I am in a slump.
I want to get wedding stuff done, and have made progress on the invites (which means I can actually POST about them!). But the mailing labels are giving me headaches- the templates don't line up with the printing labels!! WTF!
I want to do yoga, but I just don't FEEL like it...in fact, for my final class last Thursday, it was a struggle to motivate myself to go- and my teachers were fantastic, and I really did enjoy the class. I just didn't feel like going.
I want to go running, but I need new shoes, and really don't want to dish out the $200-ish dollars to get some. And yes, the shoes are a NEED, as the shoes I have give me blisters in the arch of my foot....I think the air pockets in the soles that give me arch support popped. I can barely motivate myself to take the dog for a walk at lunch.
I don't feel like cooking, I don't feel like doing the dishes (which is doubly shameful because EVERYTHING goes in the dishwasher), and I don't feel like doing the laundry.
All I want to do is sleep in, have some breakfast, take a nap, have some lunch, take a nap, have some dinner and go to sleep for the night. Productive, yes?
Normally, this wouldn't bother me. In a typical month, my weight can fluctuate up to 10 pounds (which is why I never feel like any of my clothes fit- they're all either too big or too small, but to get rid of either set would mean I have nothing to wear at some points). But I have a wedding dress to fit into in just over 3 months. A dress that I will be wearing in hundreds of photos taken that day. Photos that will be around FOREVER.
You know, no pressure.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
So, this is a balanced diet, right?
Potato Salad and Cake.
That is all I have eaten since Saturday. Potato Salad and Cake. I have done no physical activity, and have had barely any water (like, probably 2 glasses total since Saturday....and all I drank on Saturday was wine.
Maybe that's why I feel like I'm being knifed in the gut.
That is all I have eaten since Saturday. Potato Salad and Cake. I have done no physical activity, and have had barely any water (like, probably 2 glasses total since Saturday....and all I drank on Saturday was wine.
Maybe that's why I feel like I'm being knifed in the gut.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
You know the saying...
That when your coworker loses their job, it's a recession, but when you lose your job, it's a depression?
Well, it's a depression in our house now. I was "released" on Tuesday.
I think I'm still in a little bit of shock, so please forgive me if this post is a little "all over the place"!
I am, however, determined to be positive. For starters, I wasn't that fond of my job- I wasn't being given tasks that utilized the skills I worked so hard to foster. Secondly, I didn't like the company I worked for, because of the management style- I felt management was uncommunicative, hypocritical, purposely ignorant of the concept of work-life balance, and disrespectful of the employees. I was also frustrated by working in a place where old technologies and the status quo were venerated, and new methods were regarded with intense suspicion and distrust. And, finally, I disliked working in a place where the energy was so overwhelmingly negative, it was toxic. Ever day was a struggle just to NOT get sucked into the vortex of that energy.
Long story short, I had been very unhappy there for a very long time. So, I am taking this news as a sign from The Universe that there is something better out there for me- something that I will like more, that will make me feel happier and more fulfilled, at a company that I will enjoy working for- and now I have the ability to jump on that opportunity as soon as it presents itself. My old job required 30 days notice (!!!), so any new opportunity would have either had to wait a month, or it would have meant a complex system of using vacation time and calling in sick to cover the 30 days while I started something new- neither were good options.
I'm also seeing this as a gift- the last year-and-a-bit has been difficult for me- I've had to fight to stay positive in a place where the energy was OVERWHELMINGLY negative. I haven't always been successful, and on numerous occasions have ended up bringing the negativity home with me, to the detriment of my relationship with Mr. Homeowner. Now I have the time to repair the damage that has been done to my spirit, and I can rest and recharge and recenter....and I'll be able to give my best to Mr. Homeowner and our relationship.
Additionally, I had a meltdown on the weekend about the approaching wedding, and how little was done, and how little time I felt I had to get things done....well, now I have lots of time. I am feeling quite optimistic at the moment, actually....I may actually be able to knock a bunch of projects off my "To Do" List.
I have been down this unemployment road before. Twice before, in fact. Both times were periods of intense darkness in my life- I felt useless, like a failure, and like a burden. I am determined that this time will be different. I am going to use this time to it's fullest advantage, and I am going to ENJOY it- I am going to be able to get wedding stuff done. I am going to be able to work on organizing the house (hey, it's only been A YEAR of living in chaos!). I am going to be able to practice Yoga every day, and go for runs along the river with Pup every day (well...until I get new running shoes, it will be WALKS along the river!). I am going to be able to get together for coffee with friends who are also not working at the moment (Hi Anne and Blanche!), and take Pup up to see Mr. Homeowner's parents in the afternoons, and get errands done during the week so that the weekends are more relaxing than they have been. I am going to be able to catch up on my sleep, and to start reading books for pleasure again.
In short, I am being given the opportunity to recharge my spirit after what has been an intensely taxing year, to clear out my mind, to catch up on things I have been neglecting. And for that, I am grateful.
Well, it's a depression in our house now. I was "released" on Tuesday.
I think I'm still in a little bit of shock, so please forgive me if this post is a little "all over the place"!
I am, however, determined to be positive. For starters, I wasn't that fond of my job- I wasn't being given tasks that utilized the skills I worked so hard to foster. Secondly, I didn't like the company I worked for, because of the management style- I felt management was uncommunicative, hypocritical, purposely ignorant of the concept of work-life balance, and disrespectful of the employees. I was also frustrated by working in a place where old technologies and the status quo were venerated, and new methods were regarded with intense suspicion and distrust. And, finally, I disliked working in a place where the energy was so overwhelmingly negative, it was toxic. Ever day was a struggle just to NOT get sucked into the vortex of that energy.
Long story short, I had been very unhappy there for a very long time. So, I am taking this news as a sign from The Universe that there is something better out there for me- something that I will like more, that will make me feel happier and more fulfilled, at a company that I will enjoy working for- and now I have the ability to jump on that opportunity as soon as it presents itself. My old job required 30 days notice (!!!), so any new opportunity would have either had to wait a month, or it would have meant a complex system of using vacation time and calling in sick to cover the 30 days while I started something new- neither were good options.
