Just to follow up: After some reading, I think this subfloor is gypcrete. That's why it was real difficult removing the linolium adhesive without removing some gypcrete. I removed about 95% if the old lino adhesive hoping that's OK. So the Ardex GS-4 with Ardex P51 primer seems to be my only alternative. The next problem is finding the Ardex to purchase.

Great, glad to hear this isn't a flipper house and it doesn't need to be generic. I'd be happy to discuss the design potential of the idea of green bowling balls rolling across the lawn to go with the tall pointy conifers with your son. Lots of round green balls and more pointy conifers. Screw the typical suburban foundation planting concept all together. Imagine a modern cubist kind of landscape with those sculptural forms flowing across the front in a short grass, flowering lawn that only needs mowing 3x a year. Very low maintenance, The balls will only need shearing once or twice a year. Your son sounds busy. It will be a first on the block. Added: I grew up in a large university town. My sister lives in a neighborhood closer to campus that got sucked up by college student 'owners'. So no, the idea of it is not elusive.

In CR's testing of 36" gas cooktops, the Samsung NA36N7755TS did best; HD and BB owners like it. The Thermador SGSX365TS also did well though its predicted reliabilty was lower. The GE Profile PGP7036SLSS and Café CGP70362NS1 had even lower predicted reliability scores though owners like the Profile (HD, BB). One must consider the protrusion on the rear of the Samsung when planning installation.

While I've placed smaller pieces of furniture against our upper level railing, the backs and undersides have to be impeccable and the impact the color and mass have on the lower level carefully considered. The photo in the example below defeats the purpose of the open railing. I agree with your idea because the balusters are, IMO, too large and a bit dated, the living room is larger and used far more than the entry so it's functionality should be prioritized, plus you are planning measures to compensate for the loss of light in the entry. If you have little ones and place a sofa against the pony wall or railing, consider adding another piece of furniture like a sofa table in between so you aren't setting up a springy launching pad for them.