It's a cover-up

Bemz CEO, Lesley Pennington, shares her insight

Bemz founder and CEO, Lesley Pennington, has been called on again to share her insight and expertise. This time it's at Your Life event this coming Tuesday, February 7, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Your Life was launched as a lifestyle magazine and website back in August with a focus on Mind, Books, Style, Time, Work, Spa and Travel. These same categories will be reflected in this, there first ever Live Your Life event.

Each category presented at the event plays host to field-specific leaders in Sweden. Lesley falls under the STYLEyourlife category, of course, and will talk about changes in home decorating trends. A couple of our intrepid Bemzies, Ben and Sofia, will also be on hand manning an intimate booth dedicated to all that is Bemz.

The event is already sold out - but all is not lost! Watch this space for a follow-up.

Creations et Savoir Faire - Paris!

Sara recently hopped a jet to Paris to help man our booth at French design fair Salon Création et Savoir-Faire where she was joined by our French PR team Virginie and Elisabeth. They had a great response with loads of visitors. Here are some photos and their feedback from the event.

The show welcomed over 50,000 visitors, of which more than 95% are women; creative women! (Sound familiar?)

It was five days of discovery focused on many and varied creative talents.

The theme of the show this year was "Alice in Wonderland, "a source of inspiration for designers and exhibitors", evident from this alley of amazing wonders (pictured above and below)...

In the Forest of Wonders, visitors were treated to a bucolic universe dreamed up by real artists that gave life to matter with surreal results.

And we were there too! This was a first for Bemz in France.

After many long hours in the crowds and heat, heads full of images and hands full of packages, many came to rest in our Relaxation Area in the middle of the hall and got to discover the Bemz collections.

It was a real pleasure to have been there representing Bemz, showing off our exclusive range of fabrics and covers on a variety of sofas, chairs, stools and cushions.

And what a welcome! The comments were rife: "Your fabrics are of great quality!"; "With your covers, I will finally be able to give my Tullsta and Pöang chairs the style they deserve!"; "It's a great concept: I can finally imagine a makeover without breaking the bank"; "I cannot get new a cover for my Ektorp sofa bed at Ikea anymore but can now choose from over 170 fabrics. How unexpected!"

Standing room only!

Happy Birthday Inspiration Store - you are one!

It was just over a year ago that we let the cat out of the bag with regards to the Bemz Inspiration Store.

Our ambition with the store was for it to be a place for customers to get ideas, advice and, like it says on the tin, inspiration.

Many of our customers have told us that they get stuck at the final stages of the buying process: they can't decide on a fabric; they feel daunted by making a choice online for such a large piece of furniture as a sofa; they are unsure of how the fabric color or pattern will work with the rest of the decor in the room in question...

We hope having the Inspiration Store available to you will help alleviate some of these concerns. Our goal was not so much to sell products but rather deepen our relationship with you, the customer.

We all need a little hand-holding at times and the Store gives you the opportunity to drop in, see the products first hand, get advice and ideas from our experts as well as have your questions answered.

One year on and it's turned into a wonderful meeting place. We've hosted one Inspiration Marathon, five press meets, one princess photo shoot and one very successful customer event there.

The Inspiration Store has been given at least 12 facelifts (!) and has seen over 6000 visitors since its inauguration.

This Saturday, December 11th, VIPs (that you!) are welcome to drop in for a spot of tea and something sweet to help celebrate our Inspiration Store success and first birthday. See you there!

Press meet: Bantie release

Just thought I'd share these photos from our recent press launch of the upcoming Bantie collection. It took place in the Bemz Inspiration Store which, as you will see, was transformed with samples from the Bemz Bantie Designer Collection. Enjoy!

Find out more about the new Bemz Bantie Designer collection, which will be launched in January 2011, here.

Tricia Guild visits Sweden - and Bemz meets her!

And speaking of beautiful designer textiles...

