Building starts may have stalled nationwide but Ryan Salvatore, principal of Darien-based Nassau Interests, has not let that stop him from coming up with innovative ways to build his business and gain industry recognition. Specializing in commercial and residential construction, Salvatore was the recipient of four HOBI awards for construction and marketing excellence at this year’s Home Builders & Remodeler’s Association of Connecticut awards dinner held on November 4 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, Connecticut.
He was awarded “Best New/Old Remodeled Home” for an 1890s seaside cottage he renovated on Ocean Drive West in Stamford with views of Long Island Sound; “Best Outdoor Room” for his work in constructing a “completely private garden of Eden for a Tuscan villa,” authentically adorned with a stone terrace, trellis and a free-standing masonry pizza oven; “Best Marketing Program for a Builder” in recognition of his sophisticated “green-building” brand marketing program; and “Best Individual Home Brochure,” an eye-catching, fold-out direct mail promotion for a new home sale that uniquely recreated the legend of Robin Hood and his merry men, through engaging imagery, copy and a hand-pressed wax seal.
In awarding Nassau Interests the four prestigious HOBI awards, Joanne Carroll, publisher of Connecticut Builder magazine and producer of the annual awards competition, acknowledged the firm¹s attention to detail and concern for energy-efficiency, noting that “Nassau Interests is building a reputation for outstanding quality and construction excellence, as well as forward-thinking marketing strategies.”
“Ryan has consistently combined his knowledge of construction with a responsiveness to his client’s needs in the projects he submitted for our consideration. He exemplifies the professionalism and commitment that we look for in our award-winners and we are proud to recognize his work.”
Garnering “Best New/Old Remodeled Home” accolades for engineering a project where the past was made perfect in a house originally constructed in the 1890s, Ryan Salvatore explained that “with the exception of the exterior walls and a few exterior windows, everything is new in the house, including all interior floors (structure and finishes), partitions, and finishes throughout.” While the newly modernized home was equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technologies and hydronic radiant flooring, it still retains its charm as a quintessential seaside cottage with hand-painted, custom cabinetry, wainscoting and paneling. Several rooms were refitted with beadboard ceilings intended to mimic the look of the exposed rafters that were typical for vintage seaside homes, and the foyer now boasts a soaring ceiling constructed of red cedar rafters. The house was certified as an Energy-Star home for the inclusion of 19-SEER air-conditioning equipment, spray-foam insulation, and other green-building features.
Chosen by noted architect Vincent Colangelo to work on his own personal residence, Nassau Interests constructed an award-winning Tuscan courtyard for Colangelo’s rambling “Italian villa” in Cos Cob, Connecticut that was honored with the HOBI’s “Best Outdoor Room.” A privacy wall guards the “outdoor room” of the courtyard, creating a private Eden-like garden with lush landscaping, trellis work, and a magnificent free-standing masonry pizza oven capped by standing-seam copper, all meticulously designed to seamlessly integrate the home inside and out.
“Ryan Salvatore has the unique ability to turn the most challenging projects into dream jobs,” explained Vincent Colangelo, who said that Ryan completed construction on his home in a record seven months. “I’ve worked with Ryan on at least 10 projects, for many different clients, and have been totally pleased with the job he does every time. Not only is his work flawless, Ryan makes on-the-job problems disappear, comes in on budget with every expenditure documented and accounted for, and ends every job with his clients’ smiling. He is at the forefront of a new generation of builders; I’ve never seen anyone with the ability to work as much magic as he does.
Key to his firm’s solid growth in the Fairfield County real estate market, Ryan Salvatore’s marketing communications speak volumes about his goal of delivering the best possible results for both his clients and his firm’s own construction projects, both economically and environmentally.
His advocacy for promoting green-building techniques in his printed communications also netted him the coveted distinction of a HOBI award for “Best Marketing Program for a Builder.” Ryan launched his campaign with a series of green-themed print ads in Darien, New Canaan and Greenwich Magazines, culminating it with a hardcover coffee table book that is being sent to realtors and architectural firms throughout Connecticut.
Not daunted by the challenges that face the construction and development industry, Ryan is a strong proponent of keeping his firm’s services top of mind and promoting the growing need for sustainable, energy efficient building techniques.
“With the completion of three beautiful Energy-Star® certified homes in the past year alone, we’re not only experienced in green building technologies that ensure sustainable benefits for the environment. We’re also experts at passing along long-term savings – and important tax credits – to our client,” explained Ryan. “We regularly use thermally efficient spray foam insulation, certified LEED building materials and Energy-Star® appliances. We consider optimum use of renewable energy and natural lighting, properly sized and energy efficient heating and cooling systems with Energy-Star® ratings, appliances and plumbing with water conservation features, and choose construction materials and interior finish products with negligible emissions to improve indoor air quality.”
Included in Nassau Interest’s portfolio of green homes was a new home the firm recently completed on Robin Hood Lane in Darien. Taking his cue from the soaring real estate costs faced by today’s new homebuyers and his determination to market top-quality economically efficient homes that ensure long-term savings and investments for his clients, he crafted a direct mail campaign that recaptured the feel-good legends of Robin Hood.
“In this market especially, we needed to make our mark in a way that would entice would-be buyers to take a look at our new home,” stated Ryan, who incorporated color and humor in an innovative fold-out brochure that stood out in the mail and at this year’s HOBI competition. “Playing off the Robin Hood theme, while playing up the lifestyle benefits of an energy-efficient home, with ‘Sherwood Forest’ benefits, proved to be a natural fit for our campaign. I am delighted that our efforts were rewarded with a HOBI award for ‘Best Individual Home Brochure.’”
About Nassau Interests
Headquartered in the central business district of Darien, Connecticut, Nassau Interests is a full service residential and commercial construction firm. The firm offers project management capabilities that range from development and analysis of market dynamics and budgets, to coordination of necessary approvals and permits, right through to execution and construction. Nassau Interests’ building services include renovations, additions, office retro-fits, new home construction and commercial construction. For more information, call Ryan Salvatore at 203.655.0303.
About the Connecticut Home Builders and Remodelers Association (HBRA)
A statewide trade group representing home builders, remodelers, developers and the subcontractors, suppliers and professionals who provide services to this diverse industry, the HBA of Connecticut has about 900 member companies organized through five local chapters covering the state. Sponsored by the HBA of CT, the HOBI awards offer recognition to builders, remodelers and members of the housing industry for excellence in home design and construction, home technology, sales, marketing and home financing.
