Hello everyone,
Once again, I need to ask for help here. This time it’s about our kitchen, which unfortunately doesn’t seem to have a good outcome.
Now to the actual story:
In 2015, we moved into a newly built apartment for rent and purchased a new Nobilia L-shaped kitchen for €8,000 (approximately $8,700) and had it installed. In mid-2017, we signed our house construction contract and immediately went to a kitchen design studio to ask if we could dismantle our 2015 kitchen, modify it, and reinstall it in the new house. Unfortunately, the kitchen studio where we bought it in 2015 had gone out of business, so we had to find a new one.
Anyway, we emailed the house floor plans and the documents for our 2015 kitchen in advance and arranged an appointment. At the meeting, we were told that the kitchen could be extended and that the matching furniture pieces were still available to order as before. They then showed us a proposal we liked. However, they said that a 60cm (24 inches) cabinet we already had would be left unused because it no longer fit. IMPORTANT!
So far, everything seemed fine, and we signed a contract for €3,000 (approximately $3,300) covering dismantling, transportation, and installation, with a deposit of €1,000 (approximately $1,100).
In July 2017, we moved into the house and the kitchen was installed right away. Unfortunately, we were only partially present during the installation because it was moving day. In the afternoon, the kitchen installer asked if we knew that according to the plan a 60cm (24 inches) cabinet would be left unused. We said yes, because their manager had told us it wouldn’t fit anymore. It turned out that it actually did fit and there was about 10cm (4 inches) of space left up to the window. When we asked if he could still install it, he said no, because the countertop and backsplash had already been glued and mounted.
We immediately called the studio, and we were told that to install the cabinet now, the entire countertop and backsplash would have to be replaced. Therefore, they wanted to charge us about €1,500 (approximately $1,650) extra. When we asked why the cabinet wasn’t planned for originally, they just said we knew that but couldn’t remember why it wasn’t to be installed. We refused the €1,500 offer right away and told the installer still in the house. He said he could do it cheaper by just adding a piece to the countertop and backsplash. This would leave a visible seam on the surface, but material costs would only be around €300 (approximately $330). We agreed, and the installer made arrangements with the studio manager.
In October, the installer came back and started working. He noticed that due to a corner outlet he had installed himself, there was now a large hole in the countertop and backsplash right in the middle of the kitchen. We obviously told him that we could not accept this. He tried to find a solution and offered to get the same model as the corner outlet but not for the corner, so it could be mounted over the hole. We agreed, trusting that he would properly install the right outlet.
On Friday morning he came again, but unfortunately, we were at work and my parents let him in. When we got home Friday evening, I just heard my wife say loudly, “Are they serious?” Pictures are attached.
We immediately dismantled it ourselves and have not paid the remaining €2,300 (approximately $2,530) invoice that was left behind.
Does anyone have any idea how I can best get out of this situation?
I will definitely not pay the remaining amount because I will not accept the kitchen as it is. The agreed-upon power strip looks nothing like the others and is also damaged, with one screw missing on the side. It was only meant to be a temporary compromise for the installer. The installer himself seemed to think we wouldn’t accept it either, as he only attached the outlet with one of two screws, probably to avoid drilling another hole.
I also saw in the old email exchange that the floor plan we sent did allow for the 60cm (24 inches) cabinet from the beginning, but the planner simply overlooked it, and we were too naive not to check it ourselves (we were in the middle of the construction phase). Because of this one cabinet, we now have all these problems. I never thought the kitchen would be the most complicated trade of the entire house.
A lot of text, a lot of confusion. I just don’t know what to do. I can only reach the kitchen studio again on Tuesday and am simply asking for your advice on how to best respond here. 🙁
Regards
Once again, I need to ask for help here. This time it’s about our kitchen, which unfortunately doesn’t seem to have a good outcome.
Now to the actual story:
In 2015, we moved into a newly built apartment for rent and purchased a new Nobilia L-shaped kitchen for €8,000 (approximately $8,700) and had it installed. In mid-2017, we signed our house construction contract and immediately went to a kitchen design studio to ask if we could dismantle our 2015 kitchen, modify it, and reinstall it in the new house. Unfortunately, the kitchen studio where we bought it in 2015 had gone out of business, so we had to find a new one.
Anyway, we emailed the house floor plans and the documents for our 2015 kitchen in advance and arranged an appointment. At the meeting, we were told that the kitchen could be extended and that the matching furniture pieces were still available to order as before. They then showed us a proposal we liked. However, they said that a 60cm (24 inches) cabinet we already had would be left unused because it no longer fit. IMPORTANT!
So far, everything seemed fine, and we signed a contract for €3,000 (approximately $3,300) covering dismantling, transportation, and installation, with a deposit of €1,000 (approximately $1,100).
In July 2017, we moved into the house and the kitchen was installed right away. Unfortunately, we were only partially present during the installation because it was moving day. In the afternoon, the kitchen installer asked if we knew that according to the plan a 60cm (24 inches) cabinet would be left unused. We said yes, because their manager had told us it wouldn’t fit anymore. It turned out that it actually did fit and there was about 10cm (4 inches) of space left up to the window. When we asked if he could still install it, he said no, because the countertop and backsplash had already been glued and mounted.
