DREAM KITCHENS INC

Unfortunately, the “kitchen design” contract required payment up front ($2500- LOTS of money) for one design and two iterations. I was left extremely disappointed when the "design" was so simplistic that I kept thinking the real design would be forthcoming. Trapped in a "no refund" deal, I kept nudging the designer with inspirational references, but no creative, comprehensive and personalized design emerged. The "final" design looks like a trailer kitchen that needs to be updated, not my dream $50,000 new kitchen for our $600k home. I recommend you pay AFTER you’re happy with their design, if you go with Dream Kitchens. They use the same "design" software as Home Depot, yet Home Depot is free, patient, takes time to suggest materials sourcing, and tries on different product lines ‘til you’re satisfied with style v. budget. Dream Kitchens' output from the same software is far higher resolution and includes lighting and wine and cheese trays, so there could be merit in the higher fidelity view of what you're planning... but they kept not updating pervasive details that kept me from seeing how the kitchen would look! Green walls, fat hanging shelves, yellow countertops – remained long after I requested them be out of the plan. This adds to my resentment over being admonished by the owner because they did “extra” iterations. Maybe my contemporary / midcentury style is outside their domain, though they have a nice such display in their showroom. The designer once suggested I "go visit places who design that sort of thing" to figure it out. So I sent a 49-page set of examples, to which she responded with an update only adding an awkward new position for a shelf (still fat) in the middle of a wall. In the bitter end, I threw away their "designs" and used the elevations to design my own in Photoshop. Cost me 1.5 months full time to get my design done. If I didn’t have that skill and the option to work on my kitchen design while putting my profession on hold, I don’t know how I’d get a kitchen design – because I sure don’t have another $2500 – or even $250 to get the professional help I sought at the outset. I have NEVER been so disappointed in an investment. I have a high regard for design and believe good design saves time and money in the long run. Designers have a responsibility to satisfy their customers. When I let the owner know I was not satisfied and requested only half my money back (I said I'd rather have my money back than write a bad review) he copied his lawyer in a snarky email response saying he'd "...defend (his) reputation to the full extent of the law". He got very nasty, accusing me of insincerity, lying, threatening to defame, asking for a job (?!?! :O), being unable to afford what I like, suggesting that he coerced me to design my kitchen, and he made fun of my “despair”. DEFINITELY call the references and be sure your style expectations are within Design Kitchens’ toolkit, ‘cause you don’t want to let them know they’ve disappointed you. YUK.

From start to finish, Rick and his top designer, Audrey took us from concept to completed remodel. Audrey provided us with a 3D rendering of the work before we started so there were absolutely no surprises during execution of the work. Their design concepts were creative and fresh and their job performance made us feel very comfortable at every step in the process. The end result was a remodeled kitchen and den that were simply spectacular. We get complements from everyone who sees it. In addition, Rick made on-site visits throughout the process to insure the work was up to his standards. Who could ask for more. Dream Kitchens is the go-to place for any remodeling needs. We were impressed with their integrity and honesty. Bravo on a remodeling job well done.

We started with an architect. It was a painfully slow process. If we made any changes, there would be at least a 2 week lag time for those changes to be made. Furthermore, the drawings did not account for some of the unique structural features of our home, and practicalities of how we wanted to use the kitchen. We started looking for alternatives and we came across Dream Kitchens. Rick and Karen were awesome. They came out to our home and took measurements. We met them at their showroom where they presented several options for our kitchen. We chose 1 and they were able to make adjustments right on the spot. Later, Karen came up with computerized sketches of what our kitchen would look like. WE WERE SOLD. The cabinets were ended up choosing were comparable to others we had already priced. Their construction drawings were easy for our carpenter to follow, and Rick and Karen made regular visits to make sure things were going as planned. On 1 visit we ran across an issue to make the plumbing for washing machine up to code. Rick came up with a brilliant idea which our plumber was able to execute perfectly. Had it not been for Rick, we would have been moving the washer and dryer to the basement! The work was completed early 2012, as we could not have been happier. The renderings were almost an exact match of finished product. There have been no problems with the cabinets of drawers.

