I've been on GW since 2004, when I first went in search of info on composting and hostas. Those were the old days of Spike (and Disney), and GW seemed smaller than it does now, with distinct LONG-standing posters. I recall being amazed at how nice and truly helpful the members were compared to other net sites at that time. Things have changed, and some of the old timers have moved on (some in whole groups when major issues arose). But the newer GW is still just great!

When I found kitchens and appliances, I must have read every page for weeks. Does anyone else have memories of those dry, tired eyes reading forum posts for hour on hour as a new member?

After reading for so many years, I finally feel ready to take on a kitchen remodel. Just getting up the nerve to post a trial layout for critique and advice (and learning how to post images).

A huge thank you to everyone here so gives so much, both in asking questions and answering them. This forum has one of the nicest community atmospheres on GW (IMHO).

I found GW on 2007. I was looking for light/white granites for a kitchen remodel. The kitchen has been done for 5 years. I love kitchens and I always check in here to read about others in their remodel/build kitchen journey. The kitchen forum is a very giving community. I have learned so much through so many nice people. A lot of amazing kitchens are shown here.

In 2008, I was trying to plan my kitchen remodel from China. There were endless back-and-forth emails with our architect. I didn't have access to shelter mags. Houzz wasn't around yet, at least that I was aware of. Thank goodness I stumbled on GW kitchens while doing an image search for gray painted cabinetry.

I developed wrist pain from scrolling through the FKB. It was MONTHS glued to GW Kitchen forum. There was an answer for EVERYTHING. What a treasure trove.

Still hanging around...this kitchen illness is in my blood forever. Have done two bath remodels since then, but that forum ain't the same.

I'm not sure how I found GW, but I'm glad I did when I was doing my first kitchen remodel in 2003!! Sadly, we moved a just couple years after it was finished, and I have had to deal with a "builder's grade" kitchen for the last 7 years. Now, we have bought our "retirement house" which I am looking forward to remodeling, and am happy to be back at GW for even more inspiration and guidance!

Here is a link that might be useful: First GW kitchen

I guess I'm the lone "was referred by a friend", not by searching. My girlfriend was knee deep in a huge kitchen remodel and told me about this fabulous resource. Her kitchen is finished, fabulous and I know she did a lot of lurking (but not posting) on GW. She has a perfect GW kitchen with expansive drawers and all the bells and whistles of the true TKO's.

When I started talking about doing a remodel myself she said I should go on Garden Web. I thought she was crazy, why a gardening site???? Who knew that I would become alittle obsessed? I've learned so much and hope to be able to use some of my newly found knowledge if I can ever get DH to agree to a the budget and finally get started!

I found GW when I googled "backsplash for white kitchen and brown counter." After my first backsplash was removed GW was a great place to get encouragement, ideas and support.
Like linelle, I question why I keep coming back to this site. I enjoy seeing how problems can be solved and sometimes offering my own advise or opinion.
For the most part, members here are nice. Occasionally there might be a clash, but it makes it all the more interesting.

Via The Google, circa 2010, looking for cabinet maker reviews. I read the specific threads that were returned for the various makers I had searched on. It didn't take long to notice how often "gardenweb" dominated the search results.

The following weekend, while doing yet another search, I decided to go the the current forum thread. I think I spent 10+hrs reading every thread.

A new addiction was formed. I recall one poster once referring to GW as "kitchen porn"... still makes me chuckle.

Thanx for the thread breezy!

In 2012 when I started kitchen, powder room, etc remodeling project. I kept searching Internet, looking for answers and Gardenweb kitchen forum kept coming up with the best answers. I got totally and completely hooked and could not stop reading. Still can't. Thanks to Gardenweb I learned about Never MT, Waterstone faucets, Miele speed oven, possibility of lowering outlets....the list goes on and on. I also learned that it was OK to argue my point with GC, learned to ask the right questions and not feel bad about asking to fix things that were not done right. I was a "yes, sure, no problem" girl before this forum. Thank you to all of you!

