I completely agree with Heather Rosales. I too purchased a Viking built-in all-refrigerator in 2010 against my better judgment. My first problem was that I took delivery of a unit with a bent compressor, so I had to fight to get a replacement unit. In retrospect, I suspect that they replaced it with a refurbished unit because since then I have had ongoing issues. Almost all of my friends make jokes about my fridge issues because they have been following the saga. I had one or two warranty visits to address temperature issues during the coverage period. The warranty was also a problem because I purchased the unit almost a year prior to it being installed due to a renovation that needed custom cabinets that went on way too long. So, I lost a year of warranty time. Since then I have spent over $1600 in service fees (with an authorized service company to try to get it not to deep freeze all my food. I was given multiple reasons for why it was not working properly all of them completely hypothetical while each theory costing me money. The most recent episode involves the same authorized dealer deciding it needed a new door seal/gasket which took almost 3 weeks to deliver due to it being supposedly back ordered @ $700 cost. I am not sure if the seal was or was not the issue because the seal doesn't keep the door closed at all! There is absolutely no suction whatsoever in the door. In fact, the door looks open all the time now. Now they installed some type of temperature measurement device to monitor the temperature for the next 3 days. This experiment seems futile to me if the door doesn't close properly. It would be like trying to test air conditioning with all the windows and doors open. I am going on 26 days without a functioning refrigerator this time around. The other thing to be aware of it the quality of the crispers. They break very easily and the cost to replace them makes it impossible to replace. Of the 5 crispers, 4 are broken. I was quoted $700+ to replace 2 of them. Even the service company doesn't recommend replacing them due to the cost. I have had two other homes where I inherited Sub-zeros and I NEVER had one issue with those units. One of them was ancient but it was a beast; never failing me. I called Viking Range LLC and they don't seem to be interested in assisting. They have a customer care team that provides the token empathic statements but they don't seem willing to do more. In Canada, I noticed that even the authorized distributors listed on the Viking site don't actually carry Viking products despite being listed as Canadian distributors. This is a very telling sign! I would be happy to just trash this unit and caulk it up to a super bad consumer purchase but not only would I have to spend money to replace the unit, it will also require a new custom panel and custom trim work. STAY AWAY FROM VIKING!

Building inspectors enforce code during the design, construction, and inspection phases. At least they should. If work was done without a permit, obviously they can't. And yes, if code has changed subsequent to the original construction, "non-compliant areas" are grandfathered. Out of code conditions can remain when new and additional work is done, unless the new work is extensive. In that case, the inspection department can require that the old non-compliant areas be brought into compliance, bringing the entire structure "up to code". In general, home inspectors don't enforce or quote code. Some might. In general all they do is tell you which systems in the house function properly, which don't, and what systems may need replacement in the near future. Realize that most home inspectors want to "inspect" just enough to give a warm fuzzy. "HVAC works fine". "Roof may need replacement in the next three to five years." For the most part they don't want to use a fine-tooth comb and be so nit-picky and list so much "non-critical" minutia that kill the transaction. The heat exchanger in the boiler is cracked and leaking carbon monoxide into the ducts? Yes. A cabinet knob that needs tightening? No. If an overzealous home inspector got into the habit of being so negative with minor things that he scared buyers off and repeatedly killed real estate transactions, that inspector would not get any referrals from realtors. So for the most part home inspectors look at the overall condition of the house, and not so much at specific details of the house. And they generally don't quote code. Mongo

