The light rail on the cabinets is now 17 1/2 over the counter top and the bottom of the MW is 15 1/2 over the grates on the range. That inch actually made a big difference. The company did correct the many mistakes that I pointed out. If I had said nothing, they wouldn't have either, even though it appears they knew about it. The contractor or owners never came here at the end of a day to see what the subs had done. I was never told that they saw something wasn't done right and they would fix it, it was always up to me to look at the job that was done while I was at work and to then tell them what I saw. Then they would fix it. They basically finished the job yesterday because I insisted that the kitchen be done for Thanksgiving. At the rate of work being done one day a week, it could have gone on until Christmas. BF and I just started doing the finish work ourselves. The gas line to the range still needs to be adjusted so the range can slide all the way in, the hood isn't venting through the roof, cabinet doors are unaligned, none of the handles were attached to the drawers, molding is missing, etc, etc. But it was the witching hour (4pm) and they had to leave. They'll be back in a couple of weeks to fix the bigger issues, we'll do the rest ourselves.

Yeah, I'm fine with the colour. I've tried to zoom in a bit, and I added some circles around some of the gaps. The installer is being kinda weird about it. He's continuing working on it. I would think if it really bothered him, he'd stop and see what the supplier says. He said that BIL/GC saw it, and has said that on a previous job, they had to rip it out. But that was a pre-finished product. There would be no filling and sanding on that. Neither one of them called me about it, which seems like they aren't too concerned. I guess that's why I'm even considering accepting it.

Don't know what you decided to do, but your saving grace could be the handscraped wood look you chose. If the grout you use will blend in coloration with the tile, the uneven or slightly wider width tile joint probably won't be noticed and may simply be accepted as a part of the design.

That's great news. What no one mentioned is that if the tree fell especially during a storm or other devastating event there would be no access to the houses and people on the road from ambulance or fire trucks or other emergency equipment. That in itself can be a reason for removing a tree that would block any road access. On our street a neighbor had a huge oak with long branches that reach across the road from one neighbors house into the yard across the street. As these huge limbs drooped they got low enough over the street that tall trucks, moving trucks, rvs, and The Fire department trucks could not pass below with out hitting and damaging the vehicles. In fact it took the ac unit off the top of our rv not long after we got it. I spoke with the owner and the person across the street. The person across the street wanted the branch cut back away from her property. I told the tree owner I was not able to get my rv in and out of the street because of the limb hazard. She was stubborn and refusing to cut it even though I myself offered to pay for it. I had to print out the legal height clearances for the area for clearance for fire trucks before she would understand how liable that limb could make her. Fire trucks could not have been able to access any of our homes. She finally agreed but I paid several hundred dollars to have her branch cut! The neighbors were furious and insisted that I make her pay, she has plenty of money. But to me getting it taken care of and our safety restored was worth it. Of course she didn't offer to pay a dime on the damage her tree did to my rv. I love trees and hate to see one go but the safety of the house and people around it are priority one.