Totally relate to the landscaping struggles—tried planting some fancy grasses myself, thinking they'd magically soak up all the water. Spoiler alert: they didn't. Ended up installing a sump pump after one particularly soggy weekend... best decision ever, despite the muddy footprints everywhere.
Went through something similar with my old Victorian—thought proper grading and French drains would do the trick. Nope. After a heavy storm, basement was still damp and musty. Finally bit the bullet and had closed-cell spray foam insulation applied to the foundation walls. Pricey, but it's been bone-dry ever since... worth every penny, even if it meant sacrificing some historic charm down there.
Had a similar battle with my 1920s bungalow—thought I had it nailed with gutters, grading, and even a sump pump. Nope, still had that lovely "wet dog" aroma after every big rain. 😂 Finally went with rigid foam board insulation on the interior basement walls, sealed all seams with waterproof tape, and then framed over it. A bit cheaper than spray foam, and it's held up great so far. Basement feels warmer and drier, and no more funky smells.
I get the hesitation about losing some historic charm though...my basement had these cool old stone walls that I hated covering up. But honestly, dry beats charmingly damp any day. Plus, now I can actually use the space without worrying about mold or mildew. Sometimes practicality just has to win out over aesthetics, right?
I feel your pain on covering up those old stone walls—there's something uniquely appealing about that rustic basement look. But you're spot-on about practicality winning out. I've renovated a few older homes in flood-prone areas, and honestly, moisture control is always priority number one. You can have the most charming basement ever, but if it's damp and moldy, nobody's gonna want to spend time down there (including you).
Rigid foam board insulation is definitely underrated. I've used spray foam before too, and while it's great at sealing everything tight, the cost difference can be pretty steep. Foam boards with taped seams do almost as good a job at a fraction of the price, especially if you're DIY-ing it. Plus, if you ever need to access plumbing or wiring behind the walls later on, it's way easier to deal with foam boards than hacking through spray foam.
One thing I'd add from experience: don't underestimate ventilation. Even after sealing and insulating, basements in older homes can still trap humidity. I usually throw in a decent dehumidifier or even consider adding some mechanical ventilation if the budget allows. It makes a huge difference in air quality and comfort—no more musty smells creeping back after heavy rains.
And speaking of aesthetics vs practicality...I once had a client who insisted on keeping their exposed brick basement walls visible because they loved the look. We compromised by sealing them with a clear masonry sealer and installing drainage mats behind strategically placed wall panels. It wasn't perfect, but it kept things dry enough without completely losing that historic charm. Still, if it were my own place, I'd probably just bite the bullet and cover it all up properly—dry beats damp every single time.
Anyway, glad your solution worked out well. Nothing beats finally having usable basement space after battling moisture issues for years...been there myself more times than I'd like to admit!
Totally agree about rigid foam boards—way easier to handle if you're DIYing. One thing I'd add is to make sure your gutters and downspouts are directing water far enough away from the foundation...seen plenty of basements stay damp just because of poor drainage outside.
