Villani + Graham

It's hard to even adequately describe the incredible work the team of Villani & Graham did for our home remodel (and it's taken me several months to even put together these words). We never would have thought that we could take our old, outdated floor plan and turn in into a functional, beautiful, up-to-date and family friendly space. Our project involved almost the entire first floor of more than 2000 sq. ft where an exterior wall was removed, a new space created, and a beautiful outdoor living space was created beyond that. The creativity and innovative team of V&G completely refreshed the layout of the first floor, converting a dark, dull entry dining area into a functional entry/library and a new easily accessible giant walk-in pantry that was easily accessible both coming into the house and from the kitchen--something I never even imagined I could have. The skilled contractors created an incredible kitchen and living space from there, a state of the art media room, as well as touches in almost every doorway, arch, and corner around. The project was done at the highest level of quality, attention to detail, budget, and timeline. All of this while navigating supply issues, a global pandemic, and the usual bumps in a construction process. The V&G frequently went above and beyond to answer a question for us by coming onsite as needed, building a schematic to help with visuals, or even troubleshooting a different problem that wasn't even part of the job. The team at V&G is stellar at listening to our needs and building to the function of our family, but engaging enough to make absolutely visionary suggestions. Ultimately, our final look has been met by celebration not only by us, but by anyone who walks through our door. Working with this group is not working with a company, but with friends. We can't boast enough about the quality of craftsmanship, the spirit of innovation, and the legacy of respect and friendship that V&G brought to our project and for many projects to come.

My husband and I have now worked with V+G on 2 projects at our home. The first project in 2018 was a 2,000+ sq foot remodel with significant structural changes to open up the interior space. 3 years later, not a single crack or or any movement has been detected. The most recent project in 2021 was a master bath mini-makeover that involved moving plumbing in the slab and installation of 600+ sq ft of marble tile. Both projects were incredibly well executed, with a professional experience that far exceeded our expectations. The V+G project management and budgeting process is highly transparent and ethical, the V+G team and their subcontractors do quality work and were enjoyable to have in our home, and the finished projects were stellar. Over the years, they have continued to be responsive whenever I have reached out with a question or needed help unrelated to the projects they did. Remodeling always brings with it some surprises and challenges, and the team was creative and easy to work with to find solutions to the unforeseen bumps along the way. Both projects left me itching to do another project with them soon. They truly love their work and it shows!

We worked with Preston, Rick and their team on a renovation of the first floor of our house. They were recommended to us by friends, and I’m glad we took that rec. We met frequently for 6 months to discuss and plan we what we wanted to do before a wall was torn down or a brick moved. As a result, the process went as smoothly as we could have imagined. I say that even though we lived upstairs during the reno- they actually added a counter/sink upstairs to make us as comfortable as possible, and were always responsive to any issues that arose (though there weren’t many). As for the reno itself, Rick and Preston were spot-on with estimating the length of time the project would take. There were no serious unexpected delays- we were back in our entire house by Christmas as predicted, We really appreciated their professionalism and courtesy, and would definitely work with them again. They say that once you work with them, you’re part of the V&G family, and I completely agree.

We cannot endorse them enough regarding the quality of work or the experience that we had when building our home. Now that we have been living in the home for 8 years, we are even more appreciative of having worked with them. We had a wonderful experience in the planning phase and during the actual build working with this team. We were warned that building a home can be very stressful, but it was actually enjoyable. Rick and Preston were very involved in the planning and had great insight from a building and utility perspective that was unique compared with our architect's and our own ideas. It was a good team with very good insight so that we did not end up with problems down the line - during the build, or even to this day. The investment in quality workmanship and materials is well worth it. We love the look of our home, and it has held up very well with (then) young children and frequent visitors. Again, 8 years later, we appreciate it all even more. We have seen many homes go up in our neighborhood since ours was built. Some are done well while others are lacking in usable space/floor plans and solid building. We stayed on budget - except for the items that we decided were worth the extra investment. The overages were all within our control. I will add that we knew pretty well what we wanted and needed regarding function and some aesthetics - and we did not make many changes along the way. We also trusted the experts including our builders, architect and designer without a lot of micromanaging. It is a much better product as a result of this teamwork. Our home was completed on time - although that was 8 years ago, and trades were a little less busy. Rick and Preston or their team members were present and kept the process going very briskly. So, yes, we are still very happy with Villani + Graham - but mostly with our home. We could not have asked for more.

