Despite its original February 4th due date, our big bundle of sectional joy arrived ahead of schedule. Being our first Ikea sofa, we were a bit taken aback by how many different boxes our Karlstad came in.
But since we’re no strangers to assembling our Ikea purchases we dove right in…and even made a time lapse video of the longer-than-we-expected process.
For those who can’t watch the video (maybe you’re being sneaky at work?) here’s the important stuff: the final pictures of Karl in place.
We’re especially enamored with the fabric, which is nice and durable (it’s completely impenetrable to Burger’s claws, which is always the goal). And the dark color is perfect for hiding those spills and drool spots that happen with a dog and a baby around. Plus because the entire sectional is slipcovered (even the arms and the frame) we can always wash it if something crazy happens. Which is definitely a probability in our house.
Karl certainly is a big boy. It took us a couple of hours to adjust to how much more space he took up than our old couch – but it took almost no time for him to win our hearts. He fits the space really well, the dark charcoal color rocks our socks, he’s extremely comfortable, and he makes us want to schedule a huge friends & family movie night (although that might be more fun when we get a larger TV someday).
Speaking of which, Karl’s presence really highlights the need for some other “heftier” items in the room (it’s a huge space, so larger items will make it look a lot more balanced and proportionate) – like a bigger rug, a new media cabinet, and lots of colorful art on the walls. Plus we need to make this space next to the window look more intentional. We plopped the little game table there because of the light that hangs above it, but we’re thinking that zone might be better served as a play / toy storage area for Clara (and future kiddos) down the line.
We also want to add (maybe build?) a long narrow console table to go between the sectional and the wall to host a couple of lamps and act as a spot for drinks, etc. Especially since our current nailhead ottoman & faux sheepskin solution is great looks-wise (light and round ottoman + dark and square sectional = love) but it doesn’t really function beyond feet propping. But with a console table behind the sofa, that’s all it needs to do. Plus it’s baby-head friendly, unlike an angular coffee table. And with all the angles in Karl we were itching for something soft and round anyway.
We also want to try a DIY upgrade to Karl’s legs. Ikea offers sleek metal ones (which take the look to über modern) but we wanna work with the chunky wood ones that came with Karl.
Especially since the fancy pants sofa that we coveted from Room & Board (more on him here) has the exact same legs in a darker finish. And they look surprisingly sleek in that color, as opposed to cheap and birchy like Karl’s (no offense, man):
We’re thinking we might try to stain or paint them darker (maybe even with high gloss spray paint) to help them work better with Karl’s deep charcoal outfit, er slipcover. We considered swapping them out for tapered or round spindle legs, but Karl is a big dude. So we want him to remain as well-supported as possible. Which is why the legs that come with Karl (along with a 10 year warranty) seem like a smart thing to stick with.
Despite our still-growing to-do list, we’re loving our new spot to relax. I’ve got two directions where I can lie down completely (all 6′ of me), Clara’s got a couple of deep corners to be propped up in, and the chaise just happens to be perfectly Sherry sized. Accordingly, she’s been monopolizing it since Karl’s arrival. Good thing I’m not a jealous man.
Burger is basically nutty with options for curling up, jumping around, and perching upon every possible cushion and cranny. Here’s where we discovered him sit-standing yesterday. Yes that’s business in the front, relaxation in the back. What a weirdo.
Apparently it’s a great vantage point to scope out squirrels in the backyard.
So yes, we still need to stain/paint the beams, get/build a sofa table for behind the sectional, get a larger rug, upgrade the media cabinet, remove the fans, add in a few lighting options, and possibly create a little play area for Clara behind the far side of Karl – but we’re happy to take our time and let things evolve instead of rushing into any big purchases we might regret (we have to replenish the ol’ bank account after buying Karl anyway). But I guess I could tackle those fans sometime soon. And Sherry claims to be saving up the energy to take on those beams (she says as she reclines on the chaise and lies motionless, closing her eyes as if to “charge”). Should be interesting…
UPDATE: We’re still loving Karl over a year later. Check out our little update post here.
LOVE it!! And your video, wow! So cute!
Would you guys mind posting the finished dimensions of that particular configuration??
