I am also in zone 9b and planted six mango trees 4 1/2 years ago. Of them all, only the Valencia Pride is rated as a good shade tree. My VP has quickly outgrown all the others, and now stands tall and strong at 20 ft with no parallel branches below 8 ft, just a vertical trunk with a 10 " diameter three feet above the ground. It will top out at 60 - 65 ft in another 8 - 10 yrs or so. It's fast growth characteristic almost guarantees the cold will not kill it, - just needs to get past the first two winters. Am not alone in appreciating this trees " shade tree " rep, it was pointed out to me when I purchased it and many times since. And the large fruits ? To die for. ( smile ), Just my two cents worth..

Without knowing the style of the home or where it is located, it's tough to say with just that picture. So depending on those answers, I would go for a rustic look and either leave the dark wood wall as is, OR I would paint all of that diagonal paneling a lighter color, and in either case would update the fireplace. If rustic isn't the look, then I would remove the paneling and drywall and then update the fireplace.

@Abballmom @Michelle G @pamela1154 @Megan Redlich We are choosing between carpet and CoreTec Calypso Oak in a bonus room/playroom. I do love the colors and appreciate all of your photos! A couple of questions: - For those who have it on an upper level: what is the noise like below? This would be on our second story above my husband's office so I worry a bit about this, especially compared to carpet. - Is it easy to clean? Any issues with vacuum (or a roomba) scratching it? - What about scratching in general? We have a large dog...and young kids who love to push all kinds of things around on the floor :) - Are you generally still happy with your choice? Thank you so much!

I bought a house with a 25' x 25' addition that has a vaulted ceiling. It fits the design of the room, but all the other rooms in the house have standard height ceilings. Which is fine, doesn't bother me, it all flows. But man is it cold in there compared to the rest of the house. I could probably pay to have some sort of system set up that pushes the air downward (I obviously don't know HVAC terminology...) but we don't spend enough time in that room to be bothered with that. re: Jacuzzi. There is no ick factor if the jet plumbing is cleaned regularly and properly (Ok Yuk! works great, BTW). Even though I rarely use the jets, I love my gigantic jetted tub, but I am a bath person -- soaking in a huge, deep tub is bliss. Other people couldn't care less. Anyway, a freestanding soaking tub is a hip fracture or cracked skull waiting to happen IMO -- it's hard enough getting in and out of a deep built-in tub now that I'm {cough} middle-aged {cough}, I can't imagine how hard it would be to climb in and out of a freestanding one. Plus, seems like it would be hard to clean behind it if positioned close to the wall.