When you applied the lime, and which lime, could have an affect on how things grew. If done shortly before planting the lime would not have had time to make any change in the soils pH and many nutrients would not be available to the plants. Lime, to have much affect on the soils pH, needs to be applied several months before that change is desired. Contact your local office of your state universities USDA Cooperative Extension Service about having a good, reliable soil test done and also dig in with these simple soil tests, Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. to see what your soil looks like and what you need to do to make that soil into a good, healthy soil.

thank you guys so much!!!! It sounds like the pocket door will be an issue. I dont know how to get around that. I read some posts about them on acoustic forums and it sounds like it may be hard to sound proof these doors. Do you all think the block wall on the right will be any help to deflect sound? Bruce, that is good to hear that planting things will help! That is easy to do. @Joseph, I'll show that acoustic block to the ctr. Does that look like something I can do with the block style below? I found some companies that sell glass inserts that people in NYC are raving about. I fear these may be expensive, but it's worth looking into, at least for the bathroom. From what I was reading, some double paned windows are more insulating than triple pane? I have newer double pane glass around the house currently. @JDS This is what the block looks like below. We want to replicate it. The chimney is coming down and the addition is going snug against this wall, with the hallway opening in front of the current chimney. We are trying to continue the glass/block look of the rest of the house. The addition is going against the block wall on the left and the roof line is continuing along the pool.

Fabuloso does great on my hardwood, cappuccino, so you know it shows everything. And it is no rinse. Make sure you do not use ANYTHING that leaves a residue, it think that is the problem. Just think of all the stuff you get ground into carpet, carpet is evil!!! We have four dogs and ME who drag everything inside. There is no substitute for a good string mop wrung out thoroughly, damp mopping with no free water will not hurt a poly floor, that is why they put it down so much, it's tough. Rinse often and wring out and have clean floor. Bona is good for touch ups but it is just water with surfactants, a floor needs water to get thoroughly clean.

That home’s bones are really great. Avoid the new homeowner temptation to put a personal stamp on it. The home itself should tell you what suits it. In 6-12 months. Frankly, there is very little I’d change. The almost MCM vibe is it’s strength. It’s what should be celebrated and enhanced, not tried to erase. I’d never paint those original cabinets. I’d look at other cool heritage MCM homes for inspiration to keep the wood slab cabinets. And the brick. And all the rest. It’s all cooler by far that the boring 2020 paint it all white trend that is already over.