First, wamot, I'm sorry you're having to go through this. It's the nightmare we all have while planning and going thru a reno. I'm mostly putting this here for others who might find this thread down the line. I know that the GCs and KDs at each store are unique and that becomes part of the puzzle that we have to untangle as we make our decisions. We first went to Lowe's and had them measure (paid) and do a design. There were some things they wanted to do that we thought were excessive (possibly in the wake of the violations that lucille posted) and I felt that the 'designer' was more of a sales person. I think he might have been handing things off to another designer to do. I never once saw him in the design software. We REALLY liked the GC and tried to make it work because we wanted to work with him. But we decided to check out HD. A friend had HD do their kitchen last year, so they also had the recommendation thing going for them. We had measurements from Lowe's, but we had HD come out to measure to protect ourselves ($49 in the midst of this was a bargain, even though we'd already had to eat $91 for Lowe's to measure). The hard part for us was every step with HD took two times longer. There wasn't such a tight arrangement between GC and store. We had to wait longer at each step, and as such, while I was hoping our cabinets would be here next week or so but we're looking about another month out past that. The big reason I'm posting this here is that we were told the GC would come to measure and his wife did. I was not here, MIL was here and remarked what a thorough job she did and how impressed she was. The measurements went from GCs wife to KD. She tweaked the rough design we had based on my measurements to what the GC provided. She was off in four places. FOUR! So that led to a whole round of 'How are you putting that there, that won't fit?' because I knew pretty much all the measurements by heart. I remeasured most things, confirming my measurements with Lowes' measurements. We tweaked the plan for the 3rd or so time and the GC revisited to confirm everything was good. I'm pretty sure THAT's the point that they're responsible up to. After that, I did some switching of things. I did things like move to a 36x33 Susan to gain 3" more in trash pullout to get two cans and make a base and wall into a tall to create a transition from an area that will have a backsplash (interior wall) to an area that will have masonry behind it (exterior wall). Since no floor measurements will change, I should be good. My KD at HD is very good, but she let me know she was a little intimidated by me (and often regrets giving me an old spec book). And more related to the OP's issue, as I was deciding whether to make the jump to HD from Lowe's, I did some reading. I wish I could remember what I googled, but I read that if you want your kitchen done on time, don't use Lowe's. But if you want to save some money in the end, do. They're known for delaying things for many reasons (misordering, not organizing installs well) BUT the flip side is that there are non-performance clauses in their contracts and so you often get $ off per day for each day certain things are delayed. I'd look things over and see if you can find anything like what I'm remembering. I was concerned with Lowe's because they wanted us to pay for everything (all materials and all labor) up front and when I balked that I watched too much People's Court to pay contracting things up front...they have no incentive to finish, I was told there were non-performace clauses (just as I'd read on the internet). Whatever I googled, I also came across a forum with current and former Lowe's employee's posting about changes to the structure of the way they work with outside contractors etc. It was all very interesting. Good luck. If you end up doing away with the fillers, make sure that at least you don't get charged for what will become 'extra pieces you don't need'.

IKEA is a much better quality and bang for your buck than either of the ones you mentioned

