Making a Fancy Alcove Bed (out of not-so-fancy materials hehe)

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What's that?? Time for another whimsical yet kinda impractical home decor project? OKAY! This time, I wanted to spice up my little reading nook and make it look more like an alcove bed! (which I may or may not have just learned what it was called) These would normally be made out of wood, but I don't have the skills to do that, so insulation foam it is!
This was a super fun and pretty simple project, and I'm pretty happy with the outcome!
ENJOYYY!

Chapters:
00:00 Action-Packed Intro
00:50 The Design
01:14 Le Advertisement
02:36 How to Fit in at the Hardware Store
03:59 The Hot Dog Conundrum
05:06 Making the Template
07:02 Cutting the Foam
08:52 My 2024 Motivation
11:29 Sculpting the Details!
13:00 Pillow Hunt
14:01 Sealing the Foam
14:57 Thunderstorm Break
15:13 Cushion Covering
16:46 Making a Pillow!
19:17 Paintin'
19:53 Finishing Touches
21:16 The Reveal!
21:37 Wrap-up & Bloops

#homerenovation #diy #historichomes

[benji_and_the_tomatoes]

your personality gives me the vibes of “i will not stop until it’s perfect” and simultaneously “eeh good enough” and i love it

[DragonRose-ipsg]

"She's ok. She just fears change" I've never heard anything so relatable.

[roxiepoe]

My daughter had a toy magic mirror that said lovely things when its button was pushed. One evening after a day, I sat down on the sofa. The mirror was tucked into the cushions. So, a sweet voice said, "You are so pretty." After I got my act back together because I almost had a heart attack, I dug it out and pushed the button again. "I like you." "You make me feel happy." Etc. It said such nice things. At that point in our lives more days were bad than were just okay. Good days were very rare. I may have tucked that mirror on a shelf so I could just sit and push that button and listen to an electronic voice tell me good things. I have looked on the internet to see if I can possibly find one of them again. They are mega expensive. Yet, even just the memory of those affirmations gives me joy. I know it is not realistic/smart/sane, but it really helped. Affirmations.

[genevarockeman]

Just so you know, my husband was a contractor, is now an architect, and still laughs at the word caulking. Yesterday he came home giggling because his boss told him to 'carefully plan the penetration points'. Giggled. For hours.

[arichar]

Jessica Valenti on Twitter once said, "Whenever I get discouraged and want to quit something, I remember the words of my then 3-year old after she puked up carrots all over the living room floor: "I'm gonna need more carrots" for some reason this always brightens my day and I tell myself that I'm going to need more carrots too. We all have self doubt. it's what makes us relatable and human.

[azurehall]

Dear Rachel, as someone who used to work at the Orange Home Improvement Store™️, thank you for checking the storage capabilities of your car before going to the store.

The amount of people who would buy a grill or something else gigantic and then look at me like I was supposed to bend the laws of physics to fit it into their 2 door car- well, the number is far more than I care to recount.

So on behalf of Home Improvement Retail Workers everywhere; thank you for having foresight and (not so) common sense.

[MiniJenJen]

I don't typically comment (I know. Bad subscriber.) but Rachel, I hope it helps to know that watching your videos has pulled me out of a multi-year creative slump. My 20's was one long depression hole, and went from painting every day to not at all. I found your channel a few months ago and have started painting again, and have learned to use my sewing machine and have successfully hemmed several pairs of pants and flipped a dress that looked like sheeit (it still looks like sheeit, but different sheeit lol).

A huge part of why I love your videos is the fine line you tap-dance between perfectionism and half-assing it. I think a lot of us identity with that mentality, and the self-awareness that comes with it. I have a little post-it note that says half-ass is better than no-ass. When I'm struggling (which is often) and can't bear the idea of even brushing my teeth, my little half-ass post-it saves me from being a no-ass. And let's be real, half-assing is way funnier than whole-assing. Haha.

Virtual bear hugs from a 30-something ADHD lady.

