We were looking to remodel our kitchen and reached out to Kitchens by Dial based on a…read morerecommendation. They had their kitchen done a few years ago and mentioned that the work was well done and the pricing was competitive. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive.
Tony, the owner, came out to discuss our project, but much of the conversation was spent on unrelated topics, including criticism of competitors and why his cabinets were superior. He had a strong, one-way approach to design, mostly telling us what we should want rather than listening to what we actually wanted. He returned a few days later to take measurements, but again, much of the time was spent on personal stories and unrelated discussions - including how he used to be a martial arts trainer for the military. Instead of emphasizing discipline or technique, he made a point to talk about how his training was focused on teaching people how to kill. The way he spoke about it felt strange and almost as if he was trying to assert dominance over me. He also pushed back on all of our preferences, such as wanting a larger sink and different cabinet heights (even though ours are lower than standard). I initially brushed it off as him being an older, opinionated business owner.
When I arrived at his showroom a week later, Tony was the only one there. I mentioned that my fiancée wouldn't be attending, and he immediately responded with something along the lines of "Good, the guys make the decisions." He wasn't joking - he said it with complete seriousness as if women shouldn't have any input at all. That set the tone for the meeting. He was extremely intense about his work, repeatedly loudly slamming his hands on the cabinets - not just to make a point, but in a way that felt like he was trying to scare or intimidate me into believing his cabinets were the best. Throughout the discussion, it was difficult to get a word in, and every question I asked seemed to frustrate him.
Almost two hours into our discussion, we got to the topic of the sink size. I asked what size sink would fit under the cabinetry he was designing. Rather than providing insight based on his experience, he abruptly dismissed the question and refused to give a direct answer, instead telling me it was up to the granite installers. When I tried to clarify because this was important, his demeanor escalated, he became visibly agitated, and at one point, he called me f***ing stupid before aggressively ending the meeting.
As I gathered my things, he angrily snatched up his drawings from in front of me and started slamming granite samples together while continuing to berate me. I remained calm and told him that while I respected that he was older than me, that didn't give him the right to speak to me that way. The moment I said that, his anger escalated further--his face turned red with rage, and he suddenly came at me as if he was about to attack. I quickly backed away and headed for the door because I had no interest in dealing with someone acting so unhinged. I immediately walked outside to remove myself from the situation, but he wasn't done. He followed me out, still shouting/swearing, and as I was heading to my truck, he aggressively moved toward me, getting within inches of my face while continuing to spew aggressive and vulgar remarks. At that point, it was clear he had completely lost control, and I wasn't going to waste any more energy engaging with his outburst. He finally turned back inside when I was almost at my truck, still yelling as he went.
Needless to say, we will not be using this company. Based on my experience, I would strongly caution others before allowing this man into their home. His aggressive and erratic behavior was alarming, and I would personally be concerned about having someone like that in my house, especially around my family. Quality of work aside, the experience of dealing with him simply isn't worth it. If you're looking for someone who listens, values customer input, and communicates professionally, you may want to explore other options.
