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-It-Yourself: Ikea Rast dresser Part III (!)

I never realised just how popular the IKEA Rast dresser is for DIYing but then again, it makes sense doesn't it? It is an unfinished, budget option pine dresser that is pretty nondescript. It's really just screaming out Make me your own!. And many have, even IKEA themselves!

Here are a last few transformations I came across recently that offer a few more ideas and inspiration.

Although this one was not touted as an IKEA hack, I suspect it is. Even if it is not, I think our previous Design-It-Yourself: Chest of drawers post will provide you with the necessary details to recreate something along these lines. In fact, I suspect those flowers are stickers so all you are really looking at is a couple of coats of white paint, new flashy handles and the stickers of your choice! Lovely result though no?

Photos c/o O'verlays

These other options are all decorated using fretwork panels. A simple enough solution with a wide variety of possibilities!

And if you want to take the easy route, check out O'verlays - a company that sells fretwork panels in a number of patterns and styles, cut to fit a list of popular IKEA pieces including the Rast dresser.

Wow! A whole business concept built around personalising IKEA products? How ingenious ;) 

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!

Everything you wanted to know about IKEA, but were afraid to ask

The New Yorker magazine recently published an exhaustive list of facts and figures, along with a bit of dirt, on our favourite Swedish giant. Written by Lauren Collins and entitled House Perfect, the article was as informative as it was amusing. I fancied myself a bit of an expert on IKEA before reading the article but there were some pretty amazing facts in there. I'll highlight the ones I liked the best here.

Photo c/o New Yorker

The best of the funny facts, the so-called "dirt":

• "One in ten Europeans is conceived in an IKEA bed.".
• "Americans keep sofas longer than they keep cars, and change dining-room tables about as often as they trade spouses".
• There is an "Official IKEA Is Hell on Earth" Facebook group.
• So many middle-aged singles were congregating in a Shanghai IKEA in recent months that management were forced to cordon off the area and designate it "match-making corner".
• The Market Hall is unofficially referred to as the "Open the Wallet section" of the store.
• Inside the IKEA museum, there is a filing cabinet storing unfortunate IKEA product names, including ANIS, DICK, FANNY and other words deemed offensive in various languages.
• As reading material, the IKEA catalogue is only slightly less popular than Harry Potter books.
• The Malmo City Theatre premiered "Ingvar! A Musical Furniture Saga." last year.

Photo c/o New Yorker

The best of the facts and figures:

• IKEA has 326 stores in 38 countries.
• IKEA offers more than 9000 products, divided into four "Style groups": Traditional, Scandinavian, Modern, and Popular.
• According to one executive, the company's vision is "to create a better life for the many".
• Cots are the ticket to building a lifelong relationship with core customers according to an internal report.
• All price tags should aim to the left in IKEA stores.
• The capital of IKEA is Almhult, a small village in the south of Sweden.
• Ingvar Kamprad is 85.
• The first IKEA store was opened in 1953.
• The name IKEA is an acronym: the I is for Ingvar, the K for Kamprad - the first and last names of the store's founder, the E is for Elmtaryd, the name of the farm where he grew up, and the A for Agunnaryd.
• The first store to open outside Sweden was in Oslo in 1963.
• In 1973, German executives opened a new store in Konstanz when they meant to open it in Koblenz.
• IKEA's corporate culture centre is called Tillsammans which means together in Swedish.
• IKEA is the world's third largest consumer of wood.
• The LACK table and the BILLY bookshelf are IKEA's most iconic products.
• IKEA invented flat-packed furniture in 1951.
• 197 million IKEA catalogues in 29 languages and 61 editions were printed last year.
• Recently (on the back of criticism), the IKEA foundation pledged to donate $62 million over three years to help Somali refugees in Kenya.

Photo c/o Mister Ian

And finally, did you know that:

• Bookcases get their names from occupations, curtains from mathematics and bathroom products from lakes and rivers?
• IKEA's designer begin with a price on their brief and work from there?
• Amy Poehler once said that IKEA is Swedish for "argument"?

And, as a parting note, my favourite quote from the article (only because I could relate so well!) was: ...my parents and I spent a long night trying to assemble an IKEA bookshelf with the guidance of only a stick man with a mute smirk.

Do you have any funny IKEA stories? Share them here: blog [at] bemz [dot] com or post in the comment section.

Design-It-Yourself: Ikea Rast dresser Part II

I recently posted on how to transform the lowly Rast dresser, a budget option chest of drawers - even for IKEA - into a stunning and unique piece you can call your own. The inspirational ideas predominantly came from a variety of lovely and creative bloggers. Well lo' and behold - even IKEA themselves are spouting ways of doing this! Here are some more Rast transformations coming straight from the proverbial horse's mouth: found on IKEA's own Swedish blog Livet Hemma (which means Life at Home).

