Please post your top 5 remodel decisions - and maybe your worse decision too, if you have any!

I'll start - but qualifying my list with it's not done yet, just gutted:
1. removing divider wall between kitchen and dining room to open it up into one big room
2. hoping the delta touch faucet will be all it's supposed to be...
3. GC advised to put ceiling lights along perimeter counters - overhead, not "behind-head" so we won't stand in our shadows when at the counter
4. in-island sharp microwave drawer - again hoping it will be all I've read about it to be
5. maybe this will have to come after we're done...
Thanks!
Poodledo

1. putting something over the kitchen sink to look a bit like window -- the idea came from arbordomus. (His post linked to, below) In my kitchen, we have no uppers on this blank wall. A decision also influenced by gardenweb in general!

2. removing most of the divider wall between kitchen and dining area, to open it up and make a sort of "continuation area" with some of the same material -- it will probably become our Airport central (Apple computer stuff). This with the over-the-sink wall treatment makes it a huge space. It's a galley walkthrough floor plan. The footprint is still less than 68 square feet after removing the wall.

3. reading tons of input on several posts like "what I would do again / Did right / wish we had done differently / will do in next kitchen..." It's where I first found out about fantech.net inline blowers -- the idea came from I think clinresga. These posts were good for hundreds of tips and to confirm things I already knew or suspected I knew.

4. All Ikea all the time, for all the frameless structural boxes, door fronts, panels, hardware, everything. It's an all drawer kitchen, but I won't know until we start using it whether that was a really really fine decision or not.

5. Creamy white 18" by 18" P.E.I.5 floor tiles wall to wall. Makes a small space kitchen feel big.

F.Y.I. this kitchen is in a downtown highrise condo building.

1. Tearing out the half wall between family room and kitchen.
2. Taking my cabinets all the way to the 8' ceiling.
3. Pricing custom cabinets - I had no idea they could be so affordable.
4. Hiring the right GC.
5. Making the choices that we loved and not worrying too much about what others might think or what was in style.

1. Consult with a very close friend/architect. She made the structural decisions, liaised with the GC on technical issues, identified and resolved issues we didn't know existed, designed the roof tie-ins, intersections, pitches, and runoff. Managed the bid process. Owner advocate.
2. Choose a GC from among those who bid based on competency, attention to detail, integrity, behavior (no swearing, smoking, raunchy talk, loud music) and work ethic. I have complete confidence in them. I would be happy for them to babysit my new born baby.
3. List needs and wants separately. Plan the needs FIRST. Use the simplest way to accomplish what was needed and wanted.
4. Make structural improvements that were necessary to meet our needs and address the integrity, energy efficiency and comfort of the house.
5. Stand my ground! Help cabinetmaker and GC with concept and examples as much as I could. I knew that want I wanted could be done. Things such as the counter-height windows (Erika among many others), overlay door/drawer DW panel (Gibby), sliding doors on the hutch (Kenebec), recessed cooktop (not sure who did this), adjustable MW shelf (Zelmar), soapstone (many including Joshua), towel rack in open cabinet (sorry, someone has it), and more I cannot recall.

We are very happy with the garage, bakery addition and kitchen.

We're almost done! Move in is a week from today. It's been eight weeks...not too bad!