Our kitchen renovation was a dream come true. My husband and I put off this project for many years, partly due to finances, time and fear. The stars were finally aligned when we met Dan, owner of American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. He was highly recommended by a neighbor, and he lived up to the stellar recommendation. We met Dan in his office wherein we made design plans and chose from the varied, quality cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, and hardware on hand. Dan gave us wonderful ideas, that we never would have thought possible, had we designed the project on our own. Then came the hard part, the actual demolition and reconstruction. Dan's right hand man for this project was the highly skilled Cameron, a brillant carpenter and electrician. The scope of this project included removing two soffits and elongating one; electrical upgrading; removal of old and installation of new appliances, countertops, cabinetry, sink, faucet, disposal, and lighting; backsplash install; drywall install, repair and painting. Cameron was meticulous, professional, kept the worksite clean with daily sweepup and vacuuming. Cameron's attention to detail was highly appreciated. He treated our home as if it was his own. Dan and Cameron communicated effectively together and with us along this journey. In six weeks time, our kitchen was transformed from a 1980's look to one that is better than cool and modern. We love waking up everyday to our new kitchen and spending time in this room. If you are thinking about a kitchen remodel, don't hesitate to consider American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. Dan and his team were fantastic and we would trust them with any future, large scale project. read more

My family and I used American Kitchen Concepts and could not have been happier with their services! We recommend Dan and his team without hesitation. Our project initially started as an involved kitchen remodel (demo down to the studs and moving two doors) in a c. 1900 house, however, it ultimately involved far more than the kitchen. Over the course of our remodel we developed a strong trust in the crew and their assessments- at multiple points there were things (not related to their work) that they could have covered up, been paid and moved on to their next paying job leaving us with a nasty surprise years down the line (eg failing joists/support beams). Instead, Dan and his crew slowed down their project to take the time to walk my wife and me through the potential implications of findings, the solutions (which may or may not have involved them) and then allowed us to properly address each issue before continuing the kitchen project. Even beyond the trust, which is so important in an involved project, American Kitchen Concepts craftsmanship and attention to details was exemplary leaving us with a beautiful, transformed first floor of our house! We cannot wait to show it off. Finally, in regard to one previous review, I clearly cannot speak to their experience but I can assure you that Dan and Cameron (the lead at our house and, independently, fantastic) clearly knew each other very well, trusted each other's professional judgement and worked as one seamless team. read more

Dan was great to work with when we were looking at estimates for a kitchen redesign for our house. He came to the site, took measurements, and created two beautiful and detailed designs for our kitchen that I couldn't have dreamed up myself. Then, he went through the endless options and helped us try and shape the estimate for what we wanted. He has a crew he uses to subcontract the work from various places. He has several different setups in his showroom and can show you how things will look together. Example: He had green subway tile and the white cabinet sample that I could physically match up to the different types of countertops and see how it all looked. In terms of cost (the thing most people really want to know) the price for a brand new kitchen was about $36,000, which included labor, fixtures, cabinets ($9000), flooring, hardware, countertops ($2800) running a gas line, recessed lighting, a backsplash, appliances, and painting. While we ultimately couldn't afford the kitchen cost (the 4/5 stars is for price), I found working with him extremely easy and would recommend Dan to anyone who is looking for a full remodel. read more

My wife and I had an excellent experience having our kitchen designed/installed and new flooring installed. Dan Millard of American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. is someone I would highly recommend. From the very beginning, when we were exploring the idea of getting this done, Dan answered all of our questions. I was particularly curious as to what a kitchen remodel costs and Dan was completely up-front in what to expect. When we decided this was something we were going to do, Dan scheduled several meetings over the course of a few weeks. I didn't realize all of the decisions that had to be made and having separate meetings allowed us to take things one step at a time. When we were indecisive, Dan was always understanding and patient. After he came out to measure, we were able to see what was possible in our cabinet layout. Seeing the options available in his showroom really helped us decide what we liked. We were able to take samples home so we could see how they actually looked. When it came to picking appliances, it was nice to be able to shop for our appliances and then use Dan's contact to have delivery coordinated by him. We ended up paying for the appliances separately from the kitchen remodel contract, with the delivery handled by Dan. Dan really did an excellent job designing a lighting plan. Our previous kitchen was very dark, with only one light. He gave us six recessed ceiling lights and under-cabinet LED lights. And for me this included a strip of lights hidden from view right over the sink linked to a different switch. No more darkness or shadows doing dishes. When it came to installation we had some delay getting started due to bad weather which was beyond control. The winter of 2015/2016 was exceptionally snowy. Once scheduled, things took place within three weeks. It went as Dan described it would, with a lot of work happening some days, little on others. The hardwood flooring went in our entry way, kitchen, powder room, dining room and living room. There was definitely temporary inconvenience for permanent improvement. Dan provided a dumpster for us as promised so we could get rid of a bunch of our household junk, including an old couch. One trip of his dumpster was for just our junk. It was very nice to have this hauled away for us. There were a few issues along the way. A few of the outer faces of our cabinets were damaged in transit on the edges. Dan had new skins sent for all so everything looked pristine. We had some nails around the edge of our flooring that needed wood putty, and this was taken care of. The innards of our powder room toilet leaked after re-installation and Dan took care of having this fixed. The two covers for the toilet bolts went missing but Dan had new ones purchased and installed. And lastly, a few months later when our new touch faucet started acting up, he came out to replace the base of it. This was truly going above and beyond. Dan Millard of American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. is someone I would recommend without hesitation. Even if you are just considering a remodel I recommend you give Dan a call and visit his showroom. Description of work: Dan Millard of American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. provided a complete overhaul of our kitchen. To meet our goals Dan: 1. Met with us to understand our wants and desires, 2. Visit our home to take measurements so recommendations could be made as to what would be possible, 3. Allow us time to chose each of the parts of our new kitchen, from cabinets, counter-top, flooring, lighting, hardware 4. Dan provided a contact at Sears that we could use or not use for our new appliances. 5. Provided a detailed schedule as to when things would take place. 6. Followed up on any issues encountered during the project. read more