In early 2012, I made the fateful Google search for cabinet pulls, clicked on a link to GW, and now I'm hooked! I'm mostly a lurker, but throw out a few questions/comments here and there...I was shattered when beekeeperswife did not choose the gray grout with the arabesque tile that I voted for, but the pull of finding more things that I probably shouldn't be putting in my townhouse kitchen remodel kept pulling me back in!

Seriously, I've picked up a lot of knowledge about the remodeling process, and feel mine will be so much better than if I had never found GW. I just have to weigh the realities of my space ("starter home type" townhouse) against the cool stuff I can put in it, and get the best items without over-improving - with my champagne tastes and beer budget, this is proving difficult... ;)

In 2011 when I started planning my kitchen remodel and I was looking for reviews of ranges. I found the appliances forum and got hooked. At first, my reno was going to be all about function. I was only interested in what appliances I was going to buy and how to lay out my storage, but I knew nothing about cabinet types and had never seen a white kitchen. Didn't know you could do anything other than granite for a countertop, never heard of inset cabinets, or frameless...the list goes on.

After a few months, I started reading the kitchens forum out of curiosity. My planning kept going much longer than I expected, and I kept reading. The more I read, the more I learned, the more I modified my design. Eventually I joined (can't believe it's just over a year ago) so that I could post questions. Now I can't imagine life without GW, and I know for sure that my kitchen is a thousand times better because of the things I learned here. Thanks to you guys, I now have my dream kitchen and I'm thrilled!

I was researching kitchen and garden in 2002 and found GW. Anytime a project pops up, I always check GW first. Years ago I participated in the hosta swap with many wonderful gardeners. There was someone from Canada that had the best hosta garden.

GW is the best!

I just finished my second kitchen with GW. I did my first kitchen when the forum was the wild and woolly West and there were knock down drag out battles about granite vs corian and the quality of Ikea cabinets. I think that must have been around 2004.

Hi, my name is Ellen, and I'm a GW addict.

It started slow. A few search results here and there from GW. An appliance review, thoughts on materials. Then I started poking around after I read what I came for, just appliances at the start. Then it progressed to seeking out the GW search results. Then came that fateful leap over to bathrooms. I think I over did it early on, lost a whole week somewhere. Once I started with the kitchen stuff, it was hopeless.

Seriously though, like many others I realized GW was consistently the best source for most of the info I was looking for. At first I didn't notice what forum I was in, but then I realized one forum (GW) was a place I ended up frequently -it started to look familiar. By the time I had picked out my appliances and was working on our bathroom, I was turning to GW first. I wasn't too engaged at that point, but lurked and read a lot. Then when we decided to work on the kitchen I stopped by here and, well, you guys know the rest. I even went over to bathrooms to post a reveal there after joining since low/mid budget projects are common but not always featured.

I think I joined in May 2012, but it might have been as early as February.

A friend of mine introduced me to it. Our daughters were in preschool together, so it must have been at least 4 years ago. She was remodeling a house they had purchased, and I think she spent most of her GW time on the remodeling forum, although I know she posted here too. She posted as kimthemidwife.

@smiling -- hostas! I forgot how much time I spent last year on GW looking at hostas! Recent but very intense obsession (ps in Nova Scotia I think hostas are even more common as dirt than elsewhere as they love our conditions -- so it's hard to find real hosta lovers!).

What's a Spike day?

What great fun to find another hosta fan in the kitchen forum. Beware, as you're already mentioning, they can so easily become an obsession. Don't get me started, just the perfect plant! I drive too many miles over hostas, shopping and rescuing...

Found it way back in 2000/2001, and actually joined in 2002. There are still a few members from way back then that are still here, not many though. That was back in the day you had to pay, albeit a nominal fee. We had bought a big, old house and were renovating it. Between GW and American Bungalow Magazine forum, I learned alot.