I'm also seeing this as a gift- the last year-and-a-bit has been difficult for me- I've had to fight to stay positive in a place where the energy was OVERWHELMINGLY negative. I haven't always been successful, and on numerous occasions have ended up bringing the negativity home with me, to the detriment of my relationship with Mr. Homeowner. Now I have the time to repair the damage that has been done to my spirit, and I can rest and recharge and recenter....and I'll be able to give my best to Mr. Homeowner and our relationship.
Additionally, I had a meltdown on the weekend about the approaching wedding, and how little was done, and how little time I felt I had to get things done....well, now I have lots of time. I am feeling quite optimistic at the moment, actually....I may actually be able to knock a bunch of projects off my "To Do" List.
I have been down this unemployment road before. Twice before, in fact. Both times were periods of intense darkness in my life- I felt useless, like a failure, and like a burden. I am determined that this time will be different. I am going to use this time to it's fullest advantage, and I am going to ENJOY it- I am going to be able to get wedding stuff done. I am going to be able to work on organizing the house (hey, it's only been A YEAR of living in chaos!). I am going to be able to practice Yoga every day, and go for runs along the river with Pup every day (well...until I get new running shoes, it will be WALKS along the river!). I am going to be able to get together for coffee with friends who are also not working at the moment (Hi Anne and Blanche!), and take Pup up to see Mr. Homeowner's parents in the afternoons, and get errands done during the week so that the weekends are more relaxing than they have been. I am going to be able to catch up on my sleep, and to start reading books for pleasure again.
In short, I am being given the opportunity to recharge my spirit after what has been an intensely taxing year, to clear out my mind, to catch up on things I have been neglecting. And for that, I am grateful.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
My Poor (Fur)Baby!!!!!
Pup is at the vet, as we speak, getting spayed (mama ain't RAISIN' no babies!!!!)
She'll be fine- she's young and healthy, and spaying is much better for the dog than letting her go into heat. Not only can she not have puppies- and it would violate our contract with the breeder to NOT spay her, and could result in the dog being repossessed by the breeder- but she never has to deal with going into heat, she won't mark as much, is less likely to wander (to look for a mate), it eliminates her chances of ovarian or uterine cancer, and decreases her chances of getting breast cancer....yes, dogs can get breast cancer. Who knew?
She will have a collar on (the infamous lampshade!), and hopefully her incision will be small because she hasn't had a heat cycle yet, so all the "internal organs" will still be small.
I know she'll be fine, I just hate seeing her being uncomfortable. And, Mr. Homeowner is out of town until tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be taking care of her on my own. Boo...especially since the anaesthetic can make some dogs pukey or give them the runs....so, if that happens, I'll be the lucky lady who gets to clean it all up. Thank goodness for disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes!
She'll be fine- she's young and healthy, and spaying is much better for the dog than letting her go into heat. Not only can she not have puppies- and it would violate our contract with the breeder to NOT spay her, and could result in the dog being repossessed by the breeder- but she never has to deal with going into heat, she won't mark as much, is less likely to wander (to look for a mate), it eliminates her chances of ovarian or uterine cancer, and decreases her chances of getting breast cancer....yes, dogs can get breast cancer. Who knew?
She will have a collar on (the infamous lampshade!), and hopefully her incision will be small because she hasn't had a heat cycle yet, so all the "internal organs" will still be small.
I know she'll be fine, I just hate seeing her being uncomfortable. And, Mr. Homeowner is out of town until tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be taking care of her on my own. Boo...especially since the anaesthetic can make some dogs pukey or give them the runs....so, if that happens, I'll be the lucky lady who gets to clean it all up. Thank goodness for disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Calgary Renovation Vendor Review!
Okay, here goes....my Calgary Renovation Vendor Review!
Contracting Company- Eiffel Developments A+++++++++++++
In a word: Amazing.
In two words: Super amazing.
I loved working with Eiffel. Not only did they take care of everything, from the design and drawings, to the permits and inspections, to the contractors and the follow up, we didn't have to source out a THING (well, except for our bar fridge). They were very patient with me as I phoned them multiple times a day with stupid questions, dealt promptly with any issues or problems that came up, and were really good with keeping us in the loop with what was going on and who was going to be in our house. They were up front with how much of a fee they would be charging us, and even went as far as to advise us to purchase our own appliances, and save the markup. I never felt like I was being talked into a decision, I honestly felt like they were treating our money as if it was their own, and were making decisions accordingly, on everything from the materials they advised us to use to the contractors they brought in. And, when we sat down to reconcile accounts, if there were charges I was unsure about, Lori had no problem backing the invoice out of the total, and looking into it. I never felt bullied, I never felt like I DIDN'T know what was going on, and I never felt like I didn't have a voice. Additionally, when we ran into issues with the cabinet suppliers, Darren (the project manager), Lori and Danny were all tireless advocates for us- there was never a point where they went "Meh, we tried, deal with it". They stand behind their customers 100%, which became rare in Calgary at one point. With one exception, I liked all the vendors they chose for us, and liked all the contractors they had come in to work on our project. They respected our home- the floors were covered, plastic sheets were tacked up to minimize dust migration, and the construction zone was cleaned up every night (as in, I could walk down there with socks, if I chose to). They were super-flexible as well- we had meetings at lunchtimes and in the evenings, and when a family member was ill, they had no problem allowing us to reschedule....with 2 hours notice. I'm not kidding.
I really cannot say enough good things about our experience with Eiffel and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to renovate. Love it.
Electrical- Trecc Electric A+
I don't really have a lot to say about the wiring...I mean, everything works, and we passed inspection, so it's all good. Their office hours were a little annoying (short hours, and only Monday-Friday), but since we could be at home for the electrical walkthrough, we didn't actually have to meet with them in their office. The guy who actually did the wiring was really good- we walked him through the basement, showed him where we wanted things, and he gave us his professional advice (eg) use safety switches on the bar as well as in the bathroom, where to put the dimmer switch for the basement lights, etc). He was also really flexible- we requested an extra pot light with no warning, and he was able to accommodate us almost immediately. My only "complaint" is that we didn't have the lights hooked up until after the drywall was up, taped and mudded. Had we been able to turn the lights on and see the illumination earlier, we would have added a second row of potlights by the bar- with one row, it's fairly dark, and by the time we found this out, it would have put us way behind to have to rip down the ceiling, add wiring, and add lights. We're just going to put in some undercabinet lighting (from Ikea!) on the bar, so it won't be that bad, but I wish I had known earlier!
