My kitchen designer fired me yesterday

13 years ago

I'm just sad, we had been working together for 3 months. He was going to finally order my cabinets and I made a few minor changes and I guess that was the last straw for him. He is refunding most of my money, but the thing is that I am basically starting from scratch with the contractor set to start Jan 1, the appliances have been picked out and a huge deposit made. I am meeting with a new designer next week, but at this point I just want to cave in and agree to anything. Has anyone else been made to feel that knowing what you want and asking for it can get you into trouble?

I have been saying from the start that I wanted glass shelves, no adjustable shelving and a certain height between shelves, at our last meeting he acted as if this was news to him and make a bunch of notes on the plans. I can't understand why anyone would have above cabinet lighting and not have glass shelves.

Also I found out that sold wood doors are really laminate, I was pretty bummed out as the corners seem rounded vs nice and square. I opted to go for panel doors instead - was that too big of a change?

I'm just venting, like I said, I am pretty sad.

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ninzerbean
Original Author

13 years ago

I like to tell the story of when I was building a house once and a sub kept leaving the gate open and my dog kept almost running out and almost getting hit by cars. I had asked the sub quite a few time to close the gate behind him. The last time, I was angry and told him he HAD to close the gate - that if my dog became a flat dog I would kill him. He told me he would "try". I picked up a brick laying on the ground, dropped it, and said "I can pick up this brick, or I can try to pick up this brick." He quit on the spot and I could have cared less. But everyone was mad at me, husband, contractor etc. I didn't care.

The dog died of a genetic disorder, the husband left me, the contractor and I got married - ha ha just kidding there, but he and I did work on another house together, so I guess he was not too mad.

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Comments (10)

feeny
13 years ago
Don't be sad. It sounds like your kitchen designer just wasn't a good fit for you. No one should be made to feel unreasonable for having strong ideas about what they want. I know it is a setback, but look for a new designer who will work with your ideas and preferences. It is YOUR kitchen, not theirs.
Tight, squared corners and solid wood doors are entirely reasonable and sensible choices.
In my one open set of upper cabinet shelves I have above cabinet lighting and tempered glass shelves inset in 2" wood frames. Our cabinetmaker suggested both of these options to enhance displays on the shelves.
ninzerbean
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you, this is my 4th kitchen remodel, I've been though a lot of this now 3 times and I know what I want, what I like, what makes sense, but still, to be fired is so demeaning. You are right of course. I'll get over it and it will all work out for the best.
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Dytecture
13 years ago
It amazes me that mainly in the building industry that the 'client' gets taken advantage of but they are the ones paying the contractors / designers to do the work.

Not sure exactly what happened in your situation, but the kitchen designer should've did the changes as you asked for but charges you for the extra time he/she needs to do the changes, simple as that.
charleee
13 years ago
I really wouldn't take it personally. It may be that the designer is having problems on another job, or even at home, and took it out on you. I think you should thank your lucky stars that if it had to happen, it happened now instead of in the middle of installation. The fact that he wouldn't take your money tells me that his problem isn't you.
Rio Brewster
13 years ago
Yes designers can be almost as bad as doctors. Unless the designer just couldn't make what you wanted happen on your budget, and you refused to be flexible, the problem is them not you.

And given that you've been through this before several times, I'm guessing that was not what happened.

Just be glad this happened now and not after the cabinets had been ordered.
Rio Brewster
13 years ago
And I would explain to the new designer up front that you are on a tight schedule and know exactly what you want.
ninzerbean
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for your feedback, I 've talked at length with this in more detail with experienced builders and suppliers and they all agree that it indeed was not me, still I feel bad, I lost $500 but I have been told that the scanty drawings are good enough for another designer to work with fast and it was not a waste of money.

I think the guy is really busy and he had enough easy people to work with, I AM difficult, I am the first to admit it, not that I change my mind, but that I want excellent work. The changes I wanted to make were half his mistakes from who knows where but the change to real wood from laminate is my change because the sample he had made up for me, upon close inspection, was just terrible. If I accepted that, then the whole kitchen would have been off, it's the type of kitchen where very little of the frame work shows. Very contemporary.

I have an appointment tomorrow with the new person. This should be pretty fast at this point and the contractor was actually glad I was now running behind as it gave him some lee way with his wife (he's finishing up his own house BEFORE he starts mine.)
charleee
13 years ago
ninzerbean, I'm difficult to work with too (just ask my husband!). But hey, it's MY money and it's MY kitchen. I want what I want, not something someone else wants for me.
Rio Brewster
13 years ago
What is it with contractors and doors? Ours is always leaving our front door open. The dogs are behind child gates but if motivated they would knock that gate over and be out the door in a flash.