It's a cover-up

Ikea as art

This summer's major design exhibition at the Stockholm Art Gallery Liljevalchs, one of the most appreciated exhibition spaces in all of Sweden, is focused on Ikea.

IKEA AT LILJEVALCHS will tell the story of Ikea as 'the largest furniture and design phenomenon of all times'. The exhibition promises to be entertaining with entry gained through an oversized PS cabinet to then be greeted by the Flat Pack - made famous, or is it infamous, by the Swedish furniture giant. Also, visitors to the exhibition will be given a small pin on which a piece of Ikea furniture will be pictured. More information about each piece furniture will be available on the Liljevalchs website.

Liljevalchs will take visitors on a journey through the life of furniture design from a series of traditional 18th century furniture right through to Ikea's early jeans furniture from the 70s. One room will show how Ikea’s business idea, to provide an affordable furniture solution for "the everyman", coincided with the Swedish political concept du jour of the 50s: a radical, ambitious and visionary housing program. More importantly perhaps, you can see how the Swedish furniture giant contributed to yours, and many others', past and present digs.

The exhibition is on from June 13 - August 30, 2009, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Credit: photos via Liljevalchs

IKEA AT LILJEVALCHS will tell the story of Ikea as 'the largest furniture and design phenomenon of all times'. The exhibition promises to be entertaining with entry gained through an oversized PS cabinet to then be greeted by the Flat Pack - made famous, or is it infamous, by the Swedish furniture giant. Also, visitors to the exhibition will be given a small pin on which a piece of Ikea furniture will be pictured. More information about each piece furniture will be available on the Liljevalchs website.

Liljevalchs will take visitors on a journey through the life of furniture design from a series of traditional 18th century furniture right through to Ikea's early jeans furniture from the 70s. One room will show how Ikea’s business idea, to provide an affordable furniture solution for "the everyman", coincided with the Swedish political concept du jour of the 50s: a radical, ambitious and visionary housing program. More importantly perhaps, you can see how the Swedish furniture giant contributed to yours, and many others', past and present digs.

The exhibition is on from June 13 - August 30, 2009, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Credit: photos via Liljevalchs

Win an exclusive bag from Bemz

Would you like to win a limited edition designer bag from Bemz? We have TEN shoppers like this* to give away.

To enter, update your status on Facebook with a reason why your friends should become a fan of Bemz. Alternatively, you can Tweet about it. Whichever channel you choose, make sure you include the link to the Bemz Facebook page** and be creative! Take a screen shot of your entry and send it in an email to me at blog@bemz.com. Don't forget to include your name! I'll pick the 10 winners of our 'Bemz designer bag' based on their creativity. *The bags will be in an assortment of designer patterns from Bemz, not all like the one pictured above. Get your creative caps on and get your entry in before July 31. GOOD LUCK!

**The Bemz Facebook page = http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bemz/47144261826

The 'small print':There are a total of 10 bags to win, all of different Bemz designer patterns. Obviously no one from Bemz or affiliates can enter the competition. For your entry to be valid you need to send a screen shot of your Facebook status or Tweet to blog@bemz.com. Your entry needs to include the link to the Bemz Facebook page (see above**) and sent in no later than July 31, 2009. The screen shot is your entry and therefore entries that do not include the screen shot will be considered invalid. We can take no responsibility for lost, delayed or unreadable entries. No purchase necessary. Results will be published no later than August 7, 2009 and winners will be informed via email. No cash alternative.

'Midsommar' with Bemz

Last weekend marked the longest day of the year and one of the biggest celebrations in Sweden: 'Midsommar'. I wrote about it last year, the importance of light to the Scandinavians and how it is reflected in their lifestyles and their design.

The folks at Bemz celebrated Midsommar at a Stockholm favorite, Rosendahl's Garden. Here is a montage of pictures from the day.

The team was learning how to make wonderful party food, buffet-style.

Colorful inspiration...

That's Libby, deep in concentration, getting the veg ready to roast.

Hmmm... Tina (left) and Lisbeth don't seem as busy! ;)

Katarina (left) and Annika vigorously mixing.

Yum! Roasted veg and goat's cheese pie and rice paper wraps.

Lesley provides everyone with moral support.

If you want recipes, write me. Happy Summer!

