Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Lost In Translation - part 2

Where the title of these posts gets explained...


In the previous episode: I went to Ikea to buy a blue slipcovered armchair and finally decided at the counter to order the striped one.

Dans l'épisode précédent : je me suis rendue à Ikea pour acheter un fauteuil bleu et j'ai finalement décidé à la dernière minute de choisir celui à rayures.

Getting the huge box into my small car wasn't easy. Two ladies who were going out of the store empty handed (yes, it is possible) helped me. When it was done, I could feel every muscle of my back and a bruise forming on my thigh. But I was so relieved, I turned the key to ignite the engine. First gear, where's my bottle of water? Oh, there, at the back, with the boxes... Wait? What? They gave me the blue slipcover... I hadn't noticed while I was loading the car.


Charger la grosse boîte dans ma petite voiture n'a pas été une mince affaire. Deux dames qui sortaient du magasin les mains vides (donc, c'est possible) m'ont aidée. Cette épreuve réussie, je pouvais sentir chaque muscle de mon dos ainsi qu'un bleu en train de se former sur ma cuisse. Mais j'étais bien soulagée. J'ai mis le contact, enclenché la première, cherché ma bouteille d'eau... Où était-elle ? Ah, oui, balancée à l'arrière à côté de la boîte contenant la housse... Hein ? Quoi ? Mais elle est bleue, cette housse (comme ma cuisse)... Je ne l'avais pas remarqué avant.

Back to neutral and back to the counter. "But you signed the paper stating you got everything you wanted" said the nice lady... Of course, I had signed for a "ljungen" cover and I wanted a "remvallen". How could I not see the difference? Those words are obvisouly different. Visiting Ikea made me regret learning English rather than Swedish. But, it could be changed, couldn't it?

Retour au magasin et au comptoir où l'on venait de me donner les cartons. "Mais, vous avez signé que la commande correspondait," me dit la vendeuse... Et oui, j'avais signé pour une housse "ljungen" alors que je voulais la "remvallen". C'est là que je me suis dit que plutôt que d'avoir appris l'anglais, j'aurai dû consacrer ma jeunesse à l'étude du suédois. Mais bon, chez Ikea, on peut changer d'avis, c'est bien connu.


Of course, all I had to do was : wait in line to give it back at the "return counter" (and there was already about ten people waiting), go back to the sofa area and reorder the right slipcover, wait to pay at the cashier and then for the new box to be given to me at the same counter the blue one was delivered to me...

Aucun problème ! Tout ce que j'avais à faire était d'attendre au comptoir "retour" auquel il y avait déjà une dizaine de personnes qui patientait. Puis retourner au rayon canapé pour recommander la housse voulue, repasser en caisse et enfin attendre à nouveau qu'on m'appelle au comptoir "récupération des marchandises"...

 
I decided to drive back home with the blue cover...

J'ai préféré rentrer au Cottage avec la housse bleue...


Back home, I had to prepare a little hot bottle to calm my aching back down before doing anything.

Avant de m'occuper du fauteuil, j'ai dû préparer une petite bouillotte pour soulager mon dos.

 
Then, I opened the box in the car and brought the parts of the armchair one by one inside. I'm not one to give advice on my blog, but just in case you buy a slipcover from Ikea... The velcro things make it very difficult to slip the cover on the sofa or armchair and I found it was easier to do so without scratching your hands if I wore rubber gloves.

J'ai ouvert le gros carton dans la voiture et j'ai ramené les pièces détachées une par une dans la maison. Je ne suis pas du genre à donner des conseils sur le blog, mais pour le cas où vous achetiez un canapé avec housse chez Ikea, voici mon astuce. Les bandes scratch qui permettent de maintenir la housse en place rendent très difficile l'installation de la dite housse et arrachent la peau des mains. C'est beaucoup plus facile si vous enfilez des gants en caoutchouc avant.


I'm actually very happy with the way the living-room now looks. The new armcair is very comfortable (it's large enough for me to sit cross-legged, which might seem weird but was a very important criteria for me) and Shadow certainly thing so. We now battle every day to see who is going to spend the evening in the sofa... Shadow often wins...

Je suis très contente du résultat dans mon salon. Le fauteuil est confortable (et assez large pour que je puisse m'asseoir en tailleur - c'est peut-être bizarre, mais c'était important pour moi). Shadow aussi le trouve à son goût. Nous nous battons tous les soirs pour savoir qui va y passer la soirée... Shadow gagne parfois...


The pictures were taken as soon as I had finished assembling the chair, so the slipcover is still a little wrinkly, but it's already better. The light wasn't the best either as it had begun raining in the afternoon (it's Brittany after all). I'll write a part 3 with better pictures.

Les photos ont été prises dès la housse en place, elle est donc encore froissée, mais avec le temps, elle se détend. La lumière n'était pas top pour les photos car il s'était mis à pleuvoir dans l'après-midi (la Bretagne doit bien sa réputation à un fond de vérité). Je ferai une troisième partie avec de meilleures photos.