Working with Villani and Graham was a six star experience (but we're only allowed to give five). They took the bones of our space, listened to our dreams for it and our personal quirks and personalities for how we'd live in it, and then made it happen. This included working with our building and all its rules and regulations, and taking care of details we'll never know. It included details like building in a buffet and adding a bookshelf on the backside knowing my love for books. When I raised a concern at the ninth hour that maybe there still weren't enough bookshelves, there was no hesitation. It was back to the plans to find the right space and seamlessly integrate them into a back bedroom. They took our vision of taking down a wall in a small third bedroom to bring in more light and create a flex office space, and turned it into a showcase space of steel and glass and dramatic drapes and a marble-topped buffet that serves multiple functions in two rooms. This was no easy feat, and required special contractors and a bit of nail-biting to get it just right, but they did it, and it is perfect. I can not recommend them more highly. They are visionaries who do excellent work, and they are also just nice people to be around. Six stars in a five star world.

Beyond pleased! – I am writing the review some 5 years after the completion of our project. I could have said the same things during and immediately after completion but time slips away. I believe it says something about Rick and Preston (V&G) that I still feel compelled to let others know how appreciative my family is of their work that we completed together. I use the word “together” because projects like these, on homes where families are raised are personal. The saying, “Its not personal, it’s just business” doesn’t apply to these situations. Rick and Preston clearly understand this and operate with a personal form of professionalism that combines competence with extreme care. In every phase of the project (initial meeting, planning & design, budgeting, permitting and execution) Rick and Preston displayed honesty, transparency, and a genuine desire to make sure every aspect was right. To be sure, every project has its’ own unique challenges during each phase. It’s the manner in which those challenges are communicated and ultimately solved that differentiate V&G. Rick and Preston check every box related to impeccable customer service but it appears that it is how well they work with and treat their subs that allow them to complete these projects with such effective grace. For many families, even before they engage with an architect or builder there are countless hours of dreaming about how they want to live in their home, how they want it to flow, how they want it to look, how it can enhance precious time spent with their family, and not to mention the hours spent swiping through Houzz for inspiration. Ultimately though, for many, it will boil down to cost. Every project of every size has its cost and typically it is somewhere near “more” than you had expected while in the dreaming phase. For full transparency, V&G came in with the highest cost bid to our project. Ultimately, we went with our gut and went with V&G. That proved to be the best decision we could have made. A beautiful, on time project was delivered and we couldn’t be happier. It was also delivered on the exact budgeted cost (a unique occurrence in the industry) but I would contend that the actual value delivered through inception to completion was double the number on the spreadsheet.

Villani and Graham rescued us from a renovation disaster in 2014. Our home was stripped down to the studs, flooded and full of construction errors resulting from a poorly chosen contractor we had just fired. We were living in an apartment at the time and devastated. With a large portion of the budget lost with the fired contractor, we didn’t know where to turn but desperately needed a plan. We had already met with two other prospective contractors, one of which clearly lacked confidence in doing the work given all the issues with our project and the other telling us it would be impossible to make repairs with what we had left in the budget. Then on a cold February morning, Rick & Preston met with us at the construction site to walk through the demolished house and to hear our story. After our initial meeting, we left them at our house - or what was left of it - so they could discuss it among themselves while we went back to the apartment hoping and praying for a miracle but expecting them to come back to us with a “we’re so sorry but…”. Why would anyone want to risk their reputation as a builder on a rescue mission with only the remnants of a budget? Rick called us that evening to ask for a second meeting the next morning. We were thinking at least they didn’t say “no” in an email. Instead, they came to the meeting with new direction for the project and with new exciting design ideas. They ultimately proposed a project re-design that was so much better than our original dreams. The final budget was definitely a stretch for us and after our first failed renovation experience, how much trust could we hope to give another builder? Internet searches showed that Rick is an accomplished author and that Villani and Graham has numerous positive recognitions in various home reviews. It sounded too good to be true, but in fact, the reviews were true as we would soon learn along the way! Throughout construction, Rick and Preston always kept our preferences in mind, discussing each decision and choice with us through each step and they incorporated design elements that worked for our family while at the same time surprising us with architectural touches that turned a terrible construction nightmare into an inviting beautiful home. After living in a small apartment with a dog, two cats and a soon to be teenage son for over a year and a half, Rick and Preston worked extra hard to finish the project ahead of schedule so they could give us the gift of moving back into our lovely fully-renovated home just in time for Thanksgiving. Thank you Rick & Preston for blessing our family with your warm thoughtful professional approach, your exceptional design aesthetic and your constant demand for excellence. We love our home and you both!

Villani & Graham has now completed two remodel projects for me and I could not be happier. From start to finish, V&G is amazing to work with. They listen to my ideas, pay attention to what our family and life style needs are and then incorporate it all into a beautiful, updated, functional finished product. I hear horror stories about remodel projects from friends and I have exactly ZERO horror stories or negative experiences after working with V&G. Not only are they on time and on budget, but these two spaces are now my favorite places in our home.