We hired American Kitchen Concepts to transform our original 1960s cramped kitchen and adjacent "family room" into a modern, workable, and beautiful kitchen that is now the heart of our home. Our project involved removing a wall, replacing Luan paneling with drywall, adding electrical outlets, replacing all appliances (and moving the fridge and dishwasher) upgrading lighting, plumbing, matching and extending hardwood flooring, blending two ceilings into one, and replacing two exterior doors (one of which is a patio slider). AKC is unlike many other providers in that your first meeting is spent selecting the materials in his showroom, so you better be ready to make decisions. We were able to adjust some things along the way, but making choices up front gives you a proposal that is the actual price, not just a rough estimate. Dan only uses quality materials, and the workmanship matches. From our very first meeting with Dan until a few days ago, when he and Cameron (the job foreman) returned to take care of a few final touches, dealing with American Kitchen Concepts has been a smooth and pleasant experience. Most important, we met our original goal: our kitchen is beautiful and functional. Communication was frequent, via Google calendar appointments, texts, emails, and phone calls. We bought our appliances through his recommended vendor, who gave us a discount and coordinated delivery. People will tell you that any large renovation project is a headache. While we were a bit inconvenienced for several weeks, in the big scheme this project was really painless. Most of this was due to the fact that Dan was very easy to deal with and is 100% focused on making sure that we were 100% happy with the final project (even after we had made our final payment). Would we hire them again? Absolutely. read more

Dan had great ideas for improving our kitchen. We have a small kitchen, but then it is extended with a breezeway that was enclosed a long time ago. It always seemed so chopped up, but Dan found a way to connect the two rooms better. He directed us in a way so that now we have a beautiful kitchen. Dan has many great ideas. He was always extremely responsive when we had questions. The crew was courteous and detail oriented. We love the materials and colors of our new kitchen, and it seems much bigger. We highly recommend American Kitchen Concepts for kitchen renovation. read more

We hired AKC to remodel our kitchen, which included cabinets, countertops, floors, painting and design. The results are just what we expected and we love our new kitchen. They team was professional, thorough and responsive. We would hire them again. read more

