It's a cover-up

Top tips: How to bring that posh hotel suite home

Stepping into a boutique hotel is about as luxurious as it gets. If only you could create that same experience in your own bedroom, right?

The Standard Hotel High Line, NYC

Whether you long for a sleek, streamlined design or something more rich and elegant, follow these easy tips from Bemz in-house designer, Katarina Wiklund, to give your bedroom the 5-star treatment.

Bemz bedspread in Grey Frescati Plaid, Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard and Bemz bed skirt with box pleats both in Zinc Grey Raffia Textured Cotton

Vanvik bed frame cover from Bemz, available in three sizes, 140 cm, 160 cm and 180 cm, with or without a bed skirt in Sand Beige Raffia

Katarina says that transforming your bedroom into a stylish, sophisticated haven is as simple as sticking to a monochromatic scheme - choosing neutral colours like creams, beiges, and plenty of greys and boosting interest with splashes of colour.

Bemz bedspread, Loose Fit, Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard, Bemz Loose fit Urban bed skirt, all in Medium Grey Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

The bed is the focal point of your room so make it a showstopper.

Bemz bed skirt with box pleats in Bayshore Magenta by Designers Guild from the Bemz Designer Collection and a Bemz cover for Ikea's Bådalen headboard also in Bayshore Magenta.

Bemz bedspread in Loose fit style, Bemz cover for Abelvär headboard and Bemz Loose fit Urban bed skirt, all in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

Outfit it with a crisp white duvet and sheets, then heighten character and texture with a luxurious 100% linen bedspread, a matching bed skirt and extra pillow covers in the same or contrasting colour. This will make the room look and feel heavenly. A complete look like this can be created with the Bemz bedroom collection.


Bemz bedspread, Regular fit, in Unbleached Belgian Linen Blend

Bemz bedspread. Loose Fit, in Medium Grey Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

If space allows, give the room a whisper of opulence by introducing a chair, bench or ottoman then give it the designer treatment with a coordinating Bemz cover.

Bemz cover for Lillberg armchair in Graphite Grey Belgian Linen and Bemz cover for Karlanda bench

Other tips from Katarina include matching curtains to your walls for a calm, cosy feeling or to your bedding for an elegant touch. For extra drama, she suggests keeping the curtains longer than the length of the window so excess fabric can bunch on the floor.

Bemz bed skirt with pleats in Mocha Belgian Linen Blend and Bemz cover for Bådalen headboard also in Mocha linen

Straight bed skirt in Soft White Belgian Linen Blend from Bemz

Conceal your television and electronics as well as your clothing and accessories in an armoire or cupboard for a grand and serene look, not to mention a more restful sleep! Then keep it polished and sophisticated with nightstands and dressers free of clutter.

Made-to-order bedspread in White and Grey Japan from Bemz

Your choice of lighting will create the ambiance: lamps either side of the bed for reading and symmetry, while a chandelier, crystal lamp or wall sconce for a touch of grace.

Bemz cover for Florö bed frame in Dusty Rose Hounds Tooth

Finally, a vase of fresh cut flowers on your nightstand or table will pretty up the room and add a hint of romance.

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


Bemz bed skirt with frills in Lavender Rosendal Pure Washed Linen

Photo credits: All photos from Bemz except the first, which is from The Standard, High Line, NYC

Books to inspire: The New Artisans by Olivier Dupon

With the DIY crafting trend gaining momentum worldwide, The New Artisans by is Olivier Dupon is a timely, must-have for all arts-and-crafts buffs out there looking for inspiration or for people who simply love beautifully made objects. What a treat!

Adeptly capturing the new mood - a return to the unique and the artisanal - Dupon showcases designers and makers who use craft techniques rather than mass-production methods to create unique, covetable objects.

Some pieces have been created from scratch, some are old things put together in novel ways, and others are upcycled from the growing mountain of abandoned objects out there, a consequence of today's throwaway culture.

In itself, the book is beautiful, a massive lush tome of 300 pages that is a pleasure to pick up and leaf through. Featuring 75 designers from all over the world whose products are available online – you’ll be sure to find a few favourites yourself.

It is also an excellent reference guide for your own crafting, including an invaluable directory of products, divided into categories: art, ceramics, furniture, glasswork, jewellery, lighting, metalwork, paper and woodwork, stationery, tableware, and textiles.

More than 800 colour photographs illustrate the huge variety of design work available — knitted scarves, handblown chandeliers, wooden table lamps, delicate paper flowers, handthrown pots and jugs, beaded necklaces, embroideries, and more.

Enjoy!

The New Artisans sells online from Amazon and Thames & Hudson.

Pictures c/o Amazon,Thames & Hudson,Cool Hunting and Hi Arts

Design-It-Yourself: Under US$20

Do you sometimes have an idea in your head and can't quite find the right product within your budget? That's where our Design-It-Yourself series comes in! At Bemz, we're all about personalisation and often post DIY ideas we find in fave blogs or magazines. I came across these great DIY tips AGES ago and picked out my favourites. Each of them sure to cost you less than $20 and very little of your time.

From Dabble Magazine

The first is faux panelling from creative folks at Dabble Magazine. This is the perfect way to add glamour and architectural interest to an otherwise plain Jane room.

From Dabble Magazine

Start by making a simple box outline with some masking tape and change it up with an "X" detail using skinnier masking tape stretched from corner to corner. Imagine it behind a headboard. Keep lines crisp and neat with a metal ruler and a standard level. This is a non-permanent wall treatment so you can get imaginative!

From Dollar Store Crafts

The next one comes from Dollar Store Crafts. Armed with a little TLC and some blue paint, you can upcycle your boring old beige filing cabinet into a storage-savvy statement piece that feels like it walked right off an architect’s blueprint. Achieve the end result by using a paint pen to hand draw the white lines on the final piece.

Via Apartment Therapy

This fab DIY I picked up from Apartment Therapy. Using a pile of old leather belts they created a copy of designer Blake Sloane’s wonderful Belted Chair from The Haymaker Shop.

Via Apartment Therapy

A sturdy old wooden chair with a broken cane seat is ideal. Remove the cane and attach 12 belts of different widths using a screw and washer as shown in the image above. Seems easy enough right!

From Whatever

This wonderful happy idea comes from the adorable blog Whatever. It’s the perfect project in the run up to back to school. Take a box of 64 crayons and remove the blacks and browns. Glue the crayons to the top of a canvas, and blast them with a hair dryer. Watch as the colours bleed down the canvas, creating a beautiful, colourful mess. The result dries really quickly too. Hang it in your child's room - happiness guaranteed!

If you want to see more ideas along this vein, visit Apartment Therapy.

Credit: Apartment Therapy

Plummy Vanvik in the UK

And speaking of dream bedrooms, here’s a Bemz customer who created a dream bedroom of her own.

Nicole of the UK sent in this photo of her bed revamped with a gorgeous new Vanvik bed frame cover in rich Plum Panama Cotton. Here’s what she has to say: I received my vanvik bed cover on Monday and thought i’d send you a picture! I had to alter it to fit this uk sized bed at 140cm wide but it wasn't too difficult, just loads of unpicking! I love my new bed! It's very comfy! And I love that I can alter the look of it with a new cover when I want to change the room again! Thanks heaps!

And thank you right back Nicole for opening the door to your bedroom. A chic, relaxed look for guaranteed sweet dreams.

If you have a Bemz cover, you should share it too and have your home featured here on our weekly customer testimonial series on It's a cover up! Send it to us at blog [at] bemz [dot] com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

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