Hey this has been interesting to read and helpful. I am a Interior designer, I am in the process of remodeling our personal house. It’s very hard to work with yourself! I started working with a custom cabinet company, they are 4 hours from me. In this process it took me a long while to be decide on the right company, I have worked many.. it seems like if anything goes wrong it’s on my personal house never with clients. I find myself micro managing, to know there job better than they do. Learned a hard lesson found I needed to micro manage here after a disaster with a stone installer. He was laying 18”x18” limestone in our master bathroom. It’s a long story but the short version.. with signed and with references he said he could easily finish the job in 20 days. I know to pretty much double the time they say and I was ok with this… I ordered over 500sf waste included. 2 months later he was not finished, he said he was short of stone. I know the stone company, worked with them for years. When I called the owner which I know well said he picked it all up. I asked him if he signed when he picked up, he said they normally don’t ask the installers to sign. I said never heard of this then I have no proof he actually picked it up! Not happy with this at all cost me $16,000 out of my pocket… so this is why I micro manage now. Back to my kitchen the island is going to be 130” Long, 56” wide, this includes a 15 “over hang, gas cook top, drawers under for pots & tops with induction cook top beside it, 2 refrigerator drawers, a small new fast cooking, air, microwave combo by Woolf under induction cook top This is on the side of the sink, behind is a 48” Galley Sink 2 faucets * love love this sink! Dish washer to the right, trash cabinet to the right Standing facing the gas cook top, sink behind me, cabinets at the end of the island to the right, 2 ovens under counter, to the left at the left end a 30” refrigerator and 18” freezer. Everything close and in V to be able to reach quickly. The island has doors swallow cabinets. Then there is your walk way, the wall opposite from the back of the island has 2 towers, one on each side of the center piece, 48”, cabinet, drawers above with crackled glass stepped out a few inches from towers. Will look like a piece of furniture, First tower 21” wide cabinets will house pull out shelves for appliances, the 2nd tower will have, pull out shelves in the base, the section above will be a coffee station with pocket doors. We have 10’ ceilings, cabinets going to the ceiling with our 6” crown finishing the top of all cabinets. I am going to use a cabinet ladder and track between the top smaller cabinets and main cabinets since I am 5’2” made by Putnam company NY. Ok now the measurements from island to cabinets, I measure from finished cabinets (doors) From sink to gas top in island 42”, end from island to oven wall 48”, back of island to built ins, bar stools ( not big, just comfortable) 46” We have had many parties in the past one was for raising money for SPCA over 200 people came. No matter what space you have you will find a way to make it work and enjoy family and friends and raising money for something is important. I have a feeling we will be having fund raisers after Christmas. I love to cook but it’s just the two of us now so I don’t cook as much for us. After working in Residential and commercial for many years, now I am working on many market rate family projects and affordable housing projects. Even though affordable doesn’t matter to me, everybody deserve the best thing you can give them. I did have to stand my ground on budgets in affordable housing. The budgets were ridiculous, I pointed out they also deserve a very nice place, put more money in my budget the finishes will be much nicer, last a long time, rent them faster, not pay for units not rented. I am starting my 4th project, the 3 were fully least before they opened with waiting list, there are three more more coming up after this one. I sure have enjoyed making a nice home and people happy in these projects. However I miss working with clients on there personal home, I have been honored to have worked with some wonder people. Good luck working on your projects… if you are unsure ask someone that knows and Google it. Love the architect we are working with, I know some can be very difficult..been there,some do not think about furniture placement, electrical etc Ours works well with me and our team, he is a great person. He knows that I am very symmetrical, everything needs to have a purpose and apply this to what a client wants. Sorry for this long post, I never post I just read, not sure what came over me.. I think since COVID and working from home must be the reason. Lol

@catbuilder - As has been pointed out, a custom cabinet maker typically comes to the home and inspects everything and takes measurements. That's why it's custom and that's why the expectation would be that a custom cabinet maker would take notice of the peculiarities of the site - that's in part what he/she is being paid for - to build cabinets that are completely fitted and custom for the exact specifications of the site. Obviously Kraftmaid or other semi-custom line - or even fully custom like Crystal doesn't do a site visit and isn't responsible for anything other than delivering what was ordered. In those instances, the person who ORDERS the cabinets is responsible for ensuring that what is ordered will fit into the site. If a homeowner orders from a manufacturer and takes their own measurements, they are responsible. What seems to be at issue is when a true custom cabinet maker - assuming that this is a local shop - comes to the home and measures and what their responsibility is for ensuring that there aren't issues. In this case, the custom cabinet maker or some combination of GC, designer and custom cabinetmaker are responsible for providing cabinets that fit the spaces. It is NOT the homeowner's responsibility to have this kind of special construction knowledge of how drawers and doors fit into a space.