Meg, imo, you really need to move away from this designer. If nothing else, this is causing you a great deal of increased stress. That takes a lot of your time and energy, too. I'd just finish up whatever is hanging and not involve her in other issues. While moving on, you may stumble upon someone else better suited to help you with things. Where you just click. As far as charges, I think it's ridiculous to charge for general contacts. Design help in emails, I think, is another story. And the per email thing is a racket. Fixing problems -- well, there are always problems to be resolved and the world just doesn't turn perfectly or as expected. That's part of a designer's job and expertise for sale -- to get it done and know how to handle the problems. So, depending, one can't put it all on the designer (to be perfect, have a crystal ball, and to have everyone else be perfect too). That's just a scapegoat for hire and unfair, imo. Now if it's just negligence and carelessness at your expense, that's another story, too. Gee, did you just send her to LA and Mehico??? Not a bad deal.

Brad: Thank you for the info. I got PlantStep back up and working last week. AdwCleaner moved it to the C drive and labeled all the files with a .vir extension. I had to use a program that will delete the .vir from the PlantStep files in bulk, reinstall PlantStep and then overlay the cleaned files back into PlantStep to get all my data and pictures back into the software. I would caution anyone on using AdwCleaner. I have a program within Windows that does a check of Services running on startup which will give me a list of programs that I might want to not have run on startup. I even disabled the AdBlockerPlus, cleared out the cache, temp files and still the issue with Houzz continues. The message is definitely being generated from Houzz. I upload photos to other sites without issue. Just Houzz has something that changed. I already got notification from Windows that my version of Windows and Apps will not be a problem with the new update. I'm still waiting for the message that I can install which probably won't happen for a few days as they roll it out.

I'm very sorry to say that I won't be able to come after all. A change in plans with my daughter's travel home has happened, and I'll need to be home. I don't post much at all, but I've been on Garden Web for about 20 years, and was looking forward to meeting everyone. Maybe next time. I hope you all have a fantastic day! And thank you again, Jojoco, for planning the get together.

I'm sorry you don't like your wood. The character grade product (which is what you have and is what is showing in the sample) is not to everyone's liking. It sounds like you wanted a Select Grade = uniform appearance. This is several dollars more per square foot. I'm glad you have stopped the installation. At this point this will be a lesson that will hurt your pocket book. I know that doesn't help you right now. But the sample is as close to accurate as a 2ft x 3ft sample can get. Removing and replacing the hardwood will be an expense you will be asked to pay. The builder/installer was good enough to send photos. You can *possibly return the wood to get some money back (if this was a special order then you might not have that ability to do it). I would expect a 25% restocking fee for the wood that is returned (has to be unused). That's painful but not as painful as having to purchase EVERYTHING all over again. You will have to pay for the labout to remove the current wood and then the labour to install it once again. Still, things could have been MUCH worse. Again, I say your installer was doing his/her job by sending photos in the MIDDLE of the job instead of AFTER the install. I would make sure they get a 'thank you' for doing that. Again, I'm sorry this has happened. It feels like a kick in the teeth. I totally get that. What I would do right now (to keep yourself sane) is to look at the GOOD side of this. You found out BEFORE the entire thing was installed and you have been given a CHANCE to change it before you lose ALL the money in the wood and the install. Chin up. You are almost there. Get Select Grade Maple ordered and organize a return of the unused wood for some form of 'credit' for your new order (if the shop allows for that). Negotiate what you can....accept what you can't.