It's a cover-up

Books to inspire: Paul Smith A to Z

Interested in finding out what inspires British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, one of the most influential designers of our times? Then his latest book Paul Smith A to Z is a must-have. Available on Amazon, this is also a great book to browse through when you need some inspiration or something to smile about.

Paul Smith A to Z draws on a personal collection of photographs, sketches and documents, all arranged alphabetically, offering rare insight into his unique way of working. A for Abbey Road, E for Eccentricity, P for Post-Its and R for Rabbits and so on.

"I was being filmed for a documentary by the French company Arte and they originally wanted to make a small booklet to go in with the DVD," said Smith to Vogue. "When they started talking and visited my London studio they realised they could make it into a simple book instead - a little story about each letter along with my photographs taken over various years and in different locations."

Paul Smith has a very unique yet relatable outlook on life and every ounce of it is translated in his brand. He reckons that being dyslexic hones his way of working and his creative chaos. The book, as you would expect, is beautifully put together.

What is amazing is the simplicity and diversity of the images – a cross section of Paul Smith’s creativity. It also clearly shows the importance of keeping sketchbooks or visual diaries, such as an Instagram account.

Paul Smith A to Z gives us a peek into the personal collections of the designer, what he loves and how he relates to things as a designer, businessman and inquisitive gentleman.

Credits: Vogue
Photos: Amazon, Zimbio

Ektorp & Tomelilla: Très chic en Suisse

Bemz Facebook fan Sara of Switzerland uploaded this photo of her Ektorp sofa and Tomelilla Föto footstools revamped in crisp new covers in Panama Cotton from Bemz.

Sara chose covers in Absolute White for her sofa and Zinc Grey for her footstools, tranquil base colours that exude a restful and calm ambience.

Merci beaucoup Sara for sharing your fabulous home with us!

If you have a Bemz cover and would like to have it featured here on It's a Cover Up then send a picture along to me at blog[at]bemz[dot]com or upload it to our Facebook page.

Lose yourself in linen

Bemz cover for Tomelilla sofa, Loose Fit Country style, in Soft White Rosendal Pure Washed linen

There's nothing more relaxing than cool, crumpled linen.

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair, Loose Fit Urban Style, in Saffron Brera Fino and curtain in Lime Brera Fino

Elegant and durable, linen only gets better with age.

Bemz daybed cover in Deep Navy Blue Belgian Linen Blend, Bemz cushion covers in Zinc Grey, Charcoal Grey, Black Classic Ruta and Graphite Grey Belgian Linen Blend

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair medium long, Loose Fit, in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

Take cues from the rugged landscape and white washed wooden houses of Scandinavia to transform your home into a relaxing, casual summer retreat with covers in 100% pure washed linen or a lovely linen blend.

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair, long, in Cobalt Brera Rigato, design Designers Guild

Linens transform any room into a treasure trove of texture. Use tranquil base colours to create a calm, contemplative space.


Bemz cover for Nikkala sofa in Sand Beige Belgian Linen Blend

Bemz cover for Pällbo stool in Unbleached Belgian Linen

Layer your linens in enduring colour combinations such as Silver Grey, Unbleached and Soft White.

Bed skirt with frills in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Lavender from Bemz

Florö bed frame in Soft White Belgian Linen from Bemz

A palette of old-fashioned lavender, white and pretty summer florals creates a haven of tranquility.

Bemz cover for Söderhamn Sofa in Crocus Brero Lino

Bemz cover for Nils chairs in Ivy Brera Lino

Bemz cover for PS armchair in Duck Egg Brera Lino by Designers Guild

Add a splash of colour to lift the spirits and revitalise your space. And don't forget personal touches - used sparingly to maintain a pared down scandi-chic - like old treasures from flea markets, a collection of shells or your favourite ceramic bowl.

Bemz bed skirt, Loose Fit Urban style, in Soft White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

Bemz bed skirt in Cobalt Brera Rigato by Designers Guild, and Bemz cushion covers in Light Denim Blue Belgian Linen Blend and Dark Denim Blue Piper Twill

Forget the stress of the day and let yourself be lulled to sleep in swathes of luxurious white linen and plenty of soft pillows for a soothing ambience.

Bemz bedspread in Loose fit style, Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard and Bemz Loose fit Urban bed skirt, all in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

For more inspiration on how to make your world more lovely with linens visit Bemz.com. And check out our recently expanded range of linen products for the home.

Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard in Rosewood Brera Lino, Bemz bedskirt in Rosewood Brera Lino, Bemz bedspread in Cloud Brera Fino

Thanks to Bemz’s expanded collaboration with Designers Guild, you are now able to purchase any of Bemz’s interior textile products in pure linen, from sofa covers to cushion covers to bedspreads, and everything in between. Designers Guild’s fashionable prewashed 100% Brera linens is now also available across the complete range of Bemz ready-made home textile products – an exclusive at Bemz!

Credits: Elle Decoration, June 2013
All photos from Bemz

Lillberg rocks in Marimekko

There's something delightfully comforting about a rocking chair. Jaana of Finland thinks so too, putting a personal stamp on her Lillberg rocking chair from Ikea by choosing a slipcover from Bemz. Staying true to her Finnish roots, Jaana went with a cover in Pienet Kivet by Marimekko for the Bemz Designer Collection.

Here's what Jaana had to say: Thank you Bemz! I'm so happy with my new "Pienet Kivet" slipcovers I got it today and could not wait to see it on the chair :) Doesn't it look great.

We can't help but agree. The black and white Pienet Kivet fabric from Marimekko is a timeless classic. It's cool, contemporary and spot on trend, despite that it's been around so long. That's the true sign of a good design! It works perfectly on your rocking chair and from what we can see of your room it slots in well with the rest of your décor. Kiitos for sharing your home with us Janna.

If you have a Bemz cover, why not share it too? Send it along to us at bemz [at] blog [dot] com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

Bemz & Designers Guild: Together again + 10% off!

Yes it’s true. Bemz is once again teaming up with award winning Designers Guild.

Bemz cover for PS armchair in Duck Egg Brera Lino by Designers Guild

This time we’re bringing you the full range of Bemz products in 100% linen from Designers Guild – in exciting new colours too!

This means you can buy the full range of Bemz products, from sofa covers to cushion covers to bedspreads and everything in between, in 100% linen - until now, 100% linen was only available for our Loose Fit styles.

Bemz cover for Söderhamn sofa in Crocus Brero Lino

Bemz cover for Nils chairs in Ivy Brera Lino

This is also the first time that Brera Lino linens will be available as ready-made textile products for the home - excusively at Bemz!

Bemz cover for Söderhamn sofa in Noir Brera Lino and Bemz cover for PS armchair in Duck Egg Brera Lino

Bemz cover for Klippan sofa, Loose fit Urban style, in Leaf Brera Lino

Designers Guild’s gorgeous Brera Lino prewashed 100% linen textiles – now in lovely new hues – are spot on trend and an absolute must-have for summer 2013. Use Bemz’s ready-made interior textile products in Designers Guild’s popular Brera linens to instantly lift the character and style of any room and, with a greater choice of colours and styles, it is easier than ever for customers to create a chic, coordinated interior.

Bemz cover for PS armchair in Cinnamon Brera Lino by Designers Guild

Designers Guild Brera Lino textiles are a heavyweight 100% plain linen weave with a soft washed texture for outstanding handle and drape. And as with everything Bemz, the new home ware products made in Designers Guild Brera Lino linens are robust and machine washable, and carry the same Bemz high quality guarantee.

Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard in Rosewood Brera Lino, Bemz bedskirt in Rosewood Brera Lino, Bemz bedspread in Cloud Brera Fino

They can be mixed and matched with all Bemz slipcovers, bedroom furnishings and more, as well as all Designers Guild’s products, for a highly personalised look in the home.

We have also added exciting new fabrics to the linen range for Loose Fit. The stripes and checks Bemz has chosen from Brera are available exclusively as Loose Fit covers and are just as well suited to the romantic shabby chic style of Loose Fit Country as to the more austere, natural style of Loose Fit Urban.

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair, Loose Fit Urban Style, in Saffron Brera Fino and curtain in Lime Brera Fino

Buy now and get 10% off any Bemz product in solid coloured linen fabrics: (NEW!) 100% Brera Lino linen from Designers Guild, 100% prewashed Rosendal linen, and our cotton/linen Belgian Linen Blend! Offer valid until June 12, 2013.

Or visit our website to test your favourite on your own furniture. Order up to five free fabric samples!

(And Pssst, from August 2013, the 100 per cent Brera linens will also be available as new made-to-measure curtains from Bemz, the perfect addition for creating individually designed living spaces.)

Delectable Caffe Latte Barkaby in the UK

This week we’re bringing you a testimonial with a difference. Edith of the UK sent in a video of her Barkaby armchair transformed in a Caffe Latte True Rose cover from Bemz, this lovely fabric designed by Katarina Wiklund for the Bemz Designer Collection.

