Since ours was all DIY (except counter fab and install), I learned all sorts of skills! Plumbing, drywall, electrical, cabinet refinishing, tile, flooring, framing, trim work, you name it! I wouldn't say I'm skilled, but I got it done :)

Since our kitchen is DIY, I learned a lot! I've never built cabinets before, or made my own butcher block counters or done Formica. I've also never installed wood floors before, or installed a tin ceiling. I built the entire house, and had never installed windows before, either. I've also never designed a kitchen before. I guess the only things in our kitchen that I have done before are paint, electrical and plumbing.

Two things I will never do myself: gas and electric. Not sure it's even legal. I tried to disconnect my gas stove from the pipe, couldn't break the seal, and my plumber told me it's not even legal for me to do it.

What I've learned - or has been enhanced, is how to prioritize, i.e.: save here so you can splurge here; to practice, practice, practice before applying stain and sealer to (expensive) wood countertops since you have to get it right the first time, and to start on the undersides to continue learning from mistakes by the time you get to the sides that count; and it's enhanced my sense of what's important. When the counter fabricators accidentally cut the counters too short and felt terrible, I told them it's not cancer, it's not a terrorist attack, it's fixable, and it didn't faze me in the least. (The fact that they are taking full responsibility also helped, which feels like a rare thing nowadays, a company admitting it screwed up and fixing the mistake, at their own cost, and apologizing, rather than finding a way to blame the customer!).

Also, to make lemons out of lemonade. another mistake, by the electrician (not his fault but mine), where he cut an outlet hole into the wall unaware there was a bathroom cabinet on the other side, this will become a really awesome recessed shelf in the kitchen. It will look great and be practical since my kitchen is tiny. So this will provide more counter space.

And I've learned the contractor/construction workers' motto: 'everything is fixable'.

Ours was a DIY remodel except for electrical...we hired most of that out. Everything else we had done before in other remodels except dealing with plaster walls instead of drywall...Good Lord is that a mess!!! It was a complete, down to the studs remodel with 2 walls completely removed and rebuilt to 1/2 walls. I was NOT prepared for the mess that ensued. Also matching the plaster ceiling texture in the kitchen to the ceiling in the lr/dr...could not find a plaster/drywall guy who would touch it...apparently it's a unique pattern/texture. We practiced and practiced and practiced and did it ourselves and you can't tell where the old ends and the new begins. I think my DH is most proud of that above anything else in the kitchen!

I learned to paint like a pro ; ). I painted all of the cabinets in our butler's pantry and the entire huge island! Oh and the wood range hood.

gw · More Info

gw · More Info

gw · More Info

Well, I fine tuned my obsessive researching skills over the three kitchen remodels (different houses) we have done. And I learned a lot about how to layout a kitchen. And I learned how to paint kitchen cabinets for the first remodel.

Tiling! I even have my own snazzy wet saw. Pretty good for someone who is wary of power tools in general. I tried to install a dimmer in a 2-gang switch. Turned off the breaker, but it happened that the power was off for only the switch I was working on; the switch one inch away was on a different breaker. I figured it out the hard way, and haven't tried electrical again. Good on you all who can do electrical work!

AKTillery, that hood looks fabulous!

Over the years of thrifty home maintenance I had already learned simple electrical (changing outlets to 3 prong, changing switches, installing ceiling lights and fans) and plumbing (changing out faucets and sinks which involved altering the under sink pipes somewhat, shower heads, garbage disposal, fixing the leaky sillcocks outside, fixing the toilet and actually replacing a dishwasher). I have always painted and caulked-- the paint that I used this time is of so much better quality, though, it made me look much more expert -- I was just admiring it yesterday!

My Reader's Digest Big Book of Home Maintenance, although decades old, still guides me through such tasks. That, and YouTube!

I have previously cut and installed baseboard too, but I still don't have the mitering down to perfection.

The only things that I did in the kitchen, besides the painting, were to replace the cheap looking window trim that the GC had used while insulating under it at the same time (still struggled with the miter cuts), re-installed the dimmer switch because it actually wasn't installed correctly, and replaced the outlets and switches with bisque color because I didn't like the bright white the GC installed. Oh, and caulking areas where cold air was flowing in from behind one cabinet and the hood.

I did not reno my current kitchen and my new kitchen will be in a new build. However in my first apartment, and first two homes I learned how to:

spackle, paint (actually painting for me is a no brainer), caulk, install a subfloor, tile floors and backsplashes with ceramic tile, lay a vinyl tile floor, wallpaper (both prepasted and non-repasted), build shelves, install prefinished laminate countertops, refinish old cabinets, and hang Ikea cabinets.

I'm now at the age where I don't want to do that anymore and thankfully I'm also at the point in my life where I don't have to. Although I did change out the expensive cabinet pulls in my bathroom for inexpensive ones the other day. (We are selling our place and I want these pulls for our new home.)

Oh, wow, I've learned so much about layouts, planning better storage, and other functional aspects of the kitchen since finding GW Kitchens. I can't even begin to list it all. And I'm learning things here and at the Decorating forum that are improving my eye regarding aesthetics.

So far, I haven't learned any new hands-on skills. I've already learned to paint, tile, spackle, mud and tape drywall, and stain in previous projects in other homes. I wish I could do more to help my s.l.o.w remodel move a bit faster. DH doesn't have the patience to teach me and I am a bit of a klutz who is also intimidated by power tools. I would take a "Home Projects & Power Tools for Dummies" class in a NY minute if I could find one anywhere nearby.

aktillery, did you do a reveal yet? I love your floors...where are they from? Thanks!

I haven't even started my remodel yet. However, I am learning patience in dealing with my architect.

Guco, no, no reveal yet. I am so sick right now with some virus I can't clean it up enough and take good photos. I am stuck in bed. I will soon!!

My floors are Royal Oak Engineered Hardwoods in Cabana Brown (it is an oak) with a UV finish. We got them through efloorsusa.com

Very nice kitchen & a sweet pup!

I have learned to use all of my ex-POC-GC-DH's tools he walked away and left. OK, so I haven't taught myself to use the router yet, but I will.

So power tools: to the point where I've worn out and replaced all of his. I've learned how to make cabinets, face frames, lay flooring, build my own butcher block counters, compensate when I miscalculate, etc. I've learned how to say, "No." Just NO.

I have also learned how to shop. I know reuse centers now, reclaimed lumber & kitchen cabinets, H4H, Goodwill, Craig's List and Freecycle. I don't and haven't bought clothes in years (I know, I look like a rag lady) and if I do save and buy something, it's for the house. Key word: Save. I've learned how to live without credit cards and to save for things. This is all a big deal for me.

I've learned to see potential in materials. In remaking furniture. Remaking kitchen cabinets into something I want. I've learned that changing my mind is not a big deal when you have to DIY. Go figure! :)