Gemael Kitchens

Formerly Counter Measures
Kitchen & Bathroom - Cabinets & Design
Mississauga ON L5T 1G5
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Reviews for Gemael Kitchens

Average customer rating:
9.8 10 (51 reviews)

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karriparadi
karriparadi
1 review Toronto, ON
8/10

New kitchen cabinetry design and installation.

Elie from Counter Measures was great to work with. Reliable and patient. He offered design suggestions and was clear about costs. The installation was nicely done with lots of attention to detail. I'm very happy with the end result.

Approximate cost of services:
$24,000.00
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Hi Karri, Thanks for the wonderful review. It was a pleasure working in such a beautiful home with such a pleasant and insightful person as yourself. The kitchen and reno in general have truly transformed your home. We are glad to have been a part of it. As always we are here to serve you in the future.
Best,
Elie

J
J
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Kitchen Reno

Great attention to detail and Elie went the extra mile helping with other contractors on the job.

Approximate cost of services:
$30,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Joy,

Congratulations on your elegant new kitchen. It was a pleasure building your new kitchen and working with both of you!

Best,

Elie

tzavagno
tzavagno
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Kitchen + Bathroom Reno

Elie is great! Very professional and has lots of helpful suggestions. We were so happy with our kitchen and bathroom cabinets that we commissioned bedroom cabinets as well. We would recommend Counter Measures to everyone!Tina

Approximate cost of services:
$10,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Tina,

Thank you for the kind review. It was a pleasure and continues to be a pleasure working with both of you. Congrats on your awesome new kitchen and vanity! Looking forward to building your bedrrom cabinets!

Best,

Elie

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Toronto, ON
3/10

Good quality, but ...

We first met Elie, the owner of Counter Measures, when he was exhibiting at a home show last winter with someone he identified as his “preferred contractor”. He said the two companies work together on a lot of jobs and get things done quickly and efficiently.  Elie’s business card and email signature listed him as a project manager. We needed the kitchen of our downtown Toronto condo renovated, so it seemed like a good fit at the time.
 
He called us soon afterwards and arranged to come over to our condo to discuss the project. As we were talking, he quickly did some designs on his laptop that looked impressive. The price he quoted us was extremely low. We visited him at his showroom, decided to move forward and paid him a deposit. Picking out countertop finishes and other details a few weeks later, a lot of items seemed like “an extra upgrade” from his original quite and the price inched higher and higher.
 
We also followed up with the contractor he was exhibiting with at the home show (HomeStars has said we cannot name them). Elie had high praise for their services and kept repeating how well they work together. But after repeated attempts, they were not returning our calls. When we did finally reach him and book an appointment to take a look at the kitchen job, he showed up an hour late, blaming heavy traffic.
 
Elie insisted his friend would still do a good job, and the quote from Leo seemed very reasonable. We accepted, paid them a deposit and scheduled dates to begin.
 
That’s when everything started to really get off track. The contractor Elie recommended didn’t even show up on the first day, emailing the night before to say he “had to finish another job first.” This trend continued throughout the entire project, blaming the delays on “one of his guys being in hospital for emergency surgery”. When was asked about the necessary electrical work to be done, he said we never asked about that originally and it wasn’t in the initial estimate. That would also be extra.
 
One of the other contractor's tradespeople who was doing the backsplash shut off electricity to part of the kitchen because he said it was unsafe. When the other contractor was asked about the earlier electrical work, he said his tradesman “had a big mouth and shouldn’t have said anything”. We were later told it was fixed and the electricity was turned back on.
 
Throughout the project, he said he had another one of his tradespeople in hospital for more emergency surgery (his trades had an unusual amount of surgery, it seemed), and had to finish more jobs before he could complete ours. Days turned into weeks. Elie was blaming his friend for the delays and his friend said it was his fault. Meanwhile, my wife and I were renting a nearby condo to stay in during renovations and had to quickly arrange for a longer stay. It seemed very disorganized. When we mentioned this to Elie, he now said they were two different businesses and we had to deal with them separately.
 
Elie completed most of his work on time and the quality was good. A week after he left, however, there was a problem with one of the lower cabinet shelves. He promised to come back to adjust it but never returned. Three months later, he texted us to enquire how the shelf was and asked us to review his work online.
 
