Portfolio

I wandered over to Portfolio, to see if the number I had in mind was completely out of whack. I got Kira, a very young designer. She came over and took measurements. I told her what I had in mind and what budget I was looking at. She didn't make any comments regarding that.

When I went to the studio to talk about the design, she showed me what he had come up with (basically just lining the walls with cabinets...nothing innovative at all). The lead designer, David, sat down in the meeting with us. After she showed me her design, she told me the cost...for just the cabinets. No labor to install them, no counter tops, no hardware, was $3K more than the budget I had given her. When I told her that was too high, the lead designer got up and walked out the room without so much as a by-your-leave.

Kira didn't even have a Plan B. I left very frustrated because the communication was very poor. If they weren't interested because they didn't think I was their "type" of client, they should have just said so up front without wasting my time or hers. She was way over my budget with only 1/3 of the design elements and she didn't have any alternatives (except that the air switch on the garbage disposal was an extra $70). David was incredibly rude. I was bowled over by this whole treatment. You would have thought they'd be interested in any business in the midst of a recession.

I will have to get credit to the main manager (or owner) and I wish I could remember her name. I sent Kira an email stating the things above, and she was wise enough to show it to the manager. This person did call me and apologize and offered to work with me. But, at that point, the damage was done.

And, I wouldn't swear to the names of any of these people. It was a while ago. I'm sure Portfolio does fabulous work for some folks.