It's a cover-up

Spring is in the air with Designers Guild - Brera

As I write this, the snow is falling in big wet clumps. This, after a week of spring fever? It seems cruel. At least it did, until I opened my folder containing the latest addition to the Designers Guild collection at Bemz. Seven sophisticated, delectably luxurious linen fabrics in summer cool and exquisitely timeless checks and stripes from the extremely popular Brera range at Designers Guild.

Loose Fit Country bed skirt in Cobalt - Brera Quadretto, Designers Guild by Bemz

Karlanda sofa in Cloud - Brera Fino & cushion cover in Cloud - Brera Quadretto; Henriksdal chair in Cobalt - Brera Rigato and Noir - Brera Fino

The colours are perfect for spring 2012 with shades of blue and grey combined with crisp white, sooty black and natural linen. The updated stripe and check designs are right on trend and exude Scandinavian simplicity.

Klippan sofa in Lapis - Brera Largo, cushion covers in Cobalt - Brera Quadretto, Noir - Brera Fino, Cloud - Brera Quadretto, & Cobalt - Brera Rigato. Cobalt - Brera Fino on floor.

Henriksdal chairs in Cobalt - Brera Rigato, Noir - Brera Fino & Cloud - Brera Fino; cushion cover in Cobalt - Brera Quadretto, Cobalt - Brera Fino & Noir - Brera Fino

Made from 100% yarn-dyed linen, these fabrics are the ideal addition to the exclusive Bemz Loose Fit collections and will only be available in either Country or Urban styles, both unique to Bemz. The fine, pre-washed linen combined with the design of the special Loose Fit covers results in a sophisticated and dapper look with a less formal feel.

Loose Fit Urban cover for Karlstad sofa in Cobalt - Brera Fino. Loose Fit Country cushion cover in Cobalt - Brera Quadretto

Karlanda sofa in Cloud - Brera Fino & Karlstad armchair in Cloud - Brera Quadretto; cushion covers in Cloud - Brera Quadretto & Noir - Brera Fino

Despite its exclusive finish, these soft linen fabrics are durable and machine-washable at 40ºC.

I don't want to take Mother Nature head-on, I have too much respect for her! But there's no denying spring and summer with these fabrics. Indoors anyway... If you're longing for a bit of of seaside chic, read more about this collection.

You may also be interested in our Top Tips on how to introduce very on-trend blue into your home. 

Pop into our Urban Inspiration Store

With the launch of our new Loose Fit - Urban collection, the Inspiration Store has been given a facelift. We realise that most of you won't be able to make it in person into our store so we thought we'd share some photos here: 

Loose Fit - Urban covers in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen on Henriksdal chairs

Loose Fit - Urban cover in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Medium Grey on a Karlstad sofa

Loose Fit - Urban cover in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Absolute White on a Karlanda

Loose Fit - Urban covers in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Medium Grey on a Kivik sofa and Klappsta chair. Karlstad footstool in Absolute White.

But if you are in Stockholm, then please pop in!

Trend alert: Denim Blue

Even though we first talked about this trend back in February 2010, it comes as no surprise that this timeless classic so firmly embedded in our wardrobes, has managed to hold its ground as a hot trend in our homes.  

And now it is even easier for you to introduce a touch of this enduring favourite into your homes, with the latest addition to the Bemz collection: Piper Twill Dark Denim Blue.

This 100% cotton fabric is dyed and woven using a special technique enabling us to create the perfect denim-blue look.

To convey that close-to-nature aspect of the Simple Life lifestyle, combine Denim Blue with beige tones, unbleached linen fabrics and shades of blue.

If the cosmopolitan-inspired Urban Living design is more your thing, complement this new fabric with different shades of black, charcoal and granite. Then break it up with accents of subtle pattern, like classic check.

New style of cover from Bemz for the urban lifestyle

There's something exciting happening today at Bemz: the Inspiration Store is closed for business as we are hosting a by invitation only press event and spilling the beans on some pretty exciting and cutting edge news. Bemz has created yet another unique and exclusive look for slipcovers for Ikea furniture. Today's press announcement is that we are adding a completely new look to the Loose Fit range: an Urban inspired loose fitting slipcover made from 100% washed linen.

Originally launched as a Shabby Chic-inspired style in May of last year, these new 100% washed linen slipcovers are an extension of the Loose Fit collection.

The Loose Fit - Urban look is characterized by an edgier, more metropolitan influence in contrast to his kinder rural counterpart. The look is taken from the latest in interior design trends: subdued and elegantly worn with a sophisticated, slightly looser fit. Seams are purposely apparent, with every aspect of the cover cut and sewn by hand with extreme precision.

"The Loose Fit collection allows us to transform an IKEA sofa using both colour and form in an exciting way. It will be great to see how our customers adopt this new urban look and make it their own", says Lesley Pennington, CEO and founder of Bemz.