I've used the Internet for resources since the late 80s. (Yes, I'm an old, DOS-days geek.) I appreciate boards rather than blogs because of the group contributions. Blogs are too individual. CompuServe, (always hated AOL) Women.com, and Gardenweb to list a few. I"ve been involved enough to moderate more than a few boards on each. When I need information I look to the boards. I've watched too many be absorbed by iVillage, sadly, but members remain invaluable! It's always amazing to discover you're not alone in even the weirdest situations!

In 2004 I found the MidAtlantic Gardening board which pretty much centers in the Washington, DC area. God bless 'em, I wouldn't have 1/4 of the gardens or knowledge thereof without the great people there. (BTW. The annual Spring swap is in May!!)

In 2005 I had a fire, like Red_Lover (which I also am! Did I ever tell you I have over 32 crape myrtle varieties, most red?) and looked to the boards for design and rebuilding advice. Clever ideas, amazing colors, and just plain inspiration. Trials, tribulations, successes and support.

Robotropolis, I, too, and JM obsessed. Last count was 104 (and I've had dozens not make it through the winters or our insufferable summer heat) and probably growing. They've survived tornadoes, neglect, dogs, rabbits, etc. But they make me smile. I find timely, current, and experienced advice on the maples board.

I won't get into hostas or hellabores and the great trades!

But what keeps me coming back for all these years is the kindness and humor. I've a lot of gratitude to people here and on other boards throughout my history. Through highs and lows, ups downs, rants and raves.

Breezy, thanks for asking. I needed to remember gratitude right now and you stepped up.

Late 1990s in spike days. Originally hung out in California gardening, antique roses, clematis forums. Started the Asian vegetables forum. Discovered kitchens in 2006.

I come and go - joined in 2006 and come back every time we redo a kitchen or bath.

I was on another website either asking a kitchen related question or reading an existing thread and someone posted "if you want to see real obsession check out Gardenweb's kitchen forum". So I did! : )

Much the same as the rest...google search. We were planning our build and I think I was googling countertops and found this awesome site. This was back in 2009. The house is finished, but I am still here! I lurk mostly, but post every once in awhile. Some people have real hobbies- I have GardenWeb. LOL.

I found the forum in July 2012 while searching for "custom inset cabinets." I was so happily blown away by all the resources and reviews I found here!

2011 - googling for kitchen backsplash, countertop and flooring ideas for our current kitchen update. I thought I struck gold - what joy to discover so much information readily available!

I found the finished kitchens blog and spent hours happily looking at all of those gorgeous kitchens. I started reading up on here also for layout idea knowing that the goal was to eventually build. I have learned so much already - it truly is amazing how much information and visual eye candy is shared on here. So helpful!

I got the nerve up to join last year. I frequent kitchens, building a home, smaller homes and on occasion bathrooms, appliances and buying and selling homes.

*Wish* I was a gardener but I'm more of a baker, lol!

Started out in 2007 in the Harvest Forum after one of the nice ladies at the farmer's market and I were talking about canning and recipes. Lurked around for a couple years before joining and then found Kitchen probably in 2009 or so.

I only have one JM so far but don't worry, many to come. Have to get the gout weed out of almost 1000 sf in the back garden first...talk about loving our conditions....but I have about 15 varieties of hosta! When we move our kitchen I'll have a nice view of the front garden. I loved the 'view from kitchen' thread and it made me think of planning for it! I love the climbing roses idea.

I think it was in 2011 but not positive. I was searching for azul macaubus granite. Someone on here used a beautiful slab for her island. I saved the picture and kept coming back to look at it. It was after our kitchen was already redone (insurance remodel), but before we had an island (or pendants, or UTC lighting). I went to the Windows forum when getting new windows for our house - took their advice with our Marvins and love them. Went to the roofing forum when getting a new roof. Took advice and even helped someone. I love the bathroom forums as I dream about a master bath remodel, and wish there was more activity in the basement forum as that's our current project. Even though our kitchen is done, I come to kitchens the most. I love seeing pictures of everyone else's new kitchens!

