Venetian Stone Works‎

This company appears to be scrambling and stumbling fairly badly – but not due to lack of business, they are actually quite busy with big ticket contracts with builders so bear that in mind as a homeowner with a single project. We had a very promising initial consultation and decided to hire them to do both our cabinet and counters because they seemed good to work with and offered a range of customization options. Things went downhill from there. We expected errors, we expected delays as you would with any big project with lots of complexity. However we did not expect Venetian to be as utterly careless and so frustrating to deal with. If your experience is like ours, here's what you can expect: When it becomes apparent that your cabinets have many design and fabrication errors and total lack of quality control, they will try to explain away some of them with classic "that's the way it should be" obfuscation and the rest won't be their fault, to the extent that they'll be completely mystified as to how they could have happened. There will be no accountability whatsoever which is even apparent in the way they communicate. You will hear phrases like "that somehow got messed up" but never "we made a mistake, we apologize". There will be no acknowledgement that there is any negative impact to the customer and that they tried to slip sub-standard work past the customer. After all the problems you run into with your cabinets you will surely think that the countertops won’t be as bad, especially considering that Venetian has more experience installing counters than they do making cabinets and after taking the time to verify the order with them no fewer than 4 times. Sadly, your effort will be wasted and your counters will suffer from the same lack of attention to detail, they will show up and be incorrect. There will be no single person at the company that is responsible for managing your project from start to finish, you will get handed off to various people depending on which part they deal with. There will be long periods of silence when you won't get emails or phone calls returned. You can ask to talk to a supervisor or someone in charge but there appears to be no one actually supervising things, only vague references to the owner of the company. You can ask multiple people multiple times to have the owner contact you and you will be assured that he will, but he won't. He also won't respond to emails addressed directly to him either. The people you will deal with there are certainly pleasant and on an individual level they seem to care about customer service, but collectively the disorganization, baffling lack of attention to detail, lack of quality control, and lack of responsibility really makes for an unpleasant experience. The company appears to be primarily focused on production, not production quality of course, but production output. How much can they grow? How fast can they do things? These are questions that appear to keep them up at night, not “Are our customers happy?” Know what you’re getting yourself into…

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Kyle came to my home, he cleaned and polished the counter tops with an enhancing sealer and wax.  It  made a big difference in the stone and brought back  the  sparkle I remembered.  He recommended I apply an enhancing sealer periodically to keep up the shine.  I will definitely do that. I was very happy with the service.

I sat down with them and they pulled all three slabs up in 3D and showed me how it would look. We worked the pictures until we had it arranged the way that it would look the best. I was involved with all of that. They were professional, easy to work with and very knowledgeable. I would use them again.

We visited numerous stone shops, and we felt this company had the coolest and nicest stone selections. We also liked their design process and how you could choose your granite layout on the computer based on the slabs you select. Overall the entire process went well, good customer service, and they were on time when it came to the installation dates. The final result looks great, very happy with the stone we picked and the outcome. You will pay a bit more than some stone shops out there, but the difference is similiar to that of buying a Cadilac or a Chevy; these guys are top of the line when it comes to granite.

We heard about this company from a friend and loved their counter tops.  We went to the shop and selected several that we thought would work.  Mark put them onto the CAD system and eliminated several due to seams and layout considerations which made the final selection much easier.  We finally choose one and put it on hold for nearly 9 months until we were ready.  We elected to have them 'leather' the granite which removed the shine, added a tactile texture and actually made the colors pop more.  When we were ready they brought laser equipment and templated the space and took our granite sink so they could use the actual sink for the cutout.  We went to the shop for the leathering appointment and got to decide how much texture we wanted for the granite.  We loved it after one pass, it's still very flat but no longer shiny and doesn't have all that reflection that you normally see with high gloss granite.  They installed one slab a bit too far into the kitchen and not far enough into the living room so they came back and redid that without any argument.  I think that shows the commitment to customer satisfaction.  We've been using the kitchen for a couple months now and the counter top is well sealed, doesn't show finger prints or much of anything really.  We couldn't be happier.

It couldn't have gone better.  We selected our granite from their 1800 slab collection.  They came to our home and made measurements with a laser device.  Then we visited their showroom and they laid our the granite slabs with our vanity shapes on a computer moving the shapes around on a photo of the granite so that the seams were practically invisible.
Installation also went well.  They carefully chipped away the existing tile and ground away the existing adhesive.  They were very helpful and professional.  This is the second project we have done with Venetian, the other being a complete kitchen counter and back splash in granite.You cannot find the seams.  Dealing with Venetian was an absolute pleasure.  I would recommend them to everyone.