We are now in our 5th year having our "New" kitchen it was a huge project. Rick & His team came up with excellent storage ideas as we have a lot of stuff in our kitchen as we are Jewish and keep kosher so we have 2 sets of everything. He created a Kosher Kitchen that met our needs and lots of shelving units. Rick & his Designer Audrey is who we worked with really listened to what we needed it was not a simple project and created our beautiful kitchen. & enlarged it to 2 times it's original size! We are now moving onto the bathrooms 2013 which will be starting in 2 weeks....as we are having some major issues. After interviewing 6-7 diff companies including Dreams Kitchen we decided to also hire them to do our Bathrooms. I shouldn't have wasted my time looking for someone else but, we had to interview other people. We are excited once again to be working with them. His pricing is right in the middle He stays on budget gets job done on time and is honest and trustworthy. They have awesome ideas. When Bathroom is complete I will leave another review!:)

I had the team at Dream Kitchens design my own dream kitchen!!! Rick, Karen, and Audrey all worked together to give me a real functional kitchen in such a small space. They helped me all along the way and I’m ecstatic with how it turned out. Matt’s crew were really professional; keeping the site extremely clean and providing me with daily progress reports. The communication and customer service was top notch. They did such a good job on my kitchen I let them do the bathroom too. I would definitely recommend them to family and friends.

After the final decisions for the new kitchen were made, I was given all of the detailed information regarding the project: quote for materials/products to be ordered, floor plan, elevations, labor contract with payment schedule. Dream Kitchens kept me informed on every aspect of the renovation. It was helpful to know when each step of the process was going to take place and reassuring to know that it would be done when stated. The contractor Matt and his crew were prompt, friendly, experienced in their specialties, and considerate in their care of my house. They were very professional. For MY first experience with a renovation project, I must say that Dream Kitchens made it very easy. The end result is striking! It's hard to believe that such a transformation would have been possible. Everyone who has seen my new kitchen has praised the design, workmanship and materials. I would not hesitate to contact Dream Kitchens for any further updates to my home and would highly recommend them to anyone who was looking to have a kitchen or bath remodeled.

They were very professional and I’m satisfied overall!

Great experience sorry we did not have them install.

Rick and his team designed my kitchen based on the available space, purchased the best products at the best value and installed everything to my great satisfaction. I want to use them again for a backsplash I need. I highly recommend Dream Kitchens for design, purchase and install services.

Rick and his team were excellent to work with. They have wonderful design ideas. They printed out computer generated pictures of what the kitchen would look like with the cabinet choices we were considering. The final kitchen looks exactly like the option we chose. Dream Kitchens gave us excellent guidance on the appearance of the kitchen. Their ability to maximize the utility of our space surpassed our expectations. We were very pleased with the skill of the installers they used.

This company was not at all responsive to my problems. Had I not had a fabulous designer, Holly J. Waxman, to intercede, I don't think the job would have been completed to my satisfaction. The problem is not with their work or quality of their work, it is with their customer service and rapport.

This company never finished the cabinet install. Their carpenters left dried glue and wood shavings all over the inside of my cabinets. There are exposed nail holes in the moldings. They sanded against the wood grain. Molding joints are sagging. Cabinet shelves were ordered too large. The carpenters cut one of the cabinet sides so poorly that moisture was able to penetrate the wood and it is now warping. They also let one of my indoor animals out after specifically asking the carpenters to keep the door closed. The result was that the animal died within six months after incurring expensive vet bills. For months after the install I asked for the above items to be addressed. I kept being told that the owner would call. I received one voicemail in all that time. I should not have to chase them down. In current communications, they are making up a conversation we supposedly had when they dropped off additional molding (I was not home) that I would take care of the outstanding issues myself. Why would I do that when I paid them to handle the install? At the same time, they are insisting that I never told them about these issues. They keep lying and are trying to deny any accountability. Do not sue this company. I've opened a BBB case on this issue.

It worked out very well. We were pleased that the cost was as it was supposed to be, the time frame was what they led us to expect, and that the work was done very neatly.

I wanted a one-stop shop to help me remodel my kitchen--I did not want a drawn out process, nor did I want to be a project manager. Rick was both helpful and respectful in helping me think through the options for my small kitchen. He and Karen produced three options of varying ambition for me to consider and presented them in ways that were easy to visualize and evaluate. I felt Rick worked hard to respect my budget and to be creative about designing a maximally-functional kitchen within those constraints. And Karen invested a lot of time and energy thinking about finishes and details that fit my style and house. In the end, for reasons that have little to do with my experiences with Rick, I ultimately turned over the project to an architect-friend with long ties to my family. To Rick's credit, he was game to try to make this threesome work. He invested significant time translating the architect's work into their software and added ideas for maximizing the functionality of the space. Ultimately I decided I needed a simpler process (throw in my husband's opinions and we had too many cooks in this kitchen!). I paid Rick extra for his time and help, and turned over the project to the architect, knowing that I was sacrificing an expedient player (my kitchen may get built sometime this summer; then again, maybe by Christmas). I would use Dream Kitchens again on another project. I found them attentive, prompt and professional.

