It's a cover-up

Behind the scenes: Bemz photoshoots

We often get asked about accessories and design details readers see in our photos - which is great. That's proof positive that our designers clearly know what they are doing. Not that I ever doubted them...

Sometimes the items can be purchased at source, other times not. Most recently, Bemz design duo Lisbeth and Katarina worked with Swedish Norrgården on the Industrial Vintage photoshoot - and here are some fab items they have on offer. 

The girls at Norrgården are a dab hand at spotting great old finds and sprucing them up as well as selling lovely new things too. 

You can see why it was an ideal location for the Industrial Vintage theme! If you like what you see, read more about this trend here, here and here. Also, check out our Loose Fit - Urban covers that suit this style to a 'T'.

Trend alert: What's hot for 2012

What January would be complete without the requisite what's hot list? Here's ours for 2012. We see this year in interiors celebrating your personality. This is of course not entirely new but perhaps taking it up a notch: attention to details, unique pieces, pleasant, comfortable interiors.

Get those paintbrushes out! Strong, bold colours are back. We've already seen this with Pantone's Colour of the Year Tangerine Tango, but it's also apparent with the use of more and more what I like to call confident colours. Those bright, vibrant, determined colours that say 'I like this colour and I'm not afraid to use it.' Bam!

Not too shabby: that rustic, worn and romantic shabby chic style remains hot but is being paired with industrial to give the look a bit of an edge. Looks like we are launching our Loose Fit Urban covers just in time!

Handmade and bespoke furnishings are still in high demand. It is after all these items that make one's home so very personal. 

Wallpaper is still holding it's ground - perhaps due to the great versatility of style and designs available to us. From retro, to glamorous to trompe d'oeuil and everything in between, you are sure to find the right paper to finish the look you want in your home.

Exotic eastern influences are spicing up interiors around the globe. Choose from Moroccan style patterns, or an Asian accessory to turn your home a little more bohemian.

Life in high definition, like über real art is making head ways, like the oil painting above. It's hard to believe it's a painting and not a photo. And that's the point...

You could of course kill two birds with one stone by combining this trend with the wallpaper trend.

Plants are hot, as accessories as well as decor-wise. If you're not much of a green thumb then stick with tropical plants that are used to harsher conditions!

Oversized lighting is one to watch this year. No need to break the bank to achieve this - even our blue and yellow Swedish friend has some nice options.

Sculpted mirrors: with personalisation being so popular, we look to have any and every piece somewhat unique, which is why these sculpted mirrors are so big now. They can be used interchangeably with art.

I love the fact that glass is a popular trend for 2012. They bounce the light around the room, add air and a feeling of space. Plus, today there are so many wonderful glass accessories to choose from, in a plethora of shapes, sizes and colours that it can be easily introduced into any interior. Look for lamp bases, vases and decorations. 

Cover yourself! Window dressings, like wallpaper, once felt like a thing of the past but it is back in a big way. Anything from curtains to simple blinds will tick the box.

Credit: For source of photos hold mouse over image

Design-It-Yourself: Childhood mementos

I recently came across this little number and had to share. This takes personalisation to a whole new level! And ticks all the on-trend boxes: upcycling, vintage, retro, modern, humourous...to name a few.

The creative minds behind Evil Robot Designs have come up with a way to preserve those childhood memories by turning toys into functional and beautiful lamps. With their high gloss finish and clear, clean colours, this mish mash of unrelated and unmatching colourful plastic items are transformed into an effortless, stunning and contemporary piece; a piece that tells a story.

Give your childhood the time and respect it deserves - and your home a unique conversation piece! You can either give your old toys (or your child's) to Evil Robot Designs and get a bespoke, humourous yet contemporary lamp or turn your hand at making one yourself. Why not?

Trend alert: Nomadic Central Asia

If you decorate your home with mementos from your travels and love the moody Bohemian look, then this trend is right up your alley. It is one that captures the romance of the nomadic life with a spotlight on Central Asian influence. 

Kaftan rug by Top Floor Rugs

This is a style that embraces colour, deep warm hues, with patterns and embroidery providing depth, texture, and vibrancy.

Suzani Print Bath Button from Graham & Green

Suzani prints, as seen above, were traditionally an embroidered textile, used as part of dowries and are integral to this nomadic Central Asian look. 

Spice pots from Niki Jones

Kramfors sofa from IKEA with a Espanola Way Cobalt cover from Designers Guild at Bemz

Vibrant yarns in all their flamboyant glory capture the romance and the mood of look and introduce a wonderful vivid array of colours to a room.

Marakanda from Quirico

To get this look without going over-the-top use them as accents in a modern interior or layer them to create that lovely Bohemian look.

