Wow.

Good for you for trusting your inner voice.

And double-good for you in negotiating a win-win with your trades.

As someone who works in a related field, we try to approach mistakes by asking "Tell me what you think is fair". I think your flooring offer is fair to both sides.

And I just adore your light fixtures...drooling in fact!

Good thing you went by the house. Score for getting the other rooms done in hardwood. I think I could definitely live with a little narrower plank for that concession. As a matter of fact it is actually a more timeless (don't anyone shoot me!) look.

That tile guy really scares me. I had a tile guy like that 7 yrs ago for this house, and my whole master bathroom including the shower had to be torn out and redone. Watch him.

I love your Overstock finds. Wish I had the confidence in myself to make purchases like that when I build my own house.

Do you have pics?

Thanks for sharing, Bee- isn't it interesting how that little voice in our heads is something we best not ignore?

Hearing what your are experiencing made all of those little moments in my 100% DIY kitchen seem so small... Sitting here looking at my beautiful island, remembering the three shipments to get it right and the extra 15 weeks, just may have been worth it.

Ah, the joys of remodeling! Hang in there and stick to your guns. I for one, can't wait to see the finished, and gorgeous result!

Update to the Update...

My Realtor, "The Shark" called. I told her about our disappointment but we are not the kind of people to try and screw the builder. We are willing to keep it if they do all those other areas. She was going to put a call into the builder now.

I have photos, but nothing great right now. After the floor is in, I will post.

And if you saw all the drama about the color on the walls, we went with BM Gray Owl. Everyone who comes in absolutely loves it. Yay!

Bee

Bee,
Did you ask them to transition into the other rooms with the RIGHT flooring? There's not a thing wrong with going wider....

Hang tough, girlie.
God bless order forms, receipts, and your patience!

Awaiting pics....

Great job with all, and that laundry room floor tile is spectacular, I hope it looks that good all over. Unusual tile installer methods, but it looks beautiful. What is the name of the marble please.

I would check the house every day now, Bee. It seems like each sub that comes in is screwing something up. My home is not grand but we did check each day and they had light switches behind the front door, going to install one bathroom sink instead of 2. There was a change in the plan with the walls and they left the window in the very corner of the room instead or moving it to where it should be. You almost have to be there each day to keep on top of it and make corrections . Once it's done...it's done. It is looking lovely so far. I love your choices! Hang in. It won't be forever!

Yes, please share. It helps me to feel better. I have been trying to resolve a botched granite order, installation and numerous other details of the most incompetent, arrogant, uncaring, nonchalant sales staff that you could imagine. It has been going on for weeks, we cannot use the upstairs bathroom until it is fixed because the plumbing can't be hooked up.

I keep blaming myself and wondering what I could have done differently that would have made a difference. I have gone back to the granite place in person at least 4 times to get this resolved. I feel bad using the gas. Yesterday I thought was going to be the last trip but they said they couldn't give me a price on the replacement granite until Monday because they would have to go back and ask the same stupid girl (she was off yesterday) who messed this all up in the first place!!! I wanted to cry. It takes a toll waking up in the middle of the night and worrying about it, wishing I had never started this project, thinking I am ungrateful, maybe I should just accept all the mistakes because I am lucky to be able to buy granite. Like everyone I have other real problems in life that I worry about too, it's just that this is making everything seem worse. I worry that people are no longer nice or care and that there is no hope for the future. Ok, I know, overly dramatic!!!

So, I totally feel your pain. You have been through a lot x's 10 of what I have and it sort of is sad that some things are just getting to be predictable. It would be so nice to be pleasantly surprised once in awhile. I hope it works out for you in a positive way!

Oh my goodness - well done for catching all that!

I just love your lights and wonder if you would mind sharing what the first one is? I think a chandelier above the bathtub sounds like a great idea!

Christine, Nah, I'm not going to ask for them to use the wider flooring in the other rooms, for a couple of reasons, one being that it is a "special order" and it isn't something they can get quickly. Plus, all the rooms do run together and it will look better in this house to have it all uniform

enduring, thanks...but that is not the picture of MY installation. Mine is in a dark laundry room without a light. Hasn't been grouted yet. God, I hope he didn't install any upside down! Oh, my...you know he did, don't you? It is from Mission Stone & Tile, it is Athens Silver Cream. I'll post a link to the store. I've also seen it on Ann Sachs sites used in an oversized subway tile format on the back splash. Pretty delicious I must say.

door--I do check on the house everyday. Usually stop by mid-day and then dh and I go back after dinner to look at the days mistakes, oh I mean "progress". But isn't it weird that I didn't want to go yesterday, but that little voice kept saying "go".

