Architect --> Agreements? What is that?

Hello everyone,

I hope you can somehow give me a tip/advice.
We bought a house in shell condition and decided to have the interior finishing done by an architect.
We have a sum x for the interior finishing, but there is no breakdown of what may/can/should cost what.
We constantly have to chase the architect to tell us a price range for what may cost what. For example, buying tiles, he sends us to the hardware store but does not say how expensive the sqm may be. So we have to call again.
He orders a front door, sends us a photo. The door was white inside and outside with frosted glass, but the delivered front door was white inside, with a wood-like design outside and window glass! We never wanted window glass, he knew that! Back and forth on the phone again, now we have to buy a foil for the window pane because the company does not sell front doors with frosted glass at all. Great! So much for the agreements. Tile backsplash in the kitchen... we have said clearly and repeatedly how we want it. A few days later the tile backsplash was done, but the way the architect wanted it and not like we discussed. So phone calls again and in the end we had the tiles partially removed again.
It’s getting annoying!
And now we have the next problem:

The architect picked out the sink, shower wall, wall-hung toilet + lid in a very expensive sanitary store. We didn’t know. The bathtub is already installed, we didn’t see it beforehand either, so once again we were not asked. Now we looked at the sanitary equipment and it’s an absolute no-go!!! Totally tasteless...
and price-wise, the cheapest of the cheapest! If we chose what we imagine, we obviously wouldn’t reach the price he has in his current offer. We also like sanitary equipment at the hardware store that is much cheaper. He does not back down and we have to buy at this sanitary store and possibly even what he selected...

What can we do? What options do we even have? If that goes into the bathroom, I won’t move in there... *sigh*

Unfortunately, we only have a work contract with him and I’m afraid we have to submit... I hope someone here can help!

And one more question on the side:
Do we have the right to request invoices for the services provided (tiler, tile purchase, etc.)? To ultimately be able to see whether he used the full amount for the interior finishing? It could be that he buys everything cheaply and pockets the rest...

Thanks and best regards

No legal advice in the forum:

What you say and have repeatedly discussed with him you have certainly done in writing or in front of independent witnesses. If not, I see exactly one solution. Write off losses, give the architect the boot, and next time don’t be so naive.... or just accept things as they come.

If you claim A, but the architect claims you wanted B, it will be difficult, and an expensive legal dispute.

Hello,

this is almost legal advice and I have to be careful what I write. Legal advice is reserved exclusively for the advisory professions in Germany!

Unfortunately, we only have a contract for work with him and I’m afraid we have to accept it....I hope someone can help here!

That is not a problem at first; what exactly have you contractually agreed under the contract for work? I would have to know that to be able to respond seriously.

Best regards from the Rhineland

(What kind of brainwashing actually took place that almost everyone in any random forum can write the sentence "Legal advice in Germany is exclusively reserved for the consulting professions" without mistakes? As if that were the most sacred thing)

Hello,

the contract for work states what and when is to be paid and what is to be done by oneself (e.g. buying the chimney, building the carport yourself...etc.)

So in other words: amount x after completion of the heating, stairs
amount x after completion of the flooring...

And the contract for work does not grant you any say in which sanitary objects, heating, tiles, etc. are installed? Not that the architect might still put in poison green tiles and paint the place pink...