Is there any way the shelf can be lowered a little to cover the seam?

I don't think I explained it too well...the seam is on the shelf itself. The shelf is somewhat ornate, like several moldings put together. We discussed just removing the shelf and ordering a new one, but the cabinet guy said it's unlikely that it would be the *exact* same size, and since it was painted while mounted on the hood, you'd see the outline. Does this make any sense?

If it is going to bother you, would get a new hood. I know the feeling of wanting it to just be done, but you paid too much money to have it be less than perfect when it can be replaced. You'll have the kitchen for years. Three weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Some mistakes you have to live with. This one you don't.

It's Woodmode...accept NO compromises. A good KD would reorder the hood pronto. Three weeks nothing in the scale of things. Hold the job up and get what you paid for!

Personlly I wouldn't consider keeping it even if Only I could see the damage. I just wouldn't!

if it's *painted*, then touchup is *sort of* possible. But I think I'd fear that the filler they fill in the seam w/ would dry out or change somehow, and the "skin" of the paint could crack again, only worse.

and can't they go ahead w/ everything else, and swap out the new hood when it comes? Does it have to delay the entire job the whole 3 weeks? Surely not.

Press on this point. Can't they just leave whatever little section they need to undone, and then come back and make some short-term upheaval?

Hi. I spent over $80K on my Kountry Kraft kitchen cabinets and I sent back my fridge panels b/c they were not the way they were designed in the sketches. It took 4 weeks to get the replacements.

That said, some end panels left a horrible seam and the ends were a completely different color. A tech from KK came to my house and spent 3 hours touching up things here and there, including making exposed hinges that were not level, level, and touching up a small gouge my GC did to a face frame above my wall oven.

Am I 100% satisfied? Not really. But, I'll have to live with a bunch of imperfections and have learned to say "Oh Well." and consider myself lucky to have over all a very beautiful kitchen. Sort of like the first ding on a new car, it's almost a relief when it happens. I'll never be doing this again, so it bums me a tiny bit that it's not "perfect" especially since it will become less perfect down the road with the anticipated cracks and seams that will show since my cabs are painted white. BUT, I doubt anyone else coming into my kitchen will notice the flaws. AND, I bet if I moved into my house with the kitchen exactly as it will be when it is finished, I would love it to death and wouldn't notice a single flaw.

Hope you end up happy and love your new kitchen!

Ok,

I can jump in here! I so know that doubting one's self scenario! Since the KD has offered to order a replacement, I would say wait the 3 weeks. 3 weeks! Pishaw... that's nothing!
I just found out an hour ago, that my KG is starting over with my granite (long story), and the order will go in next week, and God knows, will probably be another 3 months before new granite arrives... and we have lots of other rooms with details that tie in with that granite, so looks like I may have to live with plywood floors for another summer! Ay carumba! If I could have it done in 3 weeks, I'd be jumping for joy!

Count your lucky stars, and take him up on his offer!

We had to make a compromise on our cabinet over the hood. They measured incorrectly so if we used the two separate pieces of crown molding it pushed the hood down too far. The hood was special order but our great appliance man said he would exchange it. However the next size down just didn't make the statement I wanted. A replacement cabinet would have taken 12 weeks and would also not look the way the larger one did. So the suggested solution was to delete one piece of the trim molding over this cabinet. It sits higher than the ones to either side. I reluctantly agreed to try it when they assured me that if I wasn't happy they would order the replacement cabinet. It looks fine. No one notices it and it seems as if it were designed that way. Only you know if it will continue to bother you. Go with your gut feeling and don't settle just to save three weeks. But often it isn't the big deal it seems to be in the moment.

Wow, I just love this forum. Thank you all for the input. Sometimes you just need someone to reassure you that you're not being too nitpicky. Even though this isn't a huge flaw, it is on one of the major focal points of my kitchen and I think it will always bug me. I hadn't even thought of the filler cracking or discoloring, either.

There are certainly other things the contractor can work on, but without the hood in place, it holds up all of the finish trim on 2 walls of cabinets. Oh well! We're also doing a laundry room and sunroom, work can proceed in there. Of course I *still* haven't picked my granite--another hold up. Granite yard visit #4 tomorrow! I'm almost at the point where I'm ready to scream at the thought of one more decision. I could never build a whole house!

Thanks again for the wise words...