SPECIALTY KITCHENS INC

This company is basically a contractor that hires sub contractors to do their work. They have a few guys that work for them but their guys typically get small things ready before the sub-contractors arrive.
We hired Specialty Kitchen (SK) for these reasons:
*  Our  local independent contractor retired.
*  Out of all the companies we discussed our remodeling project with, SK had the best sales pitch. They  provided  visuals
   (drawings) on what the finish project would look like.  They also said everything we wanted to hear and quoted us a price
    within our budget. 
We experienced the following during our remodeling project with SK:
 * Scheduling issues from start to finish
 * In-house design services didn't meet our expectations based on SK's initial sales pitch.
 * SK did their best trying to resolve issues so it didn't hurt their bottom line.
 * SK insisted that you have to go through them for all purchases and use their suppliers (this was a surprise to us
   because before hiring them it sounded like they would work with us if we wanted to use other suppliers.  We ended up using
   a different supplier for our counter tops which turned into a very painful / project consuming time experience.  SK and
  our  counter top supplier had issues working together - who knew these problems existed - not us. I think we might have
  gotten a better deal if we could have purchased the counter tops directly from the supplier instead of having our money
  change hands between SK and the supplier.   (SK insisted all payments go through them) .
*  Poor project management (provided by the assigned SK PM). For instance:
     * Lost  track of  project decisions
     * PM was hard to reach  (never answered his office or cell phone;  many voice messages and emails went unanswered -
        needed  to chase him down by  leaving numerous v. messages or emails (communication painful and time consuming).
      *PM never seemed to have authority to make a decision. 
      * Ordered incorrect item ($$$)
      * PM informed us of extra charges for change requests but he couldn't explain how SK arrived at the dollar figure.
* Our  signed contract amount with SK continued to grow unexpectedly $$$ (watch out for  "change order charges" )
* All of  SK's sub-contractors did a very good job and appeared to be honest hard working individuals.  Some of  them 
   expressed surprise and disappointment when learning of the amount SK was charging us for a change request.
* The onsite appointed SK lead always did his best to  1) answer our questions, 2) go out of his  way to try to
    resolve issues (for  things under his control), and 3) ensuring that all work areas were cleaned up at the end of the day. A+
   rating for their appointed onsite SK lead.
* The completed remodeling project significantly went over our initial budget.
A year after completion, we are still trying to reach the SK PM to resolve some minor quality workmanship issue. For example, paint peeling off ceiling, which we reported approx 5 months after project completion.  
Bottom line,  I would not recommend my family or friends to hire SK for their kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects.  If I had to do it again, I would try to hire a local independent contractor (someone that drives/ works out of  their truck) that has a good reputation in town.  The typical local independent contractor  will likely not have an impressive sales pitch or flashy drawings to demonstrate what your project would look like in the end.  But if they are like my former local independent contractor, they will do an excellent job within budget and on-schedule.

unknown

Whole project was timely and went according to expectations. Molding work was done very well with great attention to detail. Granite countertops were put in well with only a very slight seam.

I am only honestly reviewing the most recent experience. When we built the house, we used the Specialty Kitchen (preferred by the builder), and they were excellent. We were very happy how the kitchen turned out.

So a year later we decided to add in a side panel which includes a wine rack. The initial designing and planning phase went well, matching the experience we had before. However after the cabinets and the wine rack were installed, I realized the wine rack only holds three bottles of wine, due to a designing mistake. The bad experience started from there. They become non-responsive to fix the problems. I had to call and email many times just to get an answer and I disliked how I had to do that. 6 months later, it finally got fixed. Needless to say, I was really frustrated. A side cabinet and a wine rack should not take 6 month to complete.
I expressed my frustration to them and they apologized but it didn't change the fact that was part of my daily stress for 6 month. We lived with a partially done project for half a year and the worst part of it was the uncertainty. We didn't know when it will get fixed and if they would call us, or they would reply to my messages.
I do like their work quality, but I can't use them again.