Overall, we were very pleased with the work from start to finish. The Dream Kitchens designer really listened to what we wanted and did not want. There were only 3 or 4 minor changes to the original plan she designed. A few things had to be adjusted after work had begun but that was due to hidden things behind the walls or floor. We were consulted on all "adjustments" and they were handled in a mutually agreed upon way. They did not begin to gut the kitchen until after the cabinets had been ordered and were about 2 weeks away from being delivered. This shortened our down time for the kitchen. Gutting took about 3 or 4 days, total! When the walls were cut down to widen the doors and add the pass-through there was a considerable amount of dust. They tried to do their best by covering the areas and sealing off the kitchen. It did help somewhat. The kitchen was ready for the cabinets to be installed when they arrived on time. This was the longest part of the work. Each custom cabinet had to be put together and fitted into place. While this was being done the electrical work for the new outlets and appliances had to be done as well. After the cabinets and appliances were completed, the lighting, including under cabinet lighting, and the painting were done. A countertop installer was called in to properly measure for the counters. While we waited for the countertops the flooring was installed and the baseboards and trim were completed. The countertops arrived 4 days early! They came back within 2 weeks to do any "touch-ups" and answer any questions we had. All-in-all the workmen were very nice, professional, and efficient. They were friendly and considerate. They handled minor set-backs professionally and with keeping additional costs to a minimum.

This was a total gut of our existing kitchen. We moved into our home and the kitchen was completely inadequate, so we took some rudimentary measurements and went to a few hardware stores and Dream Kitchens. The hardware stores entered my measurements in their computers and gave me a price. Dream Kitchens went to my home and remeasured (correctly), and optimized my kitchen so we would end up with more counter-space and cabinets than we originally thought we could have. I dealt directly with the owner, Rick Glickman, who was very responsive and treated us professionally. My husband and I wanted to buy the cheap cabinets but Rick suggested a better quality product at a comparable price. His installers worked quickly to dismantle my existing cabinets (and preserve them so we can reuse them in another room of the house). The entire project took a week from tear-down to a finished kitchen. Overall, it was a great experience and we highly recommend Rick and Dream Kitchens.

I liked the fact that everything was paid for in advance so there was little to take care of in the end. I liked working with the owner and his designer. The owner is very friendly and open and the designer, Karen Feldheim, was very creative, imaginative and especially thorough. She made sure as the work progressed things were done correctly and was able to communicate this with our contractor.

I sat with the Dream Kitchens team a few times to communicate my vision for the kitchen. I wanted an infinite number of people to hang around and kibitz WHILE three people cooked. It's a kosher kitchen with a traditional feel. The design team found what I thought to be the optimal look and feel and we began work. Karen designed a special tile backsplash featuring handmade black glass 2x2 tiles with charcoal grout. Spectacular. Once the room was prepped for plumbing and electric, the cabinets were installed quickly. One week later the countertops came (black granite). Then appliances and finishing touches. Only two callbacks were required, to replace one cabinet drawer that wasn't quite right, and tightening something on one of the two dishwashers.

They did an excellent job. The designer was great. We were introduced to the owner and informed we could get in contact with him any time. The communication between the two was impeccable. They were great in my suggestions and making their own. I wanted the flooring to match through out into the dining room. The coordination between all of the services needed was excellent as well. They helped me save money on the cabinets and made it possible to get the back splash I wanted (beautiful). They were cooperative and when the tile came in, it turned out to be the wrong tile. My husband called and let me know, they stopped immediately and made sure everything was correct before moving on. It ended up that the tile company did send the wrong tiles. The removed the wrong ones with out hesitation to make sure we were 100% happy. There were some challenges with the association, and they were creative to work around the restrictions and still make the improvements work for everyone's approval. The entire process was great and my kitchen is absolutely beautiful and functions perfectly.

The overall product exceeded my expectations. I was thrilled with all 3 rooms. They had predicted about 3-4 months to complete which was accurate. After completion they often stopped by with minor repairs. I actually had a major problem with the floor tiling in one area of the kitchen and they replaced all the tiles (stones) in that area about 8 months after completing the job. I would highly recommend this company!

The quality of the design and installation work was absolutely fantastic. The kitchen and bathrooms are the most beautiful I've ever seen! They came up with design features that we never would have thought of and they are all fantastic. All of our family and friends are in awe when they walk through the house. All of the people were terrific to work with. And everything (cabinets, countertops, fixtures, etc.) was ready and waiting when our contractor had the room ready. Our general contractor said that for most projects, he generally has to wait for something to come in, such as the kitchen cabinets, and he was amazed that Dream Kitchens always had everything there when he was ready for it. Their organizational skills and process for knowing the current project status and what the next steps were was fantastic. The quality of work performed by the Dream Kitchens installers was fantastic - even our general contractor, who has worked with all kinds of kitchen/bath design firms, was very impressed. Any small glitches, which are inevitable in a project this size - such as a medicine cabinet having to be re-ordered because it didn't fit the space, a mirror that was broken and had to be re-ordered - were readily and easily taken care of. Our remodeling project was very large, but it went surprisingly smoothly. The people we worked with always kept us apprised of the status of things and always responded the very same day when we called or emailed them with a question. And the end result of our remodeling project far surpasses our wildest dreams and expectations. The cost was much higher than the original estimate but that was due to the complexity of the final kitchen design (requiring all custom cabinets) and the high-end products we selected. We would highly recommend Dream Kitchens to anyone considering a kitchen or bath remodeling project.

