It's a cover-up

Cool summer whites freshen up Karlstad, Ektorp & more

For this week's customer feature, I'd like to share two fab yet very different looks created by customers using crisp white loose fitting linen covers from Bemz. Available in two different styles, Loose Fit - Urban and Loose Fit - Country, these casual yet elegant slipcovers, made of machine-washable 100% pure linen, are a must for freshening up your Ikea sofas and armchairs in the run-up to summer (plus get 10% off selected whites right now until May 28, 2012!)

Sandra of the Netherlands chose Bemz Loose Fit - Urban slipcovers, characterized by an edgier, more metropolitan influence, to spruce up her Karlstad armchairs. As you can see the wonderful Rosendal Pure Washed Linen in Absolute White adds chic luxury to Sandra's classy, modern interior, enriched with grey accents, lovely wood flooring and touches of vintage charm. It is very reminiscent of the popular Industrial Vintage style that we love.

Very happy with our new slipcovers, said Sandra. We're thrilled to hear that and dank je wel for sharing with us Sandra!

Although Marianne of Sweden chose slipcovers in the same Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen fabric, the end result is significantly different.

The relaxed, rounded, easy style of her Ektorp sofas and armchair in the more rural counterpart, Loose Fit - Country style slipcovers, is a perfect fit for the harmonious and informal charm of Marianne's home in a true shabby chic inspired, romantic vintage look, quite fitting with our Scandinavian Country lifestyle.

I'm very pleased with the result, Marianne wrote (translated). And so are we. Bra jobbat och tusen tack Marianne!

If summer whites aren't what you're after, check out our on-trend blues in a multitude of hues. You'll be happy to hear that Bemz Loose Fit slipcovers are available in a range of colours, including the new Brera collection by Designers Guild from our Designer Collection.

It's nice to know that Loose Fit - Urban covers are also available for Henriksdal, Karlanda, Klappsta, Klippan, Kivik and Nils ranges, as well as daybed covers, bed skirts and cushion covers. Aside from the Ektorp range featured above, the Loose Fit - Country covers are available for the Ekeskog, Henriksdal, Jennylund, Nikkala, Stockholm (older model) and Tomelilla ranges, as well as the new Multi Fit range for those of you who don't have those or any Ikea models. And don't forget our popular cushion sham.

If you like these styles, check out our designer's top tips on how to bring summer into your home. You'll also find an ocean of inspiration to dive into in Lifestyles by Bemz. Enjoy!

Love, Love, Love this Ektorp sofa revamp

Facebook fan Christèle uploaded this photo of her Ektorp sofa with its new Zinc Grey cover from Bemz. "Very happy with my new cover :)" is what Christèle had to say (translated).

And I can see why. Don’t you just love how the deep, rich grey contrasts with the room’s simple white palette and wooden floor, accented with mementos giving the look personality and charm. You can almost feel the texture of the soft yet durable Panama Cotton fabric. In true vintage chic style, the room is now a great mix of greys and whites with a few metallic accessories and personal details. Well done Christèle - a wonderful choice and merci bien for sharing this with us!

For more inspiration check out our top ten best selling covers, of which Ektorp is number 8.

If you have a Bemz cover, why not send along a photo or two to blog[at] bemz.com. Or upload one to our Facebook page. We'd love to see and share your ideas!

House Tour: Summer in Canada for Ektorp and Bemz

Who doesn't love taking a peek inside other people’s homes? It's not just about curiosity - it's a great way to get ideas and inspiration, especially if it's a home done up by a professional. You can imagine how thrilled we were to find out that Canada's design star, Samantha Pynn decided to include a Bemz cover in not one, but two episodes of this season's Summer Homes on HGTV Canada.

In this episode, entitled Room to Grow, Samantha tackles a small charming cottage and turns it into a family-friendly summer home full of character. A cover in Eggshell Blue from Bemz for the Ektorp sofa plays a central role in giving the room that coastal feel.

The clean lines of the main living area are cool to the eye but warm to the touch thanks to Samantha's use of a variety of textures: solid wood and rattan, fabrics and other natural elements. The wonderful high ceilings and the sea-inspired palette bring the outside in and create a fresh, relaxing and airy oasis. By grouping furniture into functional areas in the open plan, Samantha ensures definition and order without sacrificing on cosiness or functionality - perfect for family dinners, entertaining and playing games.

