About Finish Pros
Everyone at Finish Pros is committed to excellence in the work we do for you.
At Finish Pros, we are committed to sustainability, championing principles of recycling and reuse. Our dedication helps divert substantial amounts of quality built furniture from landfills, promoting eco-friendly practices.
For more than two decades, Finish Pros has been the trusted choice of homeowners, designers, and property managers in the Triangle area. We specialize in transforming residential and commercial spaces, preserving their legacy while promoting environmental responsibility.
I have worked in the upholstery trade for 45 years, as an apprentice to my father, co-owner of a family business, self employed owner of my own business and now employed at Finish Pros. My father taught me that the key to producing quality work is “knowing what the finished product would look like before you even start the job.”
I have the privilege of working along side of co-workers who fully understand this concept and apply this knowledge to every job that leaves our building.
Gary Marler
Meet Our Founder & Owner: Dan McKenzie
Meet Our Founder & Owner: Dan McKenzie
Dan founded Finish Pros in 2001 and today, he leads a team of more than 20 professionals. Despite the company’s growth, Dan still makes sure he’s involved in every project as he oversees the team’s work and personally checks for quality and accuracy. Leading with the core values of personal service, commitment to excellence, and teamwork and innovation, Dan delivers a rare small-shop experience to each customer. Asking questions to understand their needs and providing white-glove pick-up and delivery services are just a few examples of how he treats his customers with care and a relational – rather than transactional – attitude. And while efficiency is important to keep projects moving, he and his team take the time to do things right. When Dan isn’t working, he’s probably at the beach with his amazing wife and their two great kids.
Meet Our Team
Colleen Kruszewski
Residential Design Consultant
Colleen brings over a decade of experience in interior design, project management, and furniture restoration. As a Project Manager and Design Consultant at Finish Pros, she combines technical expertise with a creative, client-centered approach. Her background includes leadership roles at RH and Bassett, where she guided clients through every stage of the design process—from concept to completion. The daughter of military parents, Colleen spent much of her life living around the world. This international upbringing shaped her design perspective, instilling a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, aesthetics, and culture. She holds a Master’s in Interior Architecture from UCLA and a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from FSU. Colleen believes great design should feel both polished and personal—and she brings a playful, approachable energy that helps clients feel at ease and excited about bringing their vision to life!
Grayson Smith
Residential Design Consultant
Grayson joined the Finish Pros team in the spring of 2025 and immediately immersed herself in our extensive library of materials—becoming a resource not only for clients, but also for our team. With a degree in Fashion and Textile Management from NC State University, Grayson brings a fresh and informed perspective on fabrics, fibers, and finishes. Her eye for color, pattern, and proportion allows her to effortlessly guide clients in selecting the perfect materials to bring their vision to life. Whether she’s helping redesign a cherished heirloom or selecting fabrics for a full-room transformation, Grayson’s thoughtful and approachable style makes the process seamless and enjoyable.
Steve Burns
Operations Manager
Steve was raised in Sarasota, Florida and has lived in the Raleigh area since 2006. For over 25 years Steve has been evolving his passion for craftsmanship in both the residential and commercial furniture industry. Steve’s love for craftsmanship reflects on each of the pieces in his care. As the operations manager, Steve leads the Finish Pros’ team of craftsmen by constantly teaching and educating while solving the daily challenges to meet each of our client’s needs. Steve treats each piece of furniture as his own and with passion assists in the transformation of any residential and commercial space!
Emma Hoffman
Office Support
Emma was raised in Boone, NC and is a graduate of NC State University. Originally working in Human Resources, she transitioned into the Office Manager role at Finish Pros in 2021 and hasn't looked back! She enjoys keeping things running smoothly for everyone at the shop, customers and employees alike. Her goal at Finish Pros is to ensure clients have a positive experience from their first call to their furniture being delivered.
Office Staff & Design Team
Our design team and office staff are the friendly backbone of Finish Pros, supporting our talented craftsmen and craftswomen. They are experts in listening, problem-solving, and at the heart of our exceptional customer service. Our team of dedicated design experts is deeply invested in the success of each project.
At Finish Pros, you're not just getting exceptional craftsmanship; you're also receiving the full support of our passionate team, committed to bringing your vision to life. Schedule your consultation today and discover the knowledge, creativity, and genuine friendliness that make Finish Pros stand out.
“Every day, we’re excited to get to work with wonderful customers and an incredible team.”
What Sets Us Apart
A note from our founder, Dan McKenzie
I started Finish Pros in 2001, after a decade in the antique industry. I was raised in the auction and antique world, refinished furniture for the family business growing up, and earlier in my career was a certified appraiser specializing in the regional characteristics of 18th- and 19th-century American furniture. That background still shapes how we look at every piece that comes through our shop — whether it’s a treasured family heirloom, a Restoration Hardware sectional, or a lobby’s worth of corporate seating. Our upholstery and refinishing teams collaborate every day to solve the unique challenges each piece presents. Our Operations Manager, Steve Burns, has been in the furniture industry for nearly 25 years — over a decade of that with Finish Pros. The vast majority of our team has been with us for nearly a decade or longer, and together we’ve built what we call the Finish Pros way: a quiet standard for craftsmanship, communication, and care that shows up in every project. One thing most clients don’t realize when they start calling around: a single upholsterer is rarely an expert on every kind of piece or every kind of material. An upholsterer who’s excellent at modern sectionals may struggle with a tufted antique chair. Someone who sews fabric beautifully may not be the right hand for top-grain leather. Our success comes from matching each project to the craftsman on our team who’s most skilled at that specific kind of work — and we never cut corners to save time. We’ve lost count of the pieces that have come through our doors with multiple layers of old upholstery still stapled to the frame, simply covered over by the previous shop. That’s a fascinating piece of history to find, but it’s not the right way to do the work. We carefully remove every layer of old fabric, repair what needs repair, repad as needed, and then cut and sew the new material so the finished piece looks and sits the way it was originally meant to. Choosing fabrics and finishes can feel overwhelming, which is why our residential design consultants are available at no cost — to help you make confident decisions about new foam, durable upholstery, and stain or finish tones that complement both the piece and your home. We want you as a repeat client. We want you as a referral source. Most of all, we want you as a friend.Why clients in the Triangle choose Finish Pros
- Locally owned and operated since 2001 — family-rooted in Raleigh, never a franchise, with deep ties to the Triangle’s antique, auction, and design communities
- Owner-led by a longtime antique expert — founder Dan McKenzie’s background includes a decade in the antique industry and prior work as a certified appraiser of 18th- and 19th-century American furniture
- A team that stays — most of our craftsmen, designers, and project managers have been with Finish Pros for nearly a decade or longer
- The right craftsman for your piece — projects are assigned to the team member with the strongest expertise in that style of work, whether it’s a tufted antique, a modern sectional, top-grain leather, or commercial seating
- No shortcuts, ever — we remove every layer of old fabric, repair and repad where needed, and rebuild the piece the right way (never just stapling new fabric over old)
- Free design consultations in-shop or in-home, with options for households with pets, kids, high-traffic rooms, and outdoor spaces
- Everything under one roof — repairs, regluing, refinishing, and upholstery are completed in our 14,000-square-foot Raleigh studio, and every piece passes a 25-point inspection before delivery
- White-glove pickup and delivery across the Triangle and within 50 miles of Raleigh, with statewide service available for select healthcare and university clients
What People Are Saying
We are proud to have great customer reviews on Google Reviews. Take a look for yourself!
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