The chase part is 62″, the portion of sofa against the wall is 140″, the other side of the L-shaped sectional that floats in front of the game table is 95″ and the cushion depth is 36″. There are probably more measurements on ikea.com for ya. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love the couch! Unfortunately, that first picture has dashed my hopes of one day being able to haul a Karl back from the nearest Ikea (1.5 hrs). From the box dimensions online I thought it might fit in our station wagon, but looking at those boxes I don’t think so. Too bad Ikea won’t deliver to my area. I miss living 10 minutes from an Ikea!
That video was too funny….what a lot of work to get Karl together!! Worth it though, the room is coming together. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
Karl looks lovely!
looks awesome!!! please keep us updated on the wear & tear…i never ever thought buying an ikea sofa was a good choice, but you guys are totally convincing me otherwise!
we have an ikea couch (can’t remember what it’s called, but it wasn’t one of their most expensive ones) and it’s been great for the past 6 years, with two small children. It’s faded a bit from being in a very sunny room, but the springs are still firm. highly recommended if you want a ‘living’ sofa rather than a formal one
Great Video!
Looks great!!
But where can I put my drink down? he he
Assuming you are allowed to drink on it :)
Hey Christine,
Check out the post for that info. We plan to bring in a nice long sofa table behind the sofa for drinks and lamps, etc. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I laughed when I saw the part about the too-small TV – my husband and I were literally dragging our dinky 19″ TV as close to the couch as we could to the couch every time we wanted to watch a movie. We both lived in tiny apartments and then our square footage tripled when we moved in together; needless to say, the tiny television + giant room didn’t fly for too long.
Also, I highly recommend going modern and getting a nice flat screen LCD. Because of the husband’s (lack of?) judgement we “upgraded” from tiny TV to GIANT 150 LB MONSTROSITY. Can’t say I’m eager to rearrange the room any time soon…
I love how in the beginning of the video Burger is just chilling on the couch unfazed while everything goes on around him. My dog would have been out of there in about 2 seconds flat (and then would have returned to be underfoot the rest of the time)! :)
Looks great! You can actually use “dippy pen” ink as a stain/dye for raw wood, like those legs. It creates a very even finish that is matte, or can be sprayed clear for gloss.
http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Super-Permanent-Bottle-3001100/dp/B001B08PR8/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1296485817&sr=1-1
Love the color. Looks great with the yellow.
You all constantly provide me a morning giggle…. THANKS!
Karl is a handsome devil, he is ;)
I have a question for you! Will you be doing any babyproofing posts in the near future? We have the same entertainment center that you do, and our little crawler LOVES to slide the doors back and fourth and empty our it’s contents on an hourly basis. We are still trying to figure out the best way to keep those sliding doors closed and I was wondering if you had experienced the same issue yet (if you haven’t, you will soon, they’re really close in age!).
Nope, haven’t experienced that yet, but we definitely plan to babyproof as we go and share all the details so stay tuned…
xo,
s
Sherry, what holds the sections together to keep them from sliding apart?
There are little metal hooks and some hardware that hold everything very securely together.
xo,
s
Absolutely love it! And I love the idea of a little hidden play area to the side of Karl for Clara. I loved making play nooks with furniture as a kid.
Yay! Looks great!!
Looks great and perfectly sized for your extra big space. The color scheme in this room is making me drool over here. :)
Looks great you guys! oops-I just realized I commented a few minutes ago to your older post about the sectional so you may not have gotten the question……anyway, I asked if the slipcovers that come off can be washed in the washer, or do they need to be dry cleaned only? thnaks!
Ours can be washed at home (certain Ikea fabrics are dry clean only, but the one we chose isn’t). You can check them all out on ikea.com.
xo,
s
LOVE IT!! Grey and yellow are a great combination!
I’ve been considering an Ikea sofa for a long time (LOVE your choice!) but was concerned about how comfortable they would be. What are your thoughts so far?
Very comfy so far. As in don’t-want-to-get-up-and-go-to-bed comfy.
xo,
s
Karl looks awesome!!! I LOVE your video, too! Does that type of sectional come in any other colors? I know that when my husband and I finally find a house, we’re (I’m) going to want buy one of those bad boys.
