Living Out of the Box

Wilson mentioned my recent IKEA experience in his previous post, but I’ve decided it requires a bit more attention, especially for those of you who have never visited this famed furniture superstore. So, last Thursday, Kathy and I proceeded along the path through the IKEA showroom, eliminating all but the best bargains. Because I was an IKEA virgin and Kathy had not been in several years, we had no idea we were supposed to do anything other than scribble down the Swedish furniture names (Laxvik, Hemnes, and Eina, for example). So, some advice for any IKEA first timers: be sure to record the items’ warehouse locations, as this operation is entirely self-serve.
After re-navigating the showroom, we loaded our trolleys with every item we had selected, including a sofa, mattress, bed-in-a-box and various other pieces that, of course, required assembly. Loading was the first challenge – maneuvering 3 unwieldy trolleys through the checkouts and on to home delivery was the next. But don’t expect any IKEA employees to assist you – even if your sofa is sliding off one trolley and another trolley is veering toward a towering display of discounted lamps. Rest assured, however, that all parts and pieces will be included in the box and that assembly will require little more than a screwdriver and some persistence with the instructions (even I built our bedside table). Now, thanks to IKEA and handyman Wilson, we come home each day to an apartment that is cute, comfortable, and most importantly, our own.