This was the most miserable experience I have had in my 20 years as a homeowner. My husband and I took our time finding a kitchen remodeling contractor. We got several bids. We ended up going with American Kitchen Concepts ("AKC") because they'd gotten wonderful reviews on an online review site. We met with Dan Millard at his Columbia, MD location and he seemed like a stand-up guy and experienced contractor. Dan assured us that while his crews were not employees, they were people that he knew and trusted, and that he had worked with for years. But Dan sent a new crew to our house. He didn't know them, and they didn't know him. As they got to know each other, Dan complained to us about the subcontractor, and the subcontractor complained about Dan. When problems arose in our project, the subcontractor abdicated his responsibilities and was mostly absent, leaving the role of project manager to his carpenter and, by default, to us, the homeowners. Often the subcontractor would say he was coming to work, and he would not show. When we contacted Dan and let him know what was going on, we expected him to step in and take control of the situation. He was not interested in doing so. Dan stood by and watched as one thing after another went wrong with our projected and he was completely ineffective in taking the reins as our project ran off course. Dan does not appear to know construction; he is a salesman and is completely reliant on the subcontractors and carpenters. So when problems arise, he is of little to no help. Even after all of these problems, at the conclusion of the work AKC billed us for the entire balance due without suggesting a discount. We then suggested a discount and AKC agreed. $57,000.00 was the discounted price. This project was supposed to take 3 weeks. Instead, it took 3 months. And then, many months later, we were still discovering serious problems. Perhaps we are the first people to have a negative experience with AKC. Perhaps not. It is possible that Dan Millard's friendly personality has kept people from reporting their bad experiences. He's a likable guy, family man, and probably does a good job most of the time. If you choose to use AKC, you should be aware of the risks you are taking on. Here are some highlights from our nightmare experience with AKC. PLUMBING: AKC left a pipe open behind the new cabinets. Our kitchen smelled like a cesspool. Two plumbers and WSSC could not figure it out. Our handyman cut out the back of the under-sink cabinet and found the open pipe. We had sewer gas in our kitchen for over 6 months. When we told Dan at AKC, he did not respond. AKC installed a new toilet without replacing the flange. Instead, they stacked a new flange on top of the 27-yr-old one. The room smelled like a cesspool. Our plumber explained that sewer gas was escaping between the two flanges, and if the toilet had backed up, toilet water and waste would have ruined our floor. We have read multiple articles on the negative health effects, sometimes delayed by many years, associated with inhalation of sewer gases. It is extremely upsetting to us to think about the exposure to toxins, bacteria and disease our family has unknowingly endured because of AKC's negligence. COUNTER TOP: When our Silestone didn't fit, AKC had the installer cut the stone in the house; the house was then flooded with stone dust. The smoke detector went off. The counter top still had to be replaced. FLOOR: Half the new hardwood floor had to be ripped out because AKC did not properly cover it during renovation. It was pitted and ruined. ELECTRICAL: Some wiring was not up to code when inspected. No permits were obtained for new, 2nd oven or other work. HVAC WORK: We almost didn't have heat in the kitchen's work space due to AKC's lack of foresight. The carpenter was going to build a duct out of wood (not up to code). We had an HVAC guy come in and we paid him separately. BLACK MOLD: Black mold discovered during demolition was left exposed for over a week even though we told AKC we are highly allergic. RANGE HOOD: Range hood was installed still covered in protective plastic coating (used for shipping purposes). Vent was left open in middle of winter (like having an open window for several weeks). DUST BARRIERS: AKC used plastic barriers sparingly and clumsily. CLEAN UP: We the owners spent an exorbitant amount of time cleaning dust, over several days in many rooms. TILE WORK: Pattern initially done incorrectly. Had to be broken out and redone. SUBCONTRACTOR & CREW: Subcontractor was belligerent, absent for much of the job, and did not return house key for several weeks after requested to do so. Carpenter was nice person and competent carpenter, but was left to manage the job and was not equipped to do so. He also never wore a belt and his bare butt was exposed almost every day on this job. It was uncomfortable and embarrassing. This is just a sampling of our experience with AKC. read more

One stop shopping! I wanted a quality kitchen at a good price. Remodeling choices are overwhelming. During my search, I quickly discovered the choices and options are overwhelming. I wanted expert to help me with the process. I found the perfect fit with American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. They offer quality products with an informed individual (Dan Millard) to help me make smart choices. They have great ideas about design and examples to show you, so it's easy to make choices without driving all over town to look at tile one place and cabinets somewhere else. Dan helped me spend the money on the important things and find less expensive options when it made sense. He managed the project, keeping me in the loop by using Google calendar and texts and phone calls for a schedule. We lived and worked on location through the rehab project. The contractors were personable, left the site as clean as possible and great to work with. Everyone involved made the experience from start to finish as painless as possible. They got the project done quickly without sacrificing quality. It's been two years and I couldn't be happier with my kitchen and my experience with American Kitchen Concepts, Inc. I'm glad I shopped locally, not using a big box store. The personal attention made a difference in the quality, warranty, and attention to detail. read more

The entire process went smoothly from start to finish, and the results are stunning. I can't recommend Dan and his team highly enough! My husband and I started discussing kitchen remodeling with several contractors in December 2017, and Dan was by far the most attentive. He listened to what we wanted, asked questions about problems we wanted solved, and developed a design based on our discussions. He helped us choose cabinets, counters, sinks, faucets, and undercabinet lighting, and referred us to a flooring supplier to pick the exact tile we wanted in both the kitchen and downstairs bath. He developed a detailed cost estimate including all steps and materials for the project. The estimate was a bit higher than we were prepared for, and he helped us make changes so we could stay in budget and still meet our goals. We signed a contract in January, with a planned start date in mid-February. Dan gave us advance notice on what to do before work started, and explained each stage of the project (demolition, wiring, flooring, cabinets, counters, plumbing, and finishing), with an overall estimated timeframe of 3-1/2 to 4 weeks for completion. Cameron and Rob started on February 22 and finished all major work March 20, right on time, with a couple of minor adjustments the next week. Throughout the process, Dan stopped by the house to review progress, answer questions, and make adjustments as needed. Cameron and Rob did beautiful work, were always courteous and professional, and left the work area spotless every day. We are extremely glad to have worked with them! read more