 

Edith wrote: I thought I'd write to tell you how very, very pleased I am with the chair covers I ordered from you. I am delighted. First of all, Ikea do not make covers for this particular chair anymore and so when I saw it was available on your web site - I thought this is great!!! Then I ordered swatches of the colours I thought were closest to the ottoman I have and the swatch came quickly in the mail. Same with the order. Very prompt And you kept me notified as to its journey. When it arrived yesterday, no problem - delivered to the door and duly signed for, I kept it till this morning to open it. Then I had a wonderful time fitting it to the chair. Fitted so nice and snugly. Perfect. I am so pleased. Thank you and your seamstresses, so very much.

Thank you right back Edith for sharing your home with us. It's nice to see the chair from all angles and see how well the covers actually fit. The monochromatic roses of the Caffe Latte pattern are the reverse of traditional florals giving your décor a sassy spin. Enjoy!

If you have a Bemz cover, why not share it too? Send it along to us at bemz [at] blog [dot] com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

Compact kitchen design: Six ways to stretch your space

Follow these smart décor tips from the Bemz Design Team to create space (or, at least, the illusion of it) and personalise your spatially-challenged kitchen.

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair, Loose Fit Urban style in Cobalt Brera Rigato, Noir Brera Fino and Cloud Brera Fino, design Designers Guild

Small kitchens dictate small-scale, visually light-weight furnishings, with savvy storage and worktop solutions helping to squeeze out the last smidgen of space.

Bemz covers for Nils chairs in Peach and Aqua

1. Opt for a cohesive palette of light, bright shades and materials to create a seamless, expansive look and an illusion of greater space, dotted with bold accents of colour.

Bemz Multi Fit chair cover in Sage Brown Rosendal Pure Washed Linen and Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair, Long, in Soft White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

2. Use a long, narrow table, which doubles as a food preparation surface and dining table.

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair in Jet Black and Bemz cushion cover in Bamboo Green

3. Add a bench, a great space saver, softened with cushions in chic, colourful cushion covers in a variety of styles and textiles from Bemz. The recently released 3-pack cushion covers from Bemz, such as the Scandinavian Country No. 1, is the perfect design tweak, with cushion covers in Silver Grey/Absolute White Gotland Stripe and Candy Pink/Absolute White Stockholm Stripe Panama Cotton, and Vanilla Yellow Belgian Linen Blend.

Bemz 3-pack Bohemian Chic

Bemz 3-pack Scandinavian Country

Both the bench and the table can be pushed up against the wall when not in use and give you some precious extra inches.

Bemz covers for Nils stools in Light Denim Blue Belgian Linen Blend

4. Group stools or chairs without arms around the table, as they are easier to get in and out of when space is tight. A set of Nils stools or Henriksdal chairs from Ikea are the ideal solution, given a fresh look in new stool covers or chair covers from Bemz.

“Here, you can have fun with accent colours, enabling you to create a highly personalised style in your kitchen.” says Bemz Creative Director Lisbeth Toivonen. “Set a casual, family-friendly mood for mealtimes by mixing and matching covers, swapping for new tones when the mood strikes. For example, inject summer into your kitchen with new crisp Panama Cotton chair covers in Aqua, Peach, Light Denim Blue and Sand Beige from Bemz.”

5. Lighting is key in making your small kitchen look spacious. Let in as much natural light as you can – swapping bulky window dressing for neat café curtains in lovely linen. Although whites and creams are obvious choices, muted pastels, such as Lavender Rosendal Pure Washed Linen, are also great for conjuring up a roomy, airy feeling. A new line of made-to-measure curtains will be available from Bemz in August this year.

Bemz fabric per metre in Mandarin Orange Gotland Stripe and Fuchsia Panama Cotton (placemats)

6. Create a focal point in the kitchen with a stunning tablecloth or place mats, made from Bemz fabric per metre, available in over 200 machine-washable colours and patterns. A summer-inspired striped tablecloth in Mandarin Orange/Soft White Gotland Stripe will make your narrow kitchen feel broader and breezier.

Bemz Loose Fit Urban style covers for Henriksdal chairs in Medium Grey Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

For more inspiration on how Bemz can help you style your compact kitchen, visit www.bemz.com.

Credits: All photos from Bemz except for the Café Curtains photo from Martha Stewart

Ekeskog in the UK with new textured elegance

This week's customer feature comes to us from Sharon of the UK who transformed her Ekeskog sofa in a Sand Beige Tegnér Melange Textured Cotton cover from Bemz.

Here's what Sharon had to say: I would like to thank you for sending my order so promptly.  We are very pleased with the covers and attach a photo to show how nice they look.

