"We initially engaged Mark to build our kitchen but as soon as he started it was evident that we’d want him to do much more. In the end, as well as the kitchen, he built our wardrobes, bookshelves, bath form, a bespoke door into a study and a beautiful oak dining table and bench – and the work continues.
Mark is a true professional who listened to us and delivered something far beyond our expectations. With a modest budget, we now have a beautiful bespoke kitchen which we can scarcely believe is ours.
His workmanship, his artistry, his attention to detail are all exemplary. Everything he did, he did with the utmost care and precision. He sources the best materials and treats them, and everything, with great respect. His knowledge and understanding of materials and processes – and the science behind things – is extensive. It’s also very evident that he enjoys his work immensely and it shows in the end product.
Because he is, first and foremost, an artist, Mark generously shared his knowledge, design ideas and skills with us in areas far beyond his remit. He found creative solutions to problems we encountered around the house and we instinctively sought and trusted his advice completely. This generosity of his, along with his refined aesthetic sensibility, was invaluable to us, and very much appreciated. Our home is more beautiful because of it.
We feel very lucky to have found Mark. He was a pleasure to work with – scrupulously honest and transparent. If we’d known him at the start of our renovation we’d have hired him as our consultant - architect-cum-designer – to do everything! But we’re incredibly grateful that his is the final mark left on our home."

Mary Costello & Martin Roper, Kinvarra, Co. Galway.

“We are delighted to have chosen Mark to design and manufacture our kitchen. We had a good idea of the style of kitchen we wanted and found Mark very open, receptive and understanding of our particular tastes. He seemed to know exactly where we were coming from and designed a kitchen that was beyond our expectations both from an aesthetic and a practical point of view. His workmanship is second to none. At all times Mark was an absolute pleasure to work with always patient, courteous, honest and helpful. He gave us great advice on style and colour, not only in relation to our kitchen but also in other areas of the house. We are delighted with our kitchen and in the space of a few short months it has become the heart of our home for which we are very grateful to Mark. Since then Mark has designed and fitted our study. Once again he has done a super job. We would highly recommend Mark to any prospective clients.”

Seamus and CathyRuane, Killeenaran, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway.

“Several years ago, we restored an old stone cottage in south Co. Mayo which turned out beautifully, but left us with some challenges on the best way to finish the kitchen. Having discussed options with several custom and off-the-shelf cabinet suppliers, none of the proposals that we saw looked as though they belonged in the style of cottage that we have. Mark was recommended to us by a friend, and we met with him several times to discuss the possibilities. Mark listened carefully and was very open to our suggestions on the layout, materials and finish. Mark demonstrated great patience and creativity, making several suggestions on aspects that we hadn’t considered. He showed us several concept drawings to clearly illustrate the ideas discussed. When we finally decided on the details, Mark did all the work exactly as outlined on time and on budget with minimal disruption. The kitchen that he built for us exceeded all our expectations as we never imagined it could turn out to be so nice.  Mark has great vision and creativity, is very flexible and does high quality precision work. In all regards, working with Mark was a pleasure.”

Sean Crilly & Ellen Waite, Cross, Co. Mayo & Boston, U.S.A.

“When we decided to change our kitchen there was only one person for the job having seen a Mark Hand masterpiece in a friend’s house. At every stage, from initial consultation to the finished piece, we found Mark to be fantastic. We knew what we wanted and with Mark’s expertise we got just that.
Our kitchen is fabulous. Mark’s workmanship is superb; his attention to detail is incredible.The finish is of an extremely high standard. I like to describe our kitchen as a work of art and watching Mark at work is like watching an artist complete his masterpiece.
Mark made us anisland as part of the kitchen and it can only be described as an amazing piece of furniture that exceeded all our expectations. Ours is a cherry shaker kitchen with a corner larder making maximum use of all available space in the room. Mark is fantastic at balancing the lines and form so that the finished piece is aesthetically pleasing. Mark is an exceptional artist and craftsman. We highly recommend Mark Hand and we will unquestionably have him back to do more work in our home.”

