Local business · Newburyport, MALocal business · Newburyport, MA
Verified record
Windward Shaw builds the kind of Newburyport houses that end up in magazines. Boston Magazine credited it as contractor on a modern, clutter-free Newburyport kitchen in 2021; Northshore magazine's 2023 piece on an Ipswich modern farmhouse described a couple hiring the firm on a neighbor's recommendation, having seen several of its houses on Great Neck; and a designer's write-up of the 2024 Newburyport kitchen tour lists it as builder of a gutted and rebuilt kitchen in a historic house. The firm is co-owned and run by George and Lyndsey Haseltine, with George's brother Andy also named as a co-owner — George on the building side as a master builder, Lyndsey on the business side. That is how the company describes itself. The customer reviews are strong but dated: four of them, all five stars, all from 2019 and 2020. What they describe is worth reading anyway. In a 2020 review, a homeowner said a complete renovation of a historic home was finished six weeks ahead of schedule, crediting George's handling of neighbors and city officials for keeping it moving. Another 2020 review, from a multi-generational renovation done during the pandemic with grandparents still living in the house, reported the job landing in the promised timeframe and within budget. A 2019 reviewer singled out something most builders never get praised for: being effective and diplomatic with the Board of Health and the Conservation Department — which matters on the coastal lots this firm works. So the written record from clients runs 2019–2020, while the published project credits keep coming through 2024. If you are planning a custom build or a serious historic renovation on the North Shore, ask for two or three references from the last two years to close that gap, and expect a design-led process — the company's own line is that it agonizes over every doorknob.
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Windward Shaw. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$23,000 – $35,000
Typical remodeling project around $29,000
“The kitchen area was completely gutted and beautifully renovated to accommodate the needs of the homeowners young family. ... Builder: Windward Shaw”
“On the recommendation of a neighbor, the couple contracted Windward Shaw, a Newburyport-based construction company that had built several homes on Great Neck, to build a new home on their property.”
“Cabinetmaker Newbury Cabinetry ... Contractor Windward Shaw”
“Alida Coo-Kendall — Prior to jumping into a major custom renovation of our multi-generational family home, we interviewed several high-end builders”
“That's exactly what makes George and Lyndsey Haseltine — and Windward Shaw — different. George's years of experience as a master builder on the North Shore means that he's seen and done it all — from ground-up, custom-built single family homes to renovations with exacting, historical details.”
Prior to jumping into a major custom renovation of our multi-generational family home, we interviewed several high-end builders in the Newburyport area, all of whom were highly recommended. From the minute we met George, we knew we would be very comfortable working with Windward Shaw. We discussed with George our important criteria including high-quality workmanship, timing, communication and of course coming in on budget. It was clear that Windward Shaw checked all of those boxes and was the right choice for us. Undergoing a major renovation always has its own complications. Throw in an expedited time frame, a once in a lifetime pandemic and grandparents living in the house during the most of the renovation, and it became an even more complex project. Notwithstanding the unexpected challenges, Windward Shaw exceeded our expectations. They completed the project in the time frame promised, within our budget and with exceptional results! Working with George and his team was always a pleasure. They were honest, responsive, professional, meticulous, totally respectful of the living spaces, and made everyone feel safe while they worked on our home through the pandemic. George presented some really amazing design ideas and worked with us to achieve exactly the vision we wanted for our home - both style and function. He and his team are incredibly experienced and talented. A bonus - they are all genuinely nice people! We would not hesitate to recommend Windward Shaw.
We hired Windward Shaw to perform a miracle and they delivered on a complete renovation of a historic home. Owners George and Lyndsey Haseltine walk you through every step of the process with patience and professionalism. They communicate thoroughly and respond to questions immediately. George’s ability to work with neighbors, city officials and business partners kept the project running smoothly. His crew and subcontractors are hard working and talented. Our new home is beautiful beyond our imagination and was finished 6 weeks ahead of schedule. We highly recommend George and Lyndsey and their Windward Shaw team.
George Haseltine and the Windward Shaw crew are top shelf. We had the opportunity to see his work prior to starting our project as he built homes for a few of our friends. Although our homes are all different, his signature of quality work and unique finishes shows through on all of his projects. George is very responsive and extremely professional, as are his staff and subcontractors. He is also great to have on your side in working with the Board of Health and the Conservation department as he is very diplomatic and diligent. If you have a project in a coastal area, George has a lot of knowledge and experience to share. I would highly recommend Windward Shaw, we had a very good experience with them.
We did a complete renovation of our house with Windward Shaw. The total experience was excellent. Planning, execution and communication all exceeded our expectations. This was our first project of this magnitude. George and Lindsay supported us through the entire process, including all the major and minor decisions. The project was on time, on budget and we are so happy with our new home. We HIGHLY recommend Windward Shaw!
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Certified attributes are verified against the public registry. Others are the business's own statement.
Added 4 new comments, added 21 new photos, established rating 3.7
Roof deck builds4.4
Porch and deck rebuilds4.4
49 years in business4.4
Low-disruption projects4.4