We agree wholeheartedly Sharon. Your Ekeskog looks fab! In the close up shot you can almost feel the beautiful structure of the Tegnér Melange fabric, with its comfy softeness and fascinating colour effects. The rich texture and look and feel add an easy elegance to your home. We love the cushions too, which add a warm pop of colour to the neutral palette of the room.

If you have a cover from Bemz, why not inspire us too? Send a photo to us at bemz [at] blog [dot] com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

Top tips for a super family summer with lovely linens

Nothing says summer quite like linen. It is light, airy and perfect for hot, humid days.

Bemz cover for Nils stool in Light Denim Blue Belgian Linen Blend

Just as a linen shirt can put you at ease in the heat of summer, linen touches in the home have the same cool, calming effect on your family.

Bemz cover for Ektorp sofa, Loose Fit Country style, in Cobalt Brera Quadretto, design Designers Guild

According to Bemz in-house designer Katarina Wiklund, Summer 2013 is all about relaxed linen in timeless stripes and checks, which sit beautifully alongside muted solids like Soft White, Sand Beige and Deep Navy Blue.

Bemz cover for Nikkala sofa in Sand Beige Belgian Linen Blend

"Don’t be put off bright and breezy colours because you have little fingers around," Katarina stresses. "One of the best things about linen covers from Bemz is that they are stain resistant and machine-washable. Twice as strong and durable as cotton, linen covers from Bemz get more beautiful and softer over time. And perhaps even more important to families, this fresh summer-friendly fabric is eco-friendly, non-allergenic and a natural insect-repellent!”

Bemz cover for Klippan sofa, Loose Fit Urban style, in Lapis Brera Largo and Bemz cushion covers in assorted Designers Guild linen fabrics

Katarina’s top five tips for keeping the family cool and comfy this summer - inside and out - without sacrificing on style are to:

1. Treat your sofa to a Bemz cover in chic, laidback Brera linen by Designers Guild, so you can enjoy yourself without having to fret over melted ice-cream or paw stains as your children and furry friends romp around.

Bemz Multi Fit armchair cover Tie Arm Classic and Bemz cover for Karlstad sofa in Light Denim Blue Belgian Linen Blend

Bemz cover for Ektorp sofa, Loose Fit Country style, in Lavender Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

2. Move your favourite old armchair in a Bemz Multi Fit cover in Lavender Rosendal Pure Washed Linen outside to watch your children play.

Bemz cover for Henriksdal chair medium long, Loose Fit, in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

Via Country Living

3. Host a dreamy summer al fresco dinner party for family and friends around a long wooden table surrounded by Henriksdal chairs in crisp linen covers from Bemz.

Bemz cover for Tomelilla armchair, Loose Fit Country style, in Soft White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

Bemz curtains in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

4. Add flowing linen curtains that billow in the breeze. Although whites and creams are obvious choices, muted pastels are also great for that chilled summer look. For extra drama, keep the curtains longer than the length of the window so excess fabric can bunch on the floor. In August, Bemz will be launching a brand new line of curtains, offering made-to-measure up to six metres long!

Florö bed frame in Soft White Belgian Linen from Bemz

Bemz bedspread in Loose fit style, Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard and Bemz Loose fit Urban bed skirt, all in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

5. Swap winter for summer bedding in Absolute White linen from Bemz to help you and your loved ones sleep comfortably on hot summer nights. And while you are at it, add a matching linen bed skirt and headboard cover from Bemz, to create a versatile, coordinated look for tiny tots, teens and up.

Bemz daybed cover in Deep Navy Blue Belgian Linen Blend, Bemz cushion covers in Zinc Grey, Charcoal Grey, Black Classic Ruta and Graphite Grey Belgian Linen Blend

For more inspiration on how to get your home ready for summer using lovely linens visit Bemz.com

All photos from Bemz with exception of one from Country Living. See captions for more information.

Kramfors in Germany: Before and after

Kathrin of Germany sent in these before-and-after photos of her Kramfors sofa revamped in a new cover from Bemz.

That's the before with the IKEA cover.

And here's the after shot with a new cover in A Paler Shade of Grey in Panama Cotton from Bemz. The new cover brings the room to new a level of sophistication and class, giving it a more urban look.

Here's what Kathrin had to say: My Kramfors in new covers - here it is. I'm very happy with the new sleeker look as I didn't like the pattern and the rather rustic look of the old covers anymore.

Well done Kathrin and Dankeschön Kathrin for sharing your lovely home with us!

Your home could be featured here too. Send a picture of your Bemz cover to blog [at] bemz [dot] com or upload it to our Facebook page.