I Laugh at the Sad IKEA Dude

You know the one. 

The one who sits there looking sad in the instructions that show how you're supposed to do something with two people. 

In my single life as a homeowner -- and pre-dating that, my single life as an apartment dweller who hated living life like it was lived in an apartment -- I've become very familiar with the phrase "Two people required for assembly." 

Fortunately, I'm also well acquainted with the phrase "You really should let someone help you." As well as "You're stubborn." And "No. Really. Let someone help."

Thanks to gravity, sheer grit (a paradox there?), and knowing what my limits are for lifting and holding, I've really never met a "two people required" project I can't handle. 

Although I do admit that it's still fun to see salespeople and flight attendants help someone of my size, because they think I can't possibly lift whatever it is I'm carrying. 

There's a huge sense of pride for doing something entirely on my own. I've done most of the work and projects in the house on my own, and I've been able to execute a vision that is entirely my own -- something resembling what would happen if SCA took on mid-century modern.

But this chaise? Damn, I'm proud of this chaise. 

After the saga with Lowe's about the magically disappearing chaise, I finally picked it up a few weeks ago, and put it together last week. The instructions were very clear about "Two people required for assembly," and the online reviews also noted that it was much easier with two people. 

Meh. Who cares? I've got gravity, fairly strong limbs, and grit. I could do this.

After a few moments involving creative language, I finally got the arms at a point where it was self-supporting, and where I could let the grit takeover. The instructions said 20 minutes; it took me about 40. I'm OK with that, considering I was working with half the manpower required.

Didn't cut myself in this adventure, and no damage to the chaise. Win win. 

The cushion was surprisingly comfortable -- I wasn't expecting much from a $45 Target cushion -- and I adored that despite not being available in the same pattern as the table chair cushions, it matches nearly perfectly. The reviews on Target's website say it's too large for standard furniture, but I found that it matched the size of the chaise almost perfectly. And oh, so soft and cushy. 

But why am I so proud? I did it on my own, and I've wanted this chaise forever. And now, thanks to a side table, I have a place where I can sit cross-legged and have a beverage, and enjoy the space that I have created. 

All on my own.