I was just browsing the Internet a couple of months ago, and happened upon this site. The timing is perfect, because of superstorm Sandy I have a whole house to redo and I am currently working on another new kitchen. My kitchen was only 7 years old and now I get to do it all over again, with the help from this fabulous forum. Even though I loved my old kitchen I am changing everything, including the color scheme, and even had walls taken out to expand the room. Thanks for all the wonderful advice ladies! I have taken many of your suggestions, and it has made it much easier to design
and buy for this new kitchen.

This post was edited by JOJO100 on Fri, Mar 8, 13 at 11:29

Searching for information about soapstones on google. Ended up here. Wish I had found it a lot sooner... my kitchen would be different than it is!!!

I was here back in the spike days as well....can you remember any other old timers back then? That had to have been 20 years ago for me. My son is 11 and I was on GWKF many years before he was even born.

I found GW looking online for wax/parrafin recipe to finish a wood top without a urethane type product. Found GW and have been here almost every work day since. I usually come here while I eat my lunch at my desk.

sayde told me about GW. She also told me to look into induction. Thank you, sayde!

The only downside is I had two bathrooms totally remodelled before I knew about GW. Now all I can see in them is everything I should have done differently. As Christina Rossetti said about an entirely different subject, "Did one but know."

Last year after my order had already gone in four my new doors, contractor hired for my budget update I was doing an internet search for granite, and found gardenweb.... so glad I did!!!

First found GW when I was researching new windows in early 2009. Not sure exactly when I found the kitchen forum, but I started exploring soon after the window decision was made. Lurked for quite some time before joining in April 2010.

Ok, someone has to tell about the Spike days! I have been hearing about Spike off and on for a long time, and I really need to know!

Pretty please. What are Spike days?

I lurked through my first kitchen reno in 2008. I was too shy to post, and there wasn't much to change about the layout in my very, very narrow galley kitchen, anyway. But I did get lots of good ideas and learned about soapstone! We sold that house this summer, and I still miss my soapstone counters.

This time around, I'll be knocking out walls and doing some "real" remodeling, so will be depending on y'all for advice and support. GW is a fabulous community, and I'm very grateful that I found it!

Quick gardenweb plus spike google rendered this thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spike and Disney World

I came here from some other forum that folded and several members came here. I no longer remember the details. Spike was in charge. There was no Houzz and no pinterest.

II was looking for help figuring out how to paint our cabinets in the kitchen in our first house among other things. And I got into quite the fight with some old guy on the paint forum who insisted that I was an idiot if I used anything but oil based paint on my cabinets. Would have been 2000 or so.

I have done two kitchens with GW and when we have saved enough money will be doing a third.

I have been a California Garden forum reader since 2004. Every so often, about once a year, I would visit the Landscape Design Forum, and there would always be a post with 70 responses where all kinds of nasty things would be said about people seeking advice, or where landscape designers would pontificate at one another and/or deride other people's stupidity or taste. One time daisychain asked them why they couldn't all be more like the designers over on the Kitchen Forum. You know, helpful, funny, respectful, etc. So I came over here and had a look. She was right. You people are golden. I never returned to the Landscape Design Forum, so I don't know if any of the Very Important Designers there have changed their ways.

That's funny Hosenemesis, I had a similar experience!

I came to GW for the greenhouse forum where I have shared a lot of my experiences with our little home greenhouse. But that forum is pretty quiet and I was looking for more of a gardening community. I thought the landscape design forum was great since it had lots more traffic. I had some good experiences there until I posted some photos seeking advice and I got suggestions that were ridiculous and insulting! After I politely explained why I couldn't/wouldn't undertake the suggestions the people just wouldn't drop it and kept insisting their way was the right way. Really obnoxious!

So I packed up and left and soon found the kitchens forum and got my new nickname of the Rock Whisperer here.:) I am a happy member and I enjoy the caring and thoughtful deliberations over grout colors, cabinet pulls, soap dispensers and other highly important aspects of the TKO life!