The contractor Elie so highly recommended ended up almost taking double the amount of time originally scheduled for the kitchen reno project. We had to keep calling him each morning to ask if he was going to show up for work to finish the job. Even if he did say over the phone he was going to be there, we could only believe it when we saw him or one of his employees. His final work was good, but Elie should definitely be more selective about who he recommends to work with him on projects.

Elie himself was often unreliable. Some days he would call saying he wasn't going to show up that day without even giving a reason. The only time we could be assured he was going to show up was to pick up his cheque for the balance.
 
The kitchen looked good when we were done, but it was a lot of aggravation and failed promises from Elie and the friend he so highly recommended along the way.

Approximate cost of services:
$30,000.00
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Hi David, I would like to congratulate you on your beautiful new kitchen. Our reputation precedes us as a company who takes great pride in our work and relationships with our clients no matter how big or small the job. This is why I am surprised and distraught to read your review. I am sorry you feel this way because my demeanour with you and your wife was since the start geared towards guiding you on your first renovation experience and I was wholeheartedly trying to make this an educational and stress free experience for you. Throughout the whole process of this renovation project, you've been receptive of my efforts to help and have repeatedly thanked me for being so clear, concise and punctual with you. Therefore you can imagine how this review is being received as unexpected from you, especially given that this is the first time that I hear anything negative from you. Nonetheless, I accept how you feel, even though I know for a fact that we have been extremely diligent, professional, courteous, accommodating, meticulous and proud of what we do as a company. This is what all our reviews show and all our customers say. Also, this is what the beautiful new look of your new kitchen suggests. As always we are here to address any of your concerns and to service your beautiful new kitchen. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly should you have questions or concerns as we value your business.

Best,

Elie

Project Manager
Counter Measures
416-201-6900

Mel S.
Mel S.
2 reviews Brampton, ON
10/10

Kitchen Renovation

Counter Measures did a great job on my kitchen renovation. In particular Elie was very professional, precise, reliable and provided an end product that was exactly as discussed during our preliminary meeting. I would hire him again and recommend him and his company to anyone who is renovating their home.

Approximate cost of services:
$23,000.00
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Company Response

Thanks for your review Melanie! Congrats on the new kitchen! It was a pleasure working with you guys!
Elie
Counter Measures

Tim in Toronto
Tim in Toronto
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Small Kitchen Reno

Elie was simply excellent in all phases of the complete renovation to our 100 sq.ft. kitchen. He takes great pride in his work and his attention to detail is extraordinary. You can believe the other glowing reviews here.

The kitchen is still a hundred square feet but is now effectively twice the size in that it has twice the utility and lots of room for my partner and me to work.

Many thanks also go to Elie's recommendation of Reno Pros Home Services who did a complete interior demolition/rewire/rebuild. The finished measurements (given by Elie to Reno Pros) were critical to the success of using all available space. Unlike other contractors who finger-point, Elie and Leo worked hand-in-hand while doing our project.

Approximate cost of services:
$10,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Tim, thanks for the kind review. We appreciate all your kind words and are as excited as you with the final look of your new kitchen. It was a pleasure working with you guys, you have been very accommodating. Please extend my regards to Linda! Congrats on the new kitchen!
Elie

Sharon and Edy, Etobicoke
Sharon and Edy, Etobicoke
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Custom Built in bedroom closet 16' x 8'

We hired Elie to build a large built in bedroom closet. He was resourceful and very knowledgeable about all technical aspects of the cabinets, hardware and design specifications. We had our own design in mind and he helped us to refine the layout to make it functional. The finished project was completed with precision and on time as promised ( as close as possible) . We found one detail that needed to be corrected when the closet was completed and Elie was prompt in correcting the situation with no extra charge. Thanks Elie.!

Approximate cost of services:
$9,500.00
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Company Response

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for your kind review! It was a pleasure creating this unique closet solution for you guys. I love the Stromboli finish on the doors. Thanks to you and Eddy for your business and please tell Eddy that we are still on for that discount should you choose to replace your kitchen cabinets. We will be at the Fall Home Show in Late September if you would like to visit us. You can send me a text message and I can get you guys some free tickets.
Enjoy your summer
Elie

Paula N.
Paula N.
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Kitchen renovation

Counter Measures did an amazing job from start to finish. Elie was very knowledgable and patient during the design process. He was able to offer ideas and solutions and was always available to answer questions. We were very impressed with his installation work and attention to detail. We would definitely recommend Counter Measures to our friends.

