Your successes, your failures?

debtdesperado

I agree with MaggieBaking, on overestimating how enjoyable doing up a flat would be. I would add underestimating the cost to that, and also underestimating how much of a disruption it would be. Anyway...

Successes:
Really pleased expensive tiles and cheap suite in bathroom.
Second attempt at sanding a floor looks beautiful.
Cheap bedframe, expensive mattress and bedding...bliss...
Discovering BHS lighting department...

Failures:
Bathroom unit from Howdens - has warped and needs replacing already.
Kitchen layout, meaning I had to put fridge in another room, which is annoying.
Getting inexperienced carpenter to put wooden back door in - it warped immediately and needs regular coats of gloss to seal it.
Underestimating the amount of dust that the works would generate.
Losing my job halfway through and then using my renovation savings to pay the mortgage. I have a new job but it slows the process massively when you can only do as much as you can afford that month....

pjran

I've enjoyed reading your successes and failures, thank you. Our home needs updating so will certainly make note of this thread.

My greatest success was marrying a chap who is too tight to pay tradesmen when he can DIY