It's a cover-up

Design spotlight: AGA

We started this design spotlight series in the beginning of the year, with the hopes of featuring some real dandies. As a starting point, I ask Bemzies to tell me what designer item would top their wishlist. First up was Production Manager, Lisbeth with her Royal Copenhagen dinnerware then Project Manager, Sara's cabinet from Svenskt Tenn. So far, so good! Now it's Customer Service Rep, Emma's turn and her choice: the iconic AGA oven.

Photo via AGA: Classic two oven AGA in cream

I'm really glad this feature made it to our list, as the AGA is a stunning piece of furniture for the kitchen that suits many different styles, despite first being launched in 1929.

Photo via Ideal Home: Updated Shaker style kitchen with modern handles and pure white AGA

Photo via Homes & Gardens: Country style kitchen with a splash of colour

Photo via Sylvarna Kitchen Designs: Classic black AGA completes a modern kitchen design

Plus, we at Bemz have more in common with it than we perhaps first suspected: it was invented by a Swede! Nobel Prize winning physicist Dr Gustaf Dalén, who was house bound after losing his sight due to a failed experiment, created a cast-iron cooker capable of every kind of cooking simultaneously through its two large hotplates and two ovens, otherwise known as the AGA.

Photo via AGA: Cream coloured conventional AGA

Photo via Beautiful Homes: Earthy tones and rustic touches give this fisherman's cottage kitchen a coastal feel

Photo via Livingetc: A country kitchen with a modern edge

More importantly however, an AGA sets the standard for kitchen design and gives this heart of the home a stunning focal point. Like any clever company, AGA has made changes to meet customers' more modern demands over the years without ever losing sight of the all important look of this iconic appliance.

I think Emma put it perfectly when she informed me that the AGA cooker topped her designer wishlist: Something I would love to have but do not actually need is this iconic appliance, although I would prefer it in Duck Egg Blue.

Photo via AGA: 3-oven in duck egg blue

Photo via Henry Gorden Jones: Duck egg blue AGA

Read more about the history of AGA and their range of cookers. And thank you Emma for your brilliant choice providing us with another intriguing Designer Spotlight!

PS FYI: Dalén contributed more to this world than this iconic piece - he was awarded the Nobel prize for his work in developing automated lighthouses, an invention which saved countless lives.

Karlanda in Urban Tapestry makes the papers

Not too long ago, there was a feature article in Swedish Newspaper SvD's magazine on Form for Everyday Life, which proffered a tour around designer Daniel Svahn's and interior designer Nicole Morel's home in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Needless to say, design sits at the heart of this home where every piece has been carefully selected or designed by this duo.

Karlanda in Urban Tapestry - Jet Black from Bemz

Well weren't feeling like the cat's meow when we spotted their sofa: a Karlanda with an Urban Tapestry - Jet Black cover from Bemz. 

Here are five decorating tips from this design duo:

• Don't chicken out of crazy decorating ideas! It's your home so do what you want. But try to have a clear plan in place.
• Lighting is important. Ensure you have a variety of light sources in every room to help create ambiance.
• Decorate using personal accessories that mean something to you.
• Don't be afraid to use colour. It provides wonderful contrast and livens up a room.
• Redecorate yourself. Almost everything can be made more personal with some paint and fabric, both old and new. 

Trend alert: Urban decay revisited

As defined by Wikipedia "Urban decay (also known as urban rot and urban blight) is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude." This definition may leave you wondering how this could ever become trendy! However, as a result of our love of the environment, our passion for the three Rs, followed hot on the heels by the instant hit upcycling, it seems an almost natural progression. 

Urban decay New York City via Wikipedia

Urban Decay, in the fashion and interior sense, also known as Industrial Vintage and Industrial Chic, is really about embracing the tarnished and somewhat old and used pieces and making them your own. I posted about this back in December but it's high time for a revisit! Bemz's Loose Fit - Urban covers are set to go live momentarily and they are core to this look.

Industrial look c/o Bemz

What do you need to achieve the right amount of decay you ask? Well obviously, as with any design, personal taste will guide you here but basically think about these three things:

Industrial style kitchen c/o Livingetc

Industrial style conservatory c/o Livingetc

Industrial style bedroom c/o Ideal Home

1. Take cues from old, defunct factories and rustic surroundings: Furniture choices are sturdy and functional, with straight lines and simplistic design, ideally a little worn with either rust or peeling paint to give it the proper tarnished look and a genuine factory feel. Use a balanced mix of concrete, untreated wood and tarnished metal, ideally in their crudest, unpolished form to provide the industrial base for this look but then soften it with personal details like framed black and white photos, fresh cut flowers and supple fabrics.

