Actually in my kitchen remodel (the modern) I didn't have a single problem. Not one. I thoroughly loved the process from beginning to end. I had a KD on that project that was a dream to work with. Process took 16 weeks from design to installation.

The current project (coastal) has been one big roller coaster ride. Hired a GC/builder but no KD. Maybe the key for me was my KD who was amazing. GC's are not designers. He does great work and most of his subs were good too. But my problems were with counters and floors.

Our kitchen remodel was pretty much problem-free. We liked working with our KD and had a great contractor. He did everything himself except plumbing, electrical and floors, and he hired responsible subs for those jobs. Everything was on schedule and there were no unexpected issues along the way. The hood was delivered with a dent in it, but the appliance store replaced it promptly, so I didn't consider that a real problem.

I'm laughing so hard that I can't type!!!!!!!

I'm the biggest glitch in our project. Second biggest glitch is not enough hours in day, not enough dollars in pocket, not enough skills (despite our arrogant assumption that this was a piece of cake), not enough cooperative weather days at crucial moments, having a hired worker hurt himself, etc, etc, etc...gloriosky why am I thinking about all this.

Have a nice day.

Our job, compared to many, was relatively smooth. But there were definitely problems and issues. But during the process, we all acted like adults and whoever was responsible for the error admitted to it, whether it be me, the KD, the GC or one of the trades and the problem was taken care of.

We were relatively glitch-free. But that's because we were 95% DIY, with only the countertop and plumbing subbed out. When it's just you and your DH (with a little help from my awesome dad), and you're working hand-in-hand, there is little chance for miscommunication/misunderstanding -- and that is where so many pitfalls are in renovations.

I did have to make one unexpected trip back to Ikea to get some panels/doors that were missed originally. And we wound up short about two sheets of backsplash tile (so we hid the blank area behind the hood chimney). But all in all, nothing that caused significant delay, or increased cost, or dashed hopes and visions.

In a word, no.

I think the point is that to expect no problems is completely unrealistic. It is recognizing that problems are a normal occurrence and then how you deal with them that is important.

Of course, it is better to find problems up front with good planning rather to have them crop up towards the end when they are more expensive to fix.

IDK - haven't started the actual process yet. But if the implementation is anything like the planning - there will be glitches. But I am ready and looking forward to the goal! (Of course I know that optimistic 'tude is, well...but one can hope!)

I keep telling myself that once I have the kitchen designed, the rest of the house will be much easier....

Many problems. May-be it would be helpful to compile a list of ideas to prevent glitches. I can go first with a couple of things --

When you receive an appliance, or any merchandise, inspect carefully all sides of the package and inside as well when it arrives. If you have to sign for it before you have a chance to fully inspect, write "Subject to inspection" on the form -- my understanding is that this gives you 24 hours to inspect and notify of any damage.

Never order anything having to do with color from an older or existing sample. Make sure you see the actual material or paint on the actual substrate (as in actual metal Blue Star samples) or an example of a tile from the current run or dye lot. Build the time to review samples into the schedule.

Do tests of grout, stain, paint on your actual materials before doing the whole job.

OK that's three things -- I'm sure the collective wisdom here could stretch the list to twenty or thirty at least. . . .

Good points, sayde. I realize many folks come here looking for input and inspiration and we end up venting our frustrations with the process along the way. Which is why I was curious as to how many have made it through this problem free. I wasn't sure it was even possible. LOL Glad to hear that some have. And sharing tips on how to avoid issues is a great idea. My tip is to try to be on site as much as possible. Hard when you work full time like me, or for others when the site is hours away. But it sure helped me head off some issues. Not all though.

Breezygirl, I laughed so hard when I saw your comment that someone stopped outside my office to find out what was so funny. LOL

Kaycee, we really lucked out and had a great GC who lives in our area, knew our city permits and had just completed a kitchen in the same model home as ours.

We started our demo the day after Christmas 2007 and finished Jan. 18th. The only 'kitchen-related' issue was that the backsplash we had chosen was coming out of the quarry a much different color than the sample we had, so in the 11th hour we had to choose a new backsplash. Best problem ever! I (along with a bunch of people on the Kitchen forum) love the Fire & Ice we chose as the replacement.

A non-kitchen problem that made itself apparent was when we found roots from our backyard Ficus trees coming up in the middle of our kitchen floor once the sink cabinet was removed. That resulted in us having to demo the entire back patio in order to cut back the offending roots. Oh well, never liked that patio anyhow.

Jodi-

Excluding...the indecisions or compromising with significant others

And what made you exclude those? ;-)

Given that we're *still* in the planning stage (the bid packages go out to the GCs next week), almost all the glitches have been from those two!