Adding a covered porch is a great way to extend your living space and provides a graceful transition to the outside. Get more ideas on how you can achieve this look from the Bemz Simple Life Lifestyle, as well as previous posts highlighting how to use on-trend blues for spring and summer 2012. You can see the rest of the photos on the episode gallery or watch the episode.

If you enjoyed this house tour, then why not take a tour of Bemz founder and CEO Lesley's home or the Scandi country charm in France house tour both recently featured in France’s Journal Des Femmes. And stay tuned to find out what Samantha Pynn chose from Bemz next!

Credit and photos: Samantha Pynn, Summer Homes, HGTV Canada

Nautical & nice - Klippan sofa and footstool covers

Facebook fan Henriette uploaded a photo of her Klippan sofa and Klippan footstools revamped with Stockholm Stripe - Jet Black covers from Bemz to our Facebook page. And here’s what she had to say: “My absolute favourite fabric is the Stockholm Stripe – Jet Black from the designer Katarina Wiklund.... The sleeping cat in the attached picture is Hampus, he loves it too…”

I must say Henriette has great, up-to-the-minute taste. Stockholm Stripe, both nautical and urban, is right in line with this summer’s hot seaside trend. If you're thinking about sprucing up your home or office with the latest nautical look, now’s the time to do it as Bemz is currently offering a 10% discount on all covers in select blue fabrics ordered by May 15, 2012 at the latest.

And Henriette's not the only one who loves her Klippan sofa and footstool covers. Her hugely huggable cat Hampus looks relaxed and right at home. We love receiving photos of customers' pets enjoying their new Bemz covers. And I have to agree with Hampus. Nothing says crisp and clean better than a quality striped fabric like Stockholm Stripe, giving the room an instant lift. Thank you Henriette for sharing your home and your Hampus with us!

For more inspiration, check out our top ten most popular covers, of which Klippan is number 6. If you have a Bemz cover, share the love! Send me a photo to blog[at]bemz.com or share it on our Facebook page.

One Zinc Grey Klippan and one matching kitty cat

Every Friday we try to feature one of the many, many photos sent in from our satisfied, or should I say proud, customers, right here on It's a Cover Up. We know all too well how daunting the decision making process can be when you are trying to decide on a colour or pattern for a whole sofa cover, based on a two inch by two inch piece of fabric. For that reason, we try to get as many different styles, colours and patterns up on our list of testimonials as possible. Please peruse through them if you are looking for inspiration or ideas. They are also available on our Pinterest boards.

We often get photos of customers' pets enjoying their new Bemz cover, such as adorable Mini-Me and lovely Lily. This week it's Alexander of the Netherlands and his fluffy kitty cat's turn.

Alexander chose covers in Zinc Grey for his two Klippan sofas and they slot in perfectly in this modern, warm room. His use of textures with dashes of colour give the room character and depth. And what a beautiful big window! Can you see his cat propped on the corner edge of the sofa? He blends in beautifully with the room. Perhaps Alexander will tell us his name once he sees this post?

Here's what Alexander had to say about his Bemz shopping experience and new Bemz slipcovers: we are very pleased with the slipcovers and they look awesome! It can even withstand our young cat! :-) We are so happy Alexander and veel dank je wel for sharing your home with us! If you have a Bemz cover, show us your home too: send me a photo at blog[at]bemz.com or upload it to our Facebook page.

Mocha Chenille Ekeskog in Sweden

As the Ekeskog, number five on the Bemz Top 10 models most preferred by customers, was discounted this week, I decided to do a customer feature on it. This one comes to us from Helen of Sweden.

Helen chose a cover in Chenille Mocha for her Ekeskog. And here's what she had to say (translated): I'm very happy with my sofa cover - it is great! Thanks so much for your fantastic service. I would recommend you to anyone with an Ikea sofa!

Chenille is a cotton fabric with a velvet texture, which is ideal for Helen's room. She has stuck to a neutral, dark pallet, focusing predominantly on deep browns but adding character and depth through a variety of textures, including the fur throw and cushions. The result is cozy and inviting. Beautiful. Tack Helen!

If you have a Bemz cover, send a photo to me at blog[at]bemz.com or upload it to our Facebook page.

Crimson Red Tomelilla in Sweden - discounted tomorrow!