Malou von Sivers, one of Sweden’s darlings and host of Efter Tio, a morning TV program on Swedish TV4, had a particularly exciting guest recently – at least all of us at Bemz think so: design guru Tricia Guild!

Tricia Guild is famous the world over for her colorful designs and vibrant, eclectic collections of patterns available in a wide range of home wares, from wallpapers to fabrics, bed linens to rugs.

Earlier this year, Bemz launched seven fabrics from Designers Guild, the company she founded in the 1970s: Sagrada Lime, Aqua and Blossom; Barcelona Crocus, Cobalt and Ecru; and, Castellar Indigo.

The purpose of Tricia’s visit was to launch her latest book in Sweden, A Certain Style. Pick up a signed copy here. This is Tricia's fifteenth book! They range on the subject of colour and design, from soft furnishing to flowers, gardens and city living. And, of course, are all littered with beautiful, inspirational photos.

The highlight for us? Throughout the interview, Tricia sat on a Karlanda 3-seater with a Bemz slipcover in Designers Guild Barcelona Ecru (pictured above)!

Maison et Objet and gaie Paris

The perfect round off to a week dedicated to trend watching and design festivals, is this wonderful blog post written by our very own founder and CEO, Lesley Pennington on her visit to Maison & Objet and Paris:

I’m just back from Paris, city of fashion, culture and beauty at every turn. Karin, our marketing manager, and my main objective was to visit Maison et Objet which is undoubtedly one of the most important and successful European events for all sectors relating to interior design. I wanted to share our impressions with you. But I confess, I had a few other secret objectives, the likes of which I will only divulge here.

Photos c/o PFSK

Photos c/o PFSK

My favorite part of the show is always, without a doubt, the New Designers hall, dubbed NOW! A trip through this hall provides wonderful insight into trends and the direction design is taking. Natural materials dominated, not new as a trend, but with a fantastic twist! The materials chosen were unusual and used in unexpected, even playful, ways.

The interior design section of the show rang in another year for the environment with upcycling at the heart of it.

Photo above and below, left c/o Rededition

The best part about upcycling is that the results bring one-of-a-kind treasures into the world – like the teak furniture from the 60s and 70s transformed into modern, beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces by French company, Rededition which caught my eye (pictured above). I’ve seen similar ideas in the UK and think that this holistic approach to interior decorating is spot on.

Unique perhaps to France was the African influence. There was an abundant use of warmer, tribal colors and patterns paired with warm woods of which we are seeing injections on other shores.

I would love to incorporate a taste of this into the Bemz collection.

Photos above and below c/o Mama Shelter, except top right of myself and French PR rep Virginie

What other secret objectives did we satisfy on our trip, you ask? One was the Mama Shelter boutique hotel we stayed at: designed by Philippe Starck and über cool.

So cool in fact, that I almost wanted to sneak in the back for fear of letting the place down! Staying there gelled perfectly with the whole one-of-a-kind vibe we experienced throughout the show.

The real sign of a successful and important show is in fact, what happens around it. Paris itself came alive with design – whole neighborhoods, cafes, restaurants, shops turned into galleries. We walked everywhere but our visit to Marais allowed us to touch the very pulse of the French Design scene first hand.

And what trip to Paris would be complete for anyone even remotely interested in interior without a jaunt to Merci? Spilling over with philanthropic inspiration, ideas, uniqueness and intrigue, this shop is something everyone should experience when they visit gaie Paris. Just look at these pictures!

What was once called eclectic style has become mainstream and the mixing of old and new, kitsch and classic, contemporary and traditional has been widely adopted. I love that! It allows each of us to really put our personal stamp on our homes without being restricted by one defining style. That’s really what Bemz is all about so it sits close to my heart.

Credit / photos (unless otherwise indicated): Lesley Pennington

The London Design Festival

This week seems to be all about design events: I just shared our intrepid design team's report on Swedish Formex fair and we're already in the throws of the London Design Festival. It's that time of year. If you are in London, here's a list of some of the must-sees that have been highlighted so far. If you are not in London - go digital by following it all on Facebook or online and check out some of the links!