Sorry to be MIA - life and keeping an eye on by GC and subcontractors got in the way...I followed this for a little while, then got out my checkbook and wrote a check for the full amount of the bill, not because I felt that it was fair or that I got what I had asked for, but simply because I didn't want to talk to the designer again. And I was really turned off by some of the "scolding" I received, simply for asking what others would do in my situation... And to those of you who were sympathetic and offered their interpretations, thank you for the support and kind words! Here's my thoughts on the entire situation: I was naive about this entire renovation project. I trusted "professionals" and now I know that not everyone has the same ethical nature that I have. I honestly thought that by starting with "professional" architects, having them recommend "professional" GCs, having the GC (and architects) recommend "professional" decorator that I would end up with people who knew what they were doing and who would make sure that I understood the process. I started each conversation by explaining that this is the first time I've ever undertaken a project of this scope/nature and what my goal was. What I found was that the architects would cover for mistakes/omissions made by the GC, the GC didn't check the work of his subcontractors and would often cover for them, and the decorator was completely a joke - recommending that I get rid of furniture, then, 6 months later, recommend that I purchase almost the exact same piece...I end my project much wiser, much poorer, and with not the best opinion of people who call themselves professionals. It's not that the GC hasn't made the subcontractors return to fix their errors/problems and that the architects didn't back me up when I pointed out the GC's errors/omissions, but it was clear that unless I did the research and inspections, no one was looking out for my best interest, although, when explaining what their role in the process was, both the architects and GC proclaimed to be my employee, my advocate and to work in my best interest. Hahaha...I still chuckle when I realize how I swallowed that hook, line and sinker. As to the decorator dilemma, I appreciate those posters who offered insight, advice and were sympathetic. I think I must have struck an extremely sensitive nerve with some, especially palimpsest and marcolo, as I felt they were quite defensive about the situation and I didn't particularly care for what seemed to be a condescending tone in their posts. I didn't ask for an itemized bill from the decorator because I didn't want to be charged $120/hour for the decorator to sit down and list all of the time that was supposedly spent giving thought to my project and I honestly felt that given my experience with the decorator, I'd have about $300 tied up in getting an itemized bill - which still wouldn't have made any difference in the bill. Was I going to say, um, did you really spend 3 hours looking through magazines to select that sofa - you know - the same one that you selected for another client? Rip me off once, shame on you. Rip me off again, shame on me :) What irritates me the most about the designer is that I specifically asked for recommendations for floor stain and paint colors and instead I got a bunch of furniture and fabric recommendations. I can't help but to think that there was more money for a decorator to make by selling me furniture than by recommending floor stain and paint colors, thus the decision to start with the furniture. If furniture and fabric needed to be chosen before paint colors, shouldn't A PROFESSIONAL have educated me to this point? Shouldn't there have even been a discussion as to how we intended to spend time in the rooms and if there were any special pieces of furniture that we wanted to incorporate? I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have that conversation prior to someone charging me for their time to make recommendations as to what furniture I would like. Would an attorney go ahead and draw up a divorce settlement proposal without asking me what I wanted in it? What assets we had to settle? would a doctor go ahead and prescribe tests and drugs without asking what was wrong...what my symptoms were? Then why should a decorator feel it's ok to recommend furniture purchases when what I've asked for was stain recommendations and paint color suggestions? I'm almost finished with my renovation and have to say that I'm doing a much better job than the "professional" that I hired...Sorry to offend those who thought so highly of the decorator's suggestions, but they weren't appropriate for our family and personally I feel taken advantage of by the decorator. For what it's worth....

I have been doing some thinking and had a few chuckles while reading this thread. I originally bought my small home after my divorce. (About 1300 ft2.) It was cute from the outside, but needed ALOT of TLC. I knew I had my work cut out for me, but it was a lot better than a huge mortgage, or worse, rent. I love listening to those who cherish their small homes. I originally thought my home was just the right size. Then with the addition of a husband, step daughter and a new baby, it's still just the right size. I had to adjust what I needed vs. what I was used to. Leaving behind a large home gave me a chance to grow. When I moved in, I had no counterspace- none and used a shipping crate for a workspace. Oh, how my visitors laughed when they noticed what was under that table cloth. I do now, too. The fact that I could still whip up a great meal changed their tune. It took me a while, but I realized. It's not what space you have, it's what you do with it that counts. I made a sitting room downstairs into my bedroom, with the addition of barn style doors. Thanks to DH. It took us a while, and a "working on what needed it worst got it first" mentality, but we got our room gutted, insulated and drywalled. Painted too, but the trim had to wait. The roof had some ideas of its own about getting attention. I am constantly amazed at what you can do with so little. Not just space, but money too. I have learned that having smaller space, less stuff, and little money means more. More time with my kids and DH, more freedom to do what I want, and more choices. I love my little cottage. I wouldn't trade it for a bigger house or the stuff it takes to fill it. Bigger is not better, nor does it make you happier.