Pillow talk - a perfect match

Recently, I received an email from a reader "I am just looking at the new Bemz Marimekko fabrics and have no clue which colors would go as accent pillows with some of them. Help!" Good question, I thought. I sought professional advice, and here's what Katarina, our in-house designer, had to say:

Black and white always work well together but there are some beautiful pairings available for those of you looking for a more unique combination. To get the most from the Bemz Marimekko collection, I would stick with the Panama Cotton range from Bemz when adding cushions into the mix as they provide the best quality and finish for this collection.

The Kirsikka - Turquoise fits together delightfully with our Daiquiri Green as it picks up and amplifies the crisp, spring-inspired colors in the fabric and seizes on the dynamic and modern aspect of the pattern. To get the most from your Kirsikka - Grey/Black, add a few cushions in Fuchsiawhich contrast beautifully. The strong colors play off each other creating a very typical Marimekko-look, ideal for this fascinatingly natural design.

The same reasoning can be applied when matching Fuchsia cushions with the breathtaking and vibrant Fandango - Red. It is not so much that the Fuchsia matches the pinks in Fandango but rather that the strength in these fabrics allows them to support each other while still speaking for themselves. Most importantly though, this pairing communicates the graphic detail that is Marimekko. Putting Fandango - Light Grey with cushions in Soft White emulates calm and embraces the subtle monochromatic tones of this romantic pattern, adding sophistication and elegance.

Cushions in Toronto Ticking- Teal Blue work genially on a Joonas- Black/Blue cover as the black and blue combination of these textiles hint at the exotic of the Far East. Also, pairing a small print pattern with a big one is a trade secret that always gives an impactful result. As with the Kirsikka - Grey/Black pattern, Fuchsia and even Jet Black cushions would embrace the contemporary minimalism of the Joonas - Black/White design and strengthen its timeless elegance. 

The classic Pienet Kivet - Black/White and Gotland Stripe- Mandarin Orange are two eye-catchingly conspicuous prints that play together harmoniously thanks to their contrasting bold, graphic details.

To espouse the strong graphic quality, rich decorative details and subtle tones of Praliini - Light Grey, I would stick with sophisticated and simple Soft White. As with Fandango - Light Grey, cushions in Soft White allow the boldness of the lovely, geometric Marimekko fabric to subtly blend into a calm and elegant milieu.

Teal Blue would work exquisitely with the impactful and stunning Spinning - Multi. Although the blue is not an exact match, it comes from the same palette and shares the same color strength and saturation as those in the pattern. If you are really looking to make a statement, try Stockholm Stripe- Daiquiri/Teal Blue.

All the Bemz Stockholm Stripe* fabrics perform really well with the Bemz Marimekko collection (*plus you can get 10% off all Stockholm Stripe fabrics from now until the end of July!). When comparing the eye-catchingly beautiful poppies of Unikko - Red to our Bemz fabrics, we discovered that the centers are actually a kind of purply-blue and not black as originally thought. Based on this finding, we decided to pull out this element of the design by teaming it with Stockholm Stripe- Deep Navy Blue. Unikko - Black on the other hand, works perfectly with our Stockholm Stripe- Jet Black which highlights and maintains the timelessness of the pattern. 

If you are still humming and hawing over your choices, you can of course always check with customer service - they are experts at answering these kinds of questions. Otherwise, ask our in-house designers for a few tips!

PS Members get two cushion covers thrown in at no extra cost when they order a Marimekko cover from Bemz before June 30th. Read more about the offer here.

10% off Stockholm Stripe

Starting today, you can get 10% off all Stockholm Stripe fabrics at Bemz. Rediscover summer with these fresh stripes in beautiful natural colors. They are as warming as hot sand between your toes.

The Stockholm Stripe Collection is the perfect injection of summer for any room. These fabrics sit beautifully alongside such classics as Unbleached Linen, Soft White, Sand Beige and Deep Navy Blue, especially in Belgian Linen.

Or jazz things up by pairing Stockholm Stripe with other patterns like Bolster Stripe, Classic Ruta, Static Stripe or even newcomer True Rose. For a summer look, mix patterns that share a common color which will highlight the patterns without clashing.

But you don't need a summer house or even to be going for a summer look to take advantage of this offer. Stockholm Stripe is really for all seasons and tastes, from contemporary vibrance to playful clashing. Throw it into the mix and see how it can make a room pop. 

