Norm Abrams

So we got this old (but reupholstered), classy couch that was handmade in Philadelphia and is about nine feet long. Imagine what Cleopatra lies on as she's being fed grapes from a man servant. The problem is it sags somewhat when you sit on it so I needed to add some wooden bracing underneath it so the couch can last for years to come. A year ago, I would have been dumbfounded with such a problem. Now, I confidently purchased a milled piece of poplar and a wood stain that approximates the couch's existing wood color. I made some measurements under the couch with the steel tape, confidently cut the lengths for two center leg supports with a miter saw, and tested them for fit. Then I cut a cross brace to connect the two new legs.

Here's where the challenging work started. I (Captain Obvious) recognized that having squared lumber as part of an elegant piece of furniture is not, shall we say, aesthetically pleasing. The existing woodwork is rounded so the new woodwork should follow the style as much as possible. A few passes on the router table solved that issue. Then I needed to precisely measure and counterbore pilot holes for the screws that hold the brace together. It is a crucial phase that can negate all of the positive work done so far. My skill must be getting better, because it was a perfect fit. Some sanding, staining, and two coats of poly later, I've performed a nice furniture fix.

In college, we used to say that crew practice was the pursuit of "effortless effort". During this project, for a brief moment, I was in that zone.