Terrene of New England

"Terrene of New England: A Comprehensive Review Summary Terrene of New England is an exceptional design and construction firm with a proven track record of delivering high-quality work. Based on a 20-year working relationship and multiple projects, their latest venture involved comprehensive remodeling and construction in a Boston penthouse. The entire team showcased professionalism, adaptability, and exceptional problem-solving skills, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest project encompassed the remodeling of a galley kitchen, master bathroom, master bedroom walkin closet and laundry closet. It also included the removal of a skylight, installation of a new staircase, and the addition of a 300+ square foot room on a rooftop deck. Design and Consultation: The design team was outstanding, offering valuable input that aligned seamlessly with our aesthetic and functional goals. Consultations were always productive, and the designer's expertise was apparent in every suggestion made. Design Element Experience Rating Consultation 5/5 Expertise 5/5 Responsiveness 5/5 Construction and Implementation: The general contractor and construction team performed superbly. Their professionalism and courteous demeanor made the entire process smooth. All changes to design or materials were transparently communicated and mutually agreed upon. Construction Element Experience Rating Professionalism 5/5 Skill Level 5/5 Communication 5/5 Challenges and Problem-Solving: As is to be expected in a project of this magnitude, challenges did arise. However, Terrene's team excelled in providing effective solutions. Their proactive approach in problem-solving was a significant asset. Adaptability: The project was executed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which posed additional challenges relating to supply chain disruptions and governmental delays. Terrene handled these hurdles exceptionally well, ensuring that the project progressed as efficiently as possible under the circumstances. Final Thoughts: Terrene of New England has consistently proven themselves as a top-tier design and construction firm. Their latest project further solidifies their reputation for excellence, adaptability, and customer satisfaction. I highly recommend them for any remodeling or construction needs. Overall Rating 5/5"

"Beware, these people are dishonest! I selected Terrene for my kitchen and bath countertop/backsplash install after sending my plans and material selection to 3 firms. Terrene had the most competitive price and provided a detailed list of what their quote included but did not provide drawings. Big mistake! I paid the 50% deposit to order the slabs and after the cabinets were installed several months later, they sent their supplier, Boston Fabrication, out to do the templates. That’s when it all started to go sideways. First, the templater showed up with no information despite the fact that I had filled out their detailed paperwork before the appointment. After the template, Terrene informed me that their price did NOT include the island counter, despite that it was clearly shown on both the plans and piece list I sent them when I originally requested the quote. And it was even on the pre-template paperwork they had sent to me! How on earth would I have known they were missing a big part of the install? They made no effort to make this massive oversight right and simply said I needed to pay another $1500. If I didn’t want to proceed, they would happily refund me my deposit, minus the cost of the template, of course. Wow, how generous. Needless to say, I was deep into my renovation and starting over with a new vendor was not an option. I added some loose bathroom shelving pieces to my order, for which I paid extra, which was perfectly normal. I also added a shelf to be mounted on the full height backsplash that was to go behind the range in the kitchen. Now, this full height backsplash was absolutely included in Terrene’s original price. Not only was it shown on the drawings and piece list I sent to them (with dimensions), but it was also listed on THEIR OWN WRITTEN QUOTE as a “2 cm piece above the range.” (Note, countertops are typically 3cm thick, while large wall-mounted pieces are typically 2cm thick, so I am absolutely certain they carried the cost of the backsplash.) Unfortunately, the addition of this shelf created a lot of back and forth and wasted time for me, Terrene and Boston Fabrication. I also wasted about $1000 putting supports into the wall that were completely unnecessary. It wasn’t until the BF installer came to install the countertops that he proposed a simple, common-sense solution for how to achieve the shelf in the backsplash. According to him, no one in BF had ever asked him! Why would the salespeople at Terrene and BF not ask an actual installer for their recommendation?!? I expressed my disappointment to Terrene over this and asked them to make an effort on the final balance due. Their response was to credit me $500 for the backsplash and to turn me and my order over to BF directly. (Basically, they gave me the middle finger.) BF then demanded over $700 to finish the backsplash, a piece that was included on the original quote! All I all, I was charged almost $2000 more than what I was originally quoted (not including the shelf pieces I added) despite having sent Terrene detailed drawings and dimensions for them to put together an accurate estimate. They never took responsibility or provided any compensation for their mistakes. Avoid both of these firms!"

"Wow it's been almost a year, and looking back at our kitchen cabinets and island just brings us smiles every day. We were looking to renovate our kitchen and couldn't have been more fortunate to have walked into Terrene and met Michelle and Bob last summer - both extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We walked in thinking we'd need kitchen cabinets in two-three weeks, Michelle very frankly told us that dates would probably not work out, but renovation woes lead to delays that ultimately meant the kitchen cabinets were there exactly when we needed them. First, let's talk about Michelle. She is a professional, a great listener, and a rock for our family when things didn't work out as planned, coordinating with our general contractors to make sure everything would be perfect. She was so great that we decided to also order a bathroom vanity. Michelle made sure that our new kitchen would fit our living needs (and more) when our designs came in (and it's true we have so much room till this day!) and Bob (the owner) was always a straight shooter and really passionate about historical buildings and doing things the right way. He was always more than happy"