SaraKat--aren't we lucky to have this forum to be able to vent to others who have similar struggles.

juliekcmo, have to chuckle over you username...one of the sets of eyes we had look at the floor yesterday is also a Julie, from KC, but KS not MO.

Glad you like the lights. I couldn't pass up the price on that square one. I did a search for the light elsewhere online and the best price was twice as much as Overstock's regular price everywhere, with a retail price 3x the O price! And then the 10% coupon. It was destiny.

I will post some pictures asap. I did visit my cabinets last weekend at the cabinetmaker's shop. That was pretty exciting!

Bee

Here is a link that might be useful: MS&T's Athens Silver Cream

We must have posted at the same time.

It is a knock off of a very expensive Robert Abbey chandelier. Overstock also sold the one that was not semi-flush mounted, but it out of stock and I'm not sure if it will ever come back.

If you go to Overstock, the Item #: 13549795 is for the one I bought, pictured above; for the hanging one that is out of stock, the Item #: 12994829. If you like the 2nd one, you can put your email address in and they will email you when it comes back into stock. The original one by Robert Abbey is about a $900 light. Kinda pricey for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: link to the out of stock one

'Like everyone I have other real problems in life that I worry about too, it's just that this is making everything seem worse. I worry that people are no longer nice or care and that there is no hope for the future.'

ain't that the truth! it's like these bldrs/subs etc think all we have to do in our lives is babysit them! geeze!

and no, I don't thing that thought or feeling is overly dramatic - it's reality! Sad at that.

bee - love the lights you bought! sorry about the screw ups - I do think you are wise to keep on it every single day. I'd let them know you'll be checking on them. Any possibility of going over the next day's work scheduled while you are there? Be good to catch some of these things before they're half done or screwed up.

That tile guy is totally scary! I looked at the pic and thought 'well, he ended up doing such good work' - only to read then that it wasn't your floor. oh dear. the tile IS beautiful and I do hope he did a good job putting it in.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I had a ridiculous amount of trouble with my new build too, mostly after I moved though.

FYI on the chandelier over the bathtub. Codes are pretty restrictive on that so if you really want to do it I suspect you'll have to install it yourself after moving in, and it will more than likely be a code violation.

I don't think that any of you -sarakat, etc,- are out of line when complaining about the things that go wrong during your renos. Yes, it may seem petty when there are more "important" things going on in the world, but your home is where you go to in order to recharge and relax and if your home isn't how you envision it and is causing you stress and sleepless nights how can you do that. JMHO. (From one who lived through it.)
I always trusted my instincts and my mantra was always "My money, my reno, my way". They work for you and not the other way round.

It sounds like you and dh are very diligent about overseeing the work they are doing on YOUR home with YOUR money & materials! Just another lesson about how important it is to supervise the people working in our homes. I am lucking out on this install, but have had nightmares in the past, and the series of costly errors you are catching gives me a sick feeling in my gut. So happy they are getting resolved in your favor.

The 'retail therapy' light finds - hope it is boosting your spirits. They are beautiful!

Love those lights!! I think the floor you showed looks great. Good luck with it all!... I'm certain you'll do fine.

I'm exhausted for you, after reading all that. Why can't people just read and do things right?! Wrong flooring? Wrong hearth? Doesn't know to use a wet saw? Incredible.

I love your lighting choices, though! Wonderful!! I'm a shower girl, but that fixture could make me enjoy baths. :-)

good news rhome, you can see the chandy from the shower too!!

Sorry they got the wrong stuff, but can't wait to see a pic of the floors. I hope you are able to work out a deal.

Those lights are so not what I would ever have the guts to pick, but they will look awesome!

Wow - for having such a day, you're doing great. I'm sure I would have melted down or been feisty.

I love the breakfast room light.