Plumbing- Canyon Plumbing A
I'm taking a "+" off, because they came and plumbed everything in before I had even signed off on our fixtures....which I ended up changing literally the next day. So, they had to come back, and replumb everything, which was a pain, but to my understanding it was their screwup, since I hadn't signed anything. It only put us a day or so back, and we weren't charged for it (although they DID attempt to invoice us for it, and I refused it), so it's all good.
Anyway, other than that minor blip, we had no issues. Everything was plumbed in properly, and we had no problems getting them to come back and tweak things (like when our toilet was tilted to the side! Oops!).
Framing- I have no idea, but A+
Our framer was awesome. He worked fast (three days to frame the entire basement), and even thought ahead to what the final product looked like- we have huge ugly furnace ducts that run all over our basement. In the TV room end of the basement, the ductwork turned a corner, so he had a bulkhead framed in at an angle. Well, at the other end of the room, he made the exact same framing angle, even though the ductwork didn't call for it, so the ceiling is nicely edged, and it looks symmetrical. I honestly think the hallmark of a great contractor is attention to detail.
And, he had braces. So double points for coolness!
Finishing- Tyson A+++++++++++
Okay, we loved Tyson. Like, LOVED him. The finishing work was going to be finicky, because we wanted it to match the fabulous detail on the main floor. We even made it doubly difficult by requesting rounded corners on our drywalling.
Tyson finished everything impeccably. All the trim, all the baseboards, all the doors are absolutely perfect- you can't see seams, or joins, or anything, and he managed to work our laundry tap box into the backsplash, so it doesn't look out of place. He even squeezed trim around our bathroom door, despite the fact there was a low-lying bulkhead, because he thought it was important the door look as finished as the rest of the basement doors.
We were so impressed with his work in our basement that we wanted him to take over from the cabinet supplier in finishing our cabinets (ultimately this wasn't allowed, as it would have been difficult to match colors and finishes, and it would have voided our warranty). He did amazing work, we're so impressed!
HVAC- Alberta Boyz (no website) A
Like the electrical, there's not much to say- we added a couple of vents and air returns, and made sure everything was up to code. They worked fast and everything passed inspection, so....I don't know what else to add!
Plumbing Fixtures- Canyon Plumbing A+
We had one initial snafu with picking our fixtures, in which I felt like I was being oversold on a lot of things (and exploding our budget accordingly). Well, two days later I headed back to Canyon with Amanda from Eiffel and met with Fran. We corrected all the previous errors, picked all the fixtures, and I was on my way. My one complaint is as much about me as it is about them- they don't have a real live sample of ALL the fixtures they carry (which makes sense- they'd need the world's biggest showroom!), but for someone who has trouble imagining what a picture of something will look like in 3D, it was kinda hard. Fran was very good about showing me the closest match they had in their showroom, so at least I had an idea, hence I'm not taking any marks off. And, when the cabinet supplier screwed up and we had to choose a sink in 10 minutes, Fran was all over it, getting things done, so Shea from Eiffel could take the sink to the granite supplier to be templated....and she managed to find one last, lonely faucet in their warehouse that matched the rest of our faucets, after we'd resigned ourselves to choosing a different one because ours were discontinued. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic! (although I will footnote that with the reminder that I had refused to pay the difference between our original faucet and the more expensive new faucet, so that may have had an impact on the thoroughness of her search! But, no harm, no foul!)
Lighting Fixtures- Cartwright Lighting A+
Absolutely enormous selection, at a wide variety of prices (a $40,000 dragon chandelier, made from crystal? Really?) and laid out so that I could easily navigate the store myself. I still maintain they'd lunge for the doors and lock me out if they ever saw me coming again- I was there FOUR times in FOUR days, and changed my order each time until I was happy with it. But, in the end, everything worked out and we're golden! And, bonus points to Amanda from Eiffel who talked me out of going overbudget with our laundry room light fixtures!
Carpet and Tile- After 8 A+++
Working with Lorne and September was awesome. They both gave very good advice, made sure I understood when I was upgrading a selection, helped me choose grout colors, and were always available to answer my questions, even when I didn't have an appointment. Their selection is fantastic, and September's drawings really helped me see how everything would come together in the end. When there was an issue (the weird lines in the carpet), they sent out not one, but TWO techs, they re-steamed the carpet, and promised to replace the carpet if the line didn't come out (it did, it was just a fold line where the carpet was rolled). Amazing customer service (I'm hoping to get our window blinds from them as well!), and I maintain that upgrading our carpet and underlay was the best $500 we spent- it feels like HEAVEN underfoot. I also liked that they stressed the fact we couldn't guarantee slate colors when going with natural stone (conditions will vary from one side of the quarry to the other, so oxidization and mineral deposition will be different, resulting in different colors) so there were no surprises when a grey-green-black sample resulted in us getting grey-green-black-orange-red-purple slate tiles. The tile installer was AMAZING- he worked late to get our shower stall done, and really thought about the placement of the colored tiles- lots of the reds and purples ended up in our laundry room with the red washer and dryer, while greens and greys stayed in the bathroom where they matched the countertop. And the tile sealer they sent was the cherry on top- now not only do we not have to worry about staining our tiles or grout, but when our slate floors upstairs need to be refinished, we know to call After 8!
Finishing Materials- Regal Building Supplies A+
We were able to send in photos, and they matched most of our materials from there. I just went in and confirmed the selections. I did have to make a couple of changes, and they added some material we didn't need (like the stair railings- we had kept our old ones), but there was no trouble removing the extras.
Extras- Home Solutions A
I went in to Home Solutions for our closet organizer, bathroom mirror, and shower door. Terry was very helpful, and they had samples of all the different options, which I found helpful, and they were able to custom bevel our mirror (standard bevel was one inch, I requested half an inch and got it!). There was a minor issue with the wrong closet organizer being installed- My drawing that I signed said one thing, but the installer worked off our original spec. It was quickly reordered and replaced, but I still don't know why the updated specs were never distributed. Note to DIY-ers: when I was there, Home Solutions worked exclusively with builders. Terry said that, if things slowed down, they may consider working with individuals, so you can give it a shot, just don't hang your hopes solely on them!