Both the Urban and Country Loose Fit collections are manufactured using an exclusive linen from Belgium, a country with a centuries-old tradition of flax cultivation and processing. The fabric, Rosendal Pure Washed Linen, is pre-washed to give it a beautifully soft and vintage-like look, and comes in Absolute White, Soft White, Unbleached, Medium Grey, Sage Brown and Lavender.

Loose Fit - Urban covers will be available from early 2012 for a selection of models within the Karlanda, Karlstad, Klippan, Henriksdal, Nils, Klappsta and Kivik furniture ranges and as bedskirts.

Top tips: It's okay to be blue

Have you ever heard of chromatherapy? Me neither! Apparently, it is the art of healing through colour. And why not? We react emotionally to lots of colours for a variety of reasons. If I say red, you say hot (or Christmas or love...). If I say green you say ecological (or money or jealousy...).

But let's talk about blue. It's associated with cold as well as with sadness but did you know that hues of blue can help soothe pain and promote relaxation?

It doesn't stop there! A blue room is even said to make people more thoughtful and productive!

All this and beauty too. The soothing shades of tropical waters like Oceanic Teal and Crystal Bay will help create a dramatic statement. 

And the fact that many of the names given to the various hues of this colour are derived from natural resources is evocative and telling.

And how timely: Bemz has just added a new colour to the Tegnér Melange texture fabrics collection. Mineral Blue (pictured above). It's a stunning dove-blue with a hint of sand and spot on trend for this ever-popular mellow yet intense colour palette. 

As with all nine shades included in the Tegnér Melange textiles, Mineral Blue is a yarn dyed fabric from Italy, made from a blend of cotton, viscose and linen. By mixing these natural fibres in different colours, a stunning weave with a unique structure and a soft, comfortable surface is created.

Credit: Elle Decoration, November 2011 issue; Photos, except Bemz: House to Home

Bemz Inspiration store needs to lie down

The Bemz Inspiration store tends to get a facelift to mirror the latest trends and any new products with each changing season, but this time around I think it would qualify as an extreme make-over. Here are pictures from the way the Inspiration Store looks now, taken at a press event for our upcoming launch.

With our imminent, very exciting move into bedrooms, a completely new area for Bemz, the sofas have had to take a backseat (see what I'm doing there!) to allow beds to take centre stage.

As outlined in an earlier post, we're now introducing a series of bed skirts and headboard covers in a variety if styles, sizes and designs opening up a whole new variety of options for personalising your bedroom.

The really unique aspect here is the fact that these bed covers are made to fit certain IKEA models but also to suit standard bed sizes, opening up the Bemz collection to those who do not have IKEA furniture.

Any princesses out there?

This has left me wanting my bed... Available from the end of June 2011.

Bemz opens the door to your bedroom

Florö bed frame cover in Lisa Bengtsson's Sir Harald - Multi

Exciting times! We're taking our first steps toward new and even more innovative products that can be used by those who have IKEA furniture as well as those who do not, alike. First was our new Multi-Fit chair slipcovers. And now we are making our way into your bedroom...

Florö bed frame cover in Tégner Mélange Ink Blue; Cushion covers in Panama Cotton Silver Grey and Tégner Mélange Ink Blue

We're now introducing a series of bed skirts and headboard covers just in time for summer 2011.

Bemz bed skirt with box pleats in Designer's Guild Bayshore - Magenta; Bådalen headboard cover in Designer's Guild Bayshore - Magenta

This new collection for the bedroom will enable Bemz customers to add their own personal touch to the most important piece of furniture in the bedroom: the bed. The bedroom series includes innovations for both bed frames and headboards, and also different kinds of bed skirts.

Bemz bed skirt with frills in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen - Lavender

While the covers for the frames and headboards are made to fit IKEA models, the bed skirts are suitable for most standard beds. You can check the sizings online and below.

Florö bed frame cover in Soft White Belgian Linen blend

Lesley Pennington, founder and CEO of Bemz, says:"We have been working for a long time on the development of our concept of 'individual design'. We began in the living room, continued into the dining room, and it now feels wonderful to be able to invite our creative customers into the bedroom and offer a new kind of furniture."

Grimen bed frame cover in Unbleached Belgian Linen blend

The wide range of fabrics at Bemz designed by our in-house designers as well as globally renown names like Designers Guild, Swedish Bantie and Lisa Bengtsson ensure a variety and choice to suit every taste. The bedroom products can be freely mixed and matched with all the existing Bemz fabrics and slipcovers for sofas and armchairs to create the maximum personal look.

Grimen bed frame cover in Frescati Plaid Grey

There are four models of bed skirts in either 40 cm or 50 cm skirt height: a straight model without pleats, one with pleats and a classic model with box pleats. There is also a model in a softer, romantic style, with ruffled frills.

All the models fit standard beds (200 cm in length) with the following widths: 90, 120, 140, 160, and 180 cm. Two standard American sizes (US: Twin Size & Queen Size) are being introduced for our North American customers.

