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nancyburridge

Advice on Houzz

7 years ago

I was quite dissapointed several weeks ago when I posted a question asking about the recommended height from a range top to a custom hood and mantle. I made the error of posting photos of my kitchen. It seems some of the professionals on Houzz ignored the question I asked and took it upon themselves to bash the design of my kitchen. One man said, "Oh Boy! Where do I start!" Another told me to remove my cabinets and switch them around. I did not ask any of you for your opinion about my design. My design was commented upon very favorably by two kitchen designers I took it to for other specific products. In fact, one marveled at the detail of my design and said it was one of the best designed kitchens she had ever seen.


There was one exception to this negativity last year when a gentleman answered my question about my range in a polite and concise manner and I greatly appreciated that he answered my question thoroughly and added nothing more.


I have both purchased items and used the photos on house for inspiration, but sadly, I have quite often observed such negativity in response to questions from others seeking advice that I will not ask any more questions, neither will I post photos or recommend this site to others unless I issue a caveat specifically not to ask for advice.


My advice to the pros on this site is if you wish to attract prospective clients, perhaps first offer courtesy and refrain from unsolicited and unwanted advice. I hope that Houzz can rein in these 'unprofessional comments' before many more individuals lose respect for this site altogether.





Comments (20)

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I just checked the post you mentioned and I see not responses from any Pros. All the responses you received seemed to come from general public users.

  • 7 years ago

    I read it too and am confused. Perhaps some people deleted their responses?

  • 7 years ago

    It seems Houzz has the ability and does remove PRO commentary. Not sure the discriminating threshold for this....but it is occurring.

  • 7 years ago

    The responses on the post were trying to keep you from burning down your kitchen or asphyxiating yourself with a technically incorrect and terrible design. If you prefer to listen to advice from sellers flattering you and profiting off of selling you something that won't work, and that is stylistically inappropriate, then that's your loss. And your major expense.

    Dont forget the make up air system that is required for your set up. Carbon monoxide poisoning isn't pretty.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    This is a free internet forum. You get what you get. You are free to be intolerant of speech you pay for, not of speech you don't. Ignore the responses that do not suit you.

    PS I mean the above within the parameter of the Houzz/GW TOS, so no abusive speech, personal attacks, name calling, etc.

  • 7 years ago

    It is not uncommon at all in a forum (any forum) for a reply to the OP to be slightly off topic and then to take on its own life independent of the OP's original question. Sometimes a flurry of opinions come to light none of which has to do with the OP or the question. There are no moderators around to bring the discussions back to the topic unless you dive in yourself.

  • 7 years ago

    You do understand the reason for restricting combustibles above fire, right? And that covering wood with a non combustible surface doesn't take that wood out of the prohibited zone?


    What ARE you doing for make up air?

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    And while my response was flippant, I want to be clear, what you perceive as improper, I appreciate. I don't know what I don't know, so having feedback informing me that some things could be better or different is fine with me. I may not be in a position to change things based on the advice, or I may not agree with the advice, but I appreciate having more information in general.

    I have had a poster tell me my kitchen was unattractive, which was rude and uncalled for, but so what? I am not in kindergarten- and even when I was, my mother was pretty tough. I did not get blanket praise for my crayon drawings ;-)

  • 7 years ago

    You get what you pay for.

  • 7 years ago

    Note the response from GreenDesigns.

    There is no danger of me burning down my kitchen. Originally, I asked a simple question. I do my research. Your commentary was not needed, nor is it now. Your comment here reflects perfectly what I am talking about.


    herbflavor

    I am hopeful that Houzz is removing some of the comments from those who are representing themselves as professionals. It has been a good site except for this major flaw.

    Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

    As far as not being permitted to be intolerant of speech on my question, please ask yourself why others might be free to say anything they wish but I would not be free to respond on a free forum.

    dchall_san_antonio

    On my original post, there was only one comment to my question that was worthwhile; the other comments were not worth diving into. One might expect a higer degree of professionalism than those who responded.

    As for this commentary, I am finished. I thought all the other individuals out there who have received similar responses might like to know that it is okay to speak out. This is not a debate. It is a statement.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I was curious, so of course I had to look at the thread.

    The first response (which did not include the phrase "where do I start" btw) gave you very solid technical advice -- yes, safety advice that you asked for, and important things to consider -- and did include where to look for the answer to your specific question: "Third, your range manufacturer will have specified the distances from combustible material that have to be met. This is independent of whether they are faced with sheetrock or other nominally non-combustible materials. "

    The remaining comments were off topic, I will grant you that, but were harmless enough and should have been easily ignored. Also, none were made by anyone representing themselves as a professional. In a public forum like this one, no, you can't expect a higher degree of professionalism from non-professionals.

    But now you have had professionals telling you that yes, there is a danger of burning down your kitchen with a hood made of wood. Did either of the designers that complimented your design discuss that with you?

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I was quite dissapointed several weeks ago when I posted a question asking about the recommended height from a range top to a custom hood and mantle.

