House refurb-anyone used Beyond the Hall Door

jack24

Hi,

Thinkign of doing some updating of a few rooms in the house (hall/cloakroom etc) and was wondering if anyone has used the design/build company spawned from the RTE series Beyond the Hall Door. Having gone through an extension build a few years back and constant refurb of other parts of my money pit I can't face coordinating plumbers/builders/carpenters etc and this crowd seem to do the whole lot (including the design stage which really appeals). Anyone got any experience of this, or if not any other company which could offer the same service and maybe give an indication of the fees they charge (ie are they on a % of the overall budget)? I've attached a link to their website but it isnt great to be honest. No connection to them by the way,

www.beyondthehalldoor.com

Thanks,

Jack

margaret k

Any update on this query Jack?

miryongee

This is an old thread but I just got off the phone with them and.. What.a.joke. I've met with numerous kitchen companies, IKEA, and another interior decorator to see what could be done about my impractical and outdated kitchen. Finances and lack of space are 2 huge obstacles in this project. I still was on the lookout for some new perspective to see if someone could imagine something "magical" when I filled out their contact form. I will give credit where credit is due. They contacted me in 18 hours. Now, this is the fun part:
1) An older gentleman called me back by let's call him M and one thing that REALLY irked me was how condescending he sounded. What made things worse was that he kept INTERRUPTING me. Nice first impression right?

2) M explained to me that the first "consultation" for free. Now as a person who has already met with other kitchen consultants and interior decorators, the first consult should of course be free! They aren't doing anything except measuring and listening to what you want. The hardest part for them is driving out there and listening and measuring. After that they have to brainstorm and see what they can come up with. Now before you see/hear anything they want €150. WHAT?!!! I'm not paying you €150 for a concept that I may not even like and what kitchen companies give away for FREE! He interrupted, "it's to make sure you're not messing us around." Yes because I call designers in for fun all time and measure and waste my precious time to only have them come back with an idea. Interrupted again: "Well, that's our business model." .....that's it?! His explanation is "it's our business model"?! "Well, we try to gain your trust on the first meeting" um.. I'm not going to trust you with picking up my dog poo after just meeting with you ONCE, BEFORE you show me what you are capable of. Paying you AFTER I see what you can think of and I like it, I agree with. But to pay someone for an idea that I already may have is ridiculous.

3) Will not give them my business and will make sure to tell this story to anyone thinking of using a interior decorator.

ButtUcks

miryongee wrote: »

This is an old thread but I just got off the phone with them and.. What.a.joke. I've met with numerous kitchen companies, IKEA, and another interior decorator to see what could be done about my impractical and outdated kitchen. Finances and lack of space are 2 huge obstacles in this project. I still was on the lookout for some new perspective to see if someone could imagine something "magical" when I filled out their contact form. I will give credit where credit is due. They contacted me in 18 hours. Now, this is the fun part:
1) An older gentleman called me back by let's call him M and one thing that REALLY irked me was how condescending he sounded. What made things worse was that he kept INTERRUPTING me. Nice first impression right?

2) M explained to me that the first "consultation" for free. Now as a person who has already met with other kitchen consultants and interior decorators, the first consult should of course be free! They aren't doing anything except measuring and listening to what you want. The hardest part for them is driving out there and listening and measuring. After that they have to brainstorm and see what they can come up with. Now before you see/hear anything they want €150. WHAT?!!! I'm not paying you €150 for a concept that I may not even like and what kitchen companies give away for FREE! He interrupted, "it's to make sure you're not messing us around." Yes because I call designers in for fun all time and measure and waste my precious time to only have them come back with an idea. Interrupted again: "Well, that's our business model." .....that's it?! His explanation is "it's our business model"?! "Well, we try to gain your trust on the first meeting" um.. I'm not going to trust you with picking up my dog poo after just meeting with you ONCE, BEFORE you show me what you are capable of. Paying you AFTER I see what you can think of and I like it, I agree with. But to pay someone for an idea that I already may have is ridiculous.

3) Will not give them my business and will make sure to tell this story to anyone thinking of using a interior decorator.

Hi miryongee,

Just read your above reply and I wondering which interior designer you may have gone with in the end??