Loose Fit - Urban slipcovers in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Medium Grey on Henriksdal chairs from Ikea

Loose Fit - Urban bed skirt in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Sage Brown on a 160x200 cm bed

Daybed cover in textured Sybary Light Grey and cushion covers in Sand Beige and Graphite Grey

2. Fabrics are key: It is the softness and versatility of fabrics that interprets the industrial theme for home living. Shades of grey, with white, black and blue accents, especially denim-like textiles build a solid base for the colour palette of this look. Injections of soft pastel colours, particularly "dirty pastels" such as mint green or light yellow, can break up the predominantly grey colour scheme. On-trend metallics are the ideal partner for offsetting the less refined materials used in this style. Patterns should be used sparingly so that the subdued, monochromatic grey, white and black colour palette remains uninterrupted. To achieve the right, worn look, opt for interesting textures instead, such as washed, tactile fabrics in any and every shade of grey.

A chair as a nightstand and a trolley as a coffee table

Industrial style home office c/o Livingetc 

3. Repurpose pieces - think outside the box! Stacked boxes provide unconventional storage; a slightly worn metal stool can be used as a bedside table; an upcycled pallet finished with a glass top and casters is a coffee table. These details define that urban decayed look while making it personal too.

Have a look at our Loose Fit - Urban collection on Pinterest for more inspiration and follow us on Facebook to find out when this new collection goes live.

Which is more expensive: can you tell the difference?

Just as it says in the title - here are some photos of sofas grouped into pairs that look quite similar. Which of the two do you think is the more expensive version? Don't forget to check out the price differences after the photos! 

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Pair 1: £1412 vs £269 (excl. sofa). On the left, Arco in chartreuse polyester from BoConcept; right, the now discontinued Kramfors sofa from Ikea with a Bamboo Green cover in Tégner Melange textured cotton from Bemz.

Pair 2: £674 vs £6,624. On the left, the Kivik sofa (£375) with a Light Olive Green cover in Belgian Linen Blend (£299) from Bemz; right, Neo Wall in Tosca 45 cotton linen mix at Geoffrey Drayton.

Pair 3: £3785 vs £149 (excl. sofa). On the left, Petal in velvet from Rume; right, the discontinued Stromstad sofa from Ikea with a Bemz cover in Real Red. 

Pair 4: £379 (excl. sofa) vs £4999. On the left, the discontinued Stromstad sofa from Ikea in Unbleached Linen from Bemz; right, the Crescent Corner sofa in linen from John Lewis.

Pair 5: £1624 vs £439 (excl. sofa). On the left, Slim Suzie from Sofa Workshop in wool mix; right, the discontinued Tylosand from Ikea in Zinc Grey Tegner Melange textured cotton from Bemz.

These sofas are a selection from interior design go-to guide House to Home's very own 'Pick of the best modern sofas' which I then paired with an Ikea / Bemz version to match. It is true that many of the Ikea models are now discontinued but that's the point - you don't need to get a new sofa. Recovering your existing one is enough to get the look of the best modern sofas around!

And if you still need convincing, check out this delicious Lotus in Designers Guild fabrics from Heal's which will set you back a cracking £4755. 

Could you not achieve that very same looking using the sum of these parts (covers come to £529)? 

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Tylosand in Aubergine Raffia, Fuchsia and Pirput Parput Red/Pink from Bemz

If I were to reiterate my question posed in the title of this post: 'Which is more expensive: can you tell the difference?', I think I might change it to say 'Which is more expensive: would you pay the difference?'.

Design Spotlight: Svenskt Tenn

It's time for the second installment of our new Design Spotlight series where we look at all those classic, iconic as well as up-and-coming design pieces we covet, and the creative minds behind them.

The first installment came from our very own Lisbeth's wishlist. Officially called the Product & Production Manager, Lisbeth is the Bemz in-house design specialist so suffice it say, she knows design. And what a great start it was with a look at some stunningly beautiful and timeless, retro inspired Royal Copenhagen dinnerware.

Svenskt Tenn shop today

But let's move onto our next feature which comes from the wishlist of the person I work most closely with - our fabulous marketing extraordinaire, Sara. Project Manager Sara has also chosen a piece from an iconically Scandinavian design house, Svenskt Tenn. More iconic still, Sara has chosen a piece by the superlative of designers, Josef Frank and his Cabinet 2192, pictured below. 

Cabinet 2192 by Josef Frank

What makes this cabinet design so unusual and fresh is the shadow effect formed from the corrugated cardboard-like doors. Josef Frank designed this in 1954, yet it still looks contemporary and fresh. That's talent.  

