It's a cover-up

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.

One room - three looks, thanks to new Karlstad slipcovers

Want to give your room a lift without the headache of full-on renos or cracking open a can of paint? New slipcovers for your Ikea furniture can transform your living room in no time. Our in-house designer and stylist, Katarina Wiklund put together three different spring looks for one room using a Karlstad 3 seater sofa and small armchair.

Have a good look at these rooms - they look very different yet none of the accessories around the room nor the layout have been changed. The only adjustments are new sofa and chair slipcovers, and different cushion covers. I think you'll agree that it's pretty impressive to see what a difference such a simple change can make! 

First up - white with dash of light grey. Classic.
Sofa cover in Absolute White and armchair cover in Gotland Stripe Silver Grey. The cushion covers are in Candy Pink and Absolute White.

Second is the much sought after understated elegance of dark blues paired with shades of grey.
Sofa in Tégner Melange Ink Blue, Tégner Melange Zinc Grey for the armchair, with Tégner Melange Zinc Grey and Tégner Melange Sage Brown cushion covers.

Third and finally a sophisticated mix of bohemian and vintage styles.
Bubble Brown sofa cover with a Fuchsia Tégner Melange armchair cover, paired with cushion covers in Bamboo Green, New Baroque - Chocolate Brown, Vanilla Yellow in linen, Lavender in linen and Burnt Orange Tégner Melange.

World Design Capital of 2012: Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki has been officially designated the honour of World Design Capital for 2012 and we are thrilled. This Finnish capital has long been a mecca for design aficionados, but it's wonderful to see it finally get the credit it deserves!

Light show on Helsinki Cathedral

Back in the 90s, a group of über creatives were drawn to the rough charm and low rents of the west of downtown Helsinki so decided to set up shop and call it their own... The Design District of Helsinki was born.

Minna Parikka in her shop in the Design District in Helsinki

In the heart of the Design District, where cutting edge boutiques and studios abound, you can often find the creative minds behind the wares on hand, ready to provide personalised advice. One example is designer Minna Parikka and her extravagant shoes (pictured above) which are popular with the likes of Lady Gaga and Dita von Teese.

This is not to say that Finnish designers are contemporary new kids on the block. Au contraire! Much of this Nordic country's design success is rooted in a very well established portfolio, one that has held its ground for decades.

The timeless Aalto vase

Not so long ago, I posted about Finnish fave Alvar Aalto and a book about his architectural achievements which show no signs of diminishing in popularity. But like so many of his prolific counterparts, he is equally famous for his vase, pictured above.

Kartio glassware collection by Kaj Franck and the Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio

Other Finnish favourites include Kaj Franck and his seminal glassware (left), Eero Aarnio and his coveted Ball Chair (right) and so many other classics to be found under the famous Iittala and Artek design houses. 

Klippan sofa in Unikko Red by Marimekko from the Bemz Designer Collection

Of course, our favourite would have to be Finnish cult brand Marimekko. Global recognition was cemented back at the start of the 60s for this textile giant, when Jackie Kennedy wore a Marimekko shift dress on the cover of Life magazine. They've never looked back. 

What is the secret of these Finnish masters' success? Three words: beautiful, functional and timeless. Who's your favourite Finnish designer?

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

Deck the halls the Tricia Guild way

We love Designers Guild fabrics. They are vibrant. They are over-sized. They embrace colour and leave you smiling. That is one of the reasons why you will find Designers Guild fabrics in the Bemz Designer collections. 

So we were thrilled to find Tricia Guild and her London home featured in the December 2011 issue of Living etc. Here are a few photos from that article and can I just say how pleased I am to see how true the company founder and namesake remains to the Designers Guild look, even at Christmas. 

If you like what you see and would like to emulate Tricia, choose from a variety of fabrics from the Designers Guild collections at Bemz.

The Miami Collection includes Flamingo Park (left), Bayshore and Coconut Grove (right).

Espanola Way, Sagrada, Castellar and Barcelona are all a part of the Barcelona Collection at Bemz.

Creadit: Livingetc, December 2011 issue

Trend alert: from London Design Festival 2011

What can we expect for the rest of 2011 design-wise, you ask? What better place to look than one of the hottest design highlights on the calendar: the London Design Festival. 

There were more than 200 exhibitors from around the world at this year's Tent London, one of the largest design trade shows taking place during the London Design Festival, which boasts the very latest in contemporary interior products - furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, materials and accessories. Just up our alley!

And from it four clear trends remained apparent: retro modern, wood, 3D/geometrics and playful. Nothing strikingly new but slightly tweaked indeed.

Retro modern has been in the spotlight for a while now and our love for it shows no signs of waning. The reason? There is so much room for interpretation in this style! The latest twist being brought to the forefront is one that we love: Gustavian Elegance. Be still our Bemz beating hearts!