Here's a Rast turned retro using decoupage and leather handles. The old pieces of newspaper were fixed to the dresser using wallpaper paste and the strips of leather stapled to the inside. The leather will wear and colour with time which will only add to the beauty of the piece. Well done Ikea!

A couple of coats of paint, stenciled numbers, a final layer of wax and black knobs gave this Rast an industrial chic look.

And perhaps a more straightforward transformation thanks to a few shades of grey, this Rast has a contemporary and classic look. There's something about grey - it works in so many style schemes. Unfortunately, they did not divulge their solution for opening the drawers as they have not used knobs. Hmmm.

This one comes from a house visit on their blog. It was an interesting article about how to introduce and blend a variety of patterns in your home. This is evident even in the way the owners approached their Rast transformation. Despite the differing patterns, the bohemian metamorphosis is successful thanks to the use of similar style of florals with a shared colour palette as base.

And this one, revamped with a lick of white paint and lovely child-friendly patterned paper, was submitted by a customer - made for their son's room!

Another customer's creative solution for their child's room. I love this animal print - it is so happy.

Have you transformed a Rast? Share it! Send a photo to me at blog [at] bemz [dot] com. If you are looking for ideas on how to personalise a piece of furniture, please be sure to follow our Design-It-Yourself series. you can find more inspiration ideas and photos on revamping dressers here and here. 

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? 

Design-it-Yourself: Ikea Rast dresser

I thought a post showing the endless number of possibilities for transforming the lowly Rast dresser from IKEA would be a good follow-up to my recent post on our fave IKEA hacks. 

Photo c/o IKEA

The Rast dresser is a real budget option: it is made of untreated solid pine (easy to paint) with the backs and bottoms of the drawers made from fibreboard. It wouldn't be Ikea if there wasn't a little bit of fibreboard in there, eh? It seems to be used as a a night stand just as often as a bureau.

When I started looking into it, I seemed to come across an endless number of possibilities - too many to describe individually, however trust me when I say there is something here for everyone! I'll let the photos do the talking and if you like what you see and want to find out more, just click on the source link for further details. Happy DIY:ing!

Via Design Manifest

Via Ikea Hackers

Via IKEA Live (Swedish)

Thanks A Charming Nest

Via Canadian hodge:podge

Via Me, you and a wiener

Thanks to Marcus Design

Via Ikea Hackers

Via Ikea Hackers

Via Design Manifest

Thanks Design*Sponge

Via For Me For You

Via Ikea Hackers

Via Ikea Hackers

Via Double Mommy

Thank you Sarah Rodgers via Apartment Terapy

Phew! The Rast dresser must be a favourite for DIY:ers. If you like the idea of personalising a set of drawers but don't have a Rast dresser, fear not! We've done a few posts on transforming a chest of drawers: here and here.

Books to Inspire: IKEA the book

Why not? Whether we like to admit it or not, we are all drawn to that blue and yellow Swedish giant. Plus, as we are virtually piggybacking off this amazing home retailer, we really need to take our hats off to them.

IKEA the book talks about how this home retailer went from a one man show selling furniture off the back of a truck to one of the most recognised home retailers on a global scale in less than 50 years.

It also presents the designers who are behind the many successes at IKEA.

I once saw an episode of a television series called megafactories where they looked at the manufacturing process for IKEA sofas. It was very insightful. This book also explores the manufacturing processes from concept to execution, and discusses just how the pieces are engineered to come together so easily in consumers' homes.

This excerpt says: One of the pioneering child-friendly efforts was the Klippan sofa. Suddenly children were allowed on what used to be considered a parents-only sofa. The living room's most expensive piece of furniture, constantly exposed to chocolate stains and spilled milk, caught up making "stricter" parents less fearful about their furniture.

This is exactly why Bemz came into being - all our slipcovers are machine washable, child- and family-friendly. However, we are giving you one thing IKEA can't: at Bemz, thanks to our 180 strong collection of fabrics, you can give your sofa, chair or even bed your own unique look, one that won't be repeated in homes throughout the world.

Places to source IKEA when there isn't one near you

The whole of the Bemz business model is a springboard off the big blue and yellow Swedish giant - you know the one... Up until recently, we only sold products that were in some way affiliated with IKEA products. Although we recently launched a few products that can also be used by those who do not have IKEA furniture, like our Multi-Fit chair covers or our new bed skirts, the majority of our products are based around IKEA models.

Photo c/o Apartment Therapy

So what if there's no IKEA near you? Fear not! We came across this great post on fave blog Apartment Therapy: 5 places to shop for IKEA when there isn't one around. 