We immediately called the studio, and we were told that to install the cabinet now, the entire countertop and backsplash would have to be replaced. Therefore, they wanted to charge us about €1,500 (approximately $1,650) extra. When we asked why the cabinet wasn’t planned for originally, they just said we knew that but couldn’t remember why it wasn’t to be installed. We refused the €1,500 offer right away and told the installer still in the house. He said he could do it cheaper by just adding a piece to the countertop and backsplash. This would leave a visible seam on the surface, but material costs would only be around €300 (approximately $330). We agreed, and the installer made arrangements with the studio manager.
In October, the installer came back and started working. He noticed that due to a corner outlet he had installed himself, there was now a large hole in the countertop and backsplash right in the middle of the kitchen. We obviously told him that we could not accept this. He tried to find a solution and offered to get the same model as the corner outlet but not for the corner, so it could be mounted over the hole. We agreed, trusting that he would properly install the right outlet.
On Friday morning he came again, but unfortunately, we were at work and my parents let him in. When we got home Friday evening, I just heard my wife say loudly, “Are they serious?” Pictures are attached.
We immediately dismantled it ourselves and have not paid the remaining €2,300 (approximately $2,530) invoice that was left behind.
Does anyone have any idea how I can best get out of this situation?
I will definitely not pay the remaining amount because I will not accept the kitchen as it is. The agreed-upon power strip looks nothing like the others and is also damaged, with one screw missing on the side. It was only meant to be a temporary compromise for the installer. The installer himself seemed to think we wouldn’t accept it either, as he only attached the outlet with one of two screws, probably to avoid drilling another hole.
I also saw in the old email exchange that the floor plan we sent did allow for the 60cm (24 inches) cabinet from the beginning, but the planner simply overlooked it, and we were too naive not to check it ourselves (we were in the middle of the construction phase). Because of this one cabinet, we now have all these problems. I never thought the kitchen would be the most complicated trade of the entire house.
A lot of text, a lot of confusion. I just don’t know what to do. I can only reach the kitchen studio again on Tuesday and am simply asking for your advice on how to best respond here. 🙁
Regards
We have a total of four corner outlets.
Maybe I should just tell the kitchen fitter to remove the 60cm (24 inches) cabinet and restore the original layout. It's a bit unfortunate because we’ll have an extra cabinet and he worked and ordered materials for nothing, but I see it as his oversight for not considering that he had made several holes there.
Maybe I should just tell the kitchen fitter to remove the 60cm (24 inches) cabinet and restore the original layout. It's a bit unfortunate because we’ll have an extra cabinet and he worked and ordered materials for nothing, but I see it as his oversight for not considering that he had made several holes there.
C
chand198626 Nov 2018 10:02Snowside schrieb:
Maybe I should just tell the kitchen fitter to remove the 60cm (24 inches) cabinet and restore the original setup.That’s also an option. You’ll have to decide.
I wouldn’t recommend continuing to tinker with it, as it will only make things worse.
Exactly. Either dismantle it without the 60 cm (24 inch) cabinet or do a complete renovation with a new countertop and new backsplash paneling!
Of course, I won’t pay for the failed extension if we go with the dismantling option, and for the "completely new" solution, I am offering 50% of the costs.
Thank you for your opinion. 🙂
Of course, I won’t pay for the failed extension if we go with the dismantling option, and for the "completely new" solution, I am offering 50% of the costs.
Thank you for your opinion. 🙂
No, I wouldn’t recommend removing the cabinet either. If I understand correctly, you would then have a gap next to the tall cabinet. How would that be filled?
The 60cm (24 inches) cabinet seems to fit the layout. The makeshift countertop and the wall are indeed unattractive. If there’s no alternative solution and the power strip (which doesn’t look very nice) is involved—another model might not cover the hole in the countertop, possibly a horizontal power strip instead, which would eliminate the corner power strip. However, then the gap in the wall covering would be visible again. In that case, I would actually prefer to replace the entire countertop and wall cladding. It will probably cost you something, but you might not be happy seeing it every day.
Good luck!
The 60cm (24 inches) cabinet seems to fit the layout. The makeshift countertop and the wall are indeed unattractive. If there’s no alternative solution and the power strip (which doesn’t look very nice) is involved—another model might not cover the hole in the countertop, possibly a horizontal power strip instead, which would eliminate the corner power strip. However, then the gap in the wall covering would be visible again. In that case, I would actually prefer to replace the entire countertop and wall cladding. It will probably cost you something, but you might not be happy seeing it every day.
Good luck!
Two power strips side by side? That’s nonsense.
No one seems to know why the countertop has a hole in it.
The hole in the countertop might possibly be covered up by a proper XXL-sized wall trim. The hole in the wall behind is a bit trickier. Instead of another power strip, I would consider installing a different device permanently there. Light, in some form, comes to mind first, ideally also covering the cables.
I don’t think the countertop joints are particularly well done. Is the gap filled with silicone or how was that handled?
I would find it annoying to remove the installation because you would lose a cabinet that is probably quite useful.
No one seems to know why the countertop has a hole in it.
The hole in the countertop might possibly be covered up by a proper XXL-sized wall trim. The hole in the wall behind is a bit trickier. Instead of another power strip, I would consider installing a different device permanently there. Light, in some form, comes to mind first, ideally also covering the cables.
I don’t think the countertop joints are particularly well done. Is the gap filled with silicone or how was that handled?
I would find it annoying to remove the installation because you would lose a cabinet that is probably quite useful.
kaho674 schrieb:
Why the countertop has a hole, no one seems to know.It was made like that in the old kitchen. Back then it was in the corner, and now unfortunately further to the left. The countertop was taken over as it was and only extended. That’s how I understood it.
Similar topics