Approximate cost of services:
$25,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Paula, Thanks for the wonderful review. It was a pleasure working with you guys too. I am glad you like your new kitchen, it turned out beautiful. Thanks for recomending us to your friends. Enjoy your summer!
Elie

carolinacharles
carolinacharles
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Kitchen Renovation

Elie, was patient, precise and truly takes pride in his craft. If you are looking to have a custom kitchen designed, Elie is your guy !

Approximate cost of services:
$7,500.00
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Company Response

Hi Carollina,
Thanks so much for your positive review. We are glad that you are happy with your new kitchen! Congrats and All trhe Best!
Elie

M&AGalli
M&AGalli
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Kitchen Renovation

A dated condo "galley style" kitchen with very little counter and cupboard space had been transformed into a modern functional kitchen, thanks to Elie's design and attention to detail. Elie is very professional from the initial contact for quote to final installation and satisfaction. Throughout the project, he kept us well informed and ensured we were completely satisfied with the end results. Thanks also go out to Leo and his crew (Nick, Kyle, Danny and Adrian) from Renopros Home Services, who did a great job in the gutting, wiring, ceiling, painting, flooring and backsplash. It was a pleasure dealing with people who take pride in their work and the finished product. 5 stars go out to CounterMeasures and Renopros!!

Approximate cost of services:
$30,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Marina,
Thank you so much for your kind review! It was a pleasure working with both you and Al. It's always nice to work with people that entrust you from start to finish. I hope you enjoy your summer and please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns.
All the Best,
Elie

The reviews on this page are the subjective opinion of the Author and not of HomeStars Inc.

More about Gemael Kitchens

Personalized service and quality craftsmanship is what defines us at Gemael Kitchens. Family owned and operated, we have been designing and building fine custom cabinetry in the Greater Toronto Area for over 20 years.Our creative designers are tasteful and meticulous and are always mindful of the eventual installation process. Our product stands alone. Our cabinet and door materials are locally sourced and manufactured using the best construction methods.

Among the finest at their craft, our installers are professional, courteous and always proud to showcase their work. With competitive pricing and sustainability in mind, we strive to look ahead and build a lasting product that will be enjoyed for years to come. We look forward to helping you transform your home.

Some of our services but not limited to are:

Custom Cabinetry, custom cabinets, CAD designs, computer designs, modern kitchens, custom kitchens, vanities, closet organizers, built in closets, entertainment centres, wall units, bookshelves, general contracting, kitchen refacing, counters, quartz, granite

CATEGORIES
Kitchen & Bathroom - Cabinets & Design
PRODUCTS
Custom Cabinetry, custom cabinets, CAD designs, computer designs, modern kitchens, custom kitchens, vanities, closet organizers, built in closets, entertainment centres, wall units, bookshelves, general contracting, kitchen refacing, counters, quartz, granite
SERVICES
Custom Cabinetry, custom cabinets, CAD designs, computer designs, modern kitchens, custom kitchens, vanities, closet organizers, built in closets, entertainment centres, wall units, bookshelves, general contracting, kitchen refacing, counters, quartz, granite, transitional kitchens, European kitchens
BRANDS
Hettich, Blum, Caesarstone, Blanco, Riobel, Cambria, Grass, Hanstone and Silestone.
STYLES
contemporary, transitional and traditional.
SPECIALITIES
Custom Cabinetry, custom cabinets, CAD designs, computer designs, modern kitchens, custom kitchens, vanities, closet organizers, built in closets, entertainment centres, wall units, bookshelves, general contracting, kitchen refacing, counters, quartz, granite, European kitchens
WEBSITE
https://gemaelkitchens.ca/index.html
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2001
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Yes
WORKERS COMPENSATION
Yes
WRITTEN CONTRACT
Yes
Company profile information is not moderated by HomeStars. Ask the contractor to verify before hiring.