The initial contact was with Kitchen Designer Jenn of Specialty Kitchens, and was done in September 2012 during my search for a kitchen remodel contractor who did the kitchen design, and then both sold and installed the cabinets and countertops. SK was the only one locally who did both for a reasonable price, the others were upscale remodeling contractors who wanted well over $40K for a similar task, and my budget was in the $10K range. My objective was to replace our worn and tired 48 year old cabinets and countertops, which were original to the house, with new ones on the same footprint with only some slight modifications. Project manager Mike and Jenn visited my home in mid September and offered excellent suggestions after reviewing the hardcopy I gave them with my list of issues with the present kitchen design, as well as items I wished to have modified or different in the new design. I also wanted to get rid of the 1960s-era tile backsplash and replace with a suitable material. And another of those items was in regards to the existing stove vent hood - it did not vent to the outside, it only sent the air above the stove through a filter and back into the room. Mike suggested that the best time to install ductwork for the stove hood would be when everything was removed during the kitchen renovation - a great suggestion. Jenn also did a great job in suggesting some updated elements to the design, such as a swing-out panel in front of the sink for storing dish-washing sponges and the like, and having pull-out drawers instead of cabinets with doors next to the stove, for pots and pans.
In mid October I then met with Jenn to view the basic cabinet design/color and countertop styles available, then told her which ones were desired a few days later. Then in late October, I met with Jenn again, and one of the other project managers, to discuss finer details of the materials and labor contract as it was drafted up and to make some adjustments and corrections to it, and I then signed the final contract in early November. They said it would be about 8 weeks before the work started. In mid January, Project Manager Mike then contacted us and said the job would start on Jan. 28. The Friday before that, Mike then came with the lead carpenter Al, as well as the electrical contractor who they would work with to show them their part of the work. Mike also brought a schedule listing the day-by-day series of events that would occur during the project.
The first day, Jan. 28, a dumpster arrived early that morning. Al and his assistant arrived shortly after on that day and removed all of the old cabinets and the section of the drywall where the old backsplash tiles used to be. The next two days, the electrcian came to update some of the wiring to code and add some outlets, and moved a double light switch to an opposite wall where a new tall cabinet would go, for the electrical "rough-in" work.
The remaining two days of that week Al installed the stove vent's ductwork, the outside vent for it, and the new drywall along with the "mud" and tape. I then spent the weekend priming and painting the ceiling and the old and new drywall in preparation for the new cabinets. The next Monday, Feb. 4, Al and his crew arrived and installed the base cabinets the first day, the countertops and upper cabinets on the next, and the next 2 days were spent doing the trim work. The electrician was there on the final day to finish the electrical work. The following weekend was spent by myself installing the new sink/faucet, and reinstalling the old dishwasher - the plumbing portion of the project was the part I desired to do.
All in all, SK is a very good and reliable contractor. Jenn designed the kitchen right on budget and with some great suggestions; Mike specified all of the right items and needs for the project, and Al did a great job with all the installation and final detail work, including cutting and trimming out the cabinets, wall baseboard, and window above the sink with very good craftsmanship. It should also be said that both Al and Mike were also quick in addressing any concerns that came up during the completion of the project, and everything occurred just about on that timetable/schedule of tasks that Mike provided and with minimal inconvenience.

For the most part the work was fine. They were very professional. There were a few issues that they had to come out and fix and I still have a floor issue that they are going to come out and fix in the spring but the work is gorgeous. Whenever I call them with issues they are very responsive.

I liked the fact that the quality of their work was excellent. They used their own people. I liked they were easily accessible if I had any questions or concerns. They gave me a schedule of 3 weeks and stuck to it. Their response rate was immediate, even a year later when I had a minor issue, they came right back. They even kept my sink and my water in tact until they were finished. They set me up with a make-shift kitchen in my living room, so I wouldn't have to go without. I felt complete confidence with everyone they used. Even two years later, I sit in the kitchen and marvel at it.

They didn't try to sell me anything more than what I wanted. They really listened to what I wanted and came up with a better design than what I would have come up with. I cannot say enough about them. I would highly, highly recommend them completely.