[pluma]

> My house was artistically designed by an architect, if I don't like the kitchen, would I offend his artistic expression by remodeling?

Depends on the contract you signed. I'm not sure how this applies to private homes or the US, but I recall architects preventing functional modifications of public structures in several cases in Germany. Also, copyright also covers architecture (and also, look up the legal situation of taking pictures of the Eiffel tower at night for a laugh).

> do I really own it at all?

Again, depending on the legislature, no you don't. And because Americans value their freedom so much, you also have the freedom to cut down your basic rights by entering into a contract. In other countries the nanny state protects us from doing that, preventing the free enterprise from creating a situation where you might have to do so involuntarily (e.g. if you need a phone and all phone contracts are ridiculous).