It's a cover-up

Trend alert: Patterns

With the economy still high on the agenda, we inevitably seek security, comfort in the familiar. Bright colors suddenly seem too shouty and brash, while rigid geometrics come across as cold and unforgiving. We're subconsciously seeking the design equivalent of a warm hug, a role that nature with its curves, flowers and foliage fulfils beautifully. Here are some of the ones we feel fit the bill, in the colors that best suit the mood for spring 2011: blues, greens and greys.

Blues

Blues are associated with optimism, a sentiment in demand in hard economic times.

Breathtaking Chinoiserie handpainted wallpaper from De Gournay and Vivienne Westwoods Squiggle wallpaper are very different yet both tick the box for this season.

Subtle balinese inspired fabrics or more vibrant florals like this one, Willow's Garden hit the right note.

At Bemz, you have the pick of the bunch with Marimekko's instantly recognizable Unikko flower in blue, or the more subtle yet modern pixilated flowers of True Rose.

The organic shapes Bantie uses in Salamander and Korall provide geometry without the hard edges keeping the look interesting yet soft.

Classic Herbarium by Stig Lindberg is timeless, beautiful and inherently Scandi-chic.

Greens

From green veg to green tea, green has always been associated with longevity.

This stunning wallpaper by Miriam Ocariz (below left) embodies the look for spring with its florals, soft edges and various hues of green. If you're after something a little more vibrant then we love this gorgeous Richmond Park paper (right).

Animals also work: as in Lady of the Manor and Owls of the British Isles.

This velvet looks like a water color but if you need something more controlled Ace and Groovy may do the trick.

Cover your Ikea furniture in beautiful designer fabrics like Designers Guild and Marimekko or a more classic Urban Tapestry (below).

Greys

As sobering as grey may be it needn't be boring. Instead of flat color blocking have a look at theses textured shades which suggest a looser, more artistic feel.

Go romantic with this Mirage wallpaper - I even love the name - or equally charming Hampstead.

Or from Bemz, Designer Göta Trägårdh's Josephine in Graphite Grey has the perfect organically soft shapes most sought after this spring. Also try, Fandango, Praliini and Pirput Parput from the Marimekko collection or Frescati Plaid.

Credit: Elle Decoration, April 2011

 

Grazie - Kiitos - Tack - Danke - Thank you blogosphere

With the launch of our new Designers Guild MiMo collection we've been receiving some nice accolades in the virtual world and for these we want to say thank you. Dankeschön to German Deluxe Label and tusen tack to Swedish Room and Serve, a fave blog of ours, who were first to pick up on the news.

Not far behind were France's Marie Claire Maison which gave Bemz the seal of approval for the Designers Guild collection (as well as the other collections), for which we were thrilled, needless to say! This was then picked up by other French blogs including Caroline Ruffini Decoration, La Deco de Felicie and French IKEAddict. All the while they continued to pile on the acclaim in our own backyard with Swedish blogs mobler.se, Inred Hemma, C'est la vie and Ellas Inspiration all picking up on the new collection. Tack allihoppa!

But it's not only been about the new launch. Some of you are just sharing the Bemz love. 

One of our fave blogs, Apartment Therapy, included Bemz not once but twice recently! They put us first in their list of 10 Ways to Customize Ikea Furniture and featured Bemz as one of 10 Home Improvement Sources for non-DIYers. Big thank you to AT!

Another favorite blog, CasaSugar, posted a Tour of a Swedish Home where Bemz slipcovers featured widely, in order to show how the various patterns and covers can coexist in the same apartment. Brilliant! That's solving one of the biggest hurdles to buying slipcovers. Thanks CasaSugar!

Popular Swedish interior magazine Sköna Hem's blog posted about getting stains out of grimy sofas but also offered up an array of slipcovers from Bemz as a suitable alternative solution. Tack för det!

Italian blog Lavorincasa.it included Bemz in an article about how to bring your living space bang up-to-date. Grazie mille!

And finally, MTV3 of Finland posted about Bemz on their blog, particularly excited about the offering of Bemz slipcovers in Marimekko fabrics - this world-acclaimed design-house calling Finland home. It's nice to get to share in that national pride. Kiitos MTV3!

Ekeskog transformed by Bemz - gracias Gloria!

Gloria of Spain sent in these wonderful shots of her home where she transformed a rather dull and lifeless Ekeskog into a stunning and stylish new sofa and armchair with slipcovers from Bemz. First the before picture...

And now the after!

Gloria chose Ash Brown for her Ekeskog sofa and armchair set and highlighted the color with beautifully matching, and spot-on trend, houndstooth cushions and warm woods.

I love the splash of sunshine afforded by the bright yellow striped cushion on the armchair! Thank you Gloria for sharing your home with us and well done on creating such a cozy and welcoming room.

If you have a Bemz cover, send us a picture or two and spread the love! Send it to blog[at]bemz[dot]com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

Top tips: Decorating with bold stripes

Klippan in Bayshore Magenta by Designers Guild at Bemz and Karlstad armchair in Stockholm Stripe - Candy Pink

Stripes aren't just for jammies anymore - they can be introduced in a plethora of ways, from painted walls to carpets to upholstery. Decorating with bold stripes adds impact and color and can be used in any room. Read on and be inspired!