Svenskt Tenn is an interior design shop located on Strandvägen in Stockholm, Sweden, but a shop with a great history. It was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, who recruited Austrian architect and designer, Josef Frank to the company 10 years later. The pairing of Viennese elegance and Swedish functionalism, brightly coloured patterns, unabashed borrowing from high and low cultures and eras defined Svenskt Tenn’s design philosophy and completely went against the ideals of the day. This creative duo designed the elegant and boldly patterned style that continues to pervade the collection today.

In 1958, Josef Frank wrote in the magazine Form: “There’s nothing wrong with mixing old and new, with combining different furniture styles, colours and patterns. Anything that is in your taste will automatically fuse to form an entire relaxing environment. A home does not need to be planned down to the smallest detail or contrived; it should be an amalgamation of the things that the owner loves and feels at home with.” A sentiment that is as current today as his creations.

Josef Frank is still held in great repute and continues to be a source of inspiration for many young designers today. In fact, textile designer Stig Lindberg, whose creations are included in the Bemz Designer Collections (pictured above), quoted Josef Frank as one of his sources of inspiration. 

Estrid Ericson and Josef Frank have succeeded in creating that timelessness which so many strive for but few manage to achieve.

Thank you Sara for your wonderful choice and providing such a fascinating Design Spotlight!

Read more about the history of Svenskt Tenn, about shop founder Estrid Ericson, and Josef Frank.

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

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.

Guaranteed sweet dreams

Grimen bed frame cover in Unbleached Belgian Linen Blend from Bemz

With the launch of our brand new bedroom collection, and the promise of more to come, we felt the need to focus on how to slumber in style. Here's your style-guide to bedroom must-haves and the latest in bedroom trends, and, of course, the requisite pretty pictures to inspire!

First thing's first, we have to get ourselves ready: with a beautiful dressing gown to go over our silk pyjamas.

Don't forget slippers and eye mask...

 

Photo: Ben Anders

Up the luxury-factor when getting cozy by choosing tactile options like this velvet hot water bottle and cashmere bed socks.

 

Now let's get into the details that will make your bedroom truly yours.

Photo: House to home

There's a plethora of rugs out there to choose from and they're a wonderful way to help define the style of your room.

A nightstand can be traditional or you can think out of the box to really add your own personal touch. This Tolix stool would make a beautiful nightstand and if that's too contemporary, you could always go for something a little softer. Or put your hand at making your own.

Bedside lamps are a great way to add style without sacrificing on function. I love Original BTC lamps but there's always a budget option.

And you will need a clock - why not go retro modern? And a water carafe - whether for you or for your flowers.

What about bedding?

Bed skirt with pleats and Bådalen headboard cover in Mocha Belgian Linen from Bemz

There are lovely headboard covers and bedframe covers available in about 150 fabric choices from Bemz. If you don't have an Ikea bed, there's always the option of a bedskirt which will fit any manufacturer's bed.

Florö bed frame cover in Soft White Belgian Linen Blend from Bemz

There are designer sheets, I especially love the ones from Pip Studio, and quilts.

You will need a mirror...

An upscale scented oval to hang in your closet or throw in a drawer and requisite candles add atmosphere.

 

Photo: Ben Anders

And of course, no bedroom would be complete without plenty of throw cushions to ensure comfort and style.

Left: Florö bed frame cover in Stockholm Stripe Jet Black and cushions in Grass Green, Sun Yellow, Daquiri Green, Soft White and Gotland Stripe Silver Grey. Right: Florö bed frame cover in Lisa Bengtsson Sir Harald and cushions in Stockholm Stripe Candy Pink, Stockholm Stripe Jet Black, Vanilla Yellow in Belgian Linen Blend, Panama Cotton Candy Pink. All from Bemz.

Photo: Ben Anders

What bedroom buys have we missed that you feel are essential to ensure a stylish slumber?

Credit: Livingetc November 2011 issue 

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

Trend alert: Foliage

Lush tropical foliage is all the rage right now - and we love it! We are talking banana leaves, palm fronds and ferns, evoking images of poolside relaxation, holidays in exotic places and drinks with those tiny umbrellas. Yes please!

This Green Palm Chest by Woodpop is an upcycled item. You could probably whip one up yourself with a flea market find and a great wallpaper.

From high end bubble bath, by Tokyo Milk, to high end clothes by Just Cavalli.

Kramfors sofa in Flamingo Park Natural  and Kivik seat in Coconut Grove Black and White

Karlstad armchair in Barcelona Crocus

Introduce this lush tropical look with covers from the Designers Guild collections at Bemz.

Credit: Livingetc July 2011 issue