contractor for kitchen and bathroom

we are thinking of having major redo on the kitchen and bathroom in our apt. does anyone have any recommendation on any good contractor to do the job? and any tips in the process of finding such services? (i've never hired a contractor before)

for kitchen, we may want to extend the kitchen, sink (so i guess plumbing work would be needed here), and the cabinets.
bathroom, changing the whole showering place, new tiling and maybe gut redo too, i think there is problem with the piping behind it. also a problem with one of our toilets.

We used Sean Dineen ((718) 965-2364; http://www.dineenconstruction.com/) to gut and rebuild our kitchen, and to do other important work inside our house. He is expensive, but he is also utterly dependable, supremely competent, and wonderful in all respects (how often do you hear someone talk about a contractor like this?). FYI, although I am an attorney and am normally relatively paranoid, I trusted him immediately and our relationship benefited from that trust.

I am not related to him or his business in any way... just quite happy with the work he has done for us.

T&A.. Van Brundt Street.. not cheap but the best!

If you look on the Brownstoner blog under forum and then under general contractors or whatever your needs, you can get all sorts of recommendations and feedback as well.

i would give you one of my many contractors, but their english sucks.

yeah check out brownstoner.

yeah, i looked through brownstoner, but the forum is very confusing and not organized, huh? am i the only one who think so? or maybe im just used to forum format like brooklynian.