Doppelleben

Between Belgium and Berlin

Recalling the IKEA period January 9, 2009

Filed under: berlin, living — Tom @ 16:47
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When you move into a new appartement, there is always an IKEA period. Going to IKEA is a standard thing that needs to be done, and you are better prepared: everytime you go there, you bring something that you actually did not plan to bring. In our case, these extra items have been limited to some kitchen aid tools. Oef!

Google Maps told us that IKEA Tempelhof was just a 9 minute walk or so. Great, so we decided to do everything by hand/bike. In total we had to go to IKEA at least 5 times (it is possible that we went there more, but I must have pushed these ventures away in my memory). That does not include the visits to Bauhaus, next to IKEA.

Transporting two stands for a desk on a bycicle is not easy, especially if the google maps distance is wrong, and you need at least twenty minutes! I will never forget that one time that I drove a ladder around on my bike over Sachsendamm, which is a pretty busy road. Oh the irony of passing the friendly cab drivers and eager furniture transporters while juggling with shelves for the kitchen…

Yes, it would have been more comfy if we bought everything in one jump, renting a little van. Retrospect…

For the bed and living room shelves, we asked the car of friends. If it was possible to mount the bed to my bike, we would have used the bike. The many hours with screws, screwdrivers, wood, metal, Bohrmachine, ladder, heavy weights to carry up the stairs (we live in the fourth floor, no elevator) made my hands and back ache for days.

But I am so proud of the result right now. My first real own mine appartement and place to live and work. Exactly as I want it to be. The peace and quite, where everything has a place. Lovely.

Next week, we start painting.

 

DIY December 19, 2008

Filed under: living — Tom @ 16:03
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This weekend, I am going to do a bit of DIY-ing, just like last weekend. I reluctantly feel as if I start “living for the weekend”! Luckily, my research is very challenging and during the week, I have plenty of other things to do.

The DIY project I will engage tomorrow is about hanging the CD-shelves in the living room, and installing the dry-food departement in the storage area of our kitch. Sound fancy, “ist aber nur ein Brett gegen die Wand”.

Anyway, I will have to put 14 new holes in the walls, and that requires some “boring”. I have a friend with a “boormachine”, so the practical issues are already taken care off.

Boormachine

Boormachine

After hanging up plenty of curtains, shelves, mirrors, lamps, etc., these 14 holes will be peanuts, right?