Hey Rachel,
Yup, there are a variety of fabrics to choose from on ikea.com or at the store in person. Just search “Karlstad sofa” on ikea.com.
xo,
s
sneaky at work? don’t you mean sitting in chemistry lecture, while classmates wonder why the girl in front of them is watching a muted video of people building a sectional? …uhhhhhh.
Hahahahahah, love it.
xo,
s
That is completely awesome on so many levels.
hahahaha!
Victoria, I do the same thing in my Chem lectures! I always wonder what my classmates think of me after I finish reading/watching YHL.. :)
Hi YHL,I hve been enjoying your site for several months now,my daughter introduced me to your site.I think your style is very modern and super clean.My husband and I live in a (lincoln log style built)country log home,I am always looking for decorating ideas for this rustic style,the logs pose a huge issue when trying to hang pictures and art on them,and the fireplace is huge as well is the F.P.mantle.I was wondering if you know of any sites for our home style??I think it would be so fun to have a site to peek into now and again.I would appreciate any ideas.LJ P.S.I love your new sectional,my 2 grow daughters love Ikea!!It is not uncommon for my youngest too fill her car, and then some, on a shopping trip there.Ha!
We’d just use good ol’ google to try to find something. Maybe search “rustic blog” or “cabin logs style” and see what comes up. Good luck!
xo,
s
OMG You guys crack me up with your video…I LOVE LOVE LOVE the music in the video! What is it?! The sectional looks wonderful-great job-love the yellow accessories and it all looks great with your newly painted walls. This is almost as much fun (watching you guys decorate your new place) as it is decorating my own! That’s the mom in me I guess (Got two 20-something kids of my own!) Enjoy lounging in your new sectional!
Hey Cheryl,
You can always find the origin of the music that we choose at the end of the video (we link to the author before we link to our site at the very end). It’s always free music that’s allowed to be used online since we’d hate to steal tunes from a musician who doesn’t want to share it.
xo,
s
I have also wondered in the past how/where you find your music, since it is free to be used online. Thanks!
I just realized that I may not have been clear in my earlier post that I was asking a question. I have seen how you show where you get the music from at the end of your videos, but how do you come across the music that you find? Just a google search or what? You guys always have the best music for your videos!!
Oh, gotcha Lindsay. We find all of our music through a site called Creative Commons (http://www.creativecommons.org) where you can search for music that’s been specifically tagged for being able to use royalty free – as long as you give credit to the artist. Sometimes it takes some digging, but it’s a great way to find some lesser known artists.
-John
Wow! Love it! The pillows look great with Karl! I love the yellow with the gray! And I love that last picture of Burger! Lots of love over here! :)
Hey John and Sherry,
have to say: I love your blog!!! I read it every day. I get so many ideas from your posts. You guys are great.
I just watched your video on assembling the new couch which looks great by the way. I’m confused, though… Didn’t you just paint that room?
Greetings from Germany!
Erika
Hey Erika,
Yup, we painted the walls a soft gray color and the trim is now white. Might not be as obvious in the video since the color isn’t like our camera.
xo,
s
Love it! And your pillows look perfect with it! As does the round ottoman. Good job, guys!
Love it!
It looks crazy good! You are gonna love Karl!
Cindy
That last pic of burger is adorable!
Never mind…saw the music credit at the end when I re-watched the vid. Still lmao…!
J’adore!!! Perfect in the space and the scale is awesome. Hopefully you are hosting a Super Bowl shindig!! Karl’s younger brother(minus the corner sectional) may be a contender for our basement family room in the long term.
That back corner of the room would be perfect for a play space – sunny and nice. My 20 month old loves the cozy play corner in our family room and we just have a couple of small baskets of toys and books! Here’s the link –
http://houseography.blogspot.com/2010/10/open-toy-storage-easy-access-and-fast.html
I love the video!! The sofa of course as well!
It really goes well in that large living room of yours.
We only have small L-shaped sectional. I guess room in Germany is limited, so we had to think small. ;)
Looks GREAT! I would love to squeeze one of these suckers into our family room but I have yet to find a way…perhaps an addition? I guess it would be more cost effective to buy a couch to fit instead of build the house to fit the couch. :(
Looks great! I love how cute little burger looks in the video just watching you guys… until he has to move.
