.

Mannino Architect + Builders is an architect-led design-build firm based out of Rutherford, New Jersey, and Midtown Manhattan. Founded by Rosario Mannino, an acclaimed architect throughout the tri-state area, the firm specializes in the development of fo luxury residences such as houses, townhouses, and apartments. Unlike other firms who work only in architecture, construction, or design, Mannino encompasses all of these specialties with their team of experts working in tandem to ensure a seamless and efficient home design process. And due to their extensive experience in the New York metropolitan area, the team is familiar with local policies such as zoning environmental, and historic regulations.

From its conception, the Cedar Grove project was close to lead architect Rosario Mannino’s heart. When his daughter’s godparents asked for help in redesigning the dated first floor of their recently purchased two-story home, Mannino knew he had to modernize the space to match the wonderful couple that now lives there. “The style was not a representation of this young couple, so they called me to design and build the dining room and living room. The overall goal was to modernize the design to represent our 30-something-year-old-clients,” says Mannino.

The renovation process began with flooring and trim work, Dated flooring with oversized tiles was quickly replaced with “new rift and quarter sawn white oak floors in a satin finish,” Mannino told me. When the floor was finished, the team moved on to the trim, which was previously undersized — a style unfit for a contemporary project. The moldings were replaced with thicker, more substantial sized baseboards and crown molding, instantly updating the rooms. Mannino’s team also used trim work to help disguise built-in wall radiator heaters, allowing them to function behind the scenes.

The next steps in modernizing this older home were to update the interior columns, fireplace finishes, and stair railings. According to Mannino, the formerly square, “Roman Bath” style columns dated the home. His team replaced them with subtle square columns that blended into the new style of the home. In the living room, the design team changed the finish around the fireplace from a polished marble to a subtly black granite. Additionally, bulky stair railings were replaced with lighter metals to give the room an open feel.

After the floors, moldings, columns, and finishes were updated, Mannino and, his team moved on to one of the most fun and exciting parts of the renovation process: decoration and design. The design team selected, cool, relaxed tones for the walls and trim — evoking a neutral color palette. The subtle wall colors would allow the furniture to take center stage, with pops of color in the textiles and decorative accents. All of the furniture pieces were purposefully selected to stand out through their contemporary style and color in the textiles and decorative accents. All of the furniture pieces were purposefully selected to stand out through their contemporary style and colorful accents, while also providing a cozy and functional atmosphere for family gatherings.

The focal point of the dining room is a rich, oversized wooden table from Arhaus. Seating around the table is an ideal combination of comfy and functional, with a plush textile bench on one side and structured straight-back chairs on the other. A complementary sideboard, topped with colorful geometric print vases and a playful, satin nickel Timothy Oultan mirror adorns the wall adjacent to the dining table. Tufted, marine blue accent chairs with nailhead trim provide stylish extra seating towards the back of the room. A glass bar cart brings the room together with a little glitz and glamor, without being overbearing. In the living room, the neutral walls are contrasted with pops of rich color from a bright blue area rug and boldly patterned throw pillows. With the help of Mannino and his team, the first floor of this Cedar Grove home has been transformed into a luxurious modern living space with both style and functionality.

https://vuenj.com/contemporary-classic-with-mannino-architects-builders/

Mannino architects + Builders featured in vue Magazine

For as long as he can remember, Rosario Mannino has wanted to be an architect. But the New Jersey-native often found himself caught between two passions: design and construction. After studying architecture at FAU and construction project management at NYU, his path led him to designing A-list celebrity homes in Boca Raton, FL. When it came time to start his Rutherford, NJ firm Mannino Architects + Builders back in 2015, everyone told him he had to pick: design or construction. Ever the pioneer, Mannino founded his firm to do both, serving as a single source for clients to build a new home.

Mannino’s style is driven by his client’s vision, lifestyle and the environment. With a design aesthetic featuring natural materials and proper proportions, his team focuses on bringing a project together from concept to completion. “we’ll meet with a client before the even have land.” Mannino says. “We will review properties with your clients’ realtors and help shop the possibilities. We’re holding their hand all the way through the process — a one-stop-shop for the home of your dreams.”

More interesting though, is the standard of design Mannino Architects upholds. The firm has a true “design first” mentality with the mission to create beautiful homes. From sealing the first drawings to installing tile and plumbing fixtures, Mannino brings each project to life through one personalized vision. With a cabinetry design studio divisions and licensed architect at the helm. They consider details like a home’s flow and how each space transitions to the next.

“What type of experience do you want when you enter? Do you want a space with a popping view? Or one with compartmentalized rooms that are more defined? These are the details we discuss with our clients when space planning. The design should respond to its particular place, enhance a neighborhood and above all, be a natural partner with the environment.”

Choosing the Right Design for Your New Construction Home

Mannino Architecture+Design is excited to announce our principal, Rosario Mannino, was sought out by @redfinrealestate to contribute tips and insights for their “Choosing the Right Design for Your New Construction Home” article! We are honored to be featured with a group of talented architects and firms; check it out!

Cliffside Contemporary

This modern single-family home is built atop the palisades, overlooking the Hudson River and Manhattan. The design consists of four main forms; porcelain box, glass boxes, metal roof/facade and concrete stair. The porcelain box takes the shape of the existing square foundation and holds 3 full floors of living space and a loft with a large sliding door to a roof-deck with 180 degree views of New York City. The glass boxes are aluminum clad projections with windows that intersect the porcelain box at the corners of the structure with the greatest views of the city.  In the master bedroom and kitchen/ dining area the floor to ceiling windows face south towards midtown while the smaller box faces north east and is positioned in the master bath to give views directly towards the George Washington Bridge. The metal roof/facade folds over the porcelain box to provide cover over the deck and entry way and is positioned to emphasize direction towards the city. The concrete stair is also formed to frame a view of the river landscape, while entering the home; the tall board formed concrete walls on either side of the stair blocks any view of the suburban street and brings attention to the entry. The interior is a mixture of minimalist forms with warm textures. The living areas are separated with the minimum amount of walls and structure needed to support the floors above and provide storage and privacy where granted. The central stair is opened from first floor all the way to the roof structure where a large square skylight brings indirect sunlight into the interior core.