Came across these adorable felt eggs on Bargain Hoot and had to share. Don't they just put you in the mood for Easter?
Time to start decorating!
Our colleagues in Lithuania are obviously one-step ahead of us as they made this eye-catching tree decorated with Bemz swatches!
How will you decorate for Easter?
You want style. You want design. But more than anything, you want comfort. You want your house to be a home, to be lived in. Use these tips to help you achieve just that!
Photo c/o Livingetc
Use colors and textures from key pieces of furniture as your guide to choosing a shade for walls.
Photo c/o Livingetc
Inject some character into the kitchen: streamlined cabinets and high-performance appliances are the building blocks of an efficient cooking space but a table and chairs for impromptu gathering, a burst of punchy color and a painting or even a blackboard are also vital ingredients.
Mix and match styles and fabrics to create a dressed-down mood. The tactile textures of velvet, chenille, linen, cotton and wool make an inviting combination. Upholster a sofa in a mixture of fabrics for a casual feel.
Arrange furniture and lighting so that every room is ready to go the second you get home. For example, an adjustable lamp and a side table next to a comfy sofa create an instantly welcoming reading spot.
Be guided by the architecture of your home and work with any distinguishing characteristics it may have by reflecting and enhancing them in your choice of furniture.
If you have open shelves, make the most of them for stacking china and glassware, and as a display area for favorite pieces and found objects. These are easily changed according to the season or your mood!
Inject an instant, easy ambiance into your everyday living spaces with little details, from fresh flowers to candle sticks.
Treat your workspace to the little luxuries you'd add to every other room in the house. A home office is about creating a personal space, so don't be afraid to experiment and make it your own. Personal details can help imbue a calm, relaxed atmosphere.
Think of your lighting choices as fun accessories in your design wardrobe and choose versatile styles that you can move from room to room. Make sure there's a lamp within easy reach from your sofa and a task light ready to hand by your laptop. Although organized, the effect can still remain chilled out.
Keep your living room cozy with low slouchy furniture, from velvet floor cushions to leather ottomans and beanbags. A coffee table is great for showing off books, and the mantelpiece is perfect for an ever changing display of things you love: invitations, photos and candles.
Raid you wardrobe or the prettiest items and keep them out on show. Hang a vintage dress on a door and accessorize your chest of drawers with ropes of necklace.
Accessorize with easy pieces that will add character and not clutter: prop pictures against the wall, pile books in stacks, tuck photos into mirrors and group ceramics in a haphazard way.
For a laid-back bedroom focus on curvaceous lines, muted hues and an inviting bed.
Think of your bathroom sink as a piece of furniture: it should be functional yet beautiful. Wall mounted units free up floor space and give an uncluttered look.
Choose beautiful, practical and long-lasting elements to form the framework for your living space.
Avoid too many bright tones, as they can be overstimulating.
Surfaces should make your life run smoothly so go for easy care, practical options. Wood is great on floors as it can be vacuumed easily; plain painted walls are the ultimate fuss-free surface; and in the bathroom tongue-and-groove panelling is an instant smart alternative to tiles.
Encourage your kids to get involved in the casual living ethos. Make it easy for them to tidy up by providing low-level storage units with deep drawers.
Even the tiniest of backyards can provide space for a few precious moments of me-time. Position a bench in just the right place to catch the sun and add garlands of lights and outdoor candles for evenings.
Adapted from 'Casual Living' by Judith Wilson, c/o Elle Decoration, Nov 2010;
Photos c/o Bemz unless otherwise indicated
I've already admitted to my slightly compulsive obsession with keeping things tidy. But what do you do with all those odds and ends that you need but don't necessarily want to see? I store them in old shoe boxes, throw them into random drawers, I've even filled a picnic basket with them! But none of my solutions keep the items within easy reach... Until now! This solution found on fave blog Design*Sponge is a much better one: Design-It-Yourself storage books.
Here's what you'll need to do this project:
- new or recycled clamshell style boxes
- heavy chipboard or tag board
- cardboard tube (e.g., a paper towel roll)
- scissors
- exacto knife
- hot glue
- white glue
- decorative paper (for covering the outside and inside of box. This is where you can really personalize it: use anything from maps to wallpaper to fancy wrapping paper. N.B. It needs to be of medium or thick weight.)