Walls

Walls can be made stripy using a variety of materials from the traditional wallpaper to the less conventional paint and why not even tiles? 

Photo c/o Livingetc

The horizontal painted stripes help delineate the space. The look is kept modern and fresh with fat bands of color interspersed with skinny ones.

Ekeskog armchair in Soft White.

Monochromatic vertical stripes bring definition and interest to this nook.

Photo c/o Livingetc

If you dare, be really unconventional and play with symmetry as they've done in the picture above: one coral stripe has been taken beyond the fireplace to ‘undo’ the classic symmetry.

Photo c/o Livingetc

Another more relaxed approach, and probably a lot easier to paint, is this hand-painted stripes that highlight rather than hide the brush strokes. To achieve equally spaced bands, draw vertical lines in pencil, then use the width of your brush as a guide.

Photo c/o Livingetc

Use stripes to delineate a specific area in your home. In this bathroom zone, brick tiles have been laid in vertical bands to create a natural space for a modular wash unit.

Ceilings

Decorated ceilings is spot on trend right now.

Photo c/o Livingetc

Take striped wallpaper onto the ceiling to draw the eye up and over. This gives the impression of greater space, especially by running the stripy wallpaper only as far down as the dado.

Floors

Stripes are not new to floors and work as rugs, paint or even wallpaper.

Photo c/o Livingetc

Use bold stripes on stairs to draw the eye up. Bordering it in white defines the runner, making it stand out.

Klippan sofa in Unikko - Red by Marimekko for Bemz

Bold stripes don't have to be limited to the stairs though. Here, this geometric and monochromatic rug works beautifully with the larger-than-life vibrant pattern of the sofa, pulling the room together.

Photo left c/o Livingetc; right Jennylund armchair in Bolster Stripe - Eggshell Blue from Bemz

Painted floorboards can take the striped concept very easily. Paint them in a graduating spectrum – you could use colour cards as inspiration. If that's a bit too daring for your taste, get a similar effect using a rug.

Furniture

Introduce stripes through fabric – from bedheads to curtains, tablecloths to cushions.

Ekeskog sofa in Stockholm Stripe - Sage Brown / Jet Black; Karlanda armchair in Mix and Match Palette Xanthous; Jennylund armchair in Aubergine, all from Bemz

Whether you upholster a whole piece in a brave bold stripe or start small with boldly striped accessories, you'll find this simple detail takes your decor a long way.

 

Left: Karlstad armchair in Stockholm Stripe - Jet Black; Right: Tomelilla in Gotland Stripe - Silver Grey and Tullsta armchair with piping in Stockholm Stripe - Deep Navy Blue, all by Bemz

Stripes can add pizazz if just one piece or make a real statement when used throughout.

Photo c/o Livingetc

Here the two clashing fabrics are united in their boldness and balanced by a soothing neutral backdrop.

Tablecloth in Stockholm Stripe - Real Red; cushions Stockholm Stripe - Deep Navy Blue, Eggshell Blue and Deep Navy Blue, all from Bemz

Left: Strömstad sofa in Stockholm Stripe - Daiquiri/Teal Blue; cushions in Gotland Stripe - Mandarin Orange, Static Stripe - Fuchsia and Fuchsia, all from Bemz

And they don't have to be the same stripes either! Mixing colors and types of stripes works too.

Credit: Livingetc

News: Kivik, Ektorp and Henriksdal + new cushion

For those of you who have been holding out for Ikea’s modular Kivik series to be added to the Bemz range, we finally have some brilliant news! You can now order slipcovers from Bemz for the Kivik 3-seater and 2-seater sofa modules, the sofa bed and the 1-seat section, the chaise longue and footstool.

We have also added the chaise longue without armrests and the 2-seater sofa with removable chaise longue to the ever popular Ektorp range.

If you love that shabby chic look, we've added a stunning Loose-Fit style 50x50 cm cushion in our exclusive Rosendal Pure Washed 100% linen to our cushions cover collection.

Last but not least, our range of chair covers continues to expand with the medium-length skirt, a Bemz exclusive, now available for the Henriksdal chair with armrests.

If the sofa or chair you are after is still not available on the Bemz website, please email us your request at customerservice@bemz.com.

Karlanda gets more beautiful everyday

That's what Corinne of The Netherlands said after transforming her Karlanda sofa and Karlstad footstool with Sage Brown slipcovers from Bemz.

Corinne's home exudes warmth and tranquility thanks to these beautiful dark, organic tones paired with natural materials such as the wood blocks for tables, the sisal pouffe and the gorgeous shiny tiled floor. The decor is simple, clean and inviting. The room feels light and vibrant despite the dark colors thanks to the light reflecting floors and the subtle tones used on the walls and window dressings. The greenery in the window sill along with that gorgeous quirky branch in the vase instill a sense of calm and harmony. Namasté!