Worst experience of my life. Took my deposit then never called to schedule a measuring. Three weeks later I had to call and they could'nt even remember who I was. Then they said they were going to call to come out and measure but never called. A guy showed up the next morning unannounced and said he was there to measure. I was on my way out the door to go to work but had to wait for him. Never heard back from them and had to call to get my quote. Then they called and said they needed a sink to cut the hole . I had dropped the sink off the previous week and they couldn't find it. They came out and installed the granite but the job looks terrible. Seams can be seen from 25 feet away. They have tried to fix twice but it still looks terrible. Would not recommend to anyone.

I recently had a new custom cabinet added to my kitchen, and I wanted to find a countertop to match our existing Ceasarstone kitchen counters. Unfortunately the exact color we have had been discontinued by the manufacturer (a problem with the manufactured stones, I guess), but there was another one which we thought would match it well. As our countertop would be small, the most cost effective option was to find a remnant slab somewhere, instead of purchasing a whole new one. The local Ceasarstone office gave me a list of a few local companies who had recently ordered the exact slab I was looking for, and Venetian was on that list.
Luckily for me, it turned out they did have a remnant slab available at the Denali studio, and it was perfectly sized for our job! Teresa at Denali, who confirmed the slab availability, put me in touch with Scott at Venetian to discuss fabrication and installation. I provided Scott with my measurements and requirements, and he was able to come back with a price that I felt was reasonable for the work, so I went ahead and put down a deposit. After a few more back and forths with contracts and production packets, the paperwork was done and the slab was scheduled for fabrication. I also confirmed with Scott a 2-hour window for the installation which worked for me.
The day prior to install, I received a message from Karen confirming my installation time for the one part of the day I specifically told Scott I would NOT be available. I called Karen back immediately, and she was able to adjust back to the originally agreed upon time to accommodate my schedule. Not sure where the miscommunication happened, but Karen was friendly and helpful in getting this sorted out.
Installation day arrived, and two gentlemen appeared within the stated window with my slab. I noticed some discrepancy in the rear edge of the stone which was going against the wall -- hard to describe as I don't know the proper terms, but on each end, there was about 4" where the edge was different than the rest of that side (they said it was due to the water jets that cut the slab?). The installers offered to take the slab out back and even it off for me, which I took them up on. They shaved off just a smidge to even things out, and it looked much better. Then, they added a sealant to protect the stone, put it back on the cabinets and glued it in. At my request, they caulked the rear of the countertop where it met the wall to fill in some small gaps (due to bowing of the wall). Finally, they did one last buff on the countertop, offered some advice on care and maintenance, and went on their way.
The slab is exactly what I was expecting, and looks great on the new cabinet. I'm pleased with the quality of the work. I lucked out finding the slab I needed at Venetian/Denali, and they were able to do the job at a reasonable price and get it fabricated and installed relatively quickly. This was a small and relatively easy job, but I'm happy with the result and my experience working with Venetian Stone Works.

We were extremely pleased with the service we received.  After picking our stone slabs, they had a template of our kitchen in which they could show us exactly how the stone would look.  You can design how the stone sits in the space.  We had a vein running through that at first we wanted to design out, but upon closer look decided that it was better centered on the counter. They were patient and thorough.  Their templating process was exceptional.  They take manual measurements and draw those out on a grid, then use tape to label areas and take pictures then finish off by using an electronic mapping device - 3 separate methods of documenting the counter top measurements.
Their shop is small so sometimes it may take a little time to get back you, but be patient because it is worth it.  Also they are the only shop that can finish your countertops in a "leather" finish.
They have a fabulous partnership with Denali Rocks showroom (which also has a backsplash designer available).
They arrived on time.  They were friendly and professional.  The finished product is great!

These people are the BEST. After visiting many granite showrooms, we discovered Venetian Stone Works and found exactly what we were looking for. Their personal AND professional service was excellent. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality was beyond anything we had experienced. We discovered they hand pick their granite from around the world. After choosing our slab, they were able to visually display our layout with their unique computer system before it was cut. Their talented technicians made the most of our unique granite pattern. The installers were top quality and answered all of our questions. We highly recommend them, and if we do another project we will go to Venetian Stone Works.

Pat and Vicki, Sammamish, WA.

The entire sales process was incredible. From selection to fabrication and final installation, everyone was professional, friendly and extremely helpful. 