Here's how to do it:
1. Make the "pages": Cover the edges of the outside of the box with the white glue and stick a striped paper down to imitate the look of pages on the edge of your box. If you're not concerned with the end result looking like a book, you can use a decorative paper of your choice here instead.
2. Make the book cover: Cut two rectangles of chipboard slightly larger than the size of the cardboard clamshell box you've chosen. But before you glue these on, you'll first need to complete step 3!
3. Make the spine: Cut the cardboard tube to the same length as the chipboard and then cut the tube in half, lengthwise. Slip the cut sides over the spine/hinge of the box to create a softly rounded spine, cutting off any excess, and glue it in place with the hot glue.
4. Make the covers: time to glue the “covers” onto the box. Use hot glue for this, applied close to the edges of the box. Place the chipboard rectangle in line with the spine edge of the box, ensuring the top and bottom edges hang over equally, and then repeat the process on the other side of the box. N.B. Make sure you don't glue the opening closed!
5. Decorate: Using the white glue, cover the book completely with the decorative paper of your choice, working from one cover around the spine to the other cover. Trim and fold in the edges neatly, cutting slits from the edge of the paper to the tube for the spine, and fold down gradually.
6. Add the finishing touches: Line the inside of the box with decorative paper if you want - use white glue for this too! Cut the inside lining paper slightly smaller, enough to overlap the folded edges of the outside paper without excess peeking out over the edges. Label and fill with the things you would like to store.
No need to hide all that paraphernalia away anymore - display them in your beautiful boxes on shelves or even on table tops, and no one will be the wiser. Ahh - order in all the chaos... I feel better already!
Have you got a good Design-It-Yourself idea? Share it with us: send your idea and photo(s) along to me on blog [at] bemz [dot] com.
Credit/photos: Design*Sponge
Photos c/o Bemz
Following swiftly on from our themed top tips on kids' rooms where we covered babies, toddlers, tweenies and teenagers, I thought it we all needed a little "me time". Here are three quick and easy ways to update and personalize your own bedroom for summer:
Photo c/o Channel4
Textiles: There's nothing quite like the feeling of slipping between crisp, cool, well-pressed sheets on a hot summer's night so be sure you've swapped all your snug blankets for fresh cotton sheets. White is always a winner: choose embroidered, rushed or pleated designs for interest, or throw on a couple of colorful cushions to add a little pizazz.
Photo c/o Channel4
Storage: If you want your bedroom to be a kind of summer sanctuary it's best to aim for a clutter-free area. As with the children's rooms, storage is imperative. Include it wherever you can, not forgetting about the often ignored floor space beneath windows.
Photo c/o Livingetc
Windows: Summer is the season for soft, romantic voiles that billow beautiful in the breeze, like these linen curtains that have been personalized with colorful sari fabric. Light, flowing curtains paired with shutters gives an ideal summer look but if you live somewhere particularly bright a blackout blind may be necessary.
Credit: Livingetc
We've looked at decorating babies' rooms in part I, children's rooms in part II and tweenies rooms in part III of this series of top tips for decorating children's rooms. This fourth and final segment on decorating children's rooms is going to tackle teens' rooms, or young adults.
If asking tweenies for input in their room decor was a good idea, getting teenagers directly involved in planning their room is imperative. Teenagers tend to spend so much time in their rooms that they really need it to be a complete living space.
Together, you can make a project of it: develop a mood board together or use a virtual room planner online to create an ideal picture of what they are after.
Hobbies and favorite music can be the springboard from which to start when looking for ideas. If old rock tickles their fancy source vintage rock-inspired interiors for inspiration. If they are into fashion, chic image interiors such as Holly Golightly's apartment in Breakfast at Tiffany's may be just the ticket.
Create unique art by getting some of their favorite photos blown up.
Low-slung furnishings such as beds and chairs are ideal for lounging teens. And a hanging chair is a really cool addition.