Granite- Graniteworx A
I liked Graniteworx's showroom- they have all the samples laid out and labeled, so you can see what you like, and they color code the samples to different price brackets. The edge profiles to choose from are also displayed, so you can see what it looks like on an actual counter, and they are liberal with their free samples, so you can match tile and carpet if need be. My one major disappointment was that they no longer offer 3/4 inch granite, just 1.75 inch, so we couldn't get a matching granite backsplash. And, there was a bit of stress near Christmas- we were told that Graniteworx couldn't install our granite the week before Christmas, and then they'd be closed for 2 weeks. I was NOT impressed, Lori convinced them to reconsider, and everything ended up being fine....but it was a bit of stress I just didn't need, hence the lost "+".
Structured Wiring- Platinum Home Systems A+
Geoff was fantastic during our walkthrough- I was doing it alone, and have NO clue about anything sound-system related. He explained everything clearly, and was able to roll with the punches when I changed everything a few days later. The install went fine, and their service techs were fantastic in fixing the one issue we had- cable cables hadn't been run to one of the outlets, so it wasn't working! They were able to remove one of our speakers, splice a cable onto the existing cables, and fix the issue. We were also able to run the wiring for our security system, including a water sensor behind the washing machine (no undetected leaks for us!).
Drywall and Paint- I have no idea, but A-
The drywallers were fast workers, and I was impressed....once they actually GOT STARTED. There was a miscommunication in delivery times, and if we hadn't been home (just home from Hawaii), they would have had to dump it on our snowy front lawn. There was an additional miscommunication with the ceiling- we ended up with knockdown texture on the undersides of our bulkheads, which we didn't want, so they had to come back and remove it.
The painters were good- they worked fast, but their motivation/resourcefulness left something to be desired...they ran out of paint with one wall (one LONG wall) left to second-coat. So, instead of going out and buying more paint, they just left it for the "touchup" stage. I was NOT impressed. I was equally unimpressed when they started painting our stairwell, and the painter noticed the sheens of paint (new vs. existing) were different...and he just KEPT ON PAINTING. We complained about that and were told it had to cure for a month. I called BS on that- paint cures after a few days and won't change after that, and by making the customer wait a month you can get away with fewer re-dos, as people get used to contractors NOT being in their house and are reluctant to go back. I told them that, okay, we'll wait a month, but in 30 days I expected them to be back and repainting, because I wouldn't accept the paint, now or ever. They were back in a week, repainting, and now it's fine.
So, okay job by both, but I had been so spoiled by the other contractors, I expected a little more "get up and go" by both.
Appliances- Trail Appliances...um.....A?
I knew exactly what I wanted, so I walked in, found it, found a sales associate to write it up, and took it home that day. So, good experience, but I did all the work. So, the A is really for me. I should have made it an A++++++++ because I'm so awesome.
Electronics- Soundsaround....again....A?
Again, we knew what we wanted, and did manage to get some deals. Since we picked everything up we have had some issues- our Blu-Ray player was defective and Samsung is claiming they lost it, so we're wading through that whole bog at the moment. But we're happy with everything else (reciever, shaw box, TV, and Wii). So, again, the A is really for us....so A++++++++++++ for awesomeness.
Cabinets- Legacy Kitchens F-----------------------------
(no link to protect innocent renovators!)
There truly are not enough "-"'s in the world to show how unhappy I am with this company. In short:
-It was nearly impossible to get an appointment with the designer, I had to take time off work to do it.
-He forgot to note the backsplashes for the laundry room on the order.
-I was supposed to get the drawings in 48 hours or less...I got them a week later, mere hours before I was leaving the office, and the day before we were going on vacation. I was assured 4-6 week delivery, which would put us around Mid-December at the latest.
-Cabinets were late. No explanation, and we wouldn't have known had Eiffel not checked in. New delivery date: two days before Christmas, pushing everything else behind schedule. I throw a fit, Eiffel throws a fit, and we get enough cabinets in to template the countertops.
- The designer didn't measure any of our fixtures. The bathroom vanity was too small to accommodate our sink, so we had to pick a new one. The upper bar cabinets were mounted too low to accommodate our faucet, so we had to move them up.
- Our upper bar doors arrived weeks and weeks after the rest of the cabinets. Legacy blamed their glass company. The installer shows up without hinges. The doors sit.
-The cabinets are inspected, some defects are found, replacements are ordered, which takes weeks.
-I don't like how the cabinets were finished, I request further finishing. It takes months. The end gable is forgotten more than once, and I have to remind the installer what I actually asked for numerous times. Am told "This is how Legacy does things" more than once. I finally retort "Well, if someone had told me that I would have instructed you to install it differently because it looks stupid this way." Childish, yes, but I'm the CUSTOMER, I am PAYING you, this probably isn't the best time to imply I have bad taste!
-The replacement doors show up, one of them is damaged, it's reordered.
-The replacement date is moved back because the door isn't delivered. The lady in the office claims we were notified. We were not, Eiffel was not. Jury is still out on who she actually PHONED (if anyone at all).
-The second replacement door shows up, it's the wong color. It's reordered.
-The third replacement door shows up, it's the wrong style. It's reordered. The gable shows up. It's too short, by almost an inch. It's reordered.
-A full THREE MONTHS after our intial possession date, the correct door and correct gable are delivered and installed.
-Upon speaking with Eiffel, we discover we are not the only customers to be having issues with them (and, in fact, our problems were the easiest to fix, and the cheapest order!). Legacy offered us a 10% refund on our cabinets, despite being nothing but a nightmare to work with, and completely lacking in customer service. Through Eiffel, we were repeatedly told "This is the way things work!". Okay, I expect that no reno is going to go perfectly. But, no, this is NOT the way things work- when you have a customer who is THREE MONTHS BEHIND because of YOUR INCOMPETENCE, and they're waiting for their FOURTH REPLACEMENT DOOR, you get on a damn plane, fly to your factory, and stand there watching the workers until you have the door in your hot little hands, and then you repeat the process at the glass-makers, so that your customers who are PAYING YOU get what they need in a timely fashion. THAT is the way things work, for companies that would like to stay in business, anyway.
