Actually these threads do help others going through similar situation . May things like badmouthing, threatening, watching and recording everything seem to be common behaviors of these bullies. I stood down and let them even change my downspout on my house. Ignoring made them react more and more. I would say I learned deal with first issue first time. Show them you did noticenoticenoticenoticenotinoticenoticenoticenoticenoti

lazygardens, I dunno. I did go up in the attic for the very first time since buying this house, and I remembered to wear old clothes, brought a drop-light with a 50' cord, and a flashlight in case I dropped the drop-light. I didn't think to bring the camera. Poop. I just can't tell if the porch/breakfast room was added on. I don't know how a roof peak generally looks as it comes into one the oposite direction. There were some jagged boards... seems if the peak was original they'd not have had a problem with trimming it - but if it was an add-on maybe they felt cramped and skipped trimming? Still, dunno. Will take pictures. Link to my album is above, it shows front of house from two angles. As for ceiling lights or not, I just don't know. ALL of the downstair ceilings are covered with 12" squares of lightly-textured white stuff that tongue-and-grooves together. Hate to monkey with it as it's in good shape. Hey! When I was in the attic I did find out one thing, all of my ceilings are beadboard under the white squares! ha! Who knew? I wish some of that showed! Hmmmm, that'd be great in the kitchen, give it a real warm feel. I wonder though if it'd let dust filter down? Gag. Back to the lighting, hostaguy, is the lightbox sort of an endtable? Surely it's not a center hung fixture? Maybe I'm picturing something way too large? I've been looking at a LOT of light fixtures in the past few days - and I keep being drawn to the Mission and Arts & Crafts styles. I don't see why I can't make something wonderful, perhaps a silhouette cut of copper, mica underneath? Maybe a spray of pine cones? I am still strongly thinking of a colonnade with lighting built-in across the top to throw a glow across the ceilings of both rooms. Sigh, so many ideas and life so short. GH-

@Lori A. Sawaya I really have to thank you. Your questioning why the builder is so strict about only using SW colors motivated me to ask again. I explained that SW has the color-match formulas in their system, nationwide, etc. The home builder salesman I had been dealing with had never had anyone ask to color match & investigated further. I can color match! Also, I did get a SW sample of Behr Silver Drop. I had asked for a quart in a flat finish as that is what the builder will paint with. Miscommunication & I ended up with a jug of Silver Drop in the SW satin sample paint & a can of Silver Drop in a SW (Superpaint) flat finish. Three drywall boards of Silver Drop & 3 different colors. The salesman at SW had told me that the lighter color samples that use Extra White as the base are usually very slightly lighter than the regular paint. I'm going to continue my search & check out BM colors. I so enjoy your posts. We are very lucky that you so generously share your knowledge & expertise.

Here's a simple picture showing how difficult this all is. The paint shown is the same grey paint. But it is showing up as a bunch of different colors depending on the light. They all do this. This is why we risk losing our minds. https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/How-to-pick-the-best-gray-paint-colour.-Showing-Benajmin-Moore-Shoreline-by-Kylie-M-INteriors-Edesign-blog.jpg