Venetian is overall a good company to work with.  They have a beautiful showroom next store called Denali where you can choose your actual stone slab and do an artistic layout before it's installed in your home.
Jose came to my house to do a digital  measure of my kitchen and he was great.  He was very professional, punctual, and explained what he was doing from start to finish.
Scott, our sales person was responsive to my calls and emails, although he provided misinformation that he could not back up that almost lead to us ending the deal to go with a different company. We did not want any seems in our granite and Scoot told me in person and in writing that we would not have any and gave me a final price for the project.  During our artistic layout meeting which happens after you have paid half of the money (where you look at a computer model of your specific slab and decide where you'd like each piece to lay in your kitchen), we were told there would need to be at least one seem in the granite.  When I reminded Scoot and his partner of the verbal and written guarantees for no seems, they said that if we wanted no seems we would need to purchase a second slab which would significantly increase the cost of the project.  When I pushed and told them I had a guarantee in writing, they said that they actually  only had one slab on hand so it wouldn't work out.  At this point in time, my kitchen remodel had already begun so I did not have time (or energy) to start over and find a new slab, new installers, etc.  I reluctantly continued the project and agreed to a seem in the granite.  I was not offered any discount or other incentive for doing this.  This was very disappointing and if I had more time I would have moved on and gone with one of the other companies I had been communicating with.
James and Sergio were the installers who came to my house to put in the granite.  They were punctual, friendly, and their work was beautiful.  They installed the granite in a timely fashion and instilled confidence that they knew what they were doing.  They cleaned up throughout the process and left my kitchen cleaner than when they started!  I was very impressed with their work.  Sergio worked on the seem installation and he did a great job.
After the installers left, I called Karen at Venetian to tell her that I would like a small sample sized piece of my stone so that I could take it tile shopping with me (for the tile backsplash that I was yet to choose).  She told me she'd call the fabrication department and get a sample that she would hold at the front desk for me.  I called her three days later to let her know I was on my way to pick up the sample and she said that she hadn't heard from the fabrication guys so she had no sample waiting.  I asked her to attend to this right away.  She said she'd call me right back with information.  She never called.  I called back 4 days later to inquire about the sample.  Karen said that she still hadn't heard anything from the fabricators and that at that point all remnants from my slab were probably sold.  I asked her to walk (10 feet) from her desk into the workshop and ask the fabricators about it.  She said that it had been so long now that they were probably not going to be able to find anything.  She said she'd call me back.  At this point I had missed out on two different weekends I could have been tile shopping.  I waited 3 more days and called Karen AGAIN.  She said she did not have a sample and was not going to be able to get one because the fabrication team never got back to her.  I told her that at some point sitting there waiting for a returned call is not enough and that she needed to be proactive and talk with someone face-to-face to "make it happen".  She said that she could not magically come up with a sample for me.  I told her that the least she could do was to CALL ME and communicate what was happening.  I told her that her lack of responsiveness would reflect in my review of Venetian.  I hung up with her and a few minutes later I got a phone call from Scott, our sales person, who said that he would cut a sample for me and he'd have it waiting at the front desk.  How did he "magically" come up with a sample after two weeks of me being told there was nothing?  Was this a miscommunication between employees? Or did they not want to have to cut a piece off of the remaining portion of my slab??
Overall the granite in my kitchen looks beautiful.  That is what matters most.  It is unfortunate that I could not give Venetian an A+ rating because of Karen's communication trouble.

From the beautiful studio filled with exquisite granite, to the shop where the custom finishing was done, to the installation of the granite in my home, Venetian Stone Works offered excellent service and a unique experience!
      After choosing the granite and deciding on a "leather" finish, I was invited into the working studio to be on-site to evaluate the level of "leathering" I preferred.  They allowed me to take photos of the fascinating process, ride on the giant polishing machine as I took video(!), watching first hand as the tool was working on my granite slab.  After each pass, they dried off an area of the surface for me to feel and decide when I had found exactly what I desired.  Now that's custom!  I also got a tour of the whole working studio, and they were happy to answer all my questions about this intriguing process.
      When they came to install my granite in my home shortly thereafter, they were timely, respectful, and very invested in making sure the project went smoothly.  Before leaving, they had me inspect the stone, pointing out finishing details, and educated me on the care of my granite.  They also reminded me of the warranty, and said they'd be happy to come back for any reason. You could sense the pride they took in their stone and their work.
      I was impressed with each person I encountered during the process.  What they offer is a unique combination of advanced software knowledge, specialized engineering, and pure artistry.  You get the sense that it all comes from a love of the stone, which they impart to you as its new owner.
 

