Long time lurker (usually in Garden) but more recently as we are starting to renovate our kitchen (Finally!!). Just wanted to add my two cents to this thread as I am kind of surprised by some member's experience with Teixiera. My husband and I drove down (from CT) a few weeks ago. We were shown around by Michelle who answered our dozens of questions, showed us tons of slabs, explained the different kinds, walked us through the sinks, discussed runnels and drainboards - even though we were just starting the process and she knew we were "just looking". At no time did we feel pressured or rushed. She explained pricing (discussed that pricing could increase if the distance a fabricator had to go was significant - which made sense to us) and left us feeling very positive about working with Teixiera. We went home with tons of information and samples. I sent emails to Michelle with more questions which she graciously answered. Once we finalized our kitchen plans, our designer emailed her the plan - she promptly emailed me an estimate, which did not include any upcharge for our location. I called to make an appointment for my husband and I to pick out our slabs for today. Michelle and I had a number of emails back and forth, as we added a sink, etc. to the estimate. On Friday she called me to tell me that she wouldn't be in today but didn't want me to be surprised that she wasn't there - and that Maria had all our information and would help us choose the right slabs. She told us she had let Maria know that we were interested in a particular kind of soapstone and the kind of veining we wanted. When we got there today, Maria walked us through - showed us the slabs, tagged the ones we wanted and explained the whole process to us. We left a deposit and are thrilled about moving forward on this. In fact, I had emailed Michelle yesterday telling her that it was her kindness and patience with us that was a large determining factor in our deciding to use Teixeira. Hopefully we won't be disappointed - but for now we feel extremely comfortable with using Teixeira. The pricing has been very competitive and everyone we have spoken to at the Hackensack facility has been gracious and knowledgeable. Fingers crossed that this experience remains so positive. But it is our experience and a very recent one. Perhaps we've been lucky - but we listened to other people there today working with various people and all seemed to be getting excellent customer service.

I'm in Santa Clara County and used a pre-fab slab in my family room. I put down a deposit to reserve the date/time of installation. I didn't reserve the actual slab because I chose Absolute Black, and they were all pretty much the same. The installation went fine and I paid the balance when they finished it. Also everything went on a credit card, just in case.

1. Whenever any company sells a lot and has done so for many years, the following truths can be said to be guaranteed: - that most of the buyers have bought, paid and had their stuff delivered without significant complaint problem or hiccup - that they were satisfied - that some of the buyers (or prospective buyers) had problems I think it is fine for R Teixeira to be active in defending his point of view. 2. Whenever any individual approaches a kitchen renovation... and for the first time in one's life... the following truths can be said to be guaranteed: - that pain will be present as one goes through the learning process - that some vendor somewhere might force you to go away instead of educating you - that such an occurrence can be very painful Last week we read remarks in another thread about one GW participant who used metaphors to describe her complaints. Only a handful commented that the language was either too vague, too inflated, or too psychological to be useful to others. 3. Whenever any forum or group exists... and in stable form too... the following truths can be said to be guaranteed: - that an animal loyalty hierarchy will exist - that this then causes some loyal person to spring to action to protect some other ranked member at some point - that the discussion can then move Away from The Factual Point and revolve only around Loyalty and Conduct. Last week we read remarks in two threads about how much we all appreciate that 1 GW participant who used metaphors to describe her complaints... And we also saw a lot of indirect criticism of the people who spoke to address facts and contain or minimize metaphoric language or psychological conclusions. Be thee all aware. There's not much there, when all is said and done. It was pus busting pain. hth

I can imagine how you feel, but your new house is cute and cozy and has a lot of potential. It's really a blank slate and I think you can make it your own without too much trouble and expense, and I also think you will love it (in time because it won't all happen overnight). Can you live with the 7' ceilings? As a pp said, that sort of thing can't be changed easily; the decor can. In my opinion you will have a totally different take on your LR after you take out the carpet and put down some HW. Is there already HW underneath? If not -- well, our house is a little 1949 ranch with almost no distinguishing features except the HWs. Site-finished narrow plank oak, and I am completely ruined for any other kind of wood floor now. We put it in newer parts of our house to match the old. I just love the look. Only problem, and it's not a small one, is that living with the installation and finishing is awful, especially if you go with the harder-wearing oil-based finish (which I recommend since our newer floors with the water-based finish scratch and scuff much more easily than the old). You pretty much have to move out while the woods are going in, but I am so glad we used this. It adds so much character to the house. Here's a pic of our floor: old floor to the right, new floor to the left. The new floor is slightly higher than the old because that room was originally a deck which became a screened porch which became a den (the wide trim molding you see was originally the exterior wall of the house). Anyway, when we ripped up the carpet in the den we found what may or may not have been asbestos tile, so we just had the HW laid over the top. See? Your house is only 15 yrs old so you are already way ahead of the curve. No asbestos, no lead, probably no scary homeowner-installed wiring either (we found an ancient extension cord INSIDE a wall; it had been used as "wiring" to another addition). And yes, that is probably Sharpie marker on the floor. Oh well. And your kitchen -- oh gosh, you can TOTALLY work with that kitchen, how much depends on your budget (gut vs cosmetic) but seriously, you should see ours. Installed in the mid-80's by my dear husband long before I came along and his favorite color is tan. It's all white and tan laminate and melamine. And he chose it all himself (and we are now on a serious budget) so I have to be very circumspect about changing anything. You are, as I said, SO ahead of the curve there. haha. Floor, countertops, cab doors, and you would have a completely new look.