Always trust that inner voice--it seldom steers us wrong. So glad you caught the floor mistake and hope they agree to your very reasonable deal. Can't believe that tile guy--how scary is it that he doesn't even know to use a wet saw!! And he's their best tile guy??? Love your new fixtures and can't wait to see them installed and working. Hang in there and never hesitate to vent here (it may be venting for you, but I learn so much from everyone's problems).

It seems you have to check frequently... I'm glad DH is doing all our work with his lifelong handyman buddy.. and DH still has to keep an eye on him for the 'that's good enough' syndrome. Nobody is ever going to be as particular about your project as you are... and it's not their money either. Good thing you went.

Dont'cha love overstock? I've bought so much from there over the years, happy with 99% of it.

I agree with Rhome - I'm exhausted. Congrats on the resolutions. Hope all goes well for you from here on out.

Bee, I know that chandy! I was considering it for my bathroom to go over the tub, but we haven't come up with a definite plan for the room yet. I like your BR/DR chandy too. Those geometric crystal things are just so much fun, and I think it will be great for some bling while not blocking a lot of view. Look forward to seeing them in place.

As for the floor, would it help any if I told you that the 3" wide planks are the "old" standard here --the "dated" wood floors if there is one? ;) I like something different, so I would rather have the narrower or the wider, but not the 3". Color sounds great.

I have no words of encouragement on the marble goofs other than I hope they get it right now. Good thing you stopped by when you did. Trust the inner voice! ;)

I ordered the light fixture - I hope you don't mind being copied, it really is the sincerest form of flattery! : )

Thanks so much for the tip!

Hoboken!! Cool! Did you get the discount? If not call customer service and tell them you didn't and want the 10% off they offered to email customers this weekend, or ask them for it somehow.

lascatx, you know I was drooling over the chandy you posted before. All the options that I kept finding were too expensive for me I was so happy to find this one at a good price.

Bee

I got 7% discount. I should probably have called, but we were on our way out the door and figured 7% was a lot better than nothing! : )

I'm excited to get it - our new house is a bit strange and I think could use some more contemporary touches. Fingers crossed this works in the house! I know it will somewhere just maybe not in the spot it's intended for. We shall see.

Thanks again for posting it! : )

WOW..don't you just love women's intuition? Good for you listening to that little inner voice! But when I read posts like this, I wonder what has happened to vendors that think it's okay to just give 50% instead of 110%???? What's happened to taking pride in your work? I'm only going through a kitchen and master bath reno thankfully, but I am going through a similar situation with a really botched quartz installation in my kitchen. All this unnecessary confrontation...Just do it right the first time. It's comforting to know how other's are dealing with issues and, sorry to say, are going through the same unnecessary problems :(

Your lighting fixtures will definately bring a sparkle to each of your rooms and I can't wait to see your final pics. Overstock rocks and they are one company it's easy to do business with based on their great customer service.

I love all the sparkle you keep picking out! Your lighting choices just make me smile. The rest of your post terrifies me. Im so nervous something like that will happen with our house, but I know I can't drag all 3 kids to the new house everyday to check for the details. I'm glad you've found some compromises on their mistakes.

Bee, maybe you can do an upgrade later. We are 10 years out on moving into this house, so there are things we really couldn't have done earlier or if we were building and choosing for an entire house.

Love your marble tile, BTW. Keep us posted.

Even with relatively good GC's for our kitchen and family room remodels, we found we had to keep an eye on the work to catch mistakes. We love our family room GC because he didn't mind and even appreciated our help in finding things early when correction was easier and he was really responsive to our concerns.

OT, but I need some support and the pool forum isn't nearly as active. We are refinishing our pool. Since the shallow end has always been to deep, we decided to take advantage of the pool being drained to put in a bench making it shallower. It was a change that we made after the work started and, atypically, I didn't do a lot of research. Well, the contractor said extending the level of our bottom step would be about right and my usually reliable DH agreed. I brought up several times during the process that I was concerned that that might be too shallow, but I was busy with work and didn't push it. Now the work is done and the pool is filled. Yesterday when the workers left and it was starting to fill, I checked the shallow end and it's an awkward depth ~ 2.5 feet which will only be up to adult hips when standing and too deep for sitting. Now that its done, my DH finally sees my point and agrees.