I think I needed some information about one of my appliances. Maybe it needed to be fixed or something. This was around 1999-2000 time frame. I can't remember the date.

I was contemplating remodeling my kitchen at the time as well and the Kitchen Forum was right there next to the Appliance Forum. I ended up NOT doing the kitchen remodel then. We redid the rest of the house and the basement instead. We ran out of funds to do the kitchen. I lurked a while then I dropped out.

When I did the over-all house remodel, I did not really consult the GW for design decisions. We had to move relatively fast and I did not have the time to do the kind of research that GW demands. Much of the decision that we had to make were infrastructure related. We did things that were way ahead of its time and a few questions that I asked did not get answered on the other Forums. For example, we did in-floor hydronic heating in our bathrooms in 1999, and there was very little information coming from the GW. I had to just DO IT.

The same is also true for Induction Cooking. I was contemplating switching to Induction in 1999/2000 time frame. I did not get much useful information from GW because there just was not enough Induction users in America at the time. Most of the replies were from folks that had induction cook-tops that that they had bought in 1970 to 80s.

Fast forward many years. We resurrected the kitchen remodel. I started to visit the Kitchen Forum again 3-4 years ago as I was starting my kitchen remodel. I have since finished my kitchen remodel.

After spending more money on my house than I care to admit, my addiction to the kitchen forum has waned to the level of mere side interest. I now peruse when my work day gets stressful and I need a distraction.

Stumbled upon the site in 2006. I was planning to renovate the kitchen and refresh two bathrooms in my apartment. The designer at the design-build firm I wanted to hire clued me into Ikea kitchens for cabinetry organization, which led me to the IkeaFans forum, and a kitchen-planning post at that site had a link to a GW Kitchens thread. Been here ever since!

(BTW, that apartment kitchen never got renovated - we sold instead, bought our house in 2007, and now I'm planning the kitchen reno for the house).

I wish the $15 and no ads were possible again. I am never buying anything pantene again. Ugh!

I have been on GW for a LONG time. I think I accidentally clicked on That Home Site off of the Antique Roses. I, as always, mostly lurk. Never have much to say, but love to read!

I live the life I wish I had through some of the members here who get to have parties!

Nancy

I first found GW about 7 years ago while googling for information on restoring old windows vs. replacing (for our prior 100 yo home). I then 'found' it again when one of the gardening forums popped up a couple of years later while googling information on composting.

I then found the kitchen forum when googling about 1.5 years ago for kitchen remodeling information and I'll never forget it. I can't recall the exact search, but I ended up at the finished kitchens blog, which then landed me onto this forum.

Thank goodness!! (and I guess I owe a lot of thanks to Google as well)

I'm pretty sure that my first contact with Gardenweb was after I googled inset cabinets. I was (and still am) having a home built and had ripped out a bunch of magazine pictures to show my cabinet company. Short story, he told me no. I knew so little that I didn't even know I liked inset cabinets, or that they were a "thing."

Luckily I was able to find Gardenweb in time to fix a lot of design issues, even if not all. I was able to change my double island plan to a single (although I think GWebbers will still think it's too big!), move an entry to the pantry, and move a half bath off an eating area. And I was able to find Tinker's cabinet maker, who didn't tell me no!

I shudder to think of all the choices I'd have made had I NOT found GW, but on the other hand, it has also upped my anxiety over making the wrong decision. There are so many choices!

The wealth of knowledge and the willingness of people to help has been incredible.

Maggie

I came to the Kitchen Forum via various Garden Web gardening sites, (2004) especially the Back To School annual Seed Swap which is held each November.

My Kitchen Remodel started innocently after visiting my Sister in London who has remodeled her kitchen with no Upper cabinets.

On returning to NJ (november 2009) I asked my son if he could help me remove the upper cabinets to our kitchen, and somehow by the end of the weekend, the kitchen the way we knew it was gone and resembled a mere shell.

Searching on google for " no uppers" led me to the Kitchen Forum and from there I became part of the "novice kitchen designer group".