Our experience with Dream Kitchens has been outstanding. They designed then acted as Contractor for the entire remodeling of our Kitchen and Powder Room. The construction required extensive demolition. The job was completed within a reasonable time and looks as beautiful as the computer simulation given in the design stage. Some damage was done to other flooring and Dream Kitchen paid to re-floor the entire first floor which cost in excess of $3,000. All without an argument. They are a pleasure to work with and we plan to hire them again for bathroom remodeling. We were able to maintain contact with their office at all times and they were responsive to any questions or problems. The workmen came when scheduled.

We used Dream Kitchens twice because the first experience was so excellent. All phases of the project were as good as it gets. Dream Kitchens provided personalized service, The designer was superb and with the kitchen and addition, the designs were compatible with our existing home. This was something we desired and they more than complied offering superb ideas adding important details that vastly improved the end product. Construction was on time, within budget, and seemed to have less of the construction dust and dirt than we expected. We also found that Dream Kitchens offered excellent follow-up after the job was completed. If we needed anything, they responded quickly. When an issue arose with a bedroom cabinet after the warranty period, they resolved the issue for no charge. If you are looking for a professional, responsive, honorable business for home improvement, we strongly recommend Dream Kitchens.

From beginning to end, the project was marked by ineffective oversight, uneven workmanship, unreliable suppliers, poor communication, and disregard for schedules. The following are selected supporting examples: EXAMPLE 1: In the first week, an over-eager, inexperienced workman knocked down the wall between the Master Bath and my husband's office. Rick Glickman promised that the top priority would be getting the office back to functionality. For the following three months, the workmen not only didn't put the office back to rights, but proceeded to use it as a staging area, thus making the space completely unusable. EXAMPLE 2: Every piece of custom cabinetry was wrong in some way: the cabinet in the Master Bath was five inches shorter than spec. The top of the radiator cover in Bath 1 was built wrong, twice. These problems were identified on site when a workman would be ready to install. EXAMPLE 3: Materials were not ordered to be on site at the beginning of the project, although this was what had been described as Dream Kitchen's process. EXAMPLE 4: The shower enclosure for the Master Bath was ordered with a promise of "two to three week" delivery. After five weeks, the shower door company discovered that the order had never been submitted. EXAMPLE 5: The exhaust fan in the Master Bath was installed incorrectly, inside and out. Not until water started to pour from the ceiling in late December did anyone from Dream Kitchens check the work to discover that the exterior had been jerry-rigged with a tall cap-less pipe and that the interior ductwork had been angled improperly. We had a hole in our new bath ceiling for months. EXAMPLE 6: The Master Bath took nearly three months from beginning to punch list stage, although we had been told to expect four to six weeks. The second bath (6 by 8, no moving of fixtures) took three months. We'd been promised two to three weeks. EXAMPLE 6: The contractor for Bath 1 did not follow specs. The wainscoting was installed using different material, different height, different moldings, different baseboards, and different corner treatment. EXAMPLE 7: The painting of the Master Bath could hardly have been more unprofessional: paint spattered on new fixtures, no prep work, improper materials, paint dripped and hardened on new wood, places skipped. Throughout, the communication flow was unrealistic (me to Dream Kitchen's project manager to contractor to subcontractor). I resorted to writing memos and taking pictures to document what was happening (or not happening). I have 42 memos on file that trace the course of this project. At this point we are still trying to recover the money that's owed to us: $1043 for the exhaust fan work, $5730.93 for the design and materials credit, $350 for ceiling repair/repainting because of the exhaust fan leak, and $1310.67 for repainting the Master Bath. Everything was documented and sent to Dream Kitchens more than two months ago. No response.

Mr. Glickman, owner of Dream Kitchens, had no regard for our satisfaction in this project. He admitted to my husband that we had not okayed the changes his firm decided to include on the final drawings, but said the work had been performed and for that he should be paid. We never disputed paying his designers for the work they performed, but it was he who said we would be getting money back and it was he who displayed a bullying attitude in conversation with my husband that led us to think we should cut our losses and not get in any deeper with his company. We still believe he should keep his word and return the $2100 he said we would be getting back.