I've also been searching for quite some time and the hardest thing to find is the Pine Bark. I posted about an animal feed service in the Bronx that special ordered for me from an Agway distributor. I also found a source last year at the Gowanus Nursery, but the delivery charge was over $50 which was too much for me. I've located another source in Harlem (http://www.urbangardennyc.com/) that said they will be getting it in a couple of weeks but have not been able to verify the quality. I'll let you know. Last, I heard that the Lowes in Brooklyn has composted fines that have been sitting around for years. Might be worth checking out if you are nearby. I'm happy to share whatever I get.

I did some shopping, no photos yet tho. My daughter drove me out to Hobby Lobby. Its just far enough, and so big to walk thru, that driving myself with my bad right leg (thank you Fibromyalgia) would have been really hard. I had a gift cert. left from XMAS for there. Oh, I could have spent FOUR times what I did. So many great garden statues at 50% off. I got one big rabbit, and two little ones. All are IN the house, LOL. Got a couple of July 4th things. And actually got a few craft supplies. So I behaved rather well for someone who'd much rather go totally NUTS in that store. Especially as I'll probably not get back there till Fall holidays. Heard they are building another one, but it will be even farther away. Dang. Tho I suppose that is probably a GOOD thing in my case. I get in enough trouble at Michaels. hugs, Karen

Wow - so many wonderful kitchens to process - I will have to give some thought - but in the meantime I have to second or maybe third - favorite baker - Trailrunner! So many favorite kitchens - 2Fishies, Badgergal, SixtyOhno (it just is so soothing)and of course Poohpup as we started the same day (and she finished early) - and then there is Breezy and Bees as well - and many more. Wait - love NYC BlueDevil - even though it is small - it is a great kitchen... Favorite faucet - Poohpup and now a few others Favorite sink - also goes to Pooh Most inspirational - Lavenderlass who has gone through so much with her DH and still working on her final plans Favorite kitchens to follow - Deedles and 2Fishies Favorite DIY - I am drawing a blank on the recent DIY which was amazing... Favorite Photoshopper - OldBat! Favorite bargain hunter - Freeman Favorite organized drawers - grumpy Dave and beaglesdoit better Also - thank you Holly-Kaye and Ellendi for the compliments - my kitchen is so modest compared to most on the forum and receiving recognition is so exciting! Now - I have to think through some others - so many of you guided me along the way. - so will be updating when I have a bit more time (favorite counter, etc) This post was edited by a2gemini on Fri, Sep 13, 13 at 17:44

Sorry- to long as usual but here goes. It is really no more of an investment in time than looking for cabinets in the first place. It is a question of deciding what you are shopping for- price, brand, or service. It is just a question of focus. Too many people simply shop for-plywood, soft close, a pretty picture, a display they like,a color, a price. Finding a good KD- there is no simple litmus test- Talent, education, certification, years of expereicne (see below), what computer program, hand drawing, rendering prowess, all take a back seat to work ethic. Will they work for and with you. Your initial concact with them in the showroom should be between one and two hours unless you get a hunch that this is not the person quickly. Whenever possible make an appointment first. IF that asking for an appointment is met with “just come in anytime” it may less than an ideal place IMO. Before you go have a clear idea of what you would like, how you would like it to work, what you must have. Consider any and all procedural aspects you are interested in: scheduling appointments, service, follow up, changes and revisions, overall timing, will they at least advise on portions of the design they don't sell you (color, tile, backsplash, etc.) Only you know what is important to you. Find out in the beginning, ask don't assume. But don't be in a rush to get those answers, just know what your questions are. Listen, most of your questions should be answered during the overall presentation. For any that are not ask them at the end if you are still interested. First off you want a good fit, it should feel right to you. You don't need to marry them but you don't want to be annoyed, feel inadequate, confused, or untrusting. This is perhaps the most important aspect and just takes paying attention to your gut. Your SIL may think I'm great but you can't tolerate me then I'm not the one. Ask for and check references-preferably in the same budget range you are in. Don't look for a perfect record, better to find out how follow up was, how issues were dealt with. Ideally you want them from the last year or two, say 3 to 6 of em (depends on budget how many they can give you) It can be a good sign that you are getting current ones if they say they must check with the client first, means you are not getting a cherry picked list but rather more recent jobs. (I am always surprised how rarely anyone asks for references.) Will they, can they work within your budget. A good indicator would be when they discuss what kind of compormises you are willing to make to what you want. Just about everyone has to either adjust the want list or the budget to get the two to coincide. The KD who simply says yes to everything is a red flag. A bonus : suggesting “brand A” over “brand B” when both meet your budget but they feel that for your specific kitchen brand A is a a better value. Are they willing to price multiple options including the next better brand just to see if that may work for you (this is not an upsell technique, just due diligence) What questions they ask can tell you as much as the answers they give to your questions. Just as in a job interview it should be a 50/50 conversation. How many kitchens do they do a month/year/week. It is pretty hard to produce quality work if overloaded and the business model is crank em out. Max is 25 to 30 “sold” and less than 100 worked on a year. Some places have a model where the KD has a lot of backend support for ordering and drawing. In those cases the volume an individual can handle could almost double. By the same token, only a handful sold in a year (unless they are doing lots of big or hi end projects) would be a red flag. The business model matters more than the size of the business. A KD with only a couple of years expereicne at a place with a few designers BUT with strong support from the owner and other designers can be better than am old timer working at a “kitchen mill” where the emphasis is sales volume. How much freedom does the KD have to do what they think needs be done? A small place with only one or two KD's usually means one of them is the principal. Whenever possible talk with the owner too. How long have people worked for this place? Do they go through KD's like water or do they stay? Denigrating the competition is a no-no. Do they take notes? Do they continue to ask questions? Is it a serious conversation or a sales pitch? Do they occasionally challenge you on your choices-IOW do they ask “why?” You don't want someone to tell you “you don't want to do that” just because they don't do it a certain way or don't like a feature. You DO want someone to keep you from shooting yourself in the foot not just “yes ma'am”. As Green pointed out there are not a lot of independants. Personally I believe there are advantages to having a commissioned KD (glorified cabinet salesman). They are invested in your budget and have all the tools needed to make it. Independants like architects are not always great at staying on budget and are not accountable for it. When I started on my own we thought that most if not all of what I did would be independent. That quickly changed. I still do some independent design work but only for certain professionals in specific circutmstances. Snoonyb wrote: ;Bag-n-box cabinets are dimensioned in 3" increments. Custom cabinets, those built in a locale cabinet shop, use every " of space. Most of what is available at the “box stores” are that way. Visit an independent and discover that there are many modestly priced semi custom brand allow sizing in 1/8” increments, often at no charge. Other rather extensive modifications are also common. From the upper middle price point, every brand I know allows sizing and other mods. (I have one that is capable of doing 64ths.) I've never been willing to be prevented from designing what needs to be done by size restrictions-at almost any but the absolute lowest price point.