Stockholm Stripe comes in Jet Black, Caffe Latte, Real Red, Sand Beige, Daiquiri/Teal Blue, Sage Brown/Jet Black and Deep Navy Blue.

Get more inspiration and ideas from the Archipelago, Playground and Swedish Grace Lifestyles and then pack your picnic basket, invite your friends and set sail. Summer is here!

Trends for Tomorrow's Living

Lesley, founder and CEO of Bemz, recently shared a study on trends with me which I thought made for interesting reading. Peter Wippermann and his Hamburg trend research agency Trendbüro were commissioned by stilwerk to investigate current trends associated with lifestyle and living. Their study, entitled Trends for Tomorrow's Living, reveals new needs that will shape our lives in the future and how they are expressed in our day-to-day living.

Pictured from left: Henrik Chairs in Sybary- Dove Grey, New Baroque- Chocolate Brown, Hounds Tooth- Dusty Rose and Aubergine (on other side of table).

They identified four new primary movements which Prof. Wippermann has entitled Archaic Nature, Hysteric Wonderland, Eco Pop and Hybrid Living. Here are some excerpts:

Pictured left: Angby armchair in Unbleached Linen with a Classic Ruta- Blackcushion; and right: Klappsta armchair in Marimekko Pienet Kievet- Black/White.

ARCHAIC NATURE reflects a yearning for authenticity and veracity. In our increasingly complex and confusing social environment, many people have turned to seeking reliability – the security of what is tried and tested and the emotion of familiarity are our shields against the uncertainty of the future. The esthetic focus of this trend concentrates on natural, original materials, tangible entities, expressed in organic natural lines/shapes and geometric, elemental forms. These are products with unaffected, earthy character, communicating personality over perfection.

Pictured: Ekeskog armchair in Josephine- Strong Pink with a Fuchsia cushion.

HYSTERIC WONDERLAND highlights individuality and exclusivity, focusing on capricious treasures with immense visual impact and high prestige factor. A longing for whatever is exceptional, unusual, unique - furnishings become exhibition pieces. Effectively staged, they relinquish their status as consumer items for everyday use and become objects of display. Designer pieces becomes collectibles, art blends with market value. Artistic sophistication, opulence and luxury are the hallmarks. Interior design becomes the the benchmark and material/design adhere to the principles of art – creative, free, boundless.

Pictured left: Klippan sofa in Kaleido Blue/Blue with a Stockholm Stripe- Jet Black and a Gotland Stripe- Mandarin Orangecushion; and right: Jennylund armchair in Static Stripe- Fuchsia with cushions in Real Red and Mandarin Orange and a Fuchsia Tomelilla armchair.

ECO POPis emotionally bound up with the revival in 1960s and 1970s pop culture. It reflects the utopia of a blithe, carefree world. Bright colors, clean shapes and cute, playful concepts conceal a high-tech heart beating within complex communication tools. The fun factor wins consumers' hearts by delivering slick add-value benefits. We are in a position to design our environment along subjective lines. The boundaries between artificial and natural are gradually dissolving.

Pictured: Tomelilla in Basiq Unbleached Cotton.

Given the facts of climate change and the pollution of air and drinking water, many people are seeking a personal escape from the harsh, unpredictable reality in the outside world. The ECO POP trend uses high-tech to call for a better world, in which individuals can feel safe and comfortable and which fulfills the desire for a clean future – which, the majority are aware, cannot be achieved by applying a backwards-looking philosophy, but only by utilizing progressive and visionary methods.

Pictured: Falsterbo in Marimekko Spinning- Multi.

HYBRID LIVINGbrings deconstructivism into our living spaces, expressed in a redefinition of the perception of space. Boundaries that once separated personal and professional life, real and digital worlds are dissolving. Consumers seek the reflection of their modern lifestyle in their living spaces, aligned to their personal situations. Sensory illusions and the abandonment of familiarity and standardization become new status symbols. Changeable nature of the perception of space by the introduction of an array of different perspectives, the kaleidoscope effect is a key feature here, as well as hybrid structures.

