INTERNATIONAL KITCHENS

This is our 3rd kitchen project in our 3rd house. We decided for International Kitchens because it was close to a European style high quality kitchen we had before. Designer Sarah C. did good job with the design and understands what we are looking. She was creative, listen to us and we had the impression we are in good hands. We decided for Miele Appliances in highest quality including Miele induction cooktop and International Kitchens gave us the impression that they know what they do and have enough experience from other projects. Decision for the cabinets was "Crystal Cabinets" in white with natural grain and it looked great. The drawings looked perfect, they measured a couple of times to "double check" and we were looking forward to have a perfect kitchen in our new construction home. After signing the contract and waiting for the project to start the 5 month (and not ending) nightmare starts. On August 25th 2014 was the demolish work scheduled to start. IK sub-contracted a construction company who had a look to the project at our house (demolish and installation of cabinets etc.) before. We removed everything including the items in the living room, covered the furniture with protective sheets a day before. After waiting 2h we called IK and they excused but cannot start at the Monday, we have to wait until Wednesday. We wait and no one showed up again. The owner of the construction company called me and told me that he never planned to start and that there is no existing contract between him and IK. I was shocked because time was ticking fast and the project on risk due the dependencies (appliances delivery, countertop delivery etc.). When I digged into the details we realized that IK put in their offer a different prize per hour for the labor work than the subcontractor estimate and that the project calculation was different (half the time). The construction company told me they only will work on this project if I directly contract them on a time and material base because of their bad experience with IK in other projects. At that time there was no other workaround and we had to move from a fix price with IK to a time & material price with the construction company. After the project started on September 2nd and the first cabinets and the island are installed we realized that IK measured wrong and we need additional hard floor to cover the gap for the kitchen island, we have to live with a workaround for the Miele Hood because the vent outlet was measured wrong and the above cabinets don?t cover it (imagine it is a very clean and clear line and design). The project management by IK was not existing and we had to deal with every detail directly. If you think the story ends you are wrong. The oven frame was measured wrong and they have to order a new one, the door for the cabinet where the Miele hood is integrated was too long, the fridge door to short, the hood cabinet was designed wrong ignoring the instruction guidance by Miele. Albert Lee had to find a workaround to install it. The trim of the above cabinets had a different color. The shelves left and right have been measured wrong (one to long, one to short, and both with the wrong depth). The fridge door panel was too short. In the meantime it was October. The new parts have been delivered and guess what: the oven frame was wrong again, one shelve was too short the channel for the indirect lightning on both shelves had a different width than the ones in the cabinets. The door for the hood cabinet has boreholes for hinges but the above cabinets don't have hinges, they have Blum Aventos and Blum Servodrive for Aventos. The only correct part was the fridge panel door. If you think that this was a good signal... it was not. IK started to do this work. We agreed but unfortunately IK mounted the fridge doors upside down so that the grain doesn't fit anymore. End of October 2014: the owner of IK gave us the honor to visit us and guaranteed that IK take care and fix everything. We trust him and believing that IK can fix it and stand behind their products. December: oven frame Nr.3 should arrived but didn't, shelve Nr. 3 should arrive but didn't. January 2015: final install and work on a committed punch list. Oven frame again wrong messured. We complain of one of the touch latch not working correct.. IK ordered a new one. But after installing the new ones they realized that the cabinet doors have two wrong hinges (after 5 month!). We are still waiting that they finish this work. Installing the trim at the hood cabinet IK scratched the Miele Hood with the excuse that the appliance dealer didn't deliver the correct screws. The fridge door and the hood trim is not flush and they are not willing to fix it. It looks like they fiy one issue from the punch list and creat 2 new one. Bottom line: IK has the ultimate opinion that they finish the punch list and they have to send us the hinges only to mount it by ourselves or the construction company and have the right to ask for the final payment and even with an incorrect invoice. I highly recommend steering clear unless you want to pay a pretty price to be lied to, false promises, ignored and verbally abused. Badest expierence ever, 2 + month without ability to cook, using a fridge or use a dishwasher. Unless they have a new staff, I highly recommend steering clear unless you want to pay a pretty price to be lied to, ignored, and verbally abused. In 30 years being a home owner we have never been mistreated as a valuable customer paying a lot of money for a kitchen that is not perfect and will never be and is not finished after 5 month.

The poor quality and code issues with our kitchen are unbelievable. We've had granite tiles come loose and fall multiple times, the cabinets are poor quality and we've had to reinforce multiple cabinet drawers. However, the worst issues have been electrical. We recently replaced the double ovens and found that International Kitchens and their electrical sub punched a hole in the drywall (with, what looks like a fist) and pulled a 50Amp circuit to the oven (presumably from the range that was located on the other end of the kitchen). They left about 6 feet of exposed wire with a J-box on the end wrapped up on top of the oven! This is a clear code violation and fire hazard. The circuit wire is also not attached to a stud behind the drywall. They also ran wire behind the cabinets, outside the drywall (again - completely exposed and not in any conduit) to wire the trash compactor. The can lights were loosely wired in the attic above the kitchen with no blanks over plastic boxes. Rats got into the attic and chewed the wires. We had to have an electrician replace and repair several wires. Finally (at least what we've found so far) there was an exposed electrical box behind the ovens where a receptacle used to be located prior to the remodel. Over time (even since we've been living in the home), the upper cabinets have sagged down from the ceiling so that there is a small gap between the cabinet and ceiling where the caulk has pulled away. The basket strainer on the sink was not seated properly and leaked (probably for years as the previous owners didn't bother to take care of the house) . We fixed that as soon as we moved in as that was easy to spot. A window seemed to be moved as well during the remodel. When we replaced the siding outside the kitchen area, we found a large exposed portion of insulation with NO sheathing or paper! We are very lucky the siding did not fail in that area. I am VERY angry with the lack of quality and documentation (I don't see evidence of any permits or inspections). I'm just glad we have now found most, if not all the issues and have had them properly repaired. I would highly recommend against using International Kitchens!

At the showroom I was given a design for my new kitchen; including cabinets and counter top. The cabinets were then ordered and installed. The install date was pushed back and I was not told when the cabinets would arrive. There was also quite a bit of turnover within the company that the gentleman who helped me with the design disappeared and I was transferred. Rarely were there follow-ups and four months later I'm still waiting for my garbage cans. The quality of the work is incredible but I had to do a lot of follow-up and confirmation to get everything in order.