Speaking of light, I also bought a floor lamp at Ikea... I've been looking forever for a cheap second-hand Laura Ashley bridge lamp I fell in love in the catalog. But I've had no luck so far and I really need light on this side of the room... So for now, this one will do.


En parlant de lumière, j'ai aussi acheté une lampe à Ikea... Je cherche depuis des années sur Le Bon Coin une lampe "pont" de Laura Ashley qui m'a tapé dans l'oeil dans le catalogue... Mais je ne l'ai jamais trouvée et j'ai vraiment besoin d'une lumière de ce côté de la pièce... Alors celle-là fera l'affaire en attendant.

 
I think I did deserve a cup of tea and muffins after all that living-room transforming... I would have had picked the blue china to match the new chair if it hadn't been stored in the shed and if it hadn't been raining... 


J'avais bien mérité une pause thé et muffins après cette journée. Je serais bien allée chercher un de mes services bleus pour que la vaisselle soit assortie au fauteuil s'ils n'étaient pas stockés dans l'abri de jardin et s'il n'avait pas plu des cordes...

 
See you next time,

A la prochaine fois,

Hasta la proxima,


PS1: School is back in session... So please be patient for the third part!

PS 1 : L'école a repris... Alors soyez patients pour le prochain épisode !

PS2: I'm supposed to meet a carpenter about the bookcase project tomorrow... I'll sleep with my fingers crossed so that he'll actually show. The last one stood me up.

PS 2 : J'ai rendez-vous avec un menuisier demain pour le projet bibliothèque... Je vais dormir avec les doigts croisés pour être sûr qu'il se présente. Le dernier m'a posé un lapin (c'est de saison, à Pâques... Mais bon, cela ne fait pas avancer le projet).

PS3: I HAD to keep the lamp box because Shadow has decided it was the perfect hiding place.


PS 3 : J'ai été obligée de garder le carton de la lampe au milieu du salon car Shadow a décidé que c'était encore mieux que le fauteuil !



57 comments:

  1. I think the blue cover is very attractive, it gives a warmth to the room.

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  2. Love the blue, glad you did not get the striped one =) Stocksund is a nice posh area outside of stockholm where my cousins grew up, looking good in your living room as well! It will look so good with some blue accents in there. I think a mix-color wool rug could could give you some pattern instead of the stripes? https://www.matt-tema.se/mattor/ullmattor/bosco-bla

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  3. Ce fauteuil est tout simplement superbe dans ton salon! Et je crois que les chats sont du même avis.

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    1. Oui, Shadow a adopté le fauteuil très vite. Milo préfère le canapé, cela évite les bagarres... Je m'installe là où il reste de la place !

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  4. The blue cover is perfect! Glad you didn't switch it ;) xo

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  5. Your room looks lovely, and I really like the blue slipcover. More interesting than the striped one, and the lamp is a great addition. Would love to visit your part of the one someday!
    Paula

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    Replies
    1. I hope you get to visit Brittany some day... And I'm always available by private email for questions about what to visit or what to eat!

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  6. oops... I meant to say your part of the "world".

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  7. I love the pic of shadow in the box, and as for him, he certainly has laid claim to your new chair. Can't say I blame him. It looks very comfy, and I know exactly what you mean about being able to sit cross legged. That's most definitely a criteria for me too!

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  8. Love the cover Magali. Very pretty. Looks like it is kitty approved too!
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  9. very nice! love it and have to imagine you a petite woman loading that box in the car yourself if those other two women hadn't stopped to help you - no offer from the store to help load it? We do not have an IKEA close by, I think I would need to travel 4 hours to get to one. I think you have a very cozy looking room now and I do like the blue

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  10. au moins tu as ton canapé rien que pour toi tandis que le chat sera dans ses cartons ;-)
    Passe une bonne journée

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  11. That box is a lovely place to hide out in, your cats are a hoot, at least they leave you room to set. I like your chair it looks comfy. Its too bad we can't charge those people a fee when they don't show up or call. I pray you have a better time this school period.

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    Replies
    1. So tonight, it's Shadow on the blue armchair while Milo and I share the sofa... Cats take an anwful amount of space at Cottage!!!

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  12. Hi....isn't it nice when a mistake turns out so great, the blue looks really nice with the strips, it also looks like some cats are thinking now you need to go an get yourself a chair, hope your ouchies are better by the weekend.

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  13. il a l'air super confortable ce fauteuil bleu et oui, il réveille bien la déco du salon ; c'est un bon choix ! et comme il ne semble guère possible de s'asseoir en tailleur sur un LauraA, ce fauteuil est LE bon choix...
    bon courage pour la reprise ! monique59

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  14. Love the new chair!! The blue adds warmth and softness to the room. Put a little blankie or pillow in the box and maybe she will stay there allowing you to sit in the new chair!!! Love the cats......

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    Replies
    1. The new chair is occupied tonight... And not by me... The kittie decided it was more comfortable than the box!

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  15. Looks very comfortable and kitty approved:). What a pain trying to return the blue slipcover, I do like it though. Kitty in a box, cute!
    Go luck with the carpenter,
    Kathleen in Az

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    Replies
    1. The carpenter did show up... But he said he needed about three weeks to work on the quote...

