I thought I was so clever when I built our waterproofed Ikea Groland – late one night. My life was a movie and the Ikea assembly stuff was the “fun young thing” montage section, set to something peppy. Basically this, but with Ikea instead of pom-poms.
I only wanted to build Groland’s bottom section – the top wouldn’t be screwed on until the sink hole was cut. But was very excited to see it in place and learn exactly how much space we’d gain having Groland in our lives vs the bowling ball.
…. People, let’s not forget the fact that I was being clever and using a drill. In pajamas. With knee pads.
I love my knee pads – our most useful purchase of all of 2010. We bought them when we installed the laminate floor last year – recalling that kneeling on concrete is an actual form of torture. Even if it’s Paolo doing the actual work and I just want to look useful and feel involved, I put on my knee pads and stand ready.
So, back to my Ikea-building montage. We’ve established that I had on my knee pads? I’d also lugged Paolo’s drill from its lair. A half hour later I was bored with Groland – he’s big, bulky and in serious cahoots with the allen key. The result – obviously – is that I was paying too much attention to my alternate-universe movie montage and assembled 3 of the 4 legs backwards (i.e. facing outwards not inwards). Irritating as I’d just used the drill to screw them in as tightly as possible. Par for the course, right?
I always put legs on wrong. Bekvam cart? Check. Ingo table? Check. Lack coffee table? Check (but how is it even possible — they screw IN?) and Markor coffee table. Check. Don’t feel bad. <3
Hmm, well, then we can definitely empathize with each other as we’ve got identical furniture in almost every regard. If you turned Vancouver upside-down and shook it… how much Lack would fall out??
As for Ikea & their endless cost-cutting — I’d gladly pay $5 more per item if they’d put stickers with unmistakable red arrows on the side that’s bloody well different from the rest!
I’m willing to bet that everyone who has ever attempted to put together a piece of Ikea furniture has attached something upside down or backwards. It’s all part of the Ikea fun
Yes! Fully suspect that ‘Schadenfreude’ means ‘allen key’ in Swedish.
Yeah, I live in an off-square, non-level, non-plumb bastardization of an Ikea showroom. I’ll admit it. I’m too damn housepoor to upgrade from the furniture I bought in my Douglas College days. However, it does point out the fact that their furniture is pretty hardy, because between Douglas College and housepoor was a move to Halifax and back.
All our square feet are wonky as well. As for Ikea – I not only admire its blue collar ruggedness – but I love that I don’t have to care when I damage it.
I think everyone who has ever assembled anything has put legs on backwards at some stage or another! At least you have looks on your side in those foxy pjs
Oh don’t I ever!! A Kiwi kid told me earlier in the year that NZ doesn’t have Ikea — a travesty of international proportions. Are you guys keeping all the goodness for yourselves down there??