Had you asked me this at the beginning of last week I would have said yes! But, unfortunately a lot has happened in the last week. All fixable of course, but all stupid.

1. KD mis-measured for the back side of our island. We need a panel in between two cabinets. Fixable? yes. Loss of cabinet space? Yes.
2. I went over to the house today and the installers installed my refrig surround inside out! Didn't they notice that what they installed to be the outside didn't match my cabinets? Guess not. Holes drilled and all...My DH will call them in the morning. We'll see how they TRY to fix this one. And then we will see how I make them fix it.
3. granite slabs sold out from under me. On hold 6 months and then gone in the last two weeks. Oh well...think I'm on to something better now but talk about a mad scramble during the week of my scheduled install. Not sure if that will happen on Friday now or not.

whew. good thing the end is in sight! all these bumps at the end make me want to pull my hair out!

Mine was a nightmare.But two of my clients got kitchens in relatively short order with no problems. However:

1) with one client I told them if they used the contractor who rehabbed their house to install the kitchen I designed, they were one their own and I would part ways with them in a friendly fashion before it all went downhill. They used a carpenter who does work for me that I *knew* would get it right.

2) with another client the contractor told her he would've charged her "a lot more" if he had known there would be a designer "making sure he followed all the plans exactly." I was his glitch.

No real issues here. Two minor issues in that the original ceiling wasn't beamed appropriately and the ceiling needed to be "leveled" as the original ceiling as very uneven. Neither of these caused a delay. We also hit a minor delay over a holiday weekend with our countertop folks - but I can't really call it an issue as we were close to two weeks ahead of schedule at that point.

Outside of that, all went very smoothly. For us, I did a lot of preplanning and building in extra time into the project schedule. I'm a project manager for tech projects and used my work skills to keep things on task.

To me, the most important thing is to keep in constant communication with your GC, make sure you both understand the project timeline (and payment schedule) ahead of time, and to have your materials on site before you begin. We did a full gut and remodel with permits and were able to complete in 7 weeks -- based on an original 8 week timeline.

was glitch free until this week, now have major glitch, just posted it under separate thread - falls under the catagory of cabinetmaker royal screw up.

I wish!

Ours was a DIY, so we never had the "contractor put such-and-such in the wrong place, or painted the wrong color or ordered the wrong thing".

Our only surprises were things like when we opened up the ceiling and saw that the 10" vent pipe would have to be reshapen to fit through the trusses, etc. Sometimes it just took us a little longer to figure out how to correct for things.

Oh wait...there was the floor order. We ordered our cork. Then I decided we really needed to carry it through the family room too. Ordered more. In the meantime the manufacturer changed the size of the new cork planks! They took it all back and replaced everything with the same floor. They said it was their error because it should have been noted somewhere that the floor had changed.

There were lots of 2 steps forward one step backwards along the way, but never anything too bad that just didn't require a little more time on our part.

Hi Kaycee...

I think mine was glitch free...and if it wasn't my sub-consceince has blocked all the scary memories as a self-defense mechanism.

KA:)

I mean subconscious...(I always get those 2 mixed up...)

KA:)

Not ours. Most of our problems were because of choosing a glass backsplash. The tiler could not figure out how to cut the tiles smoothly so he installed the backsplash with very badly broken and chipped tiles. After that was somewhat fixed, his grout job another nightmare, which "I" had to fix in the end.

Then the cabinet company took 6 months to send a glass cabinet door, and the range hood was backordered first for a month and then 3 months. The range hood just finally was delivered on Friday and is being installed as I type this and the installers is once again complaining about the glass tiles as you need a special bit to drill holes in the glass or they crack or chip. Grrrrr.....

My advice is if anyone chooses a glass backsplash to make sure the tiler and installers are very experienced in working with glass as it can turn into a nightmare.

Another piece of advice make sure if you have your appliances picked out make sure you or your builder or GC has all the trades installing the framing, ducting, electrical and cabinets in the proper way and correct locations for your appliances. Make sure what you pick out will work in your space and the installers know how to do it. Or too many times the workers without telling you the problem will just try to wing it to make it work any old way without a care in the world as the homeowner gets to have a job that wasn't done right.

My range hood installation did not go well today. The venting duct was originally placed incorrectly too low on the wall for my range hood. Even when the builder and all trades had my appliance specs and install directions before even framing started on our house. So instead of telling me it was wrong the installer today installed the range anyway 5 inches below the manufactuer's minimum distance thinking it was no big deal. Not acceptable and dangerous.

So now to fix it and have it installed properly the ducting needs to be moved up affecting our stucco on the back of our house and now the glass tiles need to be replaced where they were drilled into too low. I really just don't get why these trades just can't get it right, ever.