Credit: Livingetc, June 2011 issue

Top tips: How to get tickled pink

It's been chosen as the colour of the year for 2011 by shade experts Pantone. It is energising, uplifting and confidence boosting. It sets pulses racing and is reminiscent of everything good - from flowers to sunsets. It is pink.

Karlstad chaise longue in Sagrada Blossom from Designers Guild at Bemz

Pink is optimistic. Pink is self-assured. Pink is fresh. Pink is vital. Pink says candy and ice cream and I love you. Pink is all about feeling good. Here are some top tips on how you can pack a punch this summer with this shade of choice. What's not to love about pink?

Photo c/o Bentheim

Think outside the box: by painting the doorway a bright pink not only adds energy to an otherwise dark space but also is unexpected and fun. How can you help but smile when you walk through that door?

Tylosand sofa in Tegner Melange Fuchsia from Bemz

Modernise you sofa in one fell swoop by choosing a vibrant fuchsia for it. 

Photos c/o Bisazza

Who says the bathroom has to be blue or white. So predictable! Make a statement with lustrous pink mosaics in a variety of shades, interspersed with whites along with specks of gold to create a stunning and bright backdrop to the white sink and toilet while still maintaining warmth in the space.

Photos c/o Dulux

Partner pinks in several shades to make an impact. Soft pinks work well with pale greens or throw deep colours together for a statement.

Klippan 4 seater in Bayshore Magenta from Designers Guild at Bemz

If you want to add a pink vibe without changing the whole room, use pink accents on accessories like a pink floor lamp, pink cushions in all its wonderful shades or why not even a vibrant pink carpet?

Barkaby chair in Gustavian Flowers - Dusty Rose

The palest of pinks keeps the scheme subtle yet feminine keeping the look personal and cosy.

Tomelilla armchair in Fandango - Red by Marimekko at Bemz

Soften a space and any hard edges using elegant, pretty motifs on fabrics.

Klippan sofa in Flamingo Park Fuchsia from Designers Guild at Bemz

Pink gives florals a contemporary edge. Go graphic and choose inverted tradition - where the design is monochromatic set on a pink backdrop. This makes the design more graphic looking and gives an overall more modern effect.

Credit: Livingetc, June 2011 issue

Child friendly and styling in Stockholm

Here is a home that was featured on Swedish Hemnet. Not only is it a beautiful home, full of ideas to steal and beautiful things to look at, but it is also child-friendly (in part thanks to a Bemz slipcover). Read on and be inspired!

That's a Karlanda in Dusty Rose from Bemz. It's subtle yet still setting the tone for the room. The cushions in a variety of vintage and retro Scandinavian designs give it character and personality.

The attention to detail is evident throughout the house. White is the base for a clean, happy palette.

It is a home that is at once stylish yet lived in, modern yet colourful, design conscious yet humorous.

The children's rooms are like a dream come true! Look at that Pez collection. So sweet.

The owner's grandmother's old dressing table has been painted white. 

The boy's room is colourful and vibrant but designed to stand the test of time and is easy to adapt to the changing demands of a growing boy. 

The adult bedroom is an oasis of calm with flashes of colour and flair.

That is a great way to make the most of a landing. 

Inspiring!

Credit: Erika Norberg; Photographer: Patrik Söderman

And while we are on the topic of bedrooms...

I came across these 11 before-and-after bedroom make-overs on Real Simple. Great for a little inspiration in the run-up to the launch of the bedroom series at Bemz. Exciting times. Enjoy!

This bedroom is taken from dark and drab to light and bright thanks to a lick of paint, a mirror to reflect light and stunning bed make-over with all white cushions, bedding and box-pleated bed skirt.

Again, thanks to a mirror that reflects light, the introduction of bright, upbeat items, like the bolster stripe cushion, as well as a solid coloured rug, this room goes from drab to fab.

The addition of a headboard in a beautifully subtle yet sophisticated bolster stripe gives the bed centre stage in the room where it was previously a bit lost. By painting the night stands in a matching white, they no longer work against but rather with the rest of the room.

By choosing space saving alternatives such as medicine cabinets for night-stands and wall mounted bedside lights the bed can be moved out of the corner giving the room a more spacious feel.

A taller bed with a substantial headboard is in scale with the room, and the infusion of colour on the wall and on the dramatic bed skirt, gives character without sacrificing on sophistication. In this instance the mirror works to draw the eye up, making the ceiling less intimidating.

New bedding, bed skirt and curtains transform the room. Repeating the stripes in the curtains on the rug holds the look together.

