It's a cover-up

Karlanda in Urban Tapestry makes the papers

Not too long ago, there was a feature article in Swedish Newspaper SvD's magazine on Form for Everyday Life, which proffered a tour around designer Daniel Svahn's and interior designer Nicole Morel's home in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Needless to say, design sits at the heart of this home where every piece has been carefully selected or designed by this duo.

Karlanda in Urban Tapestry - Jet Black from Bemz

Well weren't feeling like the cat's meow when we spotted their sofa: a Karlanda with an Urban Tapestry - Jet Black cover from Bemz. 

Here are five decorating tips from this design duo:

• Don't chicken out of crazy decorating ideas! It's your home so do what you want. But try to have a clear plan in place.
• Lighting is important. Ensure you have a variety of light sources in every room to help create ambiance.
• Decorate using personal accessories that mean something to you.
• Don't be afraid to use colour. It provides wonderful contrast and livens up a room.
• Redecorate yourself. Almost everything can be made more personal with some paint and fabric, both old and new. 

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 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!

Top ten IKEA hacks

With the latest IKEA catalogue pushed through my front door, I was reminded of how very clever this Swedish giant is. They have solutions for small spaces, for small budgets, for small people and they always inspire. But it's hard to mass produce and still keep individual taste in focus. Enter IKEA hacks. Here are our top ten favourites, in no particular order. You may see a recurring theme with them, hinting at just why they would be faves chez Bemz:

This one ticks so many boxes: upcycled, stylish, personalised, durable, inexpensive. Alex of the US transformed a plasticky Emmabo deck chair into the modern take on the traditional Adirondack. Kudos.

Personalise a Gyllene lamp (original from IKEA, below left), with your own image as Damian of London did (below right). Artistic and practical. Personal and beautiful. Cute kids too!

Marianne of the Netherlands transformed run-of-the-mill into country cottage chic when she re-did this Bonde cabinet. All she needed to create a completely unique piece was a little elbow grease, chicken wire and good old gingham. Like!

That's how it started out...

And this is the end result. What a transformation!

A close up to really appreciate it.

Felicia of the US took a perfectly normal Hemnes bed frame and really upped the wow factor by adding a seagrass blind to the headboard and voila! A vintage bed frame that looks like no other.

This one doesn't really fit into our personalisation theme like the other examples do, as it is more of a classic hack (in the sense of taking something intended for one thing and making it work for something else) but I couldn't resist! What lucky lady wouldn't want her very own shoe room? Philip built this shoe room for his fiancee Cat out of Billy bookshelves. *Swoon*

Anna in Sweden must have made her little boy Filip very happy with this hack. Nice floors too!

Or how about a budget lamp that is totally on-trend? Sounds too good to be true? Well clever Charles dreamed up this little number out of a Lack table leg! (Just ignore that bare electrical socket please!)

The final product for this hack is meant to be dress boys (those things you hang your clothes on!) which is a clever solution for those living in close quarters, but I immediately thought of art when I saw it. It's like your own little installation! I loved that: contemporary art out of a couple of painted Bertil chairs from IKEA. And investing in art for your home is a big trend for interiors in 2011.

Lydia of Germany transformed a plain Egeby rug into a unique, filigree inspired focal point using paint, paintbrush, a stencil and her own creativity!

And last but by all means not least - although we may not be terribly objective - is this one. A Henriksdal bar stool turned into a moving and grooving designer chair thanks to some casters and a new slipcover in Marimekko's Unikko - Black (from Bemz, natch!).

All ideas and photos are originally on one of our fave sites: Ikea Hacker. The links will take you to the original hack, along with detailed instructions on how you too can transform your IKEA drab into personal fab! 

Design-It-Yourself: Childhood mementos

I recently came across this little number and had to share. This takes personalisation to a whole new level! And ticks all the on-trend boxes: upcycling, vintage, retro, modern, humourous...to name a few.

The creative minds behind Evil Robot Designs have come up with a way to preserve those childhood memories by turning toys into functional and beautiful lamps. With their high gloss finish and clear, clean colours, this mish mash of unrelated and unmatching colourful plastic items are transformed into an effortless, stunning and contemporary piece; a piece that tells a story.

Give your childhood the time and respect it deserves - and your home a unique conversation piece! You can either give your old toys (or your child's) to Evil Robot Designs and get a bespoke, humourous yet contemporary lamp or turn your hand at making one yourself. Why not?

Design-It-Yourself: Ikea Frosta stool

The whole premise behind the Bemz business is personalisation and here at It's a Cover Up our ambition is to provide tips and inspiration on how you can bring your personal touch, taste, design into your home.

This one comes directly from Apartment Therapy's interior tips genius Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan who demonstrates several ways you can personalise the budget Frosta stool from Ikea into a side table, a nightstand or simply your own version of a stool - and, it's a video! Doesn't get much easier than that. 

How To Hack an Ikea Frosta Stool from maxwell gillingham-ryan on Vimeo.

For more tips and ideas like this one, check out our Design-It-Yourself series.

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.

Romantