I think your experience is pretty consistent with nationwide reality due to restrictive zoning, but it is more or less ubiquitous in locales depending on how ti

I think your experience is pretty consistent with nationwide reality due to restrictive zoning, but it is more or less ubiquitous in locales depending on how tight the market is there. And I sympathize, because I've seen horrible examples of renovations, like people on Facebook forums proudly showing off their renovated kitchens, which scream "usability nightmare" to anyone who has ever looked at design standards. When I lived in San Diego, I could always recognize the work of the flipper who did my house because they used identical kitchen materials and appliances every time.