A lot of work to do it all this way, but have a look here. He does have a nice list of good mods and tips on how to make patches etc.
User:Neovalen/Skyrim Revisited - S.T.E.P. Project Wiki
My Personal must haves... SKSE, BOSS, WyreBash right off the bat.
In graphics, theres tons of textures to choose from. But The No Stretch and SMIM are must haves IMO as a base.
For armor and wepaons, Ive been using and like Immersive Wepons and Immersive Armors. And Book of Silence are good retextes of Armor and weapons.
Also, Automatic Variants is nice. More variety in what creatures look like,.
SkyUI and Categorized favorites for the UI. Huge help for me.
For gameplay,
ACE Overhaul (w/OPtional alchemy removed file) Theresalso a Immerive wep/armor patch if using those.
Phitts Alchemy
Duel Combat
Frotsfall
If curious, heres my mod list Im currently running. Everything except the Texture overrhauls are here.,
Some of the patches I made though.
00 Skyrim.esm
01 Update.esm
02 Dawnguard.esm
03 HearthFires.esm
04 Dragonborn.esm
05 SPIKE.esm
06 Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp [Version 1.3.2b]
07 Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp [Version 1.2.2]
08 Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp [Version 1.1.0]
09 Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp [Version 1.0.3]
0A Race Height.esp
0B Chesko_Frostfall.esp
0C Better Dynamic Snow.esp
0D realrainextended.esp
0E Remove Interior Fog V2 - Full Version.esp
0F SkyrimURWL.esp
10 Rain_URWL Patch.esp
11 StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
12 StaticMeshImprovementMod-DragonbornTernFix.esp
13 TradeBarter.esp
14 BLESSINGS - Altar Descriptions.esp
15 Chesko_WearableLantern.esp
16 Dead Body Collision.esp
17 Disease Descriptions.esp
18 DD_Dawnguard Additions.esp
19 DD_Dragonborn Additions.esp
1A High Level Enemies.esp
1B High Level Enemies - Dawnguard.esp
1C High Level Enemies - Dragonborn.esp
1D Immersive Brigands.esp
1E Immersive Dawnguard.esp
1F Immersive Factions.esp
20 Immersive Mercenaries.esp
21 Immersive Patrols.esp
22 Immersive Travelers.esp
23 Immersive Werewolves.esp
24 Lanterns Of Skyrim - Around Cities_bright.esp
25 Lanterns Of Skyrim - Bridges x2 - OnOff_bright.esp
26 Lanterns Of Skyrim - Villages.esp
27 PilgrimsDelight.esp
28 Point The Way.esp [Version 1.0.1a]
29 SkyrimImprovedPuddles-DG-HF-DB.esp [Version 1.1]
2A Auto Unequip Ammo.esp
2B Character Creation Overhaul.esp
2C IMAGINATOR - Visual Control for Skyrim.esp
2D towConversation.esp
2E SkyUI.esp
2F iHUD.esp
30 towPov.esp
31 hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
32 Lock Overhaul.esp
33 Monster Height.esp
34 ERSO 03 - Slighty Mighty Dragons Unleveled DB.esp
35 ERSO 04 - Mighty Odahviing.esp
36 ERSO 04.2 - Mighty Durnehviir.esp
++ ERSO 06 - Wait More Time Dragon Encounter x2.5.esp
37 ERSO 07 - Slighty Mighty Dragon Priests.esp
38 ERSO 13.02 - Lower Skill Gain -15percent.esp
39 Immersive Events.esp
3A Run For Your Lives.esp [Version 1.2.1]
3B BetterQuestObjectives.esp
3C BetterQuestObjectives-Dawnguard.esp
3D BetterQuestObjectives-Hearthfire.esp
3E BlockSparkles.esp
3F CCO - Permanent Birthsigns.esp
40 Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
41 Immersive Weapons.esp
++ Proper Aiming.esp
42 aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
43 RealisticRoomRental-Basic.esp
44 dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Reduced.esp
45 Better Vampires.esp
46 PTAlchemyFoodOverhaul.esp
47 Duel - Combat Realism.esp
48 ACE BYOG.esp
49 ACE Speech.esp
4A ACE Archery.esp
4B ACE Archery Dragonborn.esp
4C ACE Armor.esp
4D ACE Enchanting.esp
4E ACE Magic.esp
4F ACE Melee.esp
50 ACE Smithing.esp
51 ACE Synergy.esp
52 Path of Shadows - Sneak Settings.esp
53 Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp [Version 2.2.2]
54 CCO - Diverse Races And Genders.esp
55 WATER.esp
56 WATER Plants.esp
57 WATER DB Waves.esp
58 Fog-URWL Patch.esp
59 ASW-GDO Patch.esp
5A AS-GDO Patch.esp
5B ImPatrol-AS Patch.esp
5C PTAlchemyOverhaul_SkillRate_0_75.esp
5D General Patch.esp
5E Bashed Patch, 0.esp
5F Automatic Variants.esp
60 ASIS-Dependency.esp
61 ASIS.esp
