We engaged Lee in July 2013 to provide design work for a complete gutting and remodeling of our 1960's split-level kitchen. Our plan was to also purchase our cabinets, counter and sink from Lee Tripi Design. The contract was $1,750 for 10 hours of design work at $175/hour. Lee Assured us that this would cover the complete design time and that he would actually spend far more hours (at no extra charge) overseeing the entire project, from beginning to end.
Approximately three weeks after making a site visit, Lee emailed a hand-drawn simple floor plan that was essentially our existing kitchen layout with the addition of an island (our suggestion) -- and with multiple inaccuracies, among them: the exterior door was placed squarely into an existing window, the range dimensions, and therefore adjoining cabinets, were incorrect, and it included seating on the end of the island, though we had expressly stated not wanting this, as it intruded well into the dining room.
Proceeding on the assumption that more accurate and detailed drawings, incorporating our wishes (and maybe some expert “design” ideas), would be forthcoming, we met with Lee, selected a cabinet finish from his one line of cabinets (though we originally understood he carried at least two) and counters in wood and quartz from his two lines of counters. We solicited bids from contractors, including the one referred by Lee. As bids came in, and Lee casually mentioned cabinet costs in the $20K range, it was starting to look like we would be exceeding our original $50K budget by at least 60%. (Lee's referred contractor, which he applied considerable pressure for us to use, submitted a cost+ estimate that was 100% higher than our lowest bid.) We were prepared to adjust our budget, but needed some realistic numbers to work with.
At this point, we very clearly (verbally and in a detailed email) expressed the necessity of nailing costs down and requested hard numbers for all of the major items we would be purchasing from Lee. Nearly a week later, we received an email that gave somewhat vague and incomplete estimate totals for a few of those items requested. (This included an estimate for our island counter that was 50% higher than we had been originally told.) The sink, toe-kicks, hardware and installation were not noted. And we still did not have an accurate drawing (so I am a bit mystified how cabinet costs could have been worked up).
Having failed to provide a single accurate drawing or any kind of formal quote for our $25-30K in materials, over the course of more than two months, we could only conclude that Lee was either unwilling or unable to complete the work for which he was hired. As we hoped to get this project done before the holidays, we terminated the relationship with Lee in early September and subsequently requested an accounting of hours and — given that the sum total of Lee's work had been two in-store meetings, one site visit and one inaccurate simple floor plan — expected some refund.
Lee's accounting of his $175-per-hour "design" time included $875 for the one unworkable sketch he provided (see image) and $700 for "product research." We do not consider pricing our cabinet and counter selection -- that we were buying from him – as either design time or "product research." Nor can we understand what "research" took place, given that we chose from the single cabinet line he carried. Regardless, precise pricing was never even provided.
At $175 per hour, we would have expected some actual design work, but would have settled for working drawings and a formal quote for materials. Lee was most certainly given a reasonable chance to complete the work and simply did not. He was wholly unprofessional in his dealings with us.
We have just completed our kitchen renovation using another designer.
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