A work area with good lighting is a must for doing homework; a fold-down desk means the space will be multifunctional.
Both boys and girls will want a full-length mirror with a socket next to it for hairdryers etc.
Finally, try to take the opportunity to have a good clear out of all the old stuff they a) don’t want and b) say they want but you know they won’t take with them. Space is a premium in today's modern family home!
Credit and photos: Livingetc, home designing and Channel4
In this series of top tips for decorating children's rooms, we looked at decorating babies' rooms in part I and children's rooms in part II. This third segment on decorating children's rooms is going to tackle tweenies' rooms, aka pre-adolescents or not-quite-a-teenager yet!
Photos c/o Bemz
This is the perfect time to allow the bedroom to really reflect your child's personality. Ask them what they would like but put some thought into how they use their room too. Is that where they get their homework done? Read? Hang out with friends? Hideaway? Play? All of the above? Try and tick the right boxes when addressing the decor.
Color is crucial but it needs to be a soothing space too - it is after all where they sleep! If you child chooses a bright color choose a gentler shade or introduce their chosen color through accessories and accents with textiles.
Photos c/o notonthehighstreet.com
Give them room to grow: Tweenies tastes can change quickly so a big notice board gives them a creative space for everything from posters to photos and artwork.
Make room for friends: sleepovers are big with this age group. Make life easier by investing in bunk beds which also double as a den, or opt for a trundle bed that pulls neatly out from under their existing bed. A daybed (below) is also a fabulous solution that provides sitting space for day use ticking the reading, relaxing and socializing boxes, still allows for a trundle and can be personalized to no end.
Photo c/o Bemz
If you want to avoid too many pop star posters, affordable prints are a great way to decorate their room - let them help you choose and they'll be proud of their room.
And finally, be realistic and keep it flexible. You can loosely interpret their wants - they will after all change with each passing year (or more frequently) so don't get too hung up on a theme. Also, today's modern family requires a certain amount of flexibility: shared rooms, guest rooms, play rooms. Keeping these multi-purposes in mind may result in a few toned down decisions.
The second part of our top tips for decorating children's rooms is looking at toddlers rooms. They are no longer babies, moving and grooving, and gathering up toys and clothes at an alarming rate. How can we make their rooms safe, contain their ever growing mound of possessions and still not compromise on our own personal style?
If you are in the planning stages, decide how much storage you think you will need, then double it! As children grow, so does the size of the toys they play with.
Start as you mean to go on: Fix hooks and rails low so toddlers can learn to be tidy as early as possible. Hooks get things off the floor quickly. Hanging baskets and shelves can store everything from toys to books to games and puzzles.
Alcoves cry out for built-in cupboards and under bed storage maximizes every inch.
Boxes and baskets are great for toys and games as they can easily be transported around the house and makes tidying a breeze. Label the outside for easy identification - photos are good for wee ones who can't yet read. If you keep a basket at the foot of the bed you've got a spot to toss those stragglers who still haven't found a home by bedtime. it's easier for toddlers to win down and relax for bed if toys are out of sight.
Safety is paramount, so make sure cupboards and shelves are screwed to the wall in case they are used as an impromptu climbing frame.
A lick of blackboard paint can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Try and get the most out of your child's room by giving furniture dual purpose like this closet that doubles as a place for drawings. Wall stickers are also a wonderfully easy way to introduce color and pattern. They are easy to apply and there are loads to choose from.
Photo c/o Designers Guild
Floorboards are ideal as they are easy to keep clean but as little ones spend a lot of time on the floor, a rug will help keep them warmer and their play area easier on their knees. Plus, a rug can easily be lifted and cleaned.
And finally, consider including dimmers to make it easy to check a sleeping toddler without having to switch on a bright light.
When you're expecting a new arrival, updating a room to turn it into a nursery is as exciting as decorating the rest of your home. But it doesn't come without its challenges! Children's rooms require copious storage, their wants and needs change as fast as they do, and before you know it, they'll have an opinion!
Careful planning is essential - but how to do it without compromising on your own style? It's only natural that the first room we visit in this series is the first stage: babies.
