Paradox 44, I am so glad to see what you have achieved after the earlier experience--congratulations!

Well, that fireplace is indeed awful. However, painting it in white is not a great idea. I suggest you put some dark brown elements in the room - textures, a rug, curtains. Rebuilding it will cost you more than just simply adapting the room to it.

Green fish--yes, same floors!

some of my work · More Info

I think if you add a horizontal mantle

Should someone check in periodically to repost that the problem is solved and the results are wonderful???

Another perfect example of why OPs should be allowed to close their dilemmas.

I made an observation. truthandjustice came out of nowhere, only has commented with this discussion and had the skills to determine who the designer was?? Can I not ask the poster how he/she knew who the designer was? I did not come out and accuse/imply. I like to let people speak for themselves. I do not like people speaking for me;)

Truth and justice is my brother!

The "faux" designer threatened to sue me for defamation if I poorly reviewed her work, and since she is an attorney and not really a designer, I was too intimidated to name her. My brother, on the other hand, insisted that it is my right as a consumer to name her. I refused, so he made his own Houzz account and revealed.

LOL paradox, I knew truthandjustice was closely tied to you;) Sweet you have such a loyal good brother!

BTW- Mr. Ovchinnikov has been taking the words out of other people's mouths on several threads. He is a comment plagiarist and most likely a faux persona;)

''comment plagiarist '' Hah! Great term for a spambot!

Sophie- are you making fun of me?

We are all so happy that you now have a happy serene home. Love your brother.

@Margo - great term... I noticed the same thing and came to the same conclusion but couldn't put words to what he was doing. Why is another whole can of worms but I feel sad that someone feels they have to use other people's words and not their own.

Challenges make us stronger and wiser...(too bad they create wrinkles as well). The final results are truly lovely and hopefully the struggle was well worth it. You were fortunate in that you were able to correct, adjust and move on, as I'm sure many people the "decorator" "designed" for are not so lucky - poor them. Enjoy your beautiful home.

Margo, I'm laughing at the stupid spambot, and the clever description of the same. And just waiting on when the other shoe drops with the spam.

Sophie- fill us in. I am such a non techie? What is the purpose and what spam could this guy drop??? splain it to me lucy ;))

Hi @Margo, We are investigating this Moscow-based 'comment plagiarist'. Indeed, something is awry. - Luke

Luke, Mr, Ovchinnikov is running rampant today!!

I think we can probably call it "mocking plagiarism" at this point. This is going deeper than we originally suspected.

Huh! Glad I saw this, I almost "liked" a comment of his on another thread...And it probably wasn't even his comment.

No, it was probably mine then ;))))

I vote for taking it down

Hi, The offending account that has been plagiarising comments has been suspended while we investigate what is going on. Keep on flagging any suspicious comments you may see from this or other accounts behaving similarly.

Cheers, Luke.

Yeah that was some weird stuff. It almost looked legit, until I saw one comment, obstensibly from his account, where he was referring to the OP as "sis" - So bizarre!

Beverly Anderson: it is down. Read the thread.

OK, this is me being petty...@handyman, Beverly wrote her comment 6 hours before Luke commented that the offender was suspended. Don't be so ready to jump in and scold, please.

Paradox44 - The afters are wonderful - So glad this is a page that can be turned.

It certainly was an interesting read - as far as threads go... I think that Houzz in general would be an interesting case study for people in the sociology field. Truth and Justice, a mocking plagiarist, "reading tones", this thread has it all! If nothing else, it kept me from dwelling on a client cancelling an appointment with me.

Joannpb, I thought Beverly was saying take it down in response to the thread title. So please don't assume I was scolding anyone.

Hi, I am coming in very late in the game and have just seen your fireplace. Congratulations for making it go away!

Isn't there a way of turning a discussion off to new posts? I just spotted this one, presented as if there was something current going on. There must be a couple thousand posts and for anyone new to figure out that the problems are long resolved would take days...just not fair.

755

@joannpb... look just below the comment box at the green letters that say "click to switch off notifications about new comments".... that will stop them from coming to your email.

757

@joannpb - and whynottryit. I think what she "means" is that very old posts, things that have been resolved, routinely come up as "related discussions" that reference something - e.g. If one was looking for info on a faux fireplace, or fireplace, this may appear. Especially if comments are still happening from time to time. So no, no way to turn this off as it may "relate" to a current issue looking for resolution. If you want to comment on "current-er" dilemmas, go to the "current dilemma" section beneath "related." Good luck!

759

I raise you 761

It doesn't really bother me to see it, because I have been in this particular loop since the beginning. I just feel sorry for the newbies.

...and there's 762! (Wow, is that all? Seems like more.)

Its a really great read!!

Have I posted the before and after pics yet of the master bedroom and my husband's office?

Hi paradox, I don't think so?

Have a great holiday with your family! :)

I am sorry to say that I would definitely get rid of this faux fireplace. It reminds me of something out of a Grimm's Fairytale or some other strange off-kilter tale. I've had my own slew of designers, contractors, subs issues over the past year. I feel you pain. And this, too, shall pass : )