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  16. Sop much work you did.. but it turned out lovely..

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  17. Ikea will make you pull your hair out if you need assistance!!! I love the blue, it’s absolutely gorgeous and looks great with the white sofa. Your living room transformation is awesome, great job. I hope the carpenter shows up. Enjoy the weeekend......

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  18. I think it was meant to be that you ended up with the blue chair. It looks great with the sea foam accessories - perfect for your seaside cottage!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing your new chair at Best of the Weekend!

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  19. It looks very nice! My cats love cardboard boxes, too!!!!

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  20. The solid blue is perfect! I think it is what Cottage wanted all along, and he somehow pulled strings with the Ikea people. Impressed that you got it put together all by yourself in one afternoon. Enjoy!

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    1. So you think that Cottage and Ikea were comploting against me... Interesting... And I don't want to impress you more, but last Wednesday afternoon I brought all the wood for the stove to the shed all by myself!

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  21. I think it was a happy mistake. The blue looks great! And the chair looks comfy. I have never been to IKEA and really have no desire to go.

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  22. Au fil des photos, le bleu du fauteuil n'est pas le même mais c'est sympa. Je vois que tu as aussi pris des petits plaids d'un bleu un peu plus soutenu. Cottage porte vraiment bien son nom, l'ambiance est si ...anglaise...trop bien, j'aime beaucoup.
    Caresses aux griffus. Bises. Babette

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  23. It all looks so cozy - the perfect place to relax with a cup of tea and a good book!

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  24. I so enjoyed catching up with you, my friend. I just love your blue chair and it looks perfect in your beautiful cottage.

    Love and hugs to you!

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  25. Ha, ha! I knew it was meant to be girl. I love it! Our youngest daughter always sits with her legs crossed. Me? Well, my knees are too bad and I can't cross them like that anymore. :(
    hugs,
    Jann

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  26. It was meant to be! Love the solid blue with the stripes. Your pretty tea set is just perfect for the occasion. LOL...Isn't it wonderful when everyone gets something from the store!

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  27. Your efforts were rewarded - the chair looks perfect and so very comfortable, too. You were brave to go to Ikea alone.....Love your pretty room and now your sweet kitty has his own room, too :) xx Karen

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    1. I'm kind of used to do things on my own... Except at home, where I do everything with a cat checking on me...

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  28. I have many of the same colors in my home (warm wood, cream, blues, touches of pastels) and I have a blue couch which I like very much. I like both your couch and chair. When you did the post on the couch, I thought I would like similar in my family room. Your whole room feels cozy, warm and pretty. An artist told me that blue is often warm even tough people think it is cool. Many people in the US are doing rooms that are cool and dramatic, but I prefer pretty, and get may ideas from you. I also am a Laura Ashley fan - and also Rachel Ashwell too. Maybe add some pretty floral art? I have to hunt for French inspired art - perhaps it is easier for you to find:)

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  29. Magali fue una aventura el comprar la silla en Ikea se ve muy hermosa y creo que valio la pena y los gatitos estan felices. Si esperare paciente por parte # 3 y espero que el carpintero no deje de ir suerte ! Hasta la proxima :) :)
    nelly

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    1. Los gatitos y yo estamos muy contentos de lo cómodo que está comenzando a sentirse la sala de estar.

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  30. It's good to know children aren't the only ones to play with boxes.

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  31. Ah là là, les chats et les cartons...
    Toute une histoire d'amour.
    Fleur

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    1. Shadow adore dès que je ramène quelque chose à la maison dans un carton... Un cadeau pour chacun !

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  32. Je trouve ce bleu vraiment beau!
    Et... existe-t-il une autre façon qu'en tailleur pour s'asseoir dans un fauteuil????
    Ce fauteuil à l'air parfait pour lire un bon roman avec une tasse de thé.
    D'ailleurs ta théière est juste wahou!

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    Replies
    1. La théière est une Johnson Bros, trouvée sur Le Bon Coin!

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  33. I like the blue! It was meant to be. Your cat surely things the chair is wonderful!

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    1. Your cat surely thinks the chair is wonderful! *

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  34. IKEA has the longest return lines - I feel for you! But as it turns out, the blue chair looks lovely in your living room.

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  35. Je constate, une fois encore, que ce sont les chats qui profitent du canapé et du fauteuil ! J'aime bien ton lampadaire, il est parfait à côté du fauteuil. J'ai hâte de découvrir tes nouveautés. Profite bien de ton week-end de Pâques. Bises

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  36. Everything looks o pretty! I'm so far behind on the cottage progress.

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  37. Hello Magali, The house is looking great, love your new chair.
    Take care,
    Jeannie

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  38. Just stopping by to read your posts but there isn't anything. Everything alright. ?

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  39. White Tarpaulins are a lightweight, easy to handle range, widely used as temporary waterproof covers for applications in the home and workplace including camping groundsheets, wood stack covers, building site covers, sandpit covers, garden furniture cover, pallet covers and salt stack covers

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