Photos c/o Bemz
You'll be spending a lot of time in this room too so it's important that you create a space that is calming for your baby as well as comfortable for you. Really, all your baby is after is a cot so feel free to go with the look you want. You can stick with white through and through to play it safe, or choose white as a base and accessorize with colors. You can embrace a retro cool look, especially if that mirrors the style in the rest of your home, or simply paint a feature wall in a dazzling color to jazz the room up. Green, orange and yellow and gender neutral colors. Have a look at the photos in this post for ideas.
A great design trick is to pick one thing you really love, whether it's a vintage toy, a print, a cushion or even a wall sticker, and then design the room around it. This gives you a guideline for look and feel. But don't get too hung up on it, because once that baby arrives so will a lot of gifts that may or may not fit in with your theme.
A great tip is to think a little long term: choose furniture that can be adjusted as your child grows, like a larger wardrobe with adjustable rails, and top a chest of drawers with a mat to double as a changing table. In three short years that tiny bundle will have turned into a talking, walking host of entertainment and demands.
A cot is essential, but if you choose a two-in-one cot bed, it will last until your child is ready for a full-size bed.
Also, don't put a cot next to a window or a radiator as babies are far more sensitive to temperature than adults. Current advice is to keep the room at a cool 18˚C (65°F).
Do you ever visit a favorite blog that has an interesting post that leads you to another blog where you discover all sorts of new things and, before you know it, you have traveled so far away you can't even remember where you first started - you've discovered some amazing stuff, but where did the time go? That's what happened to me today. The internet is a gift - and a curse!
Thinking of the old adage April showers bring May flowers, I wanted to share a couple of great design-it-yourself ideas that I came across relevant for the time of year:
This umbrella stand comes c/o Design Sponge and is a great idea, especially if you live in a rainy place like me (Scotland!). You can find very clear step-by-step instructions on how to put this together as well as a complete list of materials needed here and there's loads of room to DIY it to your own specific look.
Another brilliant yet simple one again via Design Sponge - transforming plant pots and jars into beautiful one-of-a-kind potters. And this is one the whole family can get stuck into. At the moment my 4-year-old daughter is growing cress as a part of a school project and incorporating a home made pot would really bring the project up a notch. Again, step-by-step instructions and a list of materials needed can be found on Design Sponge.
Finally, I also came across this gem thanks to Swedish blog Sak och bild. I recently wrote a post on how to Design-it-yourself: chest of drawers and thought that this is another great idea. I have in fact been looking for a solution for my children's arts and crafts materials and this would be ideal! There are long flat drawers for paper and coloring books, smaller drawers for paraphernalia like stamps, glue, ribbons, pipe cleaners and good sized drawers for coloring pens, paints, paint brushes etc. I love the way Ina of Sak och bild painted it the colors of the rainbow - it looks childlike without sacrificing sophistication. The Mackis storage range from Ikea is similar to this. Just paint the units in the colors of choice and fasten together.
Have you put your creative hat on and made something you're proud of? Share it with us! Send it to me at blog [at] bemz [dot] com.
This summer, the Royal Palace in Stockholm will hold a three-day party. June 19th marks the long awaited and much anticipated day Crown Princess Victoria Bernadotte will marry Daniel Westling and these royals are not doing things by halves! As the date draws nearer, excitement is reaching fever pitch and everyone is trying to get in on the action. We are, of course, no exception. We invited all the princes and princesses we know to a playdate / photoshoot at our Inspiration Store on Odengatan 22 as a way of commemorating the upcoming nuptials. Above and below are some pictures from the event.
This lone princess is sitting on a Nikkala sofa in Sun Yellow.
And these two royal tots are resting on a Klippan in Stockholm Stripe - Candy Pink. Obviously a photoshoot involving excited children required much preparation and adult cajoling. Here are some photos from behind-the-scenes:
Everyone here at Bemz also wants take this opportunity to wish Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel every success and happiness in their future together. A word to the wise for the lucky couple: make the most of your wedding day – it’ll be over before you know it!
If you would like to pass on your best wishes to the future royal couple, you can drop them a line on the Royal Court's website. Also, check out their royal service here.
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