Oakville Kitchen Designers

We went to OKD not because of the most efficient timeline (other companies quoted us 5-7 weeks, OKD said 8 weeks) or the lowest price (low cost sometimes means low quality right?); but we chose OKD because John seemed like a good guy to work with, and was remarkably responsive during the planning phase of the project.

Unfortunately, as soon as we paid him and we broke ground, starting with the demo on May 14th, 2016, things went amiss.

It is now October 14th, 2016 -yes it has been 5 months (not 5 weeks) and we still aren't finished with the renovation. The worst case scenario estimate was 8 weeks, but we're moving into week 23 as I write this email.

Just in case you missed it:

8 weeks = plan
23 weeks = still incomplete

Granted, there was some structural uncertainties, where I'm nice enough to give John a 3-week 'bye'; that STILL puts us at 20 weeks and still being behind by more than double the estimated worst case scenario.

The worst part is, there is still no urgency from this company to make things right, or any sense of wrong doing. Everything is just one new excuse away, with a supplier 'screwing things up' or 'supplier messing up the order' -except that it seems like everything is delayed and nothing is done right -but for some reason it is never this company's fault! We all know this story all too well...

I have never been given so much lip service in my life. I hired John to be the 'man in the trenches' to run the project so that I can have the turn-key experience, I ended up having to do all of the pushing and prodding myself. THREE TIMES I had to drive to home depot and buy/cut board to protect my own floors; I even had to re-plastic my furniture because his staff didn't bother to cover my upholstered couch before putting it on its side and pushing it through the drywall dust on the floor. Are you kidding me?

The worst part about this, is I still don't have a completion deadline, but I'm ready to cut the cord because Oakville Kitchen Designers obviously does not need my business and I am not a worthy customer of John's.

Just for your information, anytime John says:

today = tomorrow (maybe)
1 day = 1 week
1 week = 1 month
1 month = 3 months

List of things that contributed to this mess:
1) Did not consult a structural engineer during the planning stage (+3 weeks)
2) Cabinets not ordered properly (missing cabinets and panels) (+4 weeks)
3) Contractors did not properly protect floors and furniture ($$$ set back; I had to personally go to Home Depot to buy board to protect my own wood floors)
4) Backsplash quartz slab was mis-drilled leading to having to replace the entire item (no cost, but +1 week)
5) Did not order enough hardware (+2 weeks)
6) Multiple occasions where contractors had to measure and re-measure and re-measure and re-order moldings and trim from home depot (+2 weeks)...
7) Bankette went out to get sprayed, but the colors are inconsistent; two of the panels are actually a different white than the rest of it.. but okay
8) $30,000+ cabinets have been patched with an exposed edge above my range hood, so I have an exposed wooden edge showing still after 22 weeks of work
9) I still have multiple holes in my basement due to the original structural work that have yet to be looked after
10) Transitions installed between kitchen and living room have been stained, but the stain was applied on my trim as well
11) General delays and.. I just don't know... (+3 months)
12) Delays in making scheduled payments by customer (me) 0 days

I'm sure I'm missing a few more items.

Feel free to message me for details; I also have pictures to back up my case.

Buyer beware. This is a scary company to deal with.