We were sent here by our contractor, Keystone kitchen, and every step of the process went smoothly and with awesome results. The countertops are gorgeous and were installed flawlessly.

We were sent to Venetian by our kitchen contractor, Keystone Kitchens. Everyone we talked to gave us slightly different information on granite countertops and finishes, but when we talked to Mark at Venetian he guided us to exactly the right choice. Beautiful black granite countertop (not gloss finish--a factory finish created by firing the granite). The installation crew from Venetian did a great job. They were efficient and did a very nice installation of there separate pieces.

Went great. They worked hard to give us what we needed. They scheduled really quick and were even flexible on the schedule. The stone is beautiful and hard to work with and they did their best to install it as carefully as they could. When damage did occur they were quick to repair, and even return to check the repair and improve it. I highly recommend them. Easy to communicate with, easy to contact. Great stone!

Venetian Stone is completely professional in every step of the process.  The computerized granite select is amazing.  They view the project as if it were their own home.

From start to finish everyone I worked with was professional and helpful.  We were not the most high end customer and yet I felt they knew our needs and were able to guide us to the right granite and finish.  The installers were on time and very careful as they took out the existing counter tops as well as carrying in the VERY heavy granite.  The lead person, Chad, was extremely professional and knew what he was doing.  I felt very confident in their work. 
The counters are beautiful.  Better than what I had envisioned.  I have already suggested Venetian to friends and coworkers who are considering updates.

The entire experience was both fun and professional.

They were responsive and helpful, even for someone with a smaller project.  I was taken care of from start to finish.  Their design process is very modern, allowing you to see exactly the area to be cut. I had a great visual of what it was going to look like before hand, making me feel very comfortable. 
I'm already a repeat customer having the same experience the first time I went to them.  Highly recommend.

Excellent people to work with all around

They did an excellent job. They laid this all out on their computer and showed us how it will match together. When they brought it in, it all fit exactly and they had to do only a little bit of touch-up to fit the pieces exactly. I’ve had granite work done before, but they were the best.

The Venetian template software makes a world of difference to show how the granite slab with all the variable patterns actually looks on your plan, and also provides a mean to maximize usage of the slab.  In our case, we were able to use 95% of two slabs not only for our kitchen counter top but also for a wet bar and 3 shelves in the living room.  Otherwise it is a shame of wasting granite at $40/foot.Venetian's estimate was comparable to other granite fabricators and their process was very professional and enjoyable.  The quality was excellent, that is seams not visible and granite movement well laid out.

After we agreed on a quote on remanent stone and installation date and timeframe for our bathroom countertops Venetian Stone Works left my family hanging by a thread. We called them several times before the installation date to confirm it because we needed to demolish our old tops and with a 2 year-old and a 3 month-old we needed to make sure installation was going to happen smoothly as we cannot be without running water in our bathrooms for several days. Well, despite getting confirmation, the day of the installation they did not show up and it was not until I called to follow up that they told me "they didn't have enough material for our back/sidesplashes." I felt coerced because it looked like they wanted me to pay more for our order. Really? You don't know how to do math AND you don't tell me until I call the day is supposed to happen despite having called you 24 hrs prior to confirm there we no issues for us to go ahead with demolition? We also arranged care for our little sons not to be in the house for nothing. I am still trying to sort this out with Venetian Stoneworks because we paid them a portion when they started the job. Let's hope this ends better. I will post an update with resolution. (hopefully!.) Stay tuned.

Update: They ended up coming 4 hours late on the date of our appointment, and with incomplete materials, backsplashes were missing and 1 of the 4 sinks was the wrong model. After many hours of work and back and forth they finished the installation at 6 pm with my children at home because I did not have care for them in the afternoon (it was supposed to be from 8 am to noon!.) The counters came up nice, however one backsplash was cut with the wrong height but we were so over then that decided to accept the ones they had. Also, they scratched my hardwood floor on my guest bathroom with leftover stone pieces from opening the faucet holes and once faucet hole in our master bath was not evenly cut (8 inch faucet spread with the left hole too close to the center.) They did not charge me more in the end, but after all the pain we endured they should at least offered a discount to make things right.

My final recommendations is: use this company to buy your stone, they have amazing variety and quality, as we as a great remanent yard, and competitive prices, BUT do your installation with someone else as their project management skills leave a lot to be desired.