You have a beautiful home Corinne. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Why don't you go live with your home too by sending me a picture of your Bemz covers at blog[at]bemz[dot]com? Or simply upload them directly to our Facebook page. We'd love to see them!

 

Design-It-Yourself: Chest of drawers... Again

I did a Design-It-Yourself: Chest of drawers almost a year ago but when I came across this little number I thought it was too pretty not to share. Plus, who doesn't have an old piece of furniture looking for a facelift? If you don't, pick one up at a flea market! This idea can be applied to any piece of furniture really.

This comes to us via Swedish newspaper UNT. As you can see they chose a very colorful and striking wallpaper - and you can too! This is your chance to use that wallpaper that you love but aren't ready to use in an entire room. Go with favorite colors and shapes, play with shades and even mix several colors. A feature I really liked about this example was the luxurious detail of giving the inside of the drawers their very own dramatic tone.

For this project you will need:
- sandpaper, tape measure, pencil, scissors, screwdriver
- putty/caulking
- primer, paint of choice and lacquer
- wallpaper paste and wallpaper of choice
- something to protect the floor
- a chest of drawers, of course

Here's how to do it:
Remove all fittings from the chest of drawers and roughen the surfaces to be painted with sandpaper to enable to paint to stick. Fill any imperfections or damage with putty. Once it has dried, sand it again for a smooth surface. Prime all surfaces to be painted not forgetting the insides of the drawers. Once dry, paint the sides of the chest as the rest will be papered. Then the insides of the drawers: choose a happy color, something matching yet contrasting the paper to create a bit of intrigue. Once the paint has dried apply a second coat.

Time to wallpaper: measure and mark with a pencil the pieces required to cover the drawers and sides of the bureau cutting them two or three millimeters smaller than the actual sizes to give it a stylish edge. Also keep in mind the pattern of the wallpaper, that any shapes are lined up on the drawers. Cut out the pieces of wallpaper, and brush the paste on the front of each drawer, one at a time.

Once all the drawers are papered lacquer them two to three times to protect the paper and finish off the look. And voila! A new set of drawers.

More Design-It-Yourself ideas.

Miami meets Scandinavia - New Designers Guild collection at Bemz

Introduce a taste of post modern Miami style into your living room, and your Ikea furniture, with four new designs from the Designers Guild Miami Collection.

With its characteristic mix of glamour and veracity, this ocean side city has influenced designers and artists alike since the early 1920s. This influence has stretched across the ocean, inspired predominantly by its modern 50s and 60s architecture, and taken root in Britain in the brand new MiMo (Miami Modern) collection by Designers Guild.

And Bemz has just launched a whole range of slipcovers to fit a number of Ikea sofas, armchairs and dining chairs in fabrics from that very collection. The pictures below showcase the new fabrics included in the Bemz Designers Guild Miami collection. Go to bemz.com to get full details and to try them out on your sofa.

Flamingo Park in Fuchsia (left), Lemongrass (right) and Natural.

Coconut Grove in Black & White (PS chair on the left) and Acacia (PS chair on the right).

Espanola Way - Cobalt

Bayshore - Magenta

You will instantly recognize the archetypal Designers Guild larger-than-life, coordinating, colorful patterns in this Miami collection. Furthermore, its vibrant color scheme paired with daring organic and geometric shapes, works beautifully in combination with the existing Designers Guild and Bemz collections alike. 

Miami Beach here we come!

A Mysinge in Sage Brown the French way

Valérie of France chose Sage Brown slipcovers for her Mysinge sofa and said They're perfect!

I love the way Valérie has added notes of green throughout the room which helps pull it together: the pouffe, the cushions, the lamp all in a lovely avocado. And those fab white cube storage blocks mirror the TV unit giving the room a cohesive and contemporary look. Well done Valérie et merci beaucoup for sharing your home with us.

If you have a slipcover from Bemz and want to show it off, send it to me at blog[at]bemz[dot]com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

Trend alert: Tailoring

From catwalks to interiors, the tailored look is cropping up more and more. Although slightly more edgy than conservative, we are seeing traditional patterns and fabrics being used in less conventional ways from tea sets to wallpapers. 

Left: Drummond houndstooth Blue wallpaper by Ralph Lauren Home; Right: Westminster cup and saucer by Paul Smith

Left: Tomelilla sofa with Mix & Match slipcover in Palette Lanzhou, cushions in Classic Ruta - Black and Soft White; Right: Klappsta armchair in Hounds Tooth - Dusty Rose, all from Bemz

Gents fabrics are key to this trend: pinstripes, herringbone and houndstooth are classics which are being reinvented as backdrops for colorful, exciting pieces.

Left: Scissor wool rug by Kiki Van Eijk; Right: the Karlanda armchair in Frescati Plaid Grey by Bemz

If you are looking to introduce this trend into your home, there is plenty of choice - from simple accessories to main pieces of furniture.

It all hints at tradition and nostalgia but maintains a modern note. Tres chic!

Credit: Livingetc, March 2011 issue.