[laurenschiller]

Frodo is definitely like, "aw yeah, mama fits in my new dog bed with me" at the end there

[margarethall]

I love how this renovation came out. Stop selling yourself short. You have amazing crafting abilities. Your pillow turned out really cute. I loved your thunderstorm break.

[EmpressEmbeth]

Commenting to tell you the following:
- your projects are delightful. Stuff not coming out perfectly? That's a feature, not a bug. It makes your work accessible. Channels where the finished project is *perfect* are really intimidating to me, and actually turn off my creative drive, because I know mine will never turn out that way. Listen, with your content, you're not fooling us. We're not missing the little mess-up bits. We just know we'll have those mess-ups, too, and if you're brave enough to post that on YouTube, if your projects can have mess ups and still look this amazing, then I can make projects, too! It genuinely helps so much that not all of your projects come out picture perfect! And with full truth, all the way from my toes, I want to tell you that your home, your wardrobe, everything you've made, is SUCH a vibe, you're truly living in the midst of aesthetics I (in my rented apartment) can only dream of. You really are Doing The Thing, even if it doesn't always feel like it.
- personality/jokes/content: omfg you're so funny. You're so relatable. I want to be your friend but you're too cool for me. The hot dog bit SENT me 😂 I woke my husband up giggling at it. The stunt attempts, the jokes, the editing, goblin mode... 15/10. I go back and rewatch your videos when I need inspiration, giggles, a buddy to get me through the day, really just when I need to be picked up, your videos are there for me.

We all go through it. Mental health wise and life situation wise, I'm in the best place I've ever been in my life right now... and I'm still struggling. House is a mess. Dealing with medical stuff and family stuff. It happens to us all. So what I'm hoping you take away from this, if you read this ADHD word vomit of a comment, is that you're not alone, and it's okay. You really are doing great. Your projects are good, and no, you're not fooling me into saying that, I see the lumps and bumps and love your projects WITH those parts included. Your personality is glorious. You're the whole package, lady, and you're awesome.

Now please excuse me while I add this video to the playlist of projects for my future house. That playlist is 70% your videos. So thank you in advance for what my house is going to look like in a few years 😂❤

[Hannah_Becton]

The day that Rachel teaches herself 3D modeling in Blender, vector design with Inkscape, and buys herself a 3D printer (two words: wood filament) and laser cutter is the day that she will become unstoppable.

[ohkittyohcat]

My wife and I just bought an old, Victorian era house and your channel has been a huge source of inspiration for us! It needs extensive aesthetic renovations (luckily the bones are GREAT for being 128 years old), so we have plenty of opportunity to add whimsy. Thank you for being my own whimsical fairy godmother!

[elyssart]

The hotdog quest was quite the adventure. I was riveted!

[gracesjournal]

hi, just wanted to say to Rachel that once I started calling myself a "silly goose" instead of "dumb" or "stupid" or anything else like that, I subtly became happier. sometimes we need to treat ourselves like a toddler. it's the little things.

[kateh]

I always wanted an alcove bed as a child, it’s my David the Gnome dream.

[connieblack]

I remember reading that perfection in crafts was an affront to the crafty spirits! your board isn't asymetrical, it's whimsical!
I hope you and your family find sunnier, happier times soon. Prayers for your family members who are ill!

[SarahCoffeeb]

you should never doubt your sense of humor after you state the word "like a bicycle seat for a hamster" HILARIOUS and adorable.

[emilyhayes]

I vote woodworking side quest! It always feels so much more intimidating like the free weight section at the gym but especially if you're using hand tools, ain't nothing other than another craft. Plus sawdust could add to the fake snow/confetti razzmatazz

[phdprincess]

The mention of bicycle seats for hamsters sounds like another "Little Guy" video in the making

[MissMisnomer_]

Oof, that "feeling not great about myself right now but I'm going to push through anyways and force-feed myself the good vibes until I believe it to be true" is EXTREMELY relatable, especially as a creative person. Keep on fighting the good fight Rachel, and curl up in your cute lil reading nook <3