"The London Design Festival is a nine-day celebration of design in the world’s creative capital. The Festival is a platform for the widest spectrum of design disciplines, brought together as a unique and accessible programme."

The V&A is the first port of call for festival visitors, even those with home furnishings central to their interest.

Here's a photo of the Exhibition Road entrance with a handpicked selection of contemporary furniture chosen by designer Suzanne Trocmé. Also featured throughout the Sackler center, are Giulio Cappellini's key collaborations with British designers, as well as a handpicked selection of work conveying a modern approach to the use of wood by leading UK furniture designer makers.

Thomas Heatherwick provided over 30 of his new Spun Seats for members of the public to experience during the opening week of the festival. This brilliantly enjoyable piece of furniture made from heavy duty molded plastic can be experienced first hand outside the Southbank Centre.

Photo c/o mauriceinwestcliff on Flickr

You'll find this half of a Sphelix, the 'mother of all forms', in Covent Garden. It's a two-part form that joins to create a perfect sphere.

This is from the Sé Collection by Jaime Hayon, hailed as the 'haute couture of furniture' found at the Brompton Design District. There, you'll also find the the Super Natural by Studio Toogood who have launched a collection of furniture using three recurring elements – wood, brass and stone – with an emphasis on English-sourced materials and English craftsmen including stonemasons, carpenters and metalworkers. Overall, you'll find some pretty cool stuff, along with some very delicious treats (cheese that is!).

More furniture design can be taken in at in the main hall of the Tramshed in East London with Human Made.

And there's "Tables and Chairs - new contemporary voices in wood": A showcase of some of the best talent emerging in to the contemporary furniture scene today, also situated in Brompton.

Heal's will be showcasing an interpretive collection of furniture and accessories created using Lucienne Day's iconic prints originally designed between the 1950’s and the 1970’s. She was the foremost British textile designer of her period. You can catch this at the Heal’s flagship store on Tottenham Court Road.

And finally, one of our personal faves: Marimekko's strikingly inventive patterns and the clever use of colors which translate into strong, contemporary designs in interior decoration, clothing and accessories.

Check out all the furniture design links here and exhibits here, and catch the list of the interior design links here and make up your own list of faves.

And stay tuned, because next up is a report back from our very own CEO, Lesley Pennington, on her trip to Paris and the Maison et Objet fair.

Credit / photos: The London Design Festival, V&A, Bemz

Autumn / Winter interior trends for 2010 - Formex

Who wouldn’t want to attend the "largest professional meeting place for Nordic design" with the theme Happy at the heart of it? Bemz was lucky enough to be at the latest Formex interior design Fair in two capacities: our sofa covers were a part of the exhibit themed Happy Home created by Jan Rundgren (pictured below); and, our talented design team were there to check out upcoming trends.

Here's what they reported back: The Happy theme shrugs off the economic crisis and volcanic ash disaster and focuses on humor and budding optimism, highlighting unexpected combinations, functionality and an unrefined, raw studio feel. In conjunction with the Swedish Fashion Council, the exhibition presented three overall trends for the coming autumn / winter season.

We’ve translated these into easy tips you can introduce into your own home, with sofa covers, chair covers or cushion covers in many of Bemz’s different fabrics.

Happy Together
Just as the name suggests, this theme was all about fun and community; how to create a simplified, more enjoyable day. Pair heirlooms with spontaneous purchases to create a wonderful and intensely personal mix. Look for calm colors from the 50s, such as pastels like Dusty Rose, mint green Kirsikka Turquoise and ice blue Praliini Aqua (pictured left). For an unexpected effect, combine these calm colors with splashes of joyful carnival ones, like cushion covers in Tegner Melange Real Red and Spinning Multi (pictured right).

