House full of custom cabinets

[Sparky977]

Thank you all very much for the feedback, both positive AND constructive.  I mean that. 
A lot of the things Chris mentioned, I hadn't really thought about.  At the same time though, I was going off the designers drawings.  This is a spec house, and this builder always uses the same design team.  One thing I do know, the design team are no slouches.  But the builder does not have enough experience.  There are so many things I wish he would do differently!  But tying to tell him that never works.  He lives in his own little imaginary world where he does everything perfectly. 
Oh, and not to mention the things he changes which affects everything else, like the Master bath tub.  I ended up having to squeeze that all in there, and yeah, the drawes and tub are most certainly a pinch point.

I definitely agree about the island and not putting a toe kick on it.  That probably is my single biggest regret on this house.

The shared bath, personally, I really like the look how it turned out, but I would agree, there probably is not enough drawer space.  Handle placement, ahh yes.  Another genius move by the builder in the hardware he chose.  I told him that the drawers were too small for pulls, they would need knobs, but he doesn't listen.  And I was sick and tired of dealing with him enough at that point, so I didn't press the issue.

Lets just say, my patience with this builder is quite short after this job.  If I were at a point where I had lots of work, I wouldn't deal with him again.  Unfortunately, things utterly suck in Michigan right now.  Its quite hard to be picky with a family to feed.

Thank you guys again, and don't be afraid to give me constructive feedback.  I learn a lot that way.  If you aren't learning, you aren't growing.

Sparky

 

[ccmviking]

Mirko,
You know I respect you a great deal. I think you are being a little harsh with Chris. I know compliments and edification are great and I enjoy giving them and receiving them. But if all we say, when someone posts some work,"Great job, looks great!, and BTW what finish did you use?" We do all a dis-service. You cant learn from compliments. They feel good but that is about it. I want to hear how I could do it better the next time around. I ask for constructive comments on my threads and feel that if we cant post constructive comments than what is the point.

Eiji

Chris,

You could have been a little gentler with your comments.

Eiji

I know,  It's all those years spent working in a corporate world where everyone's an ass.  All I did was go around finding problems and getting people to deal with them or dealing with them myself.  I put all my own work through the same scrutiny.  It doesn't make for many peaceful and relaxing days I tell you. 

I tried to make it evident by the feedback that I wasn't saying Sparky did the design.  There are however a lot of design issue that could be addressed.  Since this was his first job I didn't know if he was thinking that much about it or just nervous as heck.  We take pictures of a lot of stuff like this and we learn from it, and also review with designers.  We want everyone to learn.  We are in our local phone book under cabinet repairs so we get called out to try and remedy peoples unfortunate situations.  We've had our, "let's don't do that again moments", and it doesn't feel good. 

Mirko,

I'll work on a softer approach but I was trying to be helpful.  It's hard to sit and type so much when you just worked 13 hours and it's hotter than heck out. 

Sparky you did wonderful on the cabinet job. 

Chris...

 

[greg mann]

Personally, I think this has been a great exchange between two pros with different perspectives, both showing a willingness to consider their differences and reach common ground, all with the intention of helping a 'new guy', who has taken the observations with a very positive attitude. Fog at its best. Good work by all. 

 

[danrush]

Sparky,

I dig your work.  As a cabinet guy myself ( just installs, no fabrication) I've worked with designers and builders you described, but I sure hope this builder here doesn't read the FOG ;D.  (especially if you want to work for him again)

Nice work, Dan

PS.  Great idea getting pros to shoot the pics.

 

[jaegerhund]

I appreciate this exchange and how it has worked out.  One of my issues is the inability to receive criticism well ---- it never comes across as constructive no matter how it is worded (my brain can change the most innocuous statement into a biting critique).  I think Chris was trying to set up his criticism with his warning ..... nice touch..... and Sparky has taken Chris's advice with grace ----- showing he has a pair .  Well done guys. 

P.S.  As a new guy lurking around mostly on this forum ,  this kind of thing makes me want to stick around ------ as opposed to a lot of the interpersonal rivalry that has expressed itself of late ---- most of which I don't understand.  But if the established members here care about the recruiting of new members, this show of men behaving ..... well like men ..... is a good sign of a healthy and valuable forum.  So keep on keeping on.  .

Justin

 

[BarryL]

I second that Greg....and Chris good job with the courage to post your experience with design.  Those are the kind of answers we all look for so that we can all improve!

 

[promhandicam]

Well done Sparky on a great job and great photos too. Well done too to Chris for what I thought was very well thought out comments. I hope that when I am eventually in a position to post a completed job, where festool tools have been used, I will get as intelligent and insightful remarks as the ones given in this thread, and that I will be able to take them with good grace as Sparky has done. I hope this is an example of the sort of threads that are desired on this forum rather than the vitriolic outpourings that has been too much in evidence since I joined - I just hope that the two aren't connected  ;D

Cheers,

Steve

 

[wnagle]

Sparky, I think you did a great job on this project... way out of my league for sure and Chris I learned a lot from your critique,  things that I didn't notice when I first looked at the pics.  I am self taught and appreciate learning from others and not always learning on the job where it cost more.  thanks to both of you!

wayne