We are renovating our entire house, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, stairs and painting throughout. Roz seemed sweet and helpful at the start. She then took us to her preferred vendors to help us choose tile and plumbing fixtures. A quick search of local retailers for the same items revealed that her vendors were priced substantially (20%-80%) higher than everyone else. This raised a red flag for us, and we ended up sourcing our own materials without any further involvement from her. In fact, based on that finding, we cut her out completely because we didn't see what value she would add. We had already agreed to pay her a $500 consulting fee (which we did pay), and didn't want her involved any further as we felt it would be a waste of money.
After a few weeks passed, she sent us an invoice totaling over $1700 for her services and demanding payment. Um... what services??! Nice try, but no. Lesson already learned by wasting $500.
The only plus is she did introduce us to an excellent general contractor, who we will continue to patronize going forward. In that regard I consider her $500 payment as a finders fee, and don't feel as bad for having paid it.
Bottom line is, nobody needs a designer like this unless you wish to throw your money away.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $500.00
- Company Response
Thank you for your review Ken. I have been successfully helping numerous satisfied clients with design projects for over 30 years, many of which have given me repeat business and referrals for their family & friends. To be fair to the people reading your review, some of your statements require clarification.
Firstly, my fees for services were fully explained and agreed to by you and your wife at the beginning of the project and my charges were detailed in my invoice. I specifically mentioned to her, if she decided in a timely manner, the amount for hours billed would be less than if she kept changing her mind. I didn’t demand payment. I simply submitted my invoice for services delivered. I spent numerous hours with your wife taking her to my quality vendors for bathroom & kitchen tiles, plumbing fixtures, vanities, counters, and backsplash. I thought we had nailed everything down.
With regard to my vendor being more expensive, sometimes a big box store will advertise a product as a loss leader. I do not go to these stores as the quality is inferior. Having said that, my vendor offered to price match the plumbing supplies you sourced. Unfortunately, you had gone ahead on your own, without getting the lower price from him where possible.
All your wife's choices hinged on your approval, which you raised objections to, resulting in more work on my part. This included meeting her at Vanguard where you had previously purchased door panels for your IKEA kitchen boxes. On that outing, she produced a floor tile that she wanted to use instead of the one we had previously chosen. I discovered that the discount tile she wanted was discontinued and that there wasn't enough available from her supplier to cover your kitchen floor. At your wife's request, I contacted a number of my suppliers, none of which stocked this tile. At this time I helped her to select solid colour panels to compliment the wood grain chosen for the pantry.
I also brought my contractor (at no charge) to your home and spent almost 2 hours formulating ideas for you and your wife. I suggested we convert your powder room into a shower/powder room, in essence, creating a home with 2 full bathrooms instead of 1 1/2. You were both delighted with my suggestion and have subsequently had my contractor construct it. This has added at least $20,000 to value of your house compared to homes in your complex. This is why you need a designer !!
All the time I spent helping you and your wife to choose materials and discussing design ideas was fully detailed in my invoice. I tried to contact your wife before sending my invoice to get an update on your progress, however, I didn't get any response from my numerous emails and phone calls. Only much later, did I learn that my services were no longer needed. You decided to take over your project and use my ideas and my contractor without paying me in full which you have acknowledged.
Creative Interiors, prides itself with a long and successful track record of working with clients to developing quality solutions that fit our client’s needs and budgets. I wish you good luck going forward.