It's a cover-up

Bemz Inspiration Marathon - Halfway there

We are now halfway through our Inspiration Marathon where we feature a different cover on a Klippan sofa every 6 hours. If your favorite fabric has not yet made the cut, don’t lose heart. It may well be among the four new designs being added now. Check out our newcomers and vote for your favorite one to increase your chances of being able to buy it at 20% off!

Bemz Inspiration Marathon - Can you make it?

It's today - it's finally here! The Bemz Inspiration Store in Stockholm will throw open its doors to the public in a matter of hours. A meeting point, test lab, store and inspirational workshop all in one.

You don't live near Stockholm? No problem. This is the modern world: you can visit the Inspiration Store by going to our website. We've set up a webcam enabling you to visit the store in real time at any time, day or night, over the next seven days. 

And in order to properly celebrate the opening of our Inspiration Store, we’ll be running the Bemz Inspiration Marathon too. Well, that's a virtual online marathon, not the sweaty pavement pounding kind. Throughout our marathon, you’ll be able to visit the Inspiration Store via live feed where a Klippan sofa will sit center stage for the duration of the event, sporting a different Bemz fabric every 6 hours, round the clock for a week.

Want to see your favorite fabric? No problem. You and your friends will be able influence the choice of fabric featured by voting for it online. But that's not all: any fabric that stars in this show will be discounted by 20% while on display. 

Also, throughout the event you will be able to "meet" some of the Bemz staff; tune in weekdays at noon to find out who the daily "guest" is.

We are on the move... And people know it

Here are a couple of sneaky shots from the new office space where Bemzers have relocated. Everyone's excited but it still needs a little loving...

That looks like Lisa closest to us, then Sara hunched in front of her computer, then Emma I think, and finally Ben.

There's a space waiting to be filled... But what a space! 

And very big thank you goes out to Swedish Fixa och Dona, Åtta Små Plommon, Tingelings, Jane's Dreams, Lillasystern Liten, Home Grooming and Hus & Hem for sharing in our excitement about our new Inspiration Store. Grand opening tomorrow 11 am. See you there!

Pssst! Along with the opening there's going to be an event open to all you Bemzers not near enough to Stockholm to take part in the festivities. Tune back in tomorrow before 11!

Moodboards con't - my attempt

My most recent Top Tips post about the usefulness of moodboards was a call to action for me. I put together this moodboard for the said H&M Jimmy Choo competition. I chose some shots from the H&M website, some from their Facebook page and some were random words or imaged that helped underline the overall mood I was after. What do you think?

Top tips: Moodboards - do we need them?

Moodboard c/o most inspired

I say 'Yes!' I love the way moodboards enable you to visually illustrate the look and feel you're after without having to come up with all the appropriate adjectives. It's hard to be establish that your interpretation of 'classic' or 'bohemian' or 'shaker' is the same as another's and this is one way to ensure you are on the same page (punny!).

Moodboard c/o most inspired

All kinds of designers from graphic to web to interior designers start their projects with a moodboard. Why is that? Because using this visual tool clearly lays out the direction of style being pursued and these professionals need to be sure they are delivering what the client is after or run the risk of losing precious time and money.

Moodboard c/o stuff and nonsense

OK, but do you need a moodboard, even when you are not enlisting the help of a pro? I still say 'Yes!', even more so, in fact. A moodboard is exactly what will help you stay on track when picking out colors, fabrics, accessories so that the end result in front of you reflects the image you had in your mind, whether it's updating your living room or introducing a nursery to our home.

Moodboard c/o webdesigner depot

So how do you make a moodboard? It's easy: collect examples that show what you are after. These can include everything from textures, colors and any general attributes, including emotional ones, of the project you're undertaking. There are no limits here! It can include cuttings from magazines, photographs, fabric samples, a favorite quote, words, anything that helps form your vision. I've included pieces of jewelry and even the odd leaf and stone. Collate your treasure trove onto a board and voila! Moodboard complete.

Moodboard c/o mydeco

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case it's definitely the truth.

Now onto the project itself...

Moodboard c/o mydeco

PS If you are looking for the chance to try moodboarding out, Swedish clothing giant H&M are having a competition in conjunction with the launch of their Jimmy Choo collection (yes, Jimmy Choo!) Put your moodboard together and you'll be a shoe-in! ;)

Design-It-Yourself: trainers

Granted, football trainers (or soccer shoes, depending on where you are!) aren't the first thing to come to mind when talking about designing your own interior but why not try your hand at it? For the experience, if nothing else. That, and the fact that Umbro are having a competition! If your design is picked one of three professional players will wear it at a game. That kinda helps hike the interest-factor up a notch or two, methinks.

So which do you think Michael Owen would most likely fancy? Will he be on-trend with HoundsTooth or will he go for a more playful look with vibrant and colorful Daiquiri/Teal Blue? Maybe he's more of a traditional man, opting for the New Baroque look. What do you think? Do you have a better option?

Are you feeling lucky? Win 5000 SEK* worth of merchandise from Bemz!

Looking for a new slipcover for your sofa, or feel like giving your favourite armchair a make-over? If you win our competition you can do both! All you have to do is register for the Bemz newsletter by giving us your e-mail address, and tell us how you would renew your home if you won.

Go check out the competition on our website!

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.