They can be notoriously difficult to work with, but progress is visible.
Yesterday was cabinet installation day two, and much like Monday, the day had its share of ups and downs. Starting with the positives: almost all the cabinets were installed, including my favorite addition—the built-in refrigerator. It instantly gives the kitchen a custom, high-end look and makes our old fridge feel upgraded by association. The opening to the right is sized to make the microwave appear built in as well, which is a small design detail that makes a big difference.
Here are photos from yesterday’s progress:
On the downside, we ran into a couple of hiccups. First, one of the existing wall outlets is positioned too high and would be blocked by an upper cabinet if left as is. Fortunately, an electrician was already scheduled to come by, so lowering the outlet is a straightforward fix. It’s an expected cost of renovation and won’t delay the project.
The bigger problem involved the microwave. When the installer unpacked what was supposed to be a 30-inch under-cabinet microwave, it turned out to be a 24-inch countertop model. The appliance had been special ordered by Lowe’s, and we’d waited three weeks only to receive the wrong unit. That was frustrating.
We made an emergency trip to Lowe’s that evening, returned the incorrect microwave, and purchased the correct 30-inch under-cabinet model. The replacement was $75 more than the original, which was disappointing, but the store manager handled the mistake well. They applied a courtesy discount and charged us the original price for the correct microwave, effectively resolving the issue. That customer-service response turned a frustrating error into a reasonable outcome.
With the outlet adjustment scheduled and the correct microwave secured, installation is back on track for day three. The crew has nearly finished the cabinetry, and once the remaining pieces are set and electrical work completed, the kitchen will start to feel finished. These projects often have unexpected snags, but a combination of careful installers, timely tradespeople, and responsive customer service can keep a renovation moving forward.
We’re hopeful the rest of the installation proceeds smoothly. As long as the kitchen doesn’t throw any more surprises our way, we expect to wrap up this phase on a high note and move on to countertops, hardware, and finishing touches soon.