The Kitchen Specialist

After spending nearly $200,000 for cabinets, we had an installation problem (per their own installer). They refused to reimburse me for this repair. I would never use this company again for any issue.

I would have not been as happy with my major investment had I not used their professional help. I had thought I knew how I wanted it until I realized everything I was missing in their design contributions. They guided me through the kitchen layout, cabinet finish and selection. I got the lighting plan I wanted and needed for the kitchen. My counter top selection was also double checked by the designer and backsplash! They took all of the worry out of my choices, because they new all the considerations of each choice. and helped me plan the function of each room. My husband is extra tall and large, they included his size in their dimensions! The installer they use is a great professional, and extreme perfectionist. I was so thankful he did the work in our home. The designer also worked the builder and me to insure the lighting was placed right in the bathrooms and the tile installation was correct. I would not have known to make them re-do the bad installation. The kitchen specialist is a design group deserving of your trust and investment. If I could post photos, they would speak for themselves!

Unlike many other cabinet designer/dealers, Mary requires a significant "design fee" before she provides a cost estimate. We tried to be clear about our budget before paying a $3500 fee that was to be credited to the cost of cabinets, but she somehow took our upper limit as a "target" or starting point. When cost estimates came in about 25-30% higher than we had budgeted, we asked for ways to reduce costs. Her only suggestion was to get another estimate from one of her recommended general contractors, which was nearly identical to the first estimate. The contractor said that his costs were typical for this type of job. We told her that we would not proceed on that basis and asked her what she proposed to resolve our situation. She did not provide a response for two weeks despite several calls to her, and I finally emailed her and asked for a refund of our design fee. She then sent an email detailing the many ways that she supposedly could have reduced our costs (although still not within our budget range), but claimed that 1) "I was not asked to meet with you to reduce the figures" and she felt that she had somehow been "brushed off" despite my phone calls to her and 2) that she had thought she told us that our cost upper limit was a "target." She offered a small $750 refund of our $3500 fee, which we did not accept. We think that she entered into our contract knowing that she would not meet our budget, and she assumed that she could talk us into a higher price. Bottom line: do not pay a cabinet dealer without first receiving a cost estimate in writing. We want a refund of our $3500 design fee.