My KD came in at $180,000 when he knew my max was $150,000
taliaferro
16 years ago
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rmkitchen
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agosjerin
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
My Pallatine Order Came Today!
Comments (27)What comes next is all based on my experience and the advice of a well-trusted rose friend (ARS CR and all-around great guy). I originally had my shipment scheduled for delivery in early March, thinking that our zone 7 winter would be too much for new bare roots. While we were talking about something else one day, my friend mentioned Pallatine Roses. I told him that I had a shipment from them for March delivery. He asked why I didn't have them delivered in November. "November?", I asked, naively. He told me to pot them and keep them in my garage, knowing that I have been keeping potted roses for 3 years now. The cold garage will keep them dormant, but will protect them from the drying winds. I trusted his advice, and I changed my shipment date. Marina, to keep potted roses over the winter, you don't have to shuffle them in and out of the garage. Keep them in the garage and check on them every once in a while. Just make sure they don't go completely dry, but don't water them too much either. The idea is to keep them dormant. They won't need lots of sunlight because they're not growing. A bit of in and out will be necessary in the spring to harden them to outside conditions, but it's not as much as it would be if they were being held in a warmer space (like a greenhouse). As to planting them and mounding them, I don't think it's cold enough here for that yet. Don't you winter-protect roses like that after things have frozen? We've had frost a couple of nights here in Stafford, but no hard freeze yet. I went to HD this morning to get the ingredients to make up a few batches of potting mix (scotts garden soil, perlite, and spaghnum moss). I'll go down to the garage in a little while and put the not-so-little guys into their pots. Connie P.S. These aren't the only roses I'll be keeping in the garage. I have some bands from Rogue Valley coming soon. They'll be re-potted, and kept in the garage under lights along with some of my well-rooted cuttings. Winter is for rose gardening in the garage. :)...See MoreJust getting started - First KD meeting
Comments (8)I brought a KD paid her $300.00, she assured me a 3D plan. Her fees would have been around $5 -10 thousand. When she presented the plan, it was MY plan!! She took everything I said and made a plan. I was so frustrated as i had communicated to her I wanted her ideas and input. Long story short, I fired her and did my own plan. I was my own KD. I think everyone is capable of doing this. You know what you need, want, and your style. With the money i saved, i purchased high end appliances and custom cabinets. Please think realistically, do you really need a KD. If you bring custom kitchen designers, they draw up the plans and don't charge for them. I spoke with 4 different custom caboinet makers and eventually decided on one. He was my KD. he listen to my needs and planned the cabinets accordingly. Just a thought....See MoreCan you top this list? KD mistakes......
Comments (20)We have let HD management know of a couple of the problems as they occured. The rest had not happened yet. The Mgr called the KD up who then called us up. That's how HD mgt operates. The KD came to our home and noted the first few problems but he won't accept blame. He dislikes mistakes pointed out. His catch phrase is, "People are willing to live with worse situations and less 'get around space' than you just so they can expand their number of boxes (cabinet units)". He says people regularly live with 30" hallways. He has an answer for everything. His favorites are, "It doesn't appear in my folder, I don't have the missing wall noted in my drawing, You really can get out of the back door OK - see how I do it? (turns sideways), I don't have the appliance specs, etc." But he has blinders on and tells us nothing at all is problematic and his design is perfect. HD sent out a measure guy to take a look at the job and see if the design was feasible within the space. Measure guy told the KD that he needed to be to code with the width of the hallway and he also told him the oven cabinet was on top of the electrical switches. By that time we'd purchased a new window based on his design and had to move the switches. The KD told us he made the hall way to code but he did nothing to the design - it's hard to tell with all the fillers they use and he told us he pulled some out. The measure guy mismeasured the ceiling height, etc. Boxes had to be cut down. The measure guy who is a contractor out of HD wanted the installation job but we hired a woodworker from down the street. It seems to me the problems are both the KD and the measure guy's fault. I need to take another look at the language of what we signed. The design from HD is free. We paid in full for the Kraft Maid cabinets to complete that design. After we paid for the cabinets we were allowed to have a copy of the design to take to contractors. Our contractor likely should have really conemplated the design before beginning work. He thought the KD was an effective designer. He works with Premier Cabinets whose designers get it right all the time. The contractor has himself and 2 other employees so that he is juggling jobs which we don't mind. He's a wonderful woodworker and we have several custom areas. He'd get to another step with installation and say, "Well, that can't work!" Thank you all so much for your advice....See MoreKD / potential contractor = stress
Comments (14)First of all - YOU should NOT have to be going through all of the CRAP!!! In a perfect world - this whole process should )actually) be FUN - However, since this is NOT a "perfect world" - there MAY be set backs, delays and/or cost over runs - but generally speaking (IMHO) this process should still have a reasonable amount of "fun" still in the contents.... Zeebee said what I was going to say too - red flags with your present KD.... Also - there's TONS of wisdom being put out here by the likes of Cheri 127, Zeebee, Live Wire Oak and Kitchenconfidential 2.... I'll add my own .02 cents on this as well - There are MANY people who will pretend to be KD's - maybe because they did a whole ONE remodel of THEIR OWN kitchen, or have watched some TV shows on remodeling, or are really good at researching stuff on the internet - THESE attributes DO NOT qualify folks to be real honest to goodness KD's. The folks that actually ARE the "real deal" (real Kitchen DESIGNERS - NOT "decorators") ACTUALLY have CREDENTIALS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE to back up the "talk they talk - with the walk they walk".... Sounds to me like you have "gotten in bed" with a "pretend" KD - a "decorator" (IMHO) that may know "pretty" - but does not have clue about how "looking pretty" gets executed into BEING pretty - the actual application of each trade and the materials that are used - along with how things go into place, and "the order of battle" - TO MAKE A FINISHED PRODUCT THAT IS YOUR KITCHEN PROJECT. Most "decorators" are really good with color, and can pick out drapes, but when ot comes to laying out a kitchen in CAD for cabinets AND countertops - they're "looking like a scared deer in the headlights" :-o They're clueless when it comes to "what gets done first, then what, and so on. I despise "decorators" they make guy's lives (like mine) in the trades - A LIVING HELL, and.... There's days where I'm sure that other guys like me fantasize about - "if MERCY KILLING were LEGAL" - "decorators" be the on the TOP OF THE LIST!!! But alas - as the saying goes: "Decorators - Can't Live WITH 'em - Can't KILL 'em" HA!!!! Anyways - all playful kidding aside........ It also sounds to me - like (from the amount of time that you are waiting on two or three other bids - that EITHER the other GC's don't want to work with you beacuse of your current KD imposter - OR - business is really good in your area.. I hope it's the latter - because here in AZ = GC's are breaking the sound barrier to get bids back to customers - so they can get more volume of work. Your in a tuff spot, but if you stay cool and READ everything that gets put in front of you to sign - and UNDERSTAND IT - you will be ahead of the curve..... I'd be looking for a REAL KD in the mean time - contact NKBA to find some other prospects in your area.... a link is below for you to check out... hth kevin...See Morehammerl
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