Testimonials
Testimonials
We loved working with Whelan Builders. I’d give him six stars if we could! Francis & his team basically built our house from scratch. He even helped us get our building & landscaping plans approved by the local architectural board, which our architect failed to do after three tries.
Francis has an amazing eye for detail, is easy to work with & just makes everything look beautiful (and within budget). What also makes him stand out from other builders/firms is that he doesn’t just build & leave. Fast-forward years later & we still call him whenever we need anything new – no matter how big or small! Highly recommend!”
Just prior to the onset of Covid, Francis Whelan team built an exquisite home office for us that turned out to be a safe haven during lockdown. He created beautifully made walnut cabinetry and sourced the perfect hardware to further enhance the overall look of the room.
His artistry provided us a breathing space during a difficult time.
Francis Whelan Builders have an impeccable design sensibility. Their work is meticulous, craftsmanship excellent. In his furniture designs he uses high quality materials and incorporates beautiful finishes and details.
Since that project Francis Whelan Builders have helped transform a number of rooms in our home. Francis is extremely easy to work with and has a wonderful, collaborative work style. He participates in the entire scope of a project contributing his talents and abilities to choosing color and wall finishes. Francis also responds in a timely manner and makes himself available to meet.
Francis’ base level is “above and beyond.” It is such a pleasure working with someone who takes such pride in his work and is truly a master craftsman. “Good enough” is not part of Francis’ vocabulary. We purchased an old home that was not maintained well and had more problems than we (and our inspector) thought. Francis came up with creative ways for us to stay within our budget and still have the house we envisioned. Of course, when working with Francis there are always pleasant surprises and thoughtful creative touches – everyone who comes to my house cannot believe how amazing our closets look! Every detail is important to Francis, and nothing is left ordinary – including the inside of a closet!
One of the best things about working with Francis is that he is committed to every project. We renovated an apartment in NYC years ago, and our contractor disappeared after he received the final check. It was frustrating when small issues arose after we moved in and he would not respond to our requests. We renovated our home 13 years ago, and Francis will help out with the smallest problem. We keep devising new projects because we love working with Francis and he is part of our family at this point. Several years ago we decided to add a pool even though it was a major project because we knew Francis would handle everything and the project would be done well. No surprise – it was!
After we moved in, I was walking around our house with Francis, and I mentioned how everything looked amazing and I couldn’t believe how perfect our house looked. He stopped me, and bent down to adjust an outlet that was crooked. Of course I didn’t notice it, but Francis notices everything! Everything Francis does is the highest quality – it’s just how he works – a complete perfectionist! Francis is extremely intelligent and just genuinely nice. He has a terrific book of recommendations too!
We were worried about the cost of the project because there are always unforeseen issues working with an older home. He assured us he would work with us to get us the house we wanted. Francis came up with creative solutions such as repurposing doors on an addition we tore down. I enjoyed visiting the site and was genuinely interested in learning about the renovation process. Francis was always patient explaining exactly what was happening and any changes that needed to be implemented. Francis let me know right away about any issues.
At the time of our project, my children were young, and I was extremely conscious of the materials we were using in the construction. Francis answered all of my questions and was happy to research solutions, no matter how time consuming. For some rooms, I could not get some items of furniture I wanted in specific materials. Francis designed and built some of the most beautiful pieces in our home!
Besides the gorgeous custom furniture pieces, we have a built-in cabinet in our bedroom that looks like a piece of art and closets that my friends have photographed because they want to copy them! We also have a few truly beautiful ceilings in our home that Francis designed – his attention to detail is unmatched. I recall one day after some windows were installed according to the architect’s specifications, I looked at them and felt something was missing. I couldn’t figure out what. Francis took one look and told me he knew exactly what they needed. I returned the next day, and there was an added molding that perfectly tied the windows together seamlessly. I only had an idea of what my vision was. Francis was able to interpret it and take it to the next level. At this point, when he makes a suggestion, I just say yes as I know he is right!