Missed Opportunities: Things Mac should have DIY-ed for the living room instead of the never-ending "hutch 🫠" aka bookcase

This is basically a part II of my I’m so bored with her post. Here's some things I would have watched (probably someone other than Mac🤦🏼‍♀️) make. She’d never do most of these, but I think they’d be so fun! Some I’m thinking about trying in my own flat.

1. Stuff for Cade! Literally begging her to make things for her kid

Folk painted blanket chest for toys

Hand paint it for Cade, inspired by old German, PA dutch, Romanian, etc. marriage chests. It would be so cool to make something meaningful, with motifs that are important to them and their families. Include some Filipino heritage! It’ll be a heirloom piece he’ll build so many memories around, and she can give to him when he moves into his first place. I made one of these for my friends as a wedding gift, all with meaningful-to-them motifs, and they absolutely loved it.

I don’t have kids yet, so idk, but maybe a little table and chairs for him in the living room? What would you guys make your kids?

2. Film an interview with an upholsterer about redoing a vintage or secondhand couch

Buy a secondhand couch and get them to reupholster or make a slipcover for it. But actually interview them about how to tell if a couch is worth recovering? What makes a couch last decades vs not, how is it built, what to look for? How to decide on fabric type, pros and cons of different materials, slipcover vs upholstery, longevity, what’s best for kids/animals, etc.? Why vintage or secondhand couches are a better option, especially on a budget? How to get the best possible product that will last decades? This could be so useful and informative! Especially in this economy. Even if you just wanted to know what to look for in a vintage couch that works as is, without reupholstery. 

3. Block printing fabrics

Make her own designs on lino to block print different fabrics for the living room. She could use the fabric for: gathered lampshades, throw pillows, ottoman, etc. She could even expand it to curtains for other rooms, or a tablecloth.

4. Jess Wheeler-style brass candle sconces 

I saw a lot of DIY-ing brass ornaments this year, but this takes it another step to something you can use year round. And she could customize which leaves or flowers to replicate. Here’s a trailer for the artist’s Create Academy course if anyone’s interested in how she makes stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_3gEQF48A

5. Build or reupholster an ottoman as a coffee table like in British interiors 

So the living room makeover could have been:

Video 1: How to plan out a room like Caroline Winkler’s video. Plan needs, floorplan, color palette and  scheme + introduce DIY projects

Video 2: Choosing couch + interview with an upholsterer in their workshop

Video 3-6: I’d be okay watching a separate video for each DIY because they’re actually more difficult and interesting

Video 7: Reveal