Ektorp sofa in Gustavian Flowers from Bemz

Give that lovely, ornate and over-the-top Louis XIV style a touch of that clean, sleek and minimal Scandinavian design and you've got the Kings of Sweden in the 1700s, and the the root of the design term Gustavian. Introduce it today, paired with contemporary pieces and their pared-back opulence and muted colours scream style and function.

A Twist on Tweed: When I say tweed, does it conjure an image of an old man smoking a pipe in a darkened library? Tweeds are rooted in tradition and used to be a tad drab but manufacturers have broken away from that stayed image by introducing their tartans in a myriad of colours. There's nothing old-fashioned or stayed about a vibrant and intense purple, is there?

Grimen bed frame cover in Frescati Plaid Grey from Bemz

Introducing these rich and tactile fabrics into your home in unexpected ways also helps bring them up-to-date. Layer them using different scales from a single palette to make a wonderful impression.

1930s Drama: We love the fact that this sexy, feminine, curved and voluptuous style is finding its way back into our hearts and homes. Everything about it is soft, curvaceous and sensual. It's taking all that modern bling and giving it a sophisticated and elegant edge.

Nils chairs in Sybary Charcoal Grey, New Baroque Chocolate Brown, Hounds Tooth Dusty Rose and Aubergine from Bemz

This is a tactile style, where textured fabrics really come into their own. Stick with sophisticatedly deep and rich colours, add a dash of sparkle and remember above all else, glamour, and this contemporary style will be yours.

Playful indeed: This is where we don't take ourselves too seriously and introduce a bit of fun and tongue-in-cheek humour into our decor. And why not? Embrace the fantasy, the surreal and imaginative. Can you spot the 21st century danger hidden among the fruit?

This style embraces a spectrum of happy colours and daring patterns where design and functionality play equal parts and curiosities have a happy place in the home.

Credit and photos, except where otherwise indicated: House to Home

Designer sofa at better than half price?

Do you know Heals? This British department store has long been established as the go-to place for modern designer and contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories. It has its finger firmly pressed on the decor trend pulse. No surprise then to see them collaborating with Marimekko on the eve of their 60th anniversary.

I recently noticed that they introduced a sleek and contemporary sofa with a Marimekko cover to its collection, pictured above. It is stunning, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, so is the £2200+ price tag attached. Sigh. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to bring that kind of designer wow into your home at a slightly more affordable price?

 

Enter Bemz. This very same fabric is available through the Bemz Designer Collection: Pienet Kivet Black/White by Marimekko. Choose a contemporary number from our favourite Swedish furniture giant, say a Karlstad, which will set you back about £250, if you're buying brand new. Order your designer cover from Bemz - that'll be another £500 (including shipping), replace the plain wood feet with aluminum ones for an extra £20 and presto! You've created a look-a-like for under £800. Happy shopping!

By the way, did you know you can buy sofas and chairs at IKEA without a slipcover? 

Trend alert: Native North American

We've seen blooms expand until they reached mammoth proportions but the reverse is happening to geometrics. They have shrunk - in size only though. They are still very much on the radar. Recently, I posted about how Nomadic Central Asia's inspired patterns were on-trend both on the catwalk and in the home. Similar to these vibrant, geometric shapes is another trend hitting it big: Native North American. I am particularly happy about that considering I just invested in a pair of these babies - authentic mukluks!

Cushions from Rouge du Rhin

Bridget drum shade from Greener Abode

Like a 60s update, these patterns take the casual bohemian look associated with Native American patterns and combines them with a slightly more digitally produced geometric shapes and dynamic colours.

I think Espanola Way Cobalt from the Designers Guild Miami Collection at Bemz fits the bill perfectly, don't you?

Credit: Livingetc, October 2011 issue

Books to Inspire: Romantic Style

Romantic Style by Selina Lake and Sara Norrman reminds me very much of the Bemz Scandinavian Country Lifestyle: it's a reworking of a traditional style with a beautiful, rustic charm.

What is really great about this book, aside from the obvious beauty of it, is the way Selina delves into the true romantic style with all its complexities and its breadth. She presents it in four variants: Vintage Romantic, Simple Romantic, Elegant Romantic and Modern Romantic, and with each one, stunning photos and wonderful advice.

Vintage Romantic is centred around nostalgia.

Simple Romantic gives relaxed and cool vibe with its clean lines, relying on fabrics and accessories to set the mood.

Faded and subdued colours offset the ornate and gilded to create an Elegant Romantic style.

The Modern Romantic style is perhaps the one that took me most by surprise but Selina is spot on: even cutting edge furniture can be softened using bold, decorative shapes and softer textiles.

"If you love elegant furniture and soft colours and a home filled with flowers and candlelight, then you'll adore Romantic Style."

Selina Lake is an interior stylist who also has her own blog, which I recommend. It's a great place to visit for more ideas and inspiration.

Credit: Photos by Debi Treloar