If your kitchen is sooooooo high over budget, tell the KD that he needs to find a way to get the cost down or he will have no markup at all.

Ask for a breakdown on the pricing and some alternatives for the high-cost things.

1 - If you ware moving walls, electricity and plumbing, the cost skyrockets. Try to avoid it.

2 - Instead of trying to duplicate the exact materials in a dream pic, figure out why you like it and do it in less expensive materials.

3 - COMPROMISE as needed.

My kitchen is new construction. I have asked/told him 5 times that the price is too high. The last price he gave was 1K less and we used a thinner plywood. I just cannot afford 35K for cabinets/counters. I told him my budget when I first met with him, yet he's coming in 18K over.

Do people really pay 18K more than what they want to or can afford to pay?

I'm sooo sick over this kitchen and I feel like I have wasted valuable time working with him and getting nowhere. I'm sure he's going to be really mad that I can't use him but apparently, he hasn't listened to me at all..

Well, I'm off to the mall to drown myself in shoe shopping, I'll feel better after that...hahah

Sounds like you need to find another KD who can give you a kitchen within your budget.

I'm doing what amounts to a new construction kitchen and I really had to compromise to get my cabinets down from $22K to $12K, but in the end, I think I got a very workable compromise kitchen.

In that regard, though, it wasn't until I said "I'm sorry, I just can't afford the $22K" and showed that I would and could walk away that suddenly the KD had other lines and options to show me.

But by that time, I had already met with a Shiloh dealer who seemed to understand from the get go that I had a budget number to hit. She really seemed to find it a fun challenge to get me the look I wanted at the price I needed.

You have to be prepared to walk away. Then you might be presented with other options that work for your budget. Don't get hung up on things like plywood either. Also, realize that certain doors and finishes can have significant upcharges. Those might be two places where you can compromise.

If your cabinet quote is 35,000 and he's coming in 18,000 over then you budget is only 17,000.

Whatever else is happening I'd be extremely surprised if your KD's profit was 50% plus. Why don't you take the cabinet list and have it priced at Home Depot so you can get an idea of what the cabinetry would cost you else where?

The KD's job is to design a kitchen within your budget. You are employing him/her and s/he should do what you want not the other way round. If s/he can't design a kitchen in your budget range then I'd look for another one that can. Don't let him convince you or guilt you into spending more money then you can afford. I went to one KD and he wouldn't even look at my space unless the budget was >50k; another one quoted $13k for cabs only (mdf doors but good quality hardware). I've decided to buy IKEA cabs ~$5k and ~$2k for installation. There are cabs, flooring, counter tops and appliances at all price points. Listen to his/her advice but decide where you want to economize or splurge and then stick to your guns.

Sounds like you may be a little like me. I tend to pick the most costly options even when I am trying not to do that. He should have given you a breakdown on the cost of each item and a cost for labor. If he didn't do it but will do it, I could help you identify where you can cut costs and what you are not willing to give up.

Our initial estimate was from one of Home Depot's kitchen designers in the Atlanta corporate office. He did an excellent job in his design and his detail of all costs. We ended up not going with them because their labor costs were much higher but it was helpful to go thru the process with them.

It's hard to determine what that particular KD is making but, it costs you nothing to get price quotes. If you are not comfortable dealing w/this company, you should look elsewhere.
However, up to this point you have $0 out of pocket, but that designer has spent a few hours on your project. If you want to do business with them, be honest about your expectations. Make them aware of your budget. There are soooo many ways to save money, whether it be on the cabinet finish (paint or stain), door style, mouldings, plumbing, elec., etc... There are even options within a specific cabinet line that can cut your cost significantly.
As a KD myself, I can tell you that I do everything to save my client's money. My motto is "I spend their money as if it were my own". I do the initial quote based on the info. they have given me. I take measurements and provide sketches. From there, we whittle away at the design to come up with a finished product that meets both their esthetic needs as well as budget.
Sometimes, though, a potential client will take one look at the price and may not give me a second chance. If I'm estimating a kitchen based on all the info gathered at our first consult, then maybe they wanted more than they could afford. I do not ask budget at the first meeting. I provide an estimate and designs at no cost. So, I do have a lot of time into the project and have not made a dime. This will not put my kids through college.
With that said, I can't understand expecting a client to use my services if I am $18K over budget. There may be a breakdown in communication. And either clear the air or move on.
And finally, if he is making 18 thousand profit above the cost of cabinets and install, then I want to work for that company!!

I agree with paintergirl94. There are many ways to reduce the cost of a kitchen. Make sure that you are not giving your KD mixed signals, asking for all the bells and whistles and setting an unrealistic budget. Without knowing the size of your kitchen and the extent of your "wish list" it is hard to know whether $17,000 is realistic, but an $18,000 disconnect is pretty significant. I always try to get a budget from my clients, I'm not always successful. It is no more productive for me to design a $30,000 kitchen for someone with a $10,000 budget than it is to design a $10,000 kitchen for someone with a $30,000 budget. An old mentor used to tell me to remember that there are three elements to a project, cost, quality(in quality read not only quality but bells and whistles as well) and quantity, the client can control any two of those elements.

Oh Lord, this forum has no edit function for typos. I just noticed in my post above I said I could help you cut costs instead of IT can help you cut costs. I can't help anyone since I am having problems staying within my budget too. Good luck with your renovation.