Clare & Kevin Forde. Corrandulla, Co. Galway.

“Iwaited for twenty years to find someone to make me the kitchen of my dreams and I found that person in Mark Hand of ‘Hand Built Designs’. My kitchen is exactly how I thought my perfect kitchen would be; made of pine with painted oak doors, beautiful cherry wood worktop and one wall unit, aesthetically pleasing and balanced design, every function thought out and measured in advance so that when Mark came to install the kitchen, it worked and fitted perfectly. I cannot find the words to describe Mark’s workmanship- it’s superb from layout drawingsto the actual building of the kitchen. The amount of work that went into the plan, the attention to detail, all the changes that came about during the six months of planning this kitchen, none of it altered the price.....All in all a perfect kitchen.”

Janet Vinnell, Presentation Rd., Galway.

“We had admired the kitchens designed and made by Mark Hand in a few of our friend’s homes long before we started to extend our home. Each kitchen appeared to be unique even though there were similarities. We built an extension onto our existing cottage in 2009 and part of this was to be a new kitchen. We looked at several companies in Galway however decided to work with Mark Hand, Hand Built Designs and we are so delighted that we did.
From the very start of the process Mark was very professional, helpful and objective as to what we wished for and designed a very beautiful, practical kitchen which we love! We chose oak and walnut and the contrast between the two hardwoods is fab, the worktop is deep and long with ample space to work on and the units are very spacious. We chose to have a corner pantry and it is fantastic, it holds a large amount of foodstuff and has great storage space. All in all, we now have a solid, beautifully handcrafted kitchen which withstands the everyday wear and tear of a young family, was affordable and two years later, looks as good as new.
We also appreciated Mark's honesty and integrity. If he felt an idea would not work, he would say so, say why but ultimately said it was our decision. He gave great advice regarding paint colour schemes and has a great eye for detail.
Mark is a true craftsman and artist, he works to an extremely high standard and we would highly recommend his designs and his work.”

Karen McGuire & Johnnie Newell, Menlo, Galway.

"We found Mark Hand in the Yellow Pages around 2007, after weeks of despair seeing really bad quality furniture with very high prices in shops in both Galway and elsewhere. Since then we have relied on him to do several pieces of furniture for us, notably a kitchen table with marble top, two kitchen side boards (one with a marble top), a sink unit, a pantry cupboard and then, a large dresser unit with glass doors. Mark has also done shelves for us and a tidy bathroom wall mounted shelf unit. All of this work has been of outstanding quality and craftsmanship as well as very competitively priced. We would have no hesitation in recommending Mark to anybody seeking well designed, solid furniture that works. His attention to detail and precision is outstanding. We found him very easy to work with in terms of getting across what it is we wanted, and he was a mine of information and sound advice on many related issues we encountered when getting our house in some sort of order. We will unquestionably get him back to do more work!"

Geraldina and Brendan Flynn, Galway.

"Five years on, our Hand Built Designs kitchen still gives us as much pleasure as when it was first installed. The best thing about it is that it remains both aesthetically appealing AND absolutely functional. Mark Hand has a unique knack of marrying style with everyday functionality and at no time since we started using our kitchen did we think ‘I wish we had thought of incorporating this or that’.Mark Hand had thought of it all!
We heartily recommend Hand Built Designs."

Tomás Hardiman and Mary Murphy, Salthill, Galway

"Mark has just completed a second major piece of work for us – a very large book case with an integrated desk/computer space. When we decided to have this work carried out, we went back to Mark because of our very positive experience the first time round: his ability to turn our ideas into a design which was entirely in keeping with them, his flexibility in relation to dealing with changes we sought during the project, and most importantly the outstanding quality of his work. Once again we were not disappointed and were delighted with the outcome of this second project; we would be very happy to work with him again in the future."