For a laugh, from their website (I highlighted the best parts in orange):
People
What makes Legacy Kitchens stand out are the people we have attracted to work here - some of the most creative, competent, and dynamic kitchen designers and employees in the industry. The excellence of our staff is ultimately what allows us to ensure that the exciting designs for your new kitchen will come to life.
All of our designers and trades people deliver top quality service and craftsmanship, of course, but where they truly shine is in taking care of clients. Plan your visit to our showroom today and experience our hospitality firsthand.
Standards of Excellence
Our standards of excellence are apparent in each stage of the kitchen design and renovation process. We have developed vigorous systems, processes, and service standards which help account for why Legacy remains a premier performer in the industry.
We have built our reputation on capability, consistency, and customer care. And so we are quietly confident that the quality of our service and craftsmanship will exceed your expectations in the realization of your dream kitchen.
The Legacy Promise
We will focus on your needs and tastes - design, customization, and individuality are our strengths.
The creation of your kitchen will follow a meticulous process in which nothing is left to chance.
Whether you are building a new home or renovating your existing kitchen, we will always serve you with fairness, integrity, and respect.
You will love your Legacy kitchen. Stop by our showroom today and gain a perspective on all that your kitchen could be.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, whatever. They do have their professional affiliations listed, and I will be complaining about their service to all of them.
I'm glad that we never have to work with Legacy again, it was the most frustrating experience of my life. I am grateful that we had Eiffel working on our behalf- I can't imagine trying to deal with them on my own! And, the MOST ridiculous part....at any point, had they apologized, and made an effort to make it right, in a timely fashion, I wouldn't be upset. Things happen, I get it. But when we are consistently told that, by expecting competence and resolution to our issues, we are expecting too much, I get my hackles up.
Anyway, I'm not concerned. The universe has it's own way of dealing with these kinds of people, and I have the utmost faith that this will be no different.
Overall impressions- I am glad we finished the basement, it's a great space and will be fantastic in the heat of summer. However, I could NEVER do a bigger reno while still living in the house. We still had two full levels, numerous functional bathrooms, a kitchen, and our bedrooms, and it STILL drove me crazy having people in my house all day, having all our stuff in boxes cluttering up the dining room, and living in a house covered in dust. I was shocked at how much "downtime" there seemed to be- I was expecting contractors to be scheduled back to back to back, working full 8 hour days and 5 day weeks, and it just doesn't work that way (which is a good thing, if there are issues!). I will NEVER second guess our decision to go with a full-service contracting company- even though it cost a bit more than finding the contractors ourselves, the peace of mind in knowing that we were using honest contractors who did good work (for the most part) was worth every penny. And, as I mentioned above, we didn't have to worry about a thing- permits, inspections, deliveries...everything was taken care of and coordinated for us, which was very helpful considering we both work full time and are also planning a wedding.
Best Decision- Two way tie between going with Eiffel, and upgrading the carpet and underlay in the basement.
What would I do-over?- Two way tie, again. I think I would make the backsplashes in the bar area and the bathroom charcoal tiles, to stand out less from the granite. And, I would install radiant heating in the laundry room and bathroom. We nixed this idea almost right away, because to make it truly efficient, we would have had to jackhammer the entire foundation slab out, lay the tubes, and repour, otherwise we'd just be paying to heat our foundation instead of the flooring....yeah, NO. But, the slate tiling is very cold on the feet, even through socks, and even with the Delta Subflooring beneath. And, as an extra, I would add an extra row of pot lights back by the bar- it's a little too dark for my liking.
Were we on budget? No. No, we were not. An upgrade here, an upgrade there...they all add up, as we discovered. However, I think we upgraded in smart places (the countertops, a good faucet for the bar since it's the first thing you see when you come down the stairs, the carpet, the sound system) in general, and we made the basement look good. We had both agreed that there was no point in finishing the space if people would come downstairs and go "Oh, well.....it's FINISHED...."- we wanted them to come downstairs and go "Oh, wow, this is really nice!", and hopefully we accomplished that!
I think all things considered, things turned out well! But I would NEVER do this again. Okay, maybe not NEVER, since we do have to "renovate" our backyard in the not so distant future....but I would definitely have more hard alcohol on hand at all points in time! Okay, just kidding. But it was stressful.
I have not linked to all the reno-stories of yore that I mentioned in this review. For starters, there are several incidents that are only mentioned here once, but took up several previous posts, so what exactly would I link to? And secondly, some of them make me sound really annoyed and worked up, and in retrospect, it wasn't that big of a deal. If you really want to relive the madness, click on the "Basement" tag at the bottom of this post, and all my previous posts should pop up.
And, I am not reviewing the vendors relative to each other- how to do you compare a framer and an electrician? I am reviewing them relative only to themselves, and if I thought there was anything that could have made our experience with them more pleasant.
And, since this post is already so long, I am holding off on posting any photos. That will come next time!
Contracting Company- Eiffel Developments A+++++++++++++
In a word: Amazing.
In two words: Super amazing.
I loved working with Eiffel. Not only did they take care of everything, from the design and drawings, to the permits and inspections, to the contractors and the follow up, we didn't have to source out a THING (well, except for our bar fridge). They were very patient with me as I phoned them multiple times a day with stupid questions, dealt promptly with any issues or problems that came up, and were really good with keeping us in the loop with what was going on and who was going to be in our house. They were up front with how much of a fee they would be charging us, and even went as far as to advise us to purchase our own appliances, and save the markup. I never felt like I was being talked into a decision, I honestly felt like they were treating our money as if it was their own, and were making decisions accordingly, on everything from the materials they advised us to use to the contractors they brought in. And, when we sat down to reconcile accounts, if there were charges I was unsure about, Lori had no problem backing the invoice out of the total, and looking into it. I never felt bullied, I never felt like I DIDN'T know what was going on, and I never felt like I didn't have a voice. Additionally, when we ran into issues with the cabinet suppliers, Darren (the project manager), Lori and Danny were all tireless advocates for us- there was never a point where they went "Meh, we tried, deal with it". They stand behind their customers 100%, which became rare in Calgary at one point. With one exception, I liked all the vendors they chose for us, and liked all the contractors they had come in to work on our project. They respected our home- the floors were covered, plastic sheets were tacked up to minimize dust migration, and the construction zone was cleaned up every night (as in, I could walk down there with socks, if I chose to). They were super-flexible as well- we had meetings at lunchtimes and in the evenings, and when a family member was ill, they had no problem allowing us to reschedule....with 2 hours notice. I'm not kidding.
