^*%$*&^ Varde

This has been my lament of late. Despite the stigma often attached to it here in NorCal, I am quite fond of IKEA and it's offerings. Until now. Why, you ask? The answer is simple--the Varde.

It's a kitchen island which comes in three large and heavy boxes. Usually IKEA items are simple enough to put together. You pull out the one sheet of instructions and away you go.

Not so with the Varde. First of all, when I opened a box and pulled out multiple large bags just of little hardware bits I knew trouble was afoot.

That was confirmed with the opening of the second box, which contained the 25 page instruction booklet. It wasn't until you opened the second package (and had things strewn about) that you found out a couple of things. First, this isn't a one-evening job. Second, you need other tools not provided to you by IKEA such as a vise (because you have to drill through metal--I'm serious).

Two days and some extremely creative tool use later, we finally got the thing together (and got the countertop oiled appropriately -- that would have been nice to know up front as well).

Of course, it's too wide to fit out of the front door, so either I'm living here forever or I'm selling this thing to the next tenant.

Still, it's gorgeous.