Bemz bed skirt with frills in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen - Medium Grey

As for the IKEA models, these new bed frame covers fit the Florö, Vanvik and Grimen beds, and the headboard covers are made to fit the Bådalen model from IKEA.

In other words, this bedroom series includes products for both IKEA models and beds from other manufacturers.

Florö bed frame cover in Moss Green Belgian Linen blend; Karlstad footstools in Bantie Bubbel - Brown

These new covers will be available from June 2011, with more than 180 different colours and patterns from the Bemz standard range of fabrics as well as some designs from the Bemz Designer Collection, including British Designers Guild.

Romantic vintage chez Bemz: new Loose Fit designs

Bemz’s very own Loose Fit – Country Style slipcovers, a completely new design of cover available to fit IKEA furniture, were first introduced almost a year ago. Inspired by the Shabby Chic interior design trend, it combines a looser fit slipcover with the exclusive Rosendal Pure Washed Linen fabric, a pre-washed 100% pure linen.

By increasing the number of furniture models within the Loose Fit – Country Style range, we are making it easier than ever to introduce a touch of “romantic vintage” into your home, especially with the addition of our new Multi Fit chair cover which fits most standard size kitchen and dining chairs.

You can now get Loose Fit slipcovers from Bemz for the following models: the Ekeskog 3 seater sofa, sofa bed and armchair; the Stockholm (older model) 3 seater sofa, 2 seater sofa and armchair; the Ektorp chaise longue series (right armrest, left armrest and no armrests); and, the Jennylund armchair. Slipcovers from the Loose Fit range are already available for the Tomelilla series, the Nikkala sofa and the Henriksdal dining chair.

We've also added a new color to this collection: Lavender, a perfectly rich pastel, just in time for spring and summer.

To be true to the romantic vintage style of this range, we not only use beautiful 100% linen fabric and a looser fitting slipcovers, but we also cut the fabric by hand and use ties rather than zips (but to mention a few details!). All this and still machine washable!

Trend alert: Pastels with punch

Just in time for summer, delicious shades of your favorite ice creams are popping up on everything from iconic pieces to radiators binging a new sense of fun and the chance to really personalize your home!

Iconic LC2 by Le Corbusier is now available in an array of colors, including many pastels. The powder blue pictured above softens the angular look of the chair. Much like at Bemz, you can test drive the various colors, both for the frame and the fabric to find the perfect combination for your home.

The components of Mia Hamborg's Shuffle side table twist off so that you can arrange them in the order you like best (more personalization!) and comes as a collection of lovely pastels.

Philippe Starck's Parrot speakers come in this apple green.

Key designs have been reinvented and transformed thanks to these punchy pastels. Just look at that KitchenAid mixer!

And right on-trend, Bemz has just launched it's own range of pastels, including the very latest Lavender in exclusive Rosendal Pure Washed Linen, a 100% linen fabric. You don't get much more summery than that!

The Rosendal Pure Washed Linen range also includes Absolute White, Soft White, Unbleached, Medium Grey and Sage Brown, and is available as Loose Fit slipcovers, 50x50 pillow shams or as fabric sold by the meter. This beautiful, pure washed linen fabric comes from Belgium, a country with centuries-old tradition of flax cultivation and is pre-washed to give it a lovely, soft, vintage feel.

And right now you can get 10% off this and all other linens in the Rosendal range, as well as Graphite Grey, Zinc Grey, Soft White, Unbleached and Sage Brown in our Belgian Linen Blend (51% linen, 49% cotton) fabrics.

Have you seen something reinvented and given new life thanks to a lick of color? Tell us about it.

Credit: Living etc, May 2011 issue

Pastels are hot this spring

Update your furniture with the latest color trend: pastels.

Angby sofa in Vanilla Yellow Belgian linen

Pastels are popping up everywhere - in spring clothing collections, as well as interior colour palettes. We are seeing a lot of soft, playful colours that add warmth and imagination to last years colder winter colorways.

Backa sofa in Tea Green (left) and Henriksdal chair with armrests and medium length skirt in Vanilla Yellow (right)

This spring, Bemz brings you pastels - new fabrics that are as deliciously sweet as Parisian macaroons and as wonderfully smooth as Italian semifreddo: Tea Green, Lavender and Vanilla Yellow in our Belgian linen/cotton blend, and Straw Yellow in Panama cotton.

Kivik sofa in Lavender (left) and 1-seat Kivik in Dusty Rose

As pastels are such a diverse color group, it’s easy to find the combination which will ultimately best suit your home. Let the new linen collection inspire you.

Kivik 3-seater sofa in Lavender and Kivik 1-seat and footstool in Raffia Sand Beige

If you are looking to optimize feelings of calm and light, take a leaf out of our in-house designers’ book and mix different shades of pastels. Alternatively, brighten up darker greys with accents of soft Lavender and sheer Tea Green.