I really cannot say enough good things about our experience with Eiffel and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to renovate. Love it.
Electrical- Trecc Electric A+
I don't really have a lot to say about the wiring...I mean, everything works, and we passed inspection, so it's all good. Their office hours were a little annoying (short hours, and only Monday-Friday), but since we could be at home for the electrical walkthrough, we didn't actually have to meet with them in their office. The guy who actually did the wiring was really good- we walked him through the basement, showed him where we wanted things, and he gave us his professional advice (eg) use safety switches on the bar as well as in the bathroom, where to put the dimmer switch for the basement lights, etc). He was also really flexible- we requested an extra pot light with no warning, and he was able to accommodate us almost immediately. My only "complaint" is that we didn't have the lights hooked up until after the drywall was up, taped and mudded. Had we been able to turn the lights on and see the illumination earlier, we would have added a second row of potlights by the bar- with one row, it's fairly dark, and by the time we found this out, it would have put us way behind to have to rip down the ceiling, add wiring, and add lights. We're just going to put in some undercabinet lighting (from Ikea!) on the bar, so it won't be that bad, but I wish I had known earlier!
Plumbing- Canyon Plumbing A
I'm taking a "+" off, because they came and plumbed everything in before I had even signed off on our fixtures....which I ended up changing literally the next day. So, they had to come back, and replumb everything, which was a pain, but to my understanding it was their screwup, since I hadn't signed anything. It only put us a day or so back, and we weren't charged for it (although they DID attempt to invoice us for it, and I refused it), so it's all good.
Anyway, other than that minor blip, we had no issues. Everything was plumbed in properly, and we had no problems getting them to come back and tweak things (like when our toilet was tilted to the side! Oops!).
Framing- I have no idea, but A+
Our framer was awesome. He worked fast (three days to frame the entire basement), and even thought ahead to what the final product looked like- we have huge ugly furnace ducts that run all over our basement. In the TV room end of the basement, the ductwork turned a corner, so he had a bulkhead framed in at an angle. Well, at the other end of the room, he made the exact same framing angle, even though the ductwork didn't call for it, so the ceiling is nicely edged, and it looks symmetrical. I honestly think the hallmark of a great contractor is attention to detail.
And, he had braces. So double points for coolness!
Finishing- Tyson A+++++++++++
Okay, we loved Tyson. Like, LOVED him. The finishing work was going to be finicky, because we wanted it to match the fabulous detail on the main floor. We even made it doubly difficult by requesting rounded corners on our drywalling.
Tyson finished everything impeccably. All the trim, all the baseboards, all the doors are absolutely perfect- you can't see seams, or joins, or anything, and he managed to work our laundry tap box into the backsplash, so it doesn't look out of place. He even squeezed trim around our bathroom door, despite the fact there was a low-lying bulkhead, because he thought it was important the door look as finished as the rest of the basement doors.
We were so impressed with his work in our basement that we wanted him to take over from the cabinet supplier in finishing our cabinets (ultimately this wasn't allowed, as it would have been difficult to match colors and finishes, and it would have voided our warranty). He did amazing work, we're so impressed!
HVAC- Alberta Boyz (no website) A
Like the electrical, there's not much to say- we added a couple of vents and air returns, and made sure everything was up to code. They worked fast and everything passed inspection, so....I don't know what else to add!
Plumbing Fixtures- Canyon Plumbing A+
We had one initial snafu with picking our fixtures, in which I felt like I was being oversold on a lot of things (and exploding our budget accordingly). Well, two days later I headed back to Canyon with Amanda from Eiffel and met with Fran. We corrected all the previous errors, picked all the fixtures, and I was on my way. My one complaint is as much about me as it is about them- they don't have a real live sample of ALL the fixtures they carry (which makes sense- they'd need the world's biggest showroom!), but for someone who has trouble imagining what a picture of something will look like in 3D, it was kinda hard. Fran was very good about showing me the closest match they had in their showroom, so at least I had an idea, hence I'm not taking any marks off. And, when the cabinet supplier screwed up and we had to choose a sink in 10 minutes, Fran was all over it, getting things done, so Shea from Eiffel could take the sink to the granite supplier to be templated....and she managed to find one last, lonely faucet in their warehouse that matched the rest of our faucets, after we'd resigned ourselves to choosing a different one because ours were discontinued. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic! (although I will footnote that with the reminder that I had refused to pay the difference between our original faucet and the more expensive new faucet, so that may have had an impact on the thoroughness of her search! But, no harm, no foul!)
Lighting Fixtures- Cartwright Lighting A+
Absolutely enormous selection, at a wide variety of prices (a $40,000 dragon chandelier, made from crystal? Really?) and laid out so that I could easily navigate the store myself. I still maintain they'd lunge for the doors and lock me out if they ever saw me coming again- I was there FOUR times in FOUR days, and changed my order each time until I was happy with it. But, in the end, everything worked out and we're golden! And, bonus points to Amanda from Eiffel who talked me out of going overbudget with our laundry room light fixtures!
Carpet and Tile- After 8 A+++
Working with Lorne and September was awesome. They both gave very good advice, made sure I understood when I was upgrading a selection, helped me choose grout colors, and were always available to answer my questions, even when I didn't have an appointment. Their selection is fantastic, and September's drawings really helped me see how everything would come together in the end. When there was an issue (the weird lines in the carpet), they sent out not one, but TWO techs, they re-steamed the carpet, and promised to replace the carpet if the line didn't come out (it did, it was just a fold line where the carpet was rolled). Amazing customer service (I'm hoping to get our window blinds from them as well!), and I maintain that upgrading our carpet and underlay was the best $500 we spent- it feels like HEAVEN underfoot. I also liked that they stressed the fact we couldn't guarantee slate colors when going with natural stone (conditions will vary from one side of the quarry to the other, so oxidization and mineral deposition will be different, resulting in different colors) so there were no surprises when a grey-green-black sample resulted in us getting grey-green-black-orange-red-purple slate tiles. The tile installer was AMAZING- he worked late to get our shower stall done, and really thought about the placement of the colored tiles- lots of the reds and purples ended up in our laundry room with the red washer and dryer, while greens and greys stayed in the bathroom where they matched the countertop. And the tile sealer they sent was the cherry on top- now not only do we not have to worry about staining our tiles or grout, but when our slate floors upstairs need to be refinished, we know to call After 8!