Ann & Niall Geraghty, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway.

"Designing with Mark is a collaborative process with a uniquely personal outcome. He has made anumber of pieces for us in solid wood including a kitchen, a pantry, wardrobes, computer cabinet and under stairs storage units – all good designs, good craftsmanship and aesthetically spot on."
Sean Kennedy andLorraine Shea, Kilcolgan.

"In August 2005 we were re-modeling our kitchen, opening it into an existing sun-room and creating a more open dining area. After many visits to kitchen showrooms, we contacted Mark Hand. After Mark's first visit to our kitchen, we knew our quest was over! We were impressed by Mark's empathy to our needs, his meticulous approach, practical suggestions and solid common sense. Two or three consultations later, we had a final plan for our kitchen which wouldbe finished on time and within budget .
We had chosen solid painted cabinets with cherry trim and an island, all with granite worktops and a made-to-measure dining table. Our old kitchen was dismantled in November 2005 and Christmas Day saw us in our new ‘Hand Built’ kitchen with all appliances sourced and fitted to perfection by Mark Hand .
Six years later, our kitchen is "as good as new”. Mark’s clever creation and his management of available space have made our kitchen a place where we can move freely, work efficiently and relax in aesthetically pleasing surroundings.
Wishing him lots of success in the future."

Margaret Seery,Athenry, Co. Galway

"Mark built an oak kitchen for us in 2005. He was a meticulous worker, with close attention to detail. He arrived when agreed, delivered the project according to the specifications, on time and within budget. The kitchen, I am happy to say, looks as beautiful today (2011) as the day it was finished. Not a single thing has failed or broken. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mark for any similar project."

Mairin Kelly, Faha,Co. Clare.

"We built ourhouse in 2005 and Hand Built Designs fitted our kitchen.
Our house is timber frame and I felt very strongly that a wooden house deserves a real wooden kitchen. For me the kitchen is the centre of life in the home and I wanted something that would be of high quality, of simple design that wouldn’t date and be a beautiful part of our house. I searched around different kitchen companies until I found Mark.
After our first meeting I knew I wanted Mark to design and build our kitchen. He is a craftsman of the highest standards, and really loves what he does. He had such enthusiasm and ideas and the samples of wood he showed me were beautiful. He came out to measure the space and went away to design the kitchen. A few tweaks and we had something I couldn’t wait to get cooking in!
As Mark worked on building the kitchen I realised that I was actually watching a work of art in the making. He has such attention to detail, and each part of it was finished to perfection. Our work surface is oiled cherry and the frame is oak. The shelves are solid pine. The work surface felt like it was a living, breathing thing as it soaked up each layer of linseed oil.
Six years on and I still love my kitchen. I still run my hands over the surface and take pleasure in oiling it. It is simple and functional, yet beautiful in a quiet, unassuming way. All the spaces and the shelves work well and there is plenty of space despite our family expanding by two in the years that have passed. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It remains, and always will be the heart of our home."

Jenny Keavey,Corrandulla, Galway.

"Mark Hand rebuilt our old kitchen to a classic shaker-style design that we have been very happy with for the last ten years and we expect to have it for ever due to the very high standard of workmanship which gives enduring quality. Mark was fast, reliable, creative and dedicated to his craft."

Lars and Linda Pettersson, Moycullen, Galway.

“Our kitchen was always going to be the heart of our home because as a family, it’s where we connect right throughout the day. From the beginning Mark understood this concept and designed an open plan kitchen that works as the centre-point while seamlessly integrating with all other areas of the house, through his creative use of colour, natural materials and even down to the door knobs he chose....
But most importantly, our kitchen works because Mark was there at every stage of production; from design stage where he listened to how I'd prefer to pull out a drawer to access my delph as opposed to opening and reaching down into the far corners
of a press, to where he physically cut and oiled our cherry counters.
At every stage we felt that Mark was open to our ideas and could creatively interpret them.
All in all, it was a pleasure working with Mark and we now have a beautiful solid wood kitchen that keeps getting better with every good meal we cook!”