    Not having seen the thread earlier, I looked it up. I don't understand the point of the question. Your kitchen is all but done, you've already committed to a 48" width ... it seems to me that the decisions have already been made, and any last-minute questions would be best directed to maker of the custom hood.

    My design was commented upon very favorably by two kitchen designers I took it to for other specific products. In fact, one marveled at the detail of my design and said it was one of the best designed kitchens she had ever seen.

    Two KDs liked the idea of the sink and the range being placed on separate cabinet runs ... with an island between them? Maybe I looked at the wrong kitchen.

    Is it fair to say that you designed this space, you poured your heart and soul into it, it is your baby, and ANY criticism of this space feels super personal to you?

    I will not ask any more questions, neither will I post photos

    Okay, thanks for letting us know.

    Dont forget the make up air system that is required for your set up. Carbon monoxide poisoning isn't pretty.

    A friend of mine lost her husband to CM poisoning. I was always aware of this possibility in a general sense, but now I'm very afraid of it and am much more serious about CM detectors. Everyone should take this topic seriously.

    It is not uncommon at all in a forum (any forum) for a reply to the OP to be slightly off topic and then to take on its own life independent of the OP's original question.

    Yes, and this often leads to good discussion.

  • 7 years ago

    As far as not being permitted to be intolerant of speech on my question, please ask yourself why others might be free to say anything they wish but I would not be free to respond on a free forum.



    Who said you were not free to gripe? You are being told it's not a good look. You are not being told to abstain. Gripe all you want.





  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Are you on any other social media at all? I find this forum really gentle compared to what is on Facebook, or worse, Instagram.

    You ask for free advice, and people generously make the time and effort to respond. Your post about feeling affronted sounds petulant. Of course those cabinet salespeople or KDs told you it was all marvelous. They are too busy to deal with the stuff in your OP had they said anything but that.

    “I will not ask any more questions, neither will I post photos”

    That is a good idea. You will be happier, and people on this forum can spend their time on other people who want advice who recognize how expensive a kitchen is and want it done right.

  • 7 years ago
    Nancy, you got good advice and no insults as far as I can see on your thread. Not sure what you’re so upset about...no pros even chimed in.
  • 7 years ago
    This is a FREE site, on the Internet, where you are not likely to have everyone respond as you’d hoped and get sunshine and roses blown up your backside the way you purport the 2 kitchen designers did when you showed them your space. If they were so stunned by your amazingness, why not go back to them for the advice you sought? Because you’d have to pay for it? Well, perhaps there are many lessons learned here for you. If you only want to hear what you want to hear - find someone to take your money to parrot back to you what you want to hear, I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to find that. However, if you’re open to honest advice and perhaps a little constructive criticism, then use a free forum where you may not hear everything you thought or wanted to, but just may pick up some additional insight that could be helpful. I read through the thread and see nothing worth getting this worked up over, but if all you were expecting was praise and amazement over your design and choices, then I can maybe understand a little disappointment especially given the aforementioned sunshine blowing. News flash: it’s not all puppies and rainbows on the Internet, and of all the crazy and outright rude things I have seen on this forum, yours doesn’t even come close to cracking the top 50. So if you’re so sensitive that this is going to send you into such a frenzy, then do yourself and the rest of the community here that values the information and people giving it and delete your profile and forget you ever found this site.
  • 7 years ago

    I took a second look at that post, and those plans. Placing wood inside the prohibited zone for combustibles is a very real fire hazard. A 12"-18"H mantle hood is didpropotionate yo Amy kitchen. But it is especially disproportionate to such a large range. No attention to scale or the reality of the space limitations was involved in the planning stage.

  • 7 years ago

    Obviously the "snarky" answers were removed from her original question.

    I think Nancy raises several valid points in her current post. This site is not hosted by a non profit agency. Houzz is in the business of making money, selling advertising and products. It promotes this end by encouraging people to view, ask questions about and tell each other about products, services and their applications. Houzz wants a lively site, but would find it counterproductive to alienate people from participating in their "business of making money" forum. I learn a great deal from this forum and appreciate the vast experience and ideas it presents, but I will probably never be brave enough to ask for advice. Those few responders, who seem to take pleasure in expressing their distain about less knowledgeable posters, will keep me from asking for help. (That and my lack of computer skills.)

    The internet can present a temptation to express one's opinion or judgement or plain annoyance without the constraints found in more personal interactions. I do understand the sincerity and importance of responders concerned about safety issues and particulary fire hazards. I'm not expecting empty "it looks wonderful" comments and the humor in some of the off the wall - left field answers makes me laugh, but IMHO neither should this forum become an outlet for thoughtless comments to other posters. I hope that Pros and non pros strive to make their advice, opinions, safety concerns, knowledge experience and comments within a non-judgemental framework.


    nancyburridge thanked hazelcraddock
  • 7 years ago

    You were actually pretty lucky. kaseki answered your post on ventilation. While not listed as a Pro he knows more about that subject than anyone else on these forums and more than KDs. Follow his suggestions and get someone who can understand the technical information he linked Here. It will take some high level analysis, but that was the real answer.

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