Carina of Sweden has a Tomelilla sofa  - the model ranked number 7 in the Bemz Top 10 favourites as voted by you, the customer! And it just happens to be the model that will be discounted by 10% tomorrow- but for one day only (April 21, 2012). Carina chose a new cover for her Tomelilla from Bemz in Raffia Crimson Red and the results are stunning as you can see from the photo below.

I love the way the red is so deep and warm. It makes the room very inviting! The reds are repeated in accessories like the Iittala candle holders and the print above the Tomelilla sofa, and then offset by the cool metallic silver of the cushions and rug. It's a wonderful choice and a beautiful result. Well done Carina!

Raffia is a textured cotton fabric made up of a blend of weaves which creates an elegant, multi-faceted look with an attractive structure and silky soft feel. Other textured cottons in the Bemz collection include Tegnér Melange, Sybary, Frescati and Piper Twill. Carina wrote (translated): It turned out really nice and I am very pleased. Tusen tack for sharing with us Carina! And if you have a Bemz cover, share it with us. Send a photo to me at blog[at] bemz.com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

And don't forget! If you own a 3 seat Tomelilla like Carina's, strike while the iron's hot: 10% off tomorrow, April 21, 2012 on any and all fabrics for this model. Happy shopping!

A sage Ektorp in the Netherlands

Mirjam of the Netherlands, self-titled happy customer, wrote in to tell us how pleased she was with her Bemz covers, as well as to share a few photos.

Mirjam chose Sage Brown covers for her Ektorp sofas. And she wrote: I want to thank you for the good service, everything went perfect! We are really happy with our new Ektorp covers and are inspired to change the rest of our living room as well. I'm painting our IVAR cabinet to match the sofa better; it was brown and now it's white.

Mirjam's home has a lovely warm, inviting look with a hint of country chic. And crocheted blankets and pillows! We've talked about how popular they've become again. I wonder if that's Mirjam's handy-work? Don't the tulips finish the room off beautifully? 

See more of Mirjam's home on her blog. Dank je wel Mirjam for sharing your lovely home with us. If you have a Bemz cover, why not send in a photo and inspire us? You can send it to me at blog[at] bemz.com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

Easter special: Karlanda and Henriksdal featured

For this week's customer feature, I decided to trawl through the many, many beautiful photos sent in to us by customers, or uploaded to our Facebook page, for ones that were particularly reminiscent of an Easter and spring-like feeling. I didn't have to look far and decided on these.

First up, Ingela of Sweden and her Karlanda sofa in Light Olive Green Belgian Linen blend paired with a Karlanda armchair in Silver Grey and a Karlstad footstool in Soft White. I think the colours really highlight the beautiful paintings hung over the sofa. When Ingela uploaded this photo to our Facebook page she wrote (translated): Spring has come to ours! And we couldn't agree more. Stunning. Tack Ingela!

Next up is Karine and her Henriksdal bar stool in Sagrada Blossom by Designers Guild at Bemz. It's the perfect accompaniment to her lovely retro kitsch enamel cabinet. My *sweet home* , thanks Bemz wrote Karine when she shared this photo. Sweet indeed. And inviting! Great choice, great home - thank you Karine.

Winnie of Canada chose covers in Daiquiri Green for her Henriksdal barstools as a beautiful pop of colour in her modern and sleek kitchen, and ties it in with other green accessories giving the otherwise monochromatic room a real lift. When Winnie uploaded this photo, she wrote: Thanks so much Bemz for my new counter stool chair covers! We love it and it brings so much colour and life into the kitchen! Your kitchen makes me smile Winnie! It's like walking into spring and I love that. Thank you for sharing.

That's it for this week - three spring looks in three very different homes. If you have a Bemz cover and want to share it too, send a photo to me at blog [at] bemz.com or upload it to our Facebook page.

Happy Easter from all of us at Bemz!

Mysinge meets Marimekko in Norway

Vigdis of Norway sent in this photo of their Mysinge sofa.

Vigdis chose a cover in Turquoise / Lime Pienet Kivet by Marimekko from the Bemz Designer Collection and the results are very impressive indeed! The fabric itself, with its oversized pattern and bold colours, is gorgeous as it is. The fact that the greens of the fabric are repeated in the painting above the sofa makes this an especially beautiful and successful pairing. A choice that has ensured the painting is brought to the forefront but not eclipsed by the sofa. What a great centrepiece in the room Vigdis! Well done.

Tusen takk Vigdis! If you have a Bemz cover, why not inspire others as Vigdis has done? Send along a photo to me at blog[at]bemz.com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.