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THS Gardenweb Kitchen Old Timers

10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

I was trying to remember some of the THS Gardenweb Kitchens old timers from the late 90s into the 2000's, so I did a search on old posts. Here is what I found. Anyone remember them? Who is still here???

lowspark (founder of GW??), dianalo, sweeby, mitchdesj, cat_mom, aktillery9, CEFreeman, reno_fan, Gibby2015, CelticMoon, oofasis, dedtired, Claire_de_Luna, Starpooh (finished kitchens blog), Cupofkindness, jenswrens, jerzeegirl, buehl, paulines, cloud_swift, sue_ct, mrsmarv, mindstorm, colo_lady, Weed, MonicaKM, Live_wire_oak, Hollysprings, Lavender_Lass, MariposaTracionera, Marcolo, Rhome, IglooChic, vwhippiechick, Bill_Vincent, Redroze, cotehele, Bunglogrl, sombreuil_mongrel, Marthavila, paigect

I couldn't find anything prior to 2003. It would be nice to see the old posts from the 90's just for the historical design significance.

Who remembers when Tapmasters (foot pedals) were the rage and discussed frequently!


-aka Kompy

Comments (329)

  • 4 years ago



    I’ve been here since 1998, and there has been far more bootings for no reason at all in the last year than the entire time that Spike owned the place. Spike was an amateur compared to Houzz. You can’t even flag SPAM anymore.


    Sophie being booted was the beginning of the end. This will probably get removed as well. And another account disappeared, with another ISP ban. They don’t want to be a repository of knowledge, or to have any continuity of posters with history.

  • 4 years ago

    I was lovemrmewey on the old GW. I loved the recipes I found there!

  • 4 years ago

    I remember the tremendous surge in the popularity of the Gardenweb in the late 2000s, after which the community seemed too large, with too many people coming and going to maintain "friendships" easily. But what a fabulous resource!

  • 4 years ago

    I am Cotehele ~2008 -2010. I have wondered what happened to my GW friends from that era. The group was extremely helpful in designing my kitchen and bakery. After the project was completed in 2009, I hung around a bit to answer questions and to help others. I found this thread from searching my screen name.

    I want to use some of the (Kline cabinetry) cabinet plans in the bakery. But I cannot find them. I posted quite a few of the final plans as people requested them. But I cannot find the posts now.

    To any of my old friends, I hope you are doing well. Those of you who joined after 2010, I hope you find the old GW kitchen threads as helpful as I did.

  • 4 years ago

    Cotehele, So nice to "see" you! I remember you and your kitchen project. Good luck with your bakery!

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Houzz isn't the same. We had quite a cozy little group back then. I still miss it. Kelly aka KOMPY

  • 4 years ago

    Kompy ...I do too....


  • 4 years ago

    Me too. What a gift GardenWeb was.

    It was like a kind of Utopia in retrospect.

  • 4 years ago

    GardenWeb was such a huge help to me over the years. I didn't get around to my kitchen remodel until 2017-18, but I had learned so much in the 2008-10 period that I was ready to go and surprised my kitchen designer with some of my GardenWeb-inspired ideas (she'd never heard of NeverMT before, for one!).


    So thanks to all...this thread has been a blast from the past and it has been fun to recall so many screen names of contributors. I haven't seen anyone mention Buehl, who was so helpful to many and who inspired me a lot. Also trying to remember the name of the person from Florida who had that really cool antique cabinet that she wanted to work into her design...and the name of the soapstone guy from Florida....Florida Joshua? Those were the days! Enjoying my 3-year-old kitchen so much and am SO grateful that we completed it before the pandemic.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Tuckjp, that was Squirrel who used to photoshop for us. I miss her and all of you. I am glad I found many of you again on Houzz. This picture of me is about 5 or 6 years old. My Lynn2006 posts became SusanLynn2012. The wonderful members always helping each other with such great design flair and so many beatiful kitchens. Everyone was so kind to me and so helpful. I felt like you were all my friends. Thank you all for being there for me and for so many of us.

  • 4 years ago

    mama goose_gw zn6OH, Thank you so much for the link to the finished kitchens! I was not feeling myself tonight and I need sleep but I checked Houzz and this thread popped up making me smile and remembering all of you! So glad to you all here.

