It's a cover-up

Design-It-Yourself: IKEA Ung Drill Mirror

Do you sometimes have an idea in your head and can't quite find the right product within your budget? That's where the Design-It-Yourself series comes in! We are all about personalisation at Bemz and we often post Design-It-Yourself ideas we have come across in fave blogs or magazines but this is one I did myself. Here are your requisite before-and-after shots.

I needed a budget mirror and was looking for something ornate. I stopped in at our trusty old friend, IKEA and liked the style of the Ugn Drill mirror but didn't want it to be black. I was aiming for a more rustic, worn look so decided to do it myself.

Materials needed:
Mirror
White wax candle
Spray paint in colour of choice (I used Heirloom white)
Fine sandpaper

The brilliant thing about this mirror is that it has been framed in the same way as the IKEA picture frames work so could easily be removed while painting the frame. That saved me the taping and protecting of the mirror!

Here's what to do:

Rub a white wax candle over the mirror. The areas to focus on are those that would naturally wear away with time like edges and corners. The point of the wax it to be able to easily remove the paint from these areas with a little sanding to give it that worn look.

Next, lay your mirror on some kind of drop sheet - the box the Ung Drill mirror came in worked perfectly, and in a well ventilated area, and spray on the colour.

Allow to dry then spray on a second coat. Make sure you really get into all the grooves and crevices! However, the beauty of this worn look means that if you happen to leave some areas only lightly coloured it will only add to the charm of this piece.

Now gently sand over areas that stick out, edges and corners, as well as the oval part of the frame itself, to allow the original black colour to show through and give it that worn look.

And voila! Your very own rustic worn mirror! Have you ever DIYed something that you are proud of? Send us a picture to blog [at] bemz [dot] com - we'd love to see it! And you might just get the chance to guest blog right here on It's a Cover Up!

If the rustic worn look isn't what you are after but you like the look of the mirror, I've also seen it turned uber cool with electric colours like fuchsia, blue and orange. So many options in fact, that I may even have to do a blogpost on this one!

Rocking chairs - which would you choose?

I don't know whether it is because we are converting our home office into a nursery (baby number three's arrival is imminent!) or whether it's just that time of year but I seem to be obsessing about rocking chairs. There's something delightfully comforting about a rocking chair and it can easily be move beyond the nursery so is a worthwhile investment. And nowadays there's one to suit everyone, no matter style or budget. Here is a list of my faves:

Lillberg rocking chair form Ikea with Graphite Grey slipcover in Belgian linen from Bemz

Budget but beautiful: this Lillberg rocking chair from IKEA provides all the comfort and beauty of a more traditional rocking chair without sacrificing on style, especially when you put your personal stamp on it by choosing a slipcover from Bemz rather than the bog standard IKEA option.

Antique: There is a whole range of antique styles to choose from - from the classic Laura Ashley distressed version (top left) to the Swedish antique (top right), to the very classic 19th century Thonet rocker (above), there's an antique to suit every taste. Most of these are beautiful pieces but many come with a heavy price tag attached! It's an investment worth making though as you'll have it for life and their beauty never fades.

Traditional: I view traditional rocking chairs as solid wood ones which range from Shaker style to Adirondack and can be used indoors or out. They are timeless and versatile.

Organic modern: These are organic in form — simple, comfortable, but still streamlined and somewhat modern. You can pick up affordable reproductions like those pictured above (left: Urban Outfitters; right: Nurseryworks) but you may even be able to find the vintage version at thrift stores — all it takes to make them new again is some cleaning and perhaps new cushions.

Streamlined: Bentwood-frame rockers have a simple, streamlined design that fits well in a modern room. On the high end, look for classics by Jens Risom (left) and Ralph Rapson. On the low end, there's the ever-popular IKEA Poang Chair (right) with a Bemz cover, of course...

Cutting-edge: If you care a lot about design and you want to invest in a piece that stands out and will have no trouble surviving beyond the baby years, search the selection at cutting-edge companies like Droog, Generate, and De La Espada.

Industrial: Even the religiously minimalist have an option. Here's Philippe Starcke's contemporary take on an iconic designs. Perhaps not the most comfortable chair, but it looks great and ticks the right boxes for those looking for a minimalist urban solution.

Classic Modern: My personal favorite... The Eames RAR rocker is probably the most iconic rocking chair, and is hugely popular. You can get a fiberglass reproduction or a newer, molded plastic version. In a plethora of colors, there's one for each of us.

Which would you choose?

Phones: New tech or retro?

So many things on my wish-list for my home were put on hold until we had space for them. But now that we've moved from rented accommodation to our own house, I can start ticking some of these wish-list items off, finances allowing, bien sur.

One item that I have been pining for is a vintage phone. It's only an accessory but it really helps put a personal stamp on a place I feel.

We need a new phone: our cordless number is neither attractive nor terribly functional. Many of the digits stick and the batteries die if you put it on loudspeaker.

 

I love phones as there are so many possibilities and now that retro, vintage and reconditioned phones are 'readily' available, I can shop to my heart's desire.

But just how retro would you go?

If you could choose, which would you buy?

Photos c/o Pedlars and PMC Telecom

Can you see the TV - Part II

Following on from Can you see the TV, where I presented a number of ideas for concealing the TV in a room, I am now going to ask for your feedback as to what we should do with our TV. 

We have a Karlstad sofa in Tegner Melange Real Red

Here are a few shots (amateur though they are, using my iPhone) of what our family room/den/TV room looks like at the moment. Admittedly rather plain and boring... And (gasp!) the TV at the very heart and soul of the room. Sigh.

Cushions in Static Stripe Fuchsia and Spezzatura Pink (no longer available); our rocking horse

We will (we will, we will!) put pictures etc on the wall, but first we need to figure out what we are going to do with it (and get rid of that old Ikea Lack shelf the TV is on). 

Cushions in Herbarium Deep Navy Blue; small treasures left by my children: a pine cone, a one-eyed turtle and a frog

Along with removing the TV from being the focal point of the room, I also want to hide all the other electricals: the Wii console and games, the Blue-Ray player, the Sky box etc.

I NEED YOUR HELP! Which is the best solution for my home? Vote here:

Which is your fave?

 
The Swan chair by Arne Jacobsen. Photo c/o iconic interiors

We recently moved from a flat to a house. As with any move, once the paint had dried and the boxes were unpacked, much of our focus has been on trying to identify the right pieces to fit the nooks and crannies of our new home. We want it to fit with the style of house as well as our own personal taste. We've been talking armchairs and although we are far from resolved, I realized just how many fab designer armchairs there are out there. 

The Diamond chair by Harry Bertoia (left) and the Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer (right). Photos c/o Knoll

So I put it to you - which is your fave? (Not that we have room for a designer armchair in our budget but it's always nice to dream!)