From mishmash to class: introducing a headboard in beige coloured linen along with matching cushions and chocolate brown walls makes this room unrecognisable.

By using storage bins and a pretty candy pink striped curtain to hide and organise all the toys and books, this room goes from chaos to calm.

Clearing out the clutter and injecting colour from a set palette has transformed the messed up to the dressed up.

Although the room previously worked from one colour palette the room was drab and needed storage solutions and organising. Introducing a more dramatic black and white colour scheme brings character to the room and new shelving solves the storage issues.

This motley room is taking eclectic to heights it was never meant to reach. It needs unification and a bit of calming. Using white slipcovers for the daybeds and walls brings a sense of serenity to the room.

Why not be the first to share your Bemz bed make-over with us? Send me a photo to blog [at] bemz [dot] com or upload a photo to our Facebook page.

Credit and photos: Real Simple

Top tips: how to mix modern with vintage

Today's interior often embraces a number of styles: an eclectic collection of furniture amassed over the years, souvenirs of travels and pieces one can't be without, whether for practical or emotional reasons. Eclectic is cool - no worries there, but how can you be sure the overall effect works?

Here are 10 ways to get the balance right when mixing modern and vintage, so that the end result is neither fuddy-duddy nor soulless and cold:

Make clutter look chic: use unexpected pairings of modern and vintage accessories to get that 'modern vintage' look. If you have any design classics, they'll straddle the two eras and make the old and new cohesive. Or pick a theme and collect similar pieces to create your own display.

Harness the power of textiles: Fabrics add warmth, color and interest, and can be used anywhere in the home. Textiles can soften hard-edged modern and conversely add a splash of contemporary to the more traditional homes. Let's face it: textiles transform a house into a home: quilts, thick blankets, piles of cushions and flowing curtains add character for sure, but also add coziness.

Give me room: Both modern and vintage pieces that can wow should be given the space to bask in the limelight they so rightly deserve.

Opposites attract: By the very fact that the things in your home are yours, chances are they reflect your taste so they will work together. Embrace the contrast of some of the things you have picked up along the way: pair modern with vintage, traditional with contemporary. To achieve visual harmony in this, look for a shared design ethic to pull it together.

Source from the high street: Many of the chic-retro reproductions hailed on the high street will help highlight your vintage finds.

Personalise: If you like something but it needs tweaking, don't be afraid to change it to meet your needs. You'd be amazed at what a new coat of paint or a new slipcover can do! Check out our Design-It-Yourself series for ideas and inspiration. If that's a step further than you are willing to go, pair heavy, dark vintage pieces with chrome or galvanized steel to get that urban cool look.

Find new uses for old things: You may have some pieces that have been around a while. Look at them with new eyes: can they be used for something other than they were intended? I recently decided that an old antique Asian cabinet that used to house glasses would store my shoes!

Books and nooks: Instead of settling on the predictable shelf, pile books on the floor or intersperse them with ornaments and other decorations. Quirky, difficult nooks and crannies are ideal for this. And embrace any other ready-made curiosities in your home, such as exposed brick, old peeling wallpaper and paint (very hot right now thanks to the King's Speech!). Balance the old with the new for the right modern vintage decor.

The power of light: Create symmetry by pairing opposites - chrome lights with floral shaded side lamps, industrial with retro. When the different details come together they just work!

Color me beautiful: By picking a color theme that features or matches both your modern and vintage details can hold the whole look together.

Credit: Elle Decoration, May 2011 Issue; Adapted & photos from Modern Vintage Style  by Emily Chalmers; Photos also from Bemz

 

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.

Design-It-Yourself: Christmas wreaths

Felt ball wreath by Pickles

Admittedly we did do a whole Design-It-Yourself Christmas series last year, one part of which focused on wreaths, but they are such an integral part of the holidays that I had to share these new ideas I came across on fave blog AT!

Bike Wheel Wreath by City Cradle Design and Coffee Cardboard Recycled Wreath by Cut and Keep

With each wreath there is a link to the original site where you'll find complete instructions on how to go about creating your own version of it. Some are a little more straight-forward than others...

This yarn felt flower wreath by Take Heart reminds me a 1920s flapper. Sophisticated and chic with a colorful sense of fun.

This pompom wreath by Bluebird Vintage reminds me of my old aunties who used to knit those slippers for us as children. They always had a pompom at the front, above the toe. The deer in the middle just adds to the retro kitsch of it all. Love it!

Are you looking for something traditional like this paper doily lighted wreath by Dujour magazine or a little less conventional along the lines of the tea wreath above by Kojo Designs (practical and pretty!) or just fun like this owl wreath by Love people, like things?

Deck the halls....