1. Second-hand: I did a post on this a while back where I listed a few regional options like Preloved in the UK and Craigslist in North America. You often see Ikea furniture being touted there - and fear not, slipcovers for many of IKEA's discontinued models are still available through Bemz.

2. Amazon: Again, this is region-specific but in the US and the UK, Amazon sells a lot more than books and DVDs. And yes, type IKEA into the search window and see what comes up! It is predominantly smaller items like lights, cutlery and children's items but maybe that is what you are after. Best of all, there does not seem to be a mark-up on items so you can buy with a clear conscience.

3. eBay: There are always loads of IKEA products on eBay. Obviously, if you are looking for a big ticket item, like a sofa, you'll probably need to pick it up so enter your specific criteria under customise preferences and distance and you can be notified whenever an item meeting your requirements comes up.

4. Twitter: This one surprised me! But once I thought about it, it made sense. Whenever I am off to IKEA, I inevitably text a few friends to see if they need anything. Well, by using Twitter and Facebook you can spread that question further. Use Paypal for payment and have your friends ship your items. Clever!

5. Local delivery services: There are people who have built businesses around the very fact that IKEA is out of reach for some. Look into it and see if you can find one near you. These people basically make the long haul to the nearest IKEA and pick up items for various individuals and then deliver it along the way. It's saves time and the planet. Can't argue with that.

That's the five that Apartment Therapy recommended but I want to throw in a sixth. Along the same lines as option one listed above but slightly better: freebies! Most places have regional free-cycling sites. Do a search and see what you can find near you. Thanks to Bemz, as long as the sofa or chair itself is in good nick, then you don't have to worry about the condition of the cover.

Do you have anything to add to this list? Let us know.

Credit: Apartment Therapy

Bemz opens the door to your bedroom

Florö bed frame cover in Lisa Bengtsson's Sir Harald - Multi

Exciting times! We're taking our first steps toward new and even more innovative products that can be used by those who have IKEA furniture as well as those who do not, alike. First was our new Multi-Fit chair slipcovers. And now we are making our way into your bedroom...

Florö bed frame cover in Tégner Mélange Ink Blue; Cushion covers in Panama Cotton Silver Grey and Tégner Mélange Ink Blue

We're now introducing a series of bed skirts and headboard covers just in time for summer 2011.

Bemz bed skirt with box pleats in Designer's Guild Bayshore - Magenta; Bådalen headboard cover in Designer's Guild Bayshore - Magenta

This new collection for the bedroom will enable Bemz customers to add their own personal touch to the most important piece of furniture in the bedroom: the bed. The bedroom series includes innovations for both bed frames and headboards, and also different kinds of bed skirts.

Bemz bed skirt with frills in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen - Lavender

While the covers for the frames and headboards are made to fit IKEA models, the bed skirts are suitable for most standard beds. You can check the sizings online and below.

Florö bed frame cover in Soft White Belgian Linen blend

Lesley Pennington, founder and CEO of Bemz, says:"We have been working for a long time on the development of our concept of 'individual design'. We began in the living room, continued into the dining room, and it now feels wonderful to be able to invite our creative customers into the bedroom and offer a new kind of furniture."

Grimen bed frame cover in Unbleached Belgian Linen blend

The wide range of fabrics at Bemz designed by our in-house designers as well as globally renown names like Designers Guild, Swedish Bantie and Lisa Bengtsson ensure a variety and choice to suit every taste. The bedroom products can be freely mixed and matched with all the existing Bemz fabrics and slipcovers for sofas and armchairs to create the maximum personal look.

Grimen bed frame cover in Frescati Plaid Grey

There are four models of bed skirts in either 40 cm or 50 cm skirt height: a straight model without pleats, one with pleats and a classic model with box pleats. There is also a model in a softer, romantic style, with ruffled frills.

All the models fit standard beds (200 cm in length) with the following widths: 90, 120, 140, 160, and 180 cm. Two standard American sizes (US: Twin Size & Queen Size) are being introduced for our North American customers.

Bemz bed skirt with frills in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen - Medium Grey

As for the IKEA models, these new bed frame covers fit the Florö, Vanvik and Grimen beds, and the headboard covers are made to fit the Bådalen model from IKEA.

In other words, this bedroom series includes products for both IKEA models and beds from other manufacturers.

Florö bed frame cover in Moss Green Belgian Linen blend; Karlstad footstools in Bantie Bubbel - Brown

These new covers will be available from June 2011, with more than 180 different colours and patterns from the Bemz standard range of fabrics as well as some designs from the Bemz Designer Collection, including British Designers Guild.