Finishing Materials- Regal Building Supplies A+
We were able to send in photos, and they matched most of our materials from there. I just went in and confirmed the selections. I did have to make a couple of changes, and they added some material we didn't need (like the stair railings- we had kept our old ones), but there was no trouble removing the extras.
Extras- Home Solutions A
I went in to Home Solutions for our closet organizer, bathroom mirror, and shower door. Terry was very helpful, and they had samples of all the different options, which I found helpful, and they were able to custom bevel our mirror (standard bevel was one inch, I requested half an inch and got it!). There was a minor issue with the wrong closet organizer being installed- My drawing that I signed said one thing, but the installer worked off our original spec. It was quickly reordered and replaced, but I still don't know why the updated specs were never distributed. Note to DIY-ers: when I was there, Home Solutions worked exclusively with builders. Terry said that, if things slowed down, they may consider working with individuals, so you can give it a shot, just don't hang your hopes solely on them!
Granite- Graniteworx A
I liked Graniteworx's showroom- they have all the samples laid out and labeled, so you can see what you like, and they color code the samples to different price brackets. The edge profiles to choose from are also displayed, so you can see what it looks like on an actual counter, and they are liberal with their free samples, so you can match tile and carpet if need be. My one major disappointment was that they no longer offer 3/4 inch granite, just 1.75 inch, so we couldn't get a matching granite backsplash. And, there was a bit of stress near Christmas- we were told that Graniteworx couldn't install our granite the week before Christmas, and then they'd be closed for 2 weeks. I was NOT impressed, Lori convinced them to reconsider, and everything ended up being fine....but it was a bit of stress I just didn't need, hence the lost "+".
Structured Wiring- Platinum Home Systems A+
Geoff was fantastic during our walkthrough- I was doing it alone, and have NO clue about anything sound-system related. He explained everything clearly, and was able to roll with the punches when I changed everything a few days later. The install went fine, and their service techs were fantastic in fixing the one issue we had- cable cables hadn't been run to one of the outlets, so it wasn't working! They were able to remove one of our speakers, splice a cable onto the existing cables, and fix the issue. We were also able to run the wiring for our security system, including a water sensor behind the washing machine (no undetected leaks for us!).
Drywall and Paint- I have no idea, but A-
The drywallers were fast workers, and I was impressed....once they actually GOT STARTED. There was a miscommunication in delivery times, and if we hadn't been home (just home from Hawaii), they would have had to dump it on our snowy front lawn. There was an additional miscommunication with the ceiling- we ended up with knockdown texture on the undersides of our bulkheads, which we didn't want, so they had to come back and remove it.
The painters were good- they worked fast, but their motivation/resourcefulness left something to be desired...they ran out of paint with one wall (one LONG wall) left to second-coat. So, instead of going out and buying more paint, they just left it for the "touchup" stage. I was NOT impressed. I was equally unimpressed when they started painting our stairwell, and the painter noticed the sheens of paint (new vs. existing) were different...and he just KEPT ON PAINTING. We complained about that and were told it had to cure for a month. I called BS on that- paint cures after a few days and won't change after that, and by making the customer wait a month you can get away with fewer re-dos, as people get used to contractors NOT being in their house and are reluctant to go back. I told them that, okay, we'll wait a month, but in 30 days I expected them to be back and repainting, because I wouldn't accept the paint, now or ever. They were back in a week, repainting, and now it's fine.
So, okay job by both, but I had been so spoiled by the other contractors, I expected a little more "get up and go" by both.
Appliances- Trail Appliances...um.....A?
I knew exactly what I wanted, so I walked in, found it, found a sales associate to write it up, and took it home that day. So, good experience, but I did all the work. So, the A is really for me. I should have made it an A++++++++ because I'm so awesome.
Electronics- Soundsaround....again....A?
Again, we knew what we wanted, and did manage to get some deals. Since we picked everything up we have had some issues- our Blu-Ray player was defective and Samsung is claiming they lost it, so we're wading through that whole bog at the moment. But we're happy with everything else (reciever, shaw box, TV, and Wii). So, again, the A is really for us....so A++++++++++++ for awesomeness.
Cabinets- Legacy Kitchens F-----------------------------
(no link to protect innocent renovators!)
There truly are not enough "-"'s in the world to show how unhappy I am with this company. In short:
-It was nearly impossible to get an appointment with the designer, I had to take time off work to do it.
-He forgot to note the backsplashes for the laundry room on the order.
-I was supposed to get the drawings in 48 hours or less...I got them a week later, mere hours before I was leaving the office, and the day before we were going on vacation. I was assured 4-6 week delivery, which would put us around Mid-December at the latest.
-Cabinets were late. No explanation, and we wouldn't have known had Eiffel not checked in. New delivery date: two days before Christmas, pushing everything else behind schedule. I throw a fit, Eiffel throws a fit, and we get enough cabinets in to template the countertops.
- The designer didn't measure any of our fixtures. The bathroom vanity was too small to accommodate our sink, so we had to pick a new one. The upper bar cabinets were mounted too low to accommodate our faucet, so we had to move them up.
- Our upper bar doors arrived weeks and weeks after the rest of the cabinets. Legacy blamed their glass company. The installer shows up without hinges. The doors sit.
-The cabinets are inspected, some defects are found, replacements are ordered, which takes weeks.
-I don't like how the cabinets were finished, I request further finishing. It takes months. The end gable is forgotten more than once, and I have to remind the installer what I actually asked for numerous times. Am told "This is how Legacy does things" more than once. I finally retort "Well, if someone had told me that I would have instructed you to install it differently because it looks stupid this way." Childish, yes, but I'm the CUSTOMER, I am PAYING you, this probably isn't the best time to imply I have bad taste!