I have supplied cabinets for Villani & Graham in excess of 5 years with more than 30 different jobs. Jobs are well designed, organized and thought out. Both Rick and Preston are extremely detail oriented which really reduces complications or delays once the project starts. Once the job is done everyone seems to be extremely happy and pleased with the journey of the project. Great guys, great projects.

They worked with our architect from the beginning and had multiple great design ideas. Quality of work is amazing. Always reachable...by phone and email. They kept meticulous records. Great guys. Would definitely hire them again.

Villani + Graham did a wonderful job on our attic conversion and kitchen remodel. This was a massive project that was completed very close to on time an in budget. Rick's creativity and vision for a house is something that most remodelers just can't match. Rick came up with a very clever solution to a unique situation in our house. The solution was less expensive and had a better outcome than anything I was able to come up with. They used really good trades and manage them well.

RiverCity Cabinets has had the privilege of working with Rick Villani for many years. He is the consummate professional, very detail oriented, and treats his home owner clients like family. Since adding Preston to his team, his company has risen to being one of the elite class of building/remodeling contractors in Central Texas!

Angela VanDeWalle Design has had the pleasure of working with Villani + Graham on residential projects for many years now. I would highly recommend them to any potential client. Rick and Preston bring not only experience, professionalism, and an eye for detail, but they are always striving to make each project the absolute best it can possibly be. The personal touch that they provide will help the process of your renovation or new build to be pleasant and much less stressful. Their commitment to their clients' happiness has left homeowners raving about their experience and referring Villani + Graham to many friends and neighbors. After many successful projects together, we have a great working relationship, and I also consider them dear friends.

We are a plumbing sub-contractor and have been working with Villani & Graham since July of 2014. They have excellent knowledge of all aspects of construction, have provided reliable timelines and turn out a high-end, quality product. They present themselves in a very professional manner and it's evident that their top priority is the homeowner's satisfaction. We have been very fortunate to work for some of the best contractors in the area and Villani & Graham stand at the top of that list. RW Webb Plumbing, LLC

Villani and Graham did an amazing job on my home renovation project. They are trustworthy, reliable and pay attention to small detail. They provide a wonderful sounding board when trying to pull all the details together to ultimately produce a beautiful home. Very responsive and take great pride in maintaining the project to the very standard they would if it was their own personal project. I highly recommend them!

I had a great experience working with Matt Henke, and I highly recommend anyone working with Villani + Graham. First a bit about the project... Back in March I bought a 1930s bungalow in South Austin. It's a great little house but as you might expect has some issues after all these years. The biggest issue was the master bedroom. The closet was unusable and the ceiling was caving in, much of the wiring for the room was tacked onto the exterior of the walls, there were original hardwoods hidden under the carpet, and not a single wall was quite level. To top it all off, my walls are all solid wood so it's very difficult to run wiring. It is definitely the type of job that takes some creativity to get done well without completely busting the budget. Here are a few reasons why I'll be working with Matt again when I remodel my kitchen... - He is a great communicator. My job makes it hard to talk during the day, so instead he would email and text me with updates on a regular basis. He was always prompt getting back to me when i had questions or additional requests. And he was patient with me when I (often times) had not idea what i was talking about. - He knew his stuff. I got the sense during the project that he'd "done this before." It made me feel far less stressed out knowing that he knew what he was doing. Things like scheduling city inspectors and making sure everything was up to code completely was completely a non event. - The end result was great, and better than I anticipated. This is probably the most important one since it's what you're left with after the builder leaves. All the work very high quality. The hardwoods look unbelievable, the closet build out turned out great, and the plumbing, electrical, painting etc all went down without a hitch. It's been over a year now and I'm still very happy with all the work that was done. One last story that I like to tell people about Matt what lengths he's willing to go to for his customers. The remodeling I had done on my house was scheduled to be completed just before Thanksgiving and I was hoping it would be on time so I could show it off to some family members who were in town. Everything was completed prior to Thanksgiving except for a small glitch with the closet doors. The painters had painted over the hinges making it so the doors wouldn't close all the way, and they needed to be replaced. So, on the day before thanksgiving, Matt went to the trouble of driving to my house and replacing all 12 hinges so that it would be done before the holiday. I find it extremely rare to get this level of service - especially in this industry.

We hired Matt Henke of Villani&Graham to handle several remodeling projects in our new home, but primarily to gut the kitchen and master bath. The guys got to work the morning after we closed on the house, and everything turned out fantastic! Would definitely recommend them.

I worked with Matt Henke, one of the project managers on a fairly involved remodel for our lakehouse. Matt's focus on service and quality were fantastic. We were keep up-to-date on all the important phases of the project, and when something wasn't quite right, it got fixed promptly and effectively. We would highly recommend Matt and V+G to anyone.