Raw Look
Stripped industrial meets polished antique. Disused warehouses, workshops, factories and slaughterhouses get a new lease by being converted into restaurants and shops. The color scheme is subdued, seeing the likes of Sage Brown Belgian linen, Zinc Grey (pictured left) and Deep Navy Blue at the forefront countered with injections reminiscent of nature such a Moss Green and Bamboo Green. Included in this trend are untreated surfaces, in fabric form this could be depicted using Unbleached Belgian linen blend, along with beautifully rugged rusty hues, like Tegner Melange Burnt Orange.

Being Boring
This is design distilled into its most pared-down form. Functionality is at the nucleus, and simplicity prevails. The Fashion Council defines this trend as "reducing", focusing on sustainable materials and "upcycling". The palette is predominantly made up of greys, like Tegner Melange Zinc Grey and Graphite Grey, whites such as Absolute White (pictured above right) and blacks, including Chenille Jet Black and Woven Whimsy - Jet Black (pictured left). These monochromatic solids are only broken up by clear, neon accents. Daiquiri Green, Mandarin Orange (cushion pictured left), True Blue and Fandango Red would all work beautifully in that role.

Which trend best suits your mood for this fall / winter? Let the inspiration flow. Order swatches of your favorite Bemz fabrics and create your own customized moodboard along with cuttings from the old interior design magazines.

Don’t forget to share them with us! Send photos in to blog [at] bemz [dot] com.

Wrap your sofa in luxury with fabrics from Designers Guild

Photo: Nikkala sofa in Sagrada Aqua and Stockholm chair in Castellar Indigo

You can now reinvent your Ikea furniture with the help of fabrics from the world famous Designers Guild!

Photo left: Karlstad armchair in Barcelona Crocus; right: Henriksdal chairs in Sagrada Blossom

Bemz is thrilled to announce today’s launch of three breathtaking patterns from Designers Guild: the Barcelona, Sagrada and Castellar, which will be available in seven different colorways. These fabrics are from Designers Guild's latest "Barcelona" collection, which draws inspiration from a modern Spain, and is in keeping with the design house's classic bold, contemporary designs, retro styled and brightly colored patterns.

Photo: Nikkala sofa in Barcelona Cobalt and Stockholm chair in Sand Beige Belgian linen

New to the Bemz Designer Collection are these fabrics from the Designers Guild Barcelona collection:

Barcelona - stunning, stylized graphic leaves and berries in an all-over design providing a structured yet organic appearance. Available at Bemz in Crocus, Cobalt and Ecru.

Sagrada - an all-over stylized floral geometric pattern reminiscent of stained glass windows. Available at Bemz in Lime, Blossom and Aqua.

Castellar - a lively, vibrant graphic design incorporating patchwork motifs and taking cues from many other Barcelona prints. Bemz will initially launch Castellar in Indigo.

Photo left: Stockholm chairs in Soft White Belgian linen and Castellar Indigo with cushions in Sagrada Aqua and Barcelona Cobalt; right: Karlanda sofa in Barcelona Ecru

As is the case with all textiles in the Bemz collection, these new Designers Guild fabrics are machine washable, and made from 100% cotton.

Photo: Karlanda sofa in Mocha Belgian linen with cushions in Sagrada Blossom and Sagrada Lime, and Karlstad armchair in Barcelona Crocus

Established in 1970 by Tricia Guild of Britain, Designers Guild is one of the most renowned and innovative design companies in the world. In addition to upholstery fabrics, Designers Guild is also very famous for its exclusive and distinctive wallpaper collection.

Topping up the Clearance Corner

Visit our Clearance Corner before Sunday, June 20th and you may be able to bag a slipcover with up to 70% off the original price. We've just added a whole collection of products so there’s plenty to choose from.

Plus, as these covers are already made, delivery times are considerably shorter too: about two weeks from the time you place your order.

Hurry to the Clearance Corner to see if we have the cover you've been looking for!

As with any sale goods, there’s a no return policy for slipcovers bought through the Clearance Corner.