Ger Prendergast, Dooras, Kinvarra, Co Galway

“ We went through the usual rigours andstress of renovation and we have our own few horror stories to tell!...However, when it came to the kitchen, we were able to hand it over to Mark with confidence as his reputation for quality work went ahead of him. We now have a kitchen that is so well crafted and designed, I believe it will be as good in twenty years as it is today.
After a few consultations Mark seemed to understand what we wanted, he brought his experience, knowledge and professionalism to the project while still allowing us to express our expectations and ideas. Because of Mark’s talent and attention to detail, we managed to achieve a kitchen that marries the old 1930’s house very well with a new modern extension. We are very happy with our kitchen and most importantly, it meets all our needs. Thanks Mark.”

Helen Haugh & Jerome Cameron,Corrandulla, Co Galway.

“Mark is a very highly skilled craftsman. He's done several jobs for us over the years.  He built and installed an entire kitchen, several high quality cupboards and floating shelving. Every job was completed on schedule, as promised and has survived the tests of a young family and time.” July 9, 2012

Oliver Leahy, Newcastle, Galway

“Mark is thorough in his work. He listens to what is requested. He is creative in his suggestions and execution of the project. He works within a reasonable budget. Thank you Mark for the excellent work.” July 3, 2012

Helen Bolger, Killnaboy, Co. Clare.

“From start to finish Mark was a pleasure to work with. He is a good listener and worked hard to deliver what we wanted. We were delighted with the end results.” June 30, 2012

Derek & Marjanne Bryan, Knocknacarra, Galway

“We commissioned Mark to design and make a specialist piece of furniture. What was different about Mark from others was his range of skills. He designed, made, & fitted (including prep work that most furniture makers wouldn't touch). Mark's attention to detail in ensuring that we were happy with the finished piece was most impressive. He came back on more than one occasion to ensure this. We would highly recommend him.” June 25, 2012

Barry Walsh, Dooras, Kinvarra, Co Galway.

“Eight years on and we are still delighted with the kitchen that Mark designed and built for us. Mark spent the time with us to understand in depth what our real needs were. He then came up with some novel suggestions which also entailed some demolition but worked out extremely well. His level of craftmanship is extremely high and he uses real wood. We started off looking for a new kitchen and ended up getting a superb result and making a friend in the process. We have since recommended Mark's services to one of our friends who ended up having a similar great experience to ourselves. Mark would be my first port of call if we need to go again.” June 25, 2012

John & Carol Preisler, Oranmore, Co. Galway.

“Mark Hand is a true professional; we were three years talking about our proposed kitchen extension and Mark was the stalwart through quite a number of redesigns. His patience was extraordinary; rather than making you feel bad for constantly changing your mind, he understood the importance of taking the time to get it right. Mark will give you a clear opinion and he has very good understanding of space and proportion. The final product..the kitchen... Is just lovely...Made with care and attention and with a robustness that will see us in good stead for many years. Next project.a kitchen table. Mark is the kind of guy you will keep going back to.”

Helen and Tom Hancock, Oranmore. Co. Galway.

“I rate Mark very highly for beautiful finish and design. Mark has a great eye for finding clever solutions to any kind of problem arising from sizes of rooms, consideration of light to the input of your own ideas.”

Kathrein Curtin, Killeenaran, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway.

“Mark Hand's workmanship and attention to detail is second to none and we would highly recommend him. He has made some fabulous pieces for our hotel (Gregans Castle Hotel) and our home.”

Simon Haden, Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan.

“Still thrilled with Mark's Hand Built kitchen after 12 years. It is such a pleasure to work with a perfectionist.”

Esther-Mary D’Arcy, Killeenaran, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway.

“My beautiful Hand Built kitchen continues to give me great pleasure everyday.”

Ger Ahearne, Belclare, Co. Galway.