Your KD sounds like the one I attempted to work with, but ended up dumping. After several attempts at cutting the budget, he only managed to get it down from $38,500 to $35,000, which was still about $15,000 over what I very clearly told him I was willing to pay. I ended up dropping him and going with a custom cabinet maker who charged me a total of $17,000 for gorgeous, custom cherry cabinets with all the bells and whistles. I also got exactly the design I wanted, while the KD's design included all sorts of compromises that his semi-custom line required.

My advice? Run! If he has that much trouble listening to you before the job even starts, just imagine how easily he'll ignore your concerns once he has your money.

Well it's a NEW DAY - and buying some shoes, skrits and pretty tops sure lowered my kitchen pricing stress!

When I first met w/him - I told him my budget for the kitchen & bath cabinets. I did tell him that I was willing to go a little higher.

I do think he is more than a KD - he advertises as "full construction services". So I guess he remodels, builds, etc.

I do feel bad that we are sooo far off on pricing, and that he has put a lot of time into design/pricing, BUT I also now feel that if he has so much experience in kitchens, etc. that when he saw my drawings he immediately should have told me that there is NO WAY he can meet my price. That his experience tells him that even ballparking I would be in the high 20-30K range. But, he never said that, he told me that he usually comes in a few K over stock cabs. He only supplies these Amish made cabs, no other lines.

"I'm sorry, I just can't afford the $22K" -
Well, that's what I am going to tell him. though, I have told him many times that he's too high. This shouldn't come as a suprise to him.

I did stop at another kitchen place yesterday and I am getting pricing for Plain & Fancy and Showplace. My friends that had a different Amish group build his cabs, though he installed himself, got his kitchen & baths for 17 - 18K. his kitchen&bath cabs probably equal my kitchen cabs quantity. He did not get the painted/glazed, so I know thats more, but 10-12K MORE???

"Make sure that you are not giving your KD mixed signals, asking for all the bells and whistles and setting an unrealistic budget."
""He should have given you a breakdown on the cost of each item and a cost for labor."

I actually gave him NO SIGNALS - From what I can tell he has loaded up the kitchen with those bells and whistles that I don't really need. I find those out only when he starts telling me what's in the cabs. It's like "well, you know - I have yada yada built in the cabs and that costs more - Hello, I never asked for that! I never asked dividers in all the drawers, yet i find that it's in the price, but not actually listed on his price quote.

"With that said, I can't understand expecting a client to use my services if I am $18K over budget. There may be a breakdown in communication. And either clear the air or move on. "
Well, I think he thinks I will end up paying the price.
I own a well known local business so I'm sure he thinks that I can "afford" to pay his price. And yes, I can afford it, but I don't want to pay that amount because of the size/price of the homes in my area. I want to keep my home price "saleable" for my area.

"My advice? Run! If he has that much trouble listening to you before the job even starts, just imagine how easily he'll ignore your concerns once he has your money."

That's exactly how I am feeling. I do think he would do a good job - but with some of the "sketchness" of his quote, he could leave things out that he charged me for and I'd know it...

I think I'm done ! I feel bad and guilty for wasting his time, but I have to remember he wasted my time too.

YOU didn't waste his time, HE wasted it. HE failed to listen to and heed your budget restrictions. HE didn't take advantage of the opportunities you gave to him to correct the situation. HE did this to himself. Let yourself off the hook.

I agree with others: if he won't or can't listen to your wishes now, he's not the one for you.

Good luck!

Am I misunderstanding or is this the only KD you've gotten a bid from? If so, even if he is within your budget, I'd get other bids. You are getting ready to spend thousands of dollars. Three bids is an absolute minimum but I would (and did) get way more than that.

Wow 3 bids and then some!

I have his bid which is custom made and I have the Shrock pricing - which Shrock came in at 16K - not installed, but my builder can install if I want him to.

My 2 bids are not apples to apples. But, I think that's ok too. The new place I shopped will be somewhere in between, quality wise. So that should give me a reference point and I should finally be able to make a DECISION!

Lisa a - Your right and I don't think that I lead him on at all - I was upfront about what I wanted to spend.

Last week I was stressed again, that while I was looking at appliances there was a cabinet showroom - I looked at the cabs, they looked nice, so I called them about pricing.

I first explained that I don't know his brand of cabs or if they are on the high or medium end then I told him my budget. The guy was actually short and rude with me and said builders do this all the time - give too low of a kitchen/bath allowance. I told him I would be willing to go alittle higher if necessary. He said, double it ! send me your drawgs. and maybe I can look at it in 2 weeks.

Well, I decided that at least he was honest, that his cabs were out of my budget so I didnt' bother contacting him again. But, he didn't waste his time or mine. This is what should have happened w/the guy I am working with..

Just remember in todays market ALL cabinet makers NEED work and they are willing to work with you. If I got my cabinets years ago I would have had to pay 35-40K but because of the market and them knowing I was getting other bids they came in at 22K to match another bid. I have alot of cabinets. I had a contractor/builder but I took many things out of the contract and negotiated things on my own (cabinets, appliances, backsplash) because I knew I'd get a better price and would not be paying commission to my contractor that way. We all have to save money and by being smarter and negotiating on our own it pays off. I really appreciated our contractor/builder but I also had a budget too.