Credit: Thanks to Alexander Garbe, CEO of stilwerk. stilwerk describes itself as an exclusive marketplace for interior decor, design and lifestyle, following a philosophy of “cooperation, not competition” which distinguishes it from conventional shopping centers.

New summer collection at Bemz

We've been very focused on Marimekko lately, but that's not all we've been up to. As I mentioned in an earlier post, covers for the Mysinge range is our latest product arrival but we've also added some new fabrics to our Bemz collection in time for summer. Our Panama cotton range sees newcomer True Rose by Katarina Wiklund. I asked Katarina what her thought process was behind this new design:

"True Rose is a classic floral print with an updated, contemporary twist: it is slightly pixilated. Each of the colorways is made up of a total of six shades of color which gives the pattern depth and a kind of living expression. Early on in the design process, we decided it was important to find a pattern that would speak to many, that could be significantly altered depending on color choice as well as fit into several "lifestyles". We definitely see this pattern evolving with new color schemes reflecting the changing seasons, moods and trends.

We decided to launch True Rose in in Light Denim Blue (pictured top and above in background) and Caffe Latte to start, in time for summer. They will slot beautifully into the Country Romance and Archipelago Lifestyles, which really are our most summery collections. True Rose gels perfectly with the summery feel of the Archipelago collection: it's about summer holidays, summer homes, living waterfront, faded jeans, a classic slightly Ralph Lauren-inspired style. Within Country Romance, the same pattern blends beautifully with the 50s inspired colors found in a typical Swedish red cottage. True Rose works wonderfully in each setting, completing two different looks."

Other new arrivals include similar on-trend colorways added to our Static Stripe series: Light Denim Blue (pictured left) and Caffe Latte, as well as a Light Denim Blue (sofa, right) added to the family of luxurious Belgian Linen/Panama Cotton blends.

Modular Mysinge now available

As modular sofas is a really hot trend right now, we've added more to the collection of Ikea sofas available for personalization through bemz.com. The Mysinge range includes a 2-seater sofa, a 2-seater sofa with one armrest (pictured left), a chaise longue and a seating module.

We haven't yet got pictures for these new lines up in our shop unfortunately, as we've been focused on getting the new products you've been asking for launched as quickly as possible. This means you can't test-drive the fabrics on the new ranges for the time being but it's coming. Order some swatches of the fabrics you like best and if you are still stumped, throw your question out there. Either our customer service reps or our in-house designers can guide you.

If Mysinge wasn't the one you've been holding out for, why not drop us a line and let us know what you'd like to see included in our next product launch.

Member offer - two free cushion covers with purchase

This is supposed to be on the "QT" but I want everyone to be able to have their cake and eat it.

Right now, Bemz is throwing in two cushion covers at no extra cost with every purchase of a Bemz Marimekko cover before June 30th... AS LONG AS YOU ARE A MEMBER. Interested? Follow these steps:

1. Become a Bemz Member.
2. Once registration is complete, a "Registered" box pops up (see below). Take a screen shot.
3. Paste the screen shot into an email, write offer code in the subject heading and send it along to blog@bemz.com.

And then I'll forward the offer code to you!

Once your order has been placed, our in-house designers Katarina and Lisbeth will select two covers from the Bemz collection that best complement your new cover.

Designer's touch at no extra cost! Membership does indeed have its privileges!

Patchwork trend report

Have you noticed how patchwork is making a real comeback? It hit the fashion industry in a big way with patchwork bags and clothing included in earlier collections from such high end fashion houses as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Ralph Lauren and has now trickled down to the high street with popular shops like Urban Outfitters (chair and bench below), Top Shop (bag above) and J Crew (shorts above) sporting patchwork items on their shelves.

Picture thanks to Spring Globe's Flickr photostream: Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair in patchwork.

And now this "this crazy-quilt couture", as it was referred to by Elle.com, has filtered through to the homewares industry - or should I say returned as I'm sure some may argue that the origins of patchwork sit firmly with the classic patchwork quilt.

But we're not necessarily talking about going back to the traditional patchwork quilt (though there is somewhat of a revival going on there too) but more of a contemporary take on the classic idea. Patchwork can be surprisingly versatile embracing different design elements, from cheerfully bohemian to discreetly contemporary.

What do think? Is this something for the Bemz range?

Thanks to the Fabric Shopper who did a nice three-part series on the patchwork trend.