-The replacement doors show up, one of them is damaged, it's reordered.
-The replacement date is moved back because the door isn't delivered. The lady in the office claims we were notified. We were not, Eiffel was not. Jury is still out on who she actually PHONED (if anyone at all).
-The second replacement door shows up, it's the wong color. It's reordered.
-The third replacement door shows up, it's the wrong style. It's reordered. The gable shows up. It's too short, by almost an inch. It's reordered.
-A full THREE MONTHS after our intial possession date, the correct door and correct gable are delivered and installed.
-Upon speaking with Eiffel, we discover we are not the only customers to be having issues with them (and, in fact, our problems were the easiest to fix, and the cheapest order!). Legacy offered us a 10% refund on our cabinets, despite being nothing but a nightmare to work with, and completely lacking in customer service. Through Eiffel, we were repeatedly told "This is the way things work!". Okay, I expect that no reno is going to go perfectly. But, no, this is NOT the way things work- when you have a customer who is THREE MONTHS BEHIND because of YOUR INCOMPETENCE, and they're waiting for their FOURTH REPLACEMENT DOOR, you get on a damn plane, fly to your factory, and stand there watching the workers until you have the door in your hot little hands, and then you repeat the process at the glass-makers, so that your customers who are PAYING YOU get what they need in a timely fashion. THAT is the way things work, for companies that would like to stay in business, anyway.
For a laugh, from their website (I highlighted the best parts in orange):
People
What makes Legacy Kitchens stand out are the people we have attracted to work here - some of the most creative, competent, and dynamic kitchen designers and employees in the industry. The excellence of our staff is ultimately what allows us to ensure that the exciting designs for your new kitchen will come to life.
All of our designers and trades people deliver top quality service and craftsmanship, of course, but where they truly shine is in taking care of clients. Plan your visit to our showroom today and experience our hospitality firsthand.
Standards of Excellence
Our standards of excellence are apparent in each stage of the kitchen design and renovation process. We have developed vigorous systems, processes, and service standards which help account for why Legacy remains a premier performer in the industry.
We have built our reputation on capability, consistency, and customer care. And so we are quietly confident that the quality of our service and craftsmanship will exceed your expectations in the realization of your dream kitchen.
The Legacy Promise
We will focus on your needs and tastes - design, customization, and individuality are our strengths.
The creation of your kitchen will follow a meticulous process in which nothing is left to chance.
Whether you are building a new home or renovating your existing kitchen, we will always serve you with fairness, integrity, and respect.
You will love your Legacy kitchen. Stop by our showroom today and gain a perspective on all that your kitchen could be.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, whatever. They do have their professional affiliations listed, and I will be complaining about their service to all of them.
I'm glad that we never have to work with Legacy again, it was the most frustrating experience of my life. I am grateful that we had Eiffel working on our behalf- I can't imagine trying to deal with them on my own! And, the MOST ridiculous part....at any point, had they apologized, and made an effort to make it right, in a timely fashion, I wouldn't be upset. Things happen, I get it. But when we are consistently told that, by expecting competence and resolution to our issues, we are expecting too much, I get my hackles up.
Anyway, I'm not concerned. The universe has it's own way of dealing with these kinds of people, and I have the utmost faith that this will be no different.
Overall impressions- I am glad we finished the basement, it's a great space and will be fantastic in the heat of summer. However, I could NEVER do a bigger reno while still living in the house. We still had two full levels, numerous functional bathrooms, a kitchen, and our bedrooms, and it STILL drove me crazy having people in my house all day, having all our stuff in boxes cluttering up the dining room, and living in a house covered in dust. I was shocked at how much "downtime" there seemed to be- I was expecting contractors to be scheduled back to back to back, working full 8 hour days and 5 day weeks, and it just doesn't work that way (which is a good thing, if there are issues!). I will NEVER second guess our decision to go with a full-service contracting company- even though it cost a bit more than finding the contractors ourselves, the peace of mind in knowing that we were using honest contractors who did good work (for the most part) was worth every penny. And, as I mentioned above, we didn't have to worry about a thing- permits, inspections, deliveries...everything was taken care of and coordinated for us, which was very helpful considering we both work full time and are also planning a wedding.
Best Decision- Two way tie between going with Eiffel, and upgrading the carpet and underlay in the basement.
What would I do-over?- Two way tie, again. I think I would make the backsplashes in the bar area and the bathroom charcoal tiles, to stand out less from the granite. And, I would install radiant heating in the laundry room and bathroom. We nixed this idea almost right away, because to make it truly efficient, we would have had to jackhammer the entire foundation slab out, lay the tubes, and repour, otherwise we'd just be paying to heat our foundation instead of the flooring....yeah, NO. But, the slate tiling is very cold on the feet, even through socks, and even with the Delta Subflooring beneath. And, as an extra, I would add an extra row of pot lights back by the bar- it's a little too dark for my liking.
Were we on budget? No. No, we were not. An upgrade here, an upgrade there...they all add up, as we discovered. However, I think we upgraded in smart places (the countertops, a good faucet for the bar since it's the first thing you see when you come down the stairs, the carpet, the sound system) in general, and we made the basement look good. We had both agreed that there was no point in finishing the space if people would come downstairs and go "Oh, well.....it's FINISHED...."- we wanted them to come downstairs and go "Oh, wow, this is really nice!", and hopefully we accomplished that!
I think all things considered, things turned out well! But I would NEVER do this again. Okay, maybe not NEVER, since we do have to "renovate" our backyard in the not so distant future....but I would definitely have more hard alcohol on hand at all points in time! Okay, just kidding. But it was stressful.
I have not linked to all the reno-stories of yore that I mentioned in this review. For starters, there are several incidents that are only mentioned here once, but took up several previous posts, so what exactly would I link to? And secondly, some of them make me sound really annoyed and worked up, and in retrospect, it wasn't that big of a deal. If you really want to relive the madness, click on the "Basement" tag at the bottom of this post, and all my previous posts should pop up.
And, I am not reviewing the vendors relative to each other- how to do you compare a framer and an electrician? I am reviewing them relative only to themselves, and if I thought there was anything that could have made our experience with them more pleasant.
And, since this post is already so long, I am holding off on posting any photos. That will come next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