My kitchen became 90% finished and fully operational in November 2012 Exactly 3 years to the date after I asked my son to remove the upper cabinets.

This experience has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life (other than bringing my kids into the world). I feel if I could remodel a kitchen from scratch, remove a wall, pass code inspection, and complete the remodel with a mix of Ikeas cabinets and High End touches....... Then I could probably tackle anything.

While completing the remodel I was holding down a very demanding job, so the Kitchen Forum was an awesome resource for me. I would just look up some of the more detailed posters and use their recommendations...(such as Breezy for Never MT and my Faucet Selection) - Thanks breezy, you don't know how much you helped me.

The Kitchen Forum has always been an awesome resource for people sharing what they are making for dinner. There seemed to be a group on Fridays who would post their yummy selections. - and photos - Trailrunner and Remodofella come to mind, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed those posts.

At some point I will post my finished kitchen....it came out way better than I could have expected.... Until then this site is a treasure for me.

Thank you all for making the Kitchen Forum what it is!!!!!!

GreenhouseMs

IDK if anyone is still reading the posts but wanted to add my 2 cents...

I have heard a good "real-life" KD lamenting about the "misinformation" people get from online forums and how long it takes to explain to them that things don't work that way. IDK which forums she was referring to, but my remodel wouldn't have happened w/o this forum. I had my kitchen design done by a KD and it was very good. However, some things (as it turned out) were not achievable without a major expense I couldn't afford.

Then I went to a showroom and tried the appliances we picked (they were new at that time and were "all the rave") and I hated all of them, seriously.

I knew about GW since the time I remodeled out bathrooms in 2007. I found the Bathroom forum about 3/4 way into the remodel when searching the Internet in desperation. It was no brainer to come to the Kitchen forum for my kitchen remodel. :-)

It has been delayed several times and I have been *here* - on and off - for almost 4 years. I owe almost everything I learned about kitchens to this board and find the KDs here very knowledgeable and helpful.

So, whatever the competition says, thank you!

I came to the Kitchen Forum via various Garden Web gardening sites, (2004) especially the Back To School annual Seed Swap which is held each November.

My Kitchen Remodel started innocently after visiting my Sister in London who has remodeled her kitchen with no Upper cabinets.

On returning to NJ (november 2009) I asked my son if he could help me remove the upper cabinets to our kitchen, and somehow by the end of the weekend, the kitchen the way we knew it was gone and resembled a mere shell.

Searching on google for " no uppers" led me to the Kitchen Forum and from there I became part of the "novice kitchen designer group".

My kitchen became 90% finished and fully operational in November 2012 Exactly 3 years to the date after I asked my son to remove the upper cabinets.

This experience has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life (other than bringing my kids into the world). I feel if I could remodel a kitchen from scratch, remove a wall, pass code inspection, and complete the remodel with a mix of Ikeas cabinets and High End touches....... Then I could probably tackle anything.

While completing the remodel I was holding down a very demanding job, so the Kitchen Forum was an awesome resource for me. I would just look up some of the more detailed posters and use their recommendations...(such as Breezy for Never MT and my Faucet Selection) - Thanks breezy, you don't know how much you helped me.

The Kitchen Forum has always been an awesome resource for people sharing what they are making for dinner. There seemed to be a group on Fridays who would post their yummy selections. - and photos - Trailrunner and Remodofella come to mind, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed those posts.

At some point I will post my finished kitchen....it came out way better than I could have expected.... Until then this site is a treasure for me.

Thank you all for making the Kitchen Forum what it is!!!!!!

GreenhouseMs

I redid my kitchen in 2007 and came here then, via a mention of GW on a scrapbook site I frequent. Then, after my kitchen redo, I then built a pool and found the Pool Forum extremely helpful and active. Now, that's 3 houses ago, and I'm building a house, so I frequent the Building Forum and Kitchen Forums most. (Getting ready to build a new pool, too, so I better start lurking over at that forum! ;)