  • 4 years ago

    scootermom, Buehl is still giving kitchen design advice, but not as much as in the old days. She maintains the 'New to Kitchens' thread, and has her messaging enabled, so you can get in touch with her via Houzz.

    I remember Elise (remodelfla) and her 'possum belly cabinet, and the great deal she got on her craigslist Subzero. Florida Joshua installed her soapstone, IIRC.

    Good to see all of you again!

  • 4 years ago

    Thank you Mama goose_GW zn60H about where Beuhl is now. I will look for this thread. Good to see so many memberss that I enjoyed reading their posts and seeing their kitchen transformations and hearing their excellent advice.

  • 4 years ago

    susanlynn, here's a link: New to Kitchens? Read me first.

  • 4 years ago

    Does anyone remember Claredelune? She had a beautiful craftsman inspired kitchen. An so many great insights too! I miss her....

  • 4 years ago

    I stopped in to read everyone's names. You all have helped me so much and I can't thank you enough. Lynn2006 who is now SusanLynn2012.

  • 4 years ago

    Yes, I remember ClairdeLune. Didn’t she also have that great laundry closet with the machines elevated to sit on top of pull/tilt out laundry bins?

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Just stopping by to say hey. I was around on the old Gardenweb forums from the early 2,000's helping here and there when I could with kitchen design layouts and such, particularly with the glitchy IKEA planner, lol (and it still is!) I came searching the last couple of weeks for information on appliances for my daughter and son-n-law's new house they are buying. Many of you were helpful when I had decisions of my own to make for not only a bathroom remodel in one house, but a kitchen renovation in another. Anyway, I miss the camaraderie we had. Hope all is well with all of you.

  • last year

    The gardenweb was really helpful in the past. And people laughed at errors and helped anyway. Miss it.

  • last year

    It was a fantastic forum of like minded people. It helped me do a kitchen remodel and new house build. Would love to read what everyone is up to these days.

  • last year

    Hey Everyone! Gosh, I sure do miss y'all! Every now and again I'll get an e-mail notification on a thread and it pulls my heart strings. I joined back in the day when Spike ran the place out of his basement. As best I remember you had to do something pretty nefarious to be sent to the "teacups". Anyway, my name was Riverrat1 and I miss this gift of Gardenweb that fell in my lap around 1997-98. It was a great help to me when I worked on a large addition to a country house. We no longer have that house and built a smaller retirement home in a wonderful little neighborhood.


    Does anyone remember the gift exchange that AnnT orgaized for us? That really was a fun!



  • PRO
    last year

    This is Kompy. I was around 30 when I joined Gardenweb way back when!! I turn 60 in June. Wow how time flies! Since then I got divorced, remarried, sent a kid off to college, had same kid decide to skip on college and start his career...but through it all have stayed a happy go lucky person...and I still love my job as a kitchen designer, going on 40 yrs! Me and new hubby are friends with old hubby. Stopped by his house yesterday with my son after the amazing OHIO Eclipse! I still come on Houzz everyday while I eat my lunch at my desk...which is what I did 30 years ago on GW! I've learned so much from all the pros here as well as the homeowners! I miss GW still...it seemed more close-knit and kind.

  • last year

    So nice to see your Post Kompy

    The Kitchen Place thanked enduring
  • PRO
    last year

    Funny, I started doing kitchen design so young (20s)...and always felt like a newbie. I guess I'm a seasoned veteran now in the industry...lol. But every time an "older couple" come into my store, I think they are older than me. Often times I'm older! lol I still feel like I'm 20 inside my head.

  • last year

    So nice to see you all here, keeping in touch every now and again. Seeing all the familiar names warms my heart, and I love the life updates! My kids were young when I did my remodel, and now both are out of college and living their own dreams. They come home and enjoy cooking and baking in my kitchen and sit around the island to visit, exactly as I hoped they would when we designed it. I was so happy to be able to tap into the wealth of experience and knowledge here. My remodel is 14 this year and my kitchen is still my happy place. Some of the appliances are getting old enough for replacement! The Miele induction cooktop died this year and it was like losing an old friend. I replaced it with a new Thermador. :-D

  • last year

    I remember a whole lot of people. I did my remodel in 2007 and I'm still using the same appliances, but they sure are limping along. I tried to replace my fridge, but during the reno they installed the appliances, and then installed the counters and now nothing will fit through the doors between the counter corners! I really don't know what I will do when I have to replace an appliance. The soapstone countertops are glued down, not screwed. I'll figure out something I guess, LOL!