I'm mad at myself for not listening to my gut and insisting that the level be lower and mad at DH for brushing off my concerns. It was bad advice from the pool company too, but I expect that they will say we signed off on it and take no responsibility for it. It will be big bucks to change if we decide we can't live with it. Last night I had a lot of trouble sleeping due to worry about it - the first time in all this remodeling.

So Bee, good job listening to your inner voice! I should have paid more attention to mine.

I wanted that Robert Abbey "Bling Chandelier" SO badly but just couldn't justify the cost. I haven't been able to find a good knock-off because I wanted it in the bronze finish. I love yours and I hope it looks perfect in your new bathroom :-)

A friend of mine has the "hanging chandelier" you order and I have seen it in person. It is beautiful! Enjoy it. I'm jealous.

New SoutherBelle--the Square ONe? Yipee! So hard to go out on a limb and order something without finding one review on it!

Update on my flooring....As of 9:21 am on Monday, no answer yet. They are working on it. Looks like the flooring company is having to take the fall since they knew it was supposed to be 3 1/4 but when the PO said "standard", it didn't raise a flag with them. They were supposed to call if the selections sheet they received didn't match the PO. Personally I think both parties are at fault.

Keep all those GW fingers crossed.....

And as far as listening to that inner voice....Oprah taught me that. That may have been the most common lesson weaved into all those shows. (not that I got to watch too many times, but you know what I mean).

bee - good luck with everything and insist on that flooring for the rest of your house! We had something a little bit similar with our reno: they sent the wrong tile for DS's bathroom and it was installed before I caught the mistake (we were living in a rental.) I said they could either rip it out and put in the right stuff, or upgrade my backsplash. They upgraded as I was sure they would; the upgrade on the materials was very little compared to the labor that ripping out and reinstalling tile would have been.

cbusmom: "I wanted that Robert Abbey "Bling Chandelier" SO badly but just couldn't justify the cost. I haven't been able to find a good knock-off because I wanted it in the bronze finish." FWIW: my sister had a similar chandy but with yellow brass trim for the rim, arms, etc. She took off the crystals and spray painted the metal parts with metal-finish spray paint (in a dark bronze) and swapped out the chain. It took some work, but turned out GREAT and it looks like a whole new light. Just a thought in case you're brave enough to try it on a new light. (Hers was a few years old.)

I was looking to see how you are making out, Bee, and I remembered when my SIL was having her condo built. The builders woud do a deck for her and she said she thought that she would wait a while and have her own deck done later. She checked the house one evening and lo and behold.........there was a deck added on to her place! I guess they were supposed to add it next door! She did settle with them, though.

12:35 on Monday.....still waiting. Everybody at the builder thinks my request is reasonable. I guess they are still waiting for someone at the flooring store to give the stamp of approval.

I hate waiting.

I just keep checking my email.

Got it. ALL of it.

All 3 additional spaces. Study, Living Room, and upstairs hallway.

Now, do I have the guts to ask the builder for the credit for the upgraded carpet pad that we won't be using?

LOL!!!

Thanks Chicagoans! I did think about doing that, but I chickened out. I

YAY, Bee! So glad that you got all that you asked for.

My flooring was just delivered today and there are problems. I thought of you... Fair but firm. Wish me luck tomorrow when they come for the inspection! :)

Credit for pad? No brainer.

Well done Bee! Great news.

WOW! So glad it worked out.......was on pins and needles awaiting your answer! Can't wait to see your vision completed!!

Bee

Would you mind sharing the color floor you used in your kitchen? I just saw the kitchen post and it looks great! The cabinets are amazing. I noticed how pretty the floor looked and loved the stain color. What is that stain and where did you buy those amazing drawer pulls?

kamkar--The flooring we are using is by Mohawk, the color is Saddlebrook. I was a bit disappointed when making our selections for this house. I had in my mind a dark espresso floor. That would have been available if we chose an engineered floor that was a lot more expensive. So I picked the darkest of the 4 choices I was given with this floor. I am very happy with it. I think the espresso color may go out of style before we are ready to leave this home and this floor seems pretty traditional to me.

Hope this helps.

Bee

Thanks Bee. We are given 3 1/4 oak but then we have to pick a miniwax stain and I just cannot decide between jacobean or espresso, I also tried a blend of both which I did not like either! You just cannot tell how it will come out. Your floor looks classic.

Where did you get your pretty drawer pulls?

Thanks!