I’d love to see a console table tutorial. I’ve been thinking of building one or two (behind the couch, front entry) and I could use some extra guidance.
We’ll definitely spill those details if and when we tackle it! You know we like to share…
xo,
s
Love it! My husband and I love everything gray paint and furniture. Almost to the point of an unhealthy obsession. Where did you find the round nailhead ottomon? We’re in the process of looking for two to go in front of the fire place, but haven’t had much luck. Any advice?
It was from TJ Maxx actually! We’d recommend checking out places like that and HomeGoods and Marshalls. And maybe target.com and jcpenney.com. Good luck!
xo,
s
Love it…it fills out the space so well! Is it as comfortable as your Rowe and PB sofas?
It’s not as soft, but that’s kind of a good thing. It’s not hard, just not as super squishy. But John and I were just saying that the added support is nice. We also prefer a firm-ish bed so that might explain it.
xo,
s
I love it. I’ve been looking at the Karl for a while and now I need to go back to Ikea to sit on it again to see if it really is “the one”. I’m kind of like goldilocks. It can’t be too soft or too hard. It has to be just right. =)
Karl looks great! I love the chaise. I really REALLy want a chaise, but I don’t think our poor 800 sq ft apartment can handle it currently.
I’ve been thinking about spray painting something I got from Ikea as well, but I’m nervous about it coming/scratching off too easily. Do you guys have any thoughts on that.
We definitely wouldn’t spray paint any large furniture item from Ikea (especially if it’s made of laminate, which doesn’t hold paint like wood does), but when it comes to solid wood legs, if we sand them and spray thin and even coats it should last for a nice long time. At least we hope so. We’ll share details as things unfold…
xo,
s
Wow! That looks fantastic!
Wow that’s snappy! You two are like the perfect team! Sherry even managed to be on the phone and grab Clara at the same time. Now that’s what I call multi-tasking!
I think secretively dogs are waiting for furniture to be in the right spot so that they can hunt. Hmm… lol gotta love Burger!
Ohmygosh. When I went home for Christmas my parents had purchased a gorgeous couch with a chaise on one end. I took complete ownership the entire time I was there. Love. And love your new couch, too!
It does look really great and I am liking all the ideas that you guys have brewing for the rest of the room. You have great space! Can’t wait to see more.
Love the child/dog-friendly ottoman. Where did you get it?
That was from TJ Maxx a while back.
xo,
s
Looks great. Love the yellow/grey, we also have that for our living room color palette (along with that rosette Target pillow). WOuld love to hear how comfortable the couch holds up, that’s one thing I always wonder about IKEA couches. Side note: I also share the hard-to-expain-to-others-the-affinity-and-love-for-white-ceramic-and-porcelain creatures, especially the “trophyesque” heads of the animals. Just in case you haven’t already seen them, Sherry check out the new Anthropologie animal hooks: they make me want to save up my allowance.
Oh yeah I love those!
xo,
s
Looks fantastic guys! And there’s lots of cushions of all sizes for Clara to build some spectatuclar forts one day :)
I think it’s hilarious that you’re calling your couch by it’s Ikea name. The video was great and the couch looks wonderful. It’s a good idea to keep the legs that came with it but it’s brilliant that you want to change the color since those legs look very…Ikea.
Lauren from http://www.charlesandhudson.com
Burger approves! This is one giant sectional sofa! It looks great and I think it’s for sure the perfect size for your living rooom! =)
Congrats on the new addition to YHL! <3
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
We bought the same exact sectional, with out the chaise, on Friday night. Saturday I bought the same yellow pillow from target! We have great taste :)
We are in the middle of redecorating our family room. New couch, upholstering some cane chairs in a super fun fabric, new curtians, rug, tufted cocktail ottoman, etc. I can’t wait to see how both of our huge rooms transform together!
Loving Karl!..and those pillows! QUESTION: you mentioned you thought about replacing the legs, I want to do the same thing as my sectional is too low on the ground, were you going to make the new legs, or can they be purchased somewhere, if so, where can I can find them? Thanks
Hey Rhee,
There are plenty of online hardware and sofa leg shops (just google around for “sofa legs” and we’ve also seen screw-in legs at places like Ace Hardware and Home Depot. Hope it helps!
xo,
s