    Vicki (AKA vjrnts)

  • last year

    I started out as a new kid on GW and i learned so much there i became a crusty curmudgeon at houzz 🤣 Some of my favorite kitchens are on photobucket! I mean they WERE on photobucket.

  • last year

    Remember when we used to have regional get-togethers? I remember one in Baltimore and one in NoVA many years ago!

  • last year

    I discovered GW around 10-11 years, so that is considered new compared to many of you!

    I wondered if anyone knows what happened to Mamagoose? I miss her! I often wonder how she is. I have not seen her post in a really long time.

  • last year

    I was recently wondering the same thing, I checked her user profile and her last comment was in February of 2023...I hope she's OK. I sent her a message today to see if she's still around Houzz.

  • last year

    I was LENVT. I didn't post too much, but I joined in 2001 just as we bought our first house and needed a washing machine... and then a dishwasher, and finally a range. There was a person here, TJ something or other, who knew appliances like the back of his hand. I mean WOW. I knew from this forum that I wanted a Bosch dishwasher, convinced my neighbor to get one as well. He still has his, 22 years later. I bought a Kenmore Elite dishwasher. Because of TJ, I knew it was a rebadged Bosch! Quiet as the dickens, cleaned like a charm, Just replaced it a few months ago. It most likely could have been repaired, but I am finally renovating our kitchen after 23 years in this house. It is a full on 1980's dream kitchen with all the attendant horror. Hey, after 23 years, it's MY fault!


    I knew so much about appliances, and the necessary CFM per BTU's for my range hood that I got offered appliance sales jobs --twice!


    I always come here first step in any major decision for the house. I remember lusting after the kitchen reno threads like mad back in the day. Following them through to the reveals... Good times as I was recovering from a significant illness at the time. It is still a good place, but a bit less like a club, I guess.


    Good ol' TJ, wherever you are friend, I thank you.

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year

    So great to see every one still chiming in on this thread. WOW! I can't believe I posted this 9 years ago!?! I agree, LENVT....it was more like a fun club back then. :-)

    The Kitchen Place aka Kompy (GW name)

  • 10 months ago

    Oh My! Bill Vincent, what a gem. and Mongo CT. I remember a whole bunch of the people you listed, there was this other women I wish I could recall who was doing a house... ugh.

    and Celtic Moon. I learned so very much! Beekeeperswife

    much appreciated everyone's help, I made 4 beautiful bathrooms in total over the years since the late mid/late 2000's.

    Cheers to them all


  • 10 months ago

    So nice to see old friends. Bill Vincent, Mongo CT Beeskeeperswife, Celtic Moon

    I learned so much.

    since mid 2000's I have done 4 bathrooms and feel that my skill is a credit to this old group.

    thanks for posting, glad I sauntered over here to peek

    PF

  • 10 months ago

    It’s so nice to see the old names. LavenderLass always so upbeat and embraced the story of home. Every time I see a cute apron I think of her. I forget the name of her book website, can anyone help? And has anyone heard from Christine? I don’t remember her screen name, or was it Christine?

  • 9 months ago
    last modified: 9 months ago

    I completed my remodel in 2006 (andrea345) but was active on GW from the early 00s for about 8 years for gardening as well as kitchen. What I learned on this board paid off well. We stillhave the same DW, fridge, and range, but the TapMaster and hot water dispenser died ugly. The finishes still look great and the hardware feels like there is no wear. Those Blum Glides, etc are still working spectacularly. I loved the knowledge experience sharing and the Blue Star / Lacanche war. 😂 We had moments…

  • 9 months ago

    LOL the TapMaster!! My partner reeeeally wanted one, but alas, we ordered it and then found it was not compatible with our wall-mount faucet. I remember that the company graciously took it back even though months had passed. I think they did well with the GW business!

  • PRO
    9 months ago

    Hahahaha...we had a tapmaster on display in our showroom back then! We didn't do too many of them.

  • 9 months ago

    I had one, installed in 2011. It died this year. I did like it while it lasted!



  • 9 months ago

    We loved ours too. I think it lasted 10 years or more.

  • 9 months ago
    last modified: 9 months ago

    It's been a while since I checked in (waving to rebunky and Buehl, and any other old timers who remember me). I recently received a PM help request but I no longer have the time to invest in lengthy discussions of kitchen plans. However, I thought it would be a good time to give an update to those who haven't been in touch via messaging.

    GW/Kitchens was a lifeline for me during my kitchen remodel and the loss of my husband--and in the years to follow. I think I've commented on threads in the KT and/or Home Dec about how my husband and I had been together since we were both 17 and were married 32 wonderful years at the time of his death in 2010.

    In 2022 I started seeing an old friend and have been very happily married since 2023. He and I have known each other since I was 12 and he was 13, meeting the first day of 7th grade. There are a lot of connections between our families, so although it wasn't romantic for all those years, we always enjoyed seeing each other and kept in touch through family and friends. One of the ushers (late husband's cousin) from my first wedding officiated at our wedding, and his wife, also a friend since 7th grade, was a bridesmaid in my first wedding. She caught the bouquet in my first wedding, and they were married six months later.

    In the years after my late husband's death, I really thought I would never be interested in recoupling or remarrying, but after my beloved sister passed away from breast cancer in 2022, I think I just needed a friend. DH, also a friend of my sister's, was there to help and the friendship grew into more. Together we have four children, four grandchildren, and a 7 month-old great-granddaughter!

    We live in my house--the old dairy farm--and enjoy gardening and small home improvement projects, as well as working at both of our home businesses. The kitchen is basically the same and still the hub of family dinners and good times. Incidentally, when my late DH and I bought the property, new DH was the one who brought his tractor over and cleared the weeds and brush from the hill behind the barn. I'm sure he never thought he'd still be doing that 30 years later!

  • 9 months ago

    Mama goose, I remember you. It was so nice to hear how your life has evolved in the intervening years and to know that somehow things have a way of always working out.

  • 9 months ago
    last modified: 9 months ago

    I remember you, Mama Goose. Thanks for your update and how life can take many twists and turns, and still turn out wonderful.

  • 9 months ago

    Hi Mama goose!

    Thanks for the update! I am so happy to hear you are doing well! My deepest sympathy on the loss of your sister.

    Congratulations on getting married again. What an amazing story of how you two met so long ago and all of the connections you have had over the years. I wish you many, many happy memories gardening, cooking in your beautiful kitchen, and spending time with your husband, kids, grandkids, and new great granddaughter! Much Aloha!💗

  • 9 months ago

    Bpath,

    Everytime I see bunnies I think of Lavender Lass. I hope her husband and mom are doing good. I found this thread and it has a link to her book website.

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5514661/has-anyone-seen-lavender-lass#n=22

    I think Christine was CEFreeman. She was hilarious and so talented! I remember she loved peanut butter cups for breakfast. 😋 I wonder if she ever finished her beaded inset kitchen.

    Another person I miss is HappyCamper. I know her husband was going though some heath problems. Whenever someone wants to put the DW in the prep zone, I think of her and her funny rants.

  • 4 months ago

    Hi all! Im back around trying to get the tiling done on my interior porch/mud room. I ripped out the floor to the joists, then DH and I inserted joist to bring it up to snuff to accomodate a porcelain tile floor. Its been fun, but I miss having the help from Mongo CT and Bill Vincent.

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    I do not remember my original "handle" but by the early 2000's, I was Clairebuoyant. I was "TKO" and when my kitchen was completed (2004), I became somewhat active on the Cooking forum.

  • 10 days ago

    Hello everyone. I was/am clergychick — always more of a lurker than a poster, but I loved the GW Kitchen community and learned so much reading others’ posts.


    Does anyone else remember Towel Pig? I became a bit obsessed with looking in stores for that wingless swine with a charming smile. And when the news came that he was gone (broken by a hapless child) we were devastated. I wrote a funeral requiem for him so we could mourn together and say farewell.


    I’m glad there’s a faithful remnant of the GW days still around. I came searching for the forum today because I’m moving into the house I grew up in and may need some advice with making a circa ’95 kitchen work again.

  • PRO
    7 days ago

    Grateful for so much knowledge, talent, hunor, and kindness here. Wishing everyone wonderful holidays and new year.

  • 7 days ago
    last modified: 7 days ago

    Yes - I definitely remember the Towel Pig! I commented on a thread a couple weeks ago about the "Towel Pig" in the listing photo of the house we recently purchased. It was a paper towel "Towel Pig", but it was still a pig!

    I'm not sure anyone on that thread knew what I was referring to.