I had the same problem. It was horrendous. We were harassed by a nut who lived below us for 4 years in our apartment building, and who called our walking "stomping". We are an older quiet couple, don't entertain at home, have the entire apartment covered with 2 layers of rugs and walk in our bare feet. Like the above, we go to bed late, but our main habits are reading, TV at low volume and getting bedtime snacks. But this was not good enough for the neurotic man below us who gradually escalated his complaints every time we tried to be even quieter, and we were already quiet - nobody in our entire lives had ever complained about us and we have lived in apartments all our lives. We never play loud music, and we as I said walk in socks on two layers of rugs, wall-to-wall rugs. In the end as we decided to consult a lawyer and fight back, he moved out! What a relief! And the strange thing is, this couple actually caused US problems beyond their harassment of us through emails, verbal complaints and trumping up complaints to the Board. Ever since he moved in, the bed we slept in had strange sensations running through it. It's hard to explain but the only apt analogy is Havana syndrome. There were odd sensory movements coming through our mattress, and interfered with our sleep on a daily basis. A couple of months before they moved, my husband finally got the nerve to question him about if he had any electronic equipment right under our bed that might be causing these strange sensations. He completely denied it and showed us their bedroom which had a work area (hidden) not quite directly under our bed. I know this person had a background in science and don't know what he was up to with his computer under our bed. I know this sounds absolutely nuts, but after they moved out these sensations abruptly stopped. I'll never know what caused these weird sensations in our bed, but they were extremely disconcerting. I never complained publicly because how do you explain this? One more thing, I was always wondering when we lived there if he was trying to intimidate us, as older people, out of our apartment, because we own one of the prized top floor apartments in the building.

The comments are very useful (hopefully for others as well. I include a link at the bottom for those who wish to see how I plan to pack all these appliances in such a small space (about 70 Sq. Ft.)and remain true to my word of having at least 96" of useable counter space:) Yes, I do cook, although I kind of gave up a couple years ago because I got sick of the kitchenette being so small (6' 6" includes 20 inch range, apt. fridge and sink with a little counterspace wrapping around a corner. I do a bit of Asian cooking (got to be really careful of grease so I don't do this much), baking, etc. Thinking that a good range is the most versatile option to go with in a limited space. Rococogurl is talking sense here. It may be because she's a designer and looking at the total picture rather than just the appliances, but I do realize there are a lot of guys living around here who just don't cook. I like to cook and figure a little more kitchen (especially the counterspace) will entice me to do more. But what she is saying (I think) is look at the over all scale of your place and don't put some really serious piece of equipment in that's out of whack with the rest of the house. I have a 20 inch apt. range now and IT heats the apt. up a bit in the summer. In the winter it's fine because this old parlour room with it's tall ceilings and leaky insulation runs cold. Anyhow, I don't roast much turkey in August, but the point is well taken. Any of these ranges will heat up the room depending on what one does with it, but yeah, the bluestar or capital, american, viking ranges should all do about the same thing in terms of heat in the kitchen. But the appliance should match the lifestyle is what she's saying, which is a very good point. However, that being said, is a pro style range the best "all purpose" tool for someone who wants to do a variety of different cooking stuff? I mean my neighbor bought Gaggy ovens because she is a baker and she isn't that thrilled with them. I am just looking for a good "down the middle of the highway" choice that I will really enjoy. (Yes, I know the blue star owners are revving their super nova burners cheering, but probably any of these fine ranges will work including a Bertazonni or FP etc.)? The reason I am looking for power in a range is versatility I guess...? Still defending the Northland Company (I don't know why because the battle seems lost with the Liebherrite's out there:) These are extremely well built (I would say much less tinny than the Liebherr). There nothing special other than a very good looking tall thin built in with a stainless door and top mounted compressor. Insides are all metal and they go for about 3800 street price so they aren't cheap by any means--they also hold as much as a much wider fridge which is good for the space starved. The Liebherr's are really nice, but the construction isn't all metal. If I had room for their 30 inch built in I would get it. I am really going for a clean box look rather than anything else, thus the Northland. Who knows I may slash the budget and get a Liebherr before this is over. I don't like the integrated model that much as it doesn't hold that much. Apt. is about 400 Sq. Ft. in an historic district in Brooklyn. No other washer dryer facilities available. I carry the stuff to a service/drycleaner. Please have a look at the picture. Some people may have issues or comments about so much stuff being packed together space-shuttle style with virtually no under counter storeage, but there are no "win-win" scenarios with trying to do all this in such a compact area...I know this is an appliance thread, but readers may want to have a look at the rendering to get a better idea. Thanks Again. DOug http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2007/09/microkitchen_plan.html?cat=my_favorite_room Here is a link that might be useful: Micro Kitchen Drawing

Well I am so very fortunate I was able to create my life away from so many people. To some living in a city of 150-180 people,not thousand, might be too remote. For me it is perfect. But then I lived in a town of 39 people growing to 42 people 3 years later. I guess I am a hermit. I would not survive in this crowded lifestyle. We do not have money or fancy things. Nor do we live a high lifestyle. To us going to subway for a five dollar foot long we split and water is the height of a dinner out. Being the city clerk here I get some behind the scenes governmental doings. I saw lots of bad boy stuff and so far have most of it has been stopped. This bad boy stuff was NOT in favor of the people. This was in favor of filling the bad boy's pockets with $$$ They wanted the big development. Only problem here is there are no jobs or infrastructure to support this development. the bad boys were in construction. What did they care if they ruin the town as long as they got their money for building the roads and houses. What happens to this tiny city after devil may care. I know many of you have had trouble with city/government control. Believe me I got run over by a city doing once too. Broke my heart to have to leave a cottage I loved and have showed pictures of here many times. NOW I do have some control of what happens in the city and the controls they try to put on, or not put on, people. Not that the clerk has any power but I do know how to find out what is legal and make sure the council makes sound and legal decisions for our city. These people in China are used to living this way. It is their culture. I think that is just fine. All I was saying is I can not live that way. I fought for 16 years saving money and learning to live off the land so I could live rurally comfortably. Totally agree it is a sad deal many have in the way they are forced to live because there seems to be no way out. Breaks my heart for them. I felt trapped too before I left California. But I was so miserable I just did something about it. If they are not miserable living this way they I am happy for them. I wish I had a closer view of the shrouds on the buildings.That would be interesting to see. I kind of figured it could be for safety. For workers and those below. Chris

Sounds questionable. Variations from 2 to 3 inches are rare. Chances are you don't have them, but even if you did, putting down parquet wouldn't disguise them. Get a long straight board and/or a level and set it on sections of the floor. Making a blanket statement about all concrete floors being out of level is inaccurate. The parquet in the unit was probably done because it was an inexpensive wood floor, not to deal with a subfloor issue. Floating floors are very sensitive to level however. They generally use the same specification as architects which is level to 1/8" within 10'. Humps in the floor can cause areas to be bouncy. This is generally easily fixed by doing some floating.