Last year, we decided to renovate our home to prepare for the possibility of my aging parents or aunt moving in with us. we stumbled upon an ad for Kitchen and Bath Décor & More (They have changed their name again.) and decided to check them out. Their website boasted of being “Houston’s Best,” “#1 choice,” “0% financing,” and being "featured on HGTV!”
We should have seen the signs. June 17, 2023, Celeste Haddad was 4 hours late to our 5 o’clock appointment. Jonathan Neil, Director of Operations, offered us dinner, wine, soft drinks; we should have left. Finally after signing the agreement, Celeste sent Jonathan to our home at a 11pm to collect the deposit or else the price would go up, another red flag. At the time of contract signing, they had said our project would not take any time at all and should be done by Christmas with a start date of September, The completion date never written down, another sign.
All along the way, we were reassured that our project was easy and there should not be any problems. We expected the completion of the project within a reasonable timeframe and with the expertise and quality of workmanship that they had assured us. Our project is still not complete, not even the kitchen despite being paid in full.
Our kitchen island, a central feature of our home, was cut 4" too narrow. What was once a functional island has now been rendered impractical by making it a counter. This impacts our daily use of the space and has significant implications for the resale value of our home. The wall in the kitchen is still damaged from the tile removal. It has now been 5 months since we first reported the issue regarding our kitchen island, and yet it remains unresolved. I do not trust them to remove it and reinstall.
The easiest bathroom was started in January & they have not come back since March 6 when they tiled the tub area. A sub-contractors threatened to put a lien our home because KBD stopped payment on his check.
March 26, KBD received a letter & a Termination Agreement via tracked mail from us. Ironically, the 27 of March, Jonathan Neil, director of operations reached out to me to finish the Cat Bathroom and told me that "Accounting" had approved my Kitchen Island replacement which he had said would be replaced many times before. He wanted to come out on April 2 when I had jury duty. I did not hear from them until I followed up on the 8th of April. Ironically, they wanted to come 10th which they canceled the last minute due to medical/health reasons.
April 11, 2024, I sent an option for a quick fair resolution which was delivered to Celeste's emails. Our desired solution stated in the Termination Agreement: Completion of the cat bathroom, retrieval of their materials, and a refund $33,149.17 for 2 projects that they have not started or completed in a reasonable time (Master Bath & Guest bathroom).
I have lost faith in this company and Jonathan Neil. I have text after text of excuses why they cannot come or complete my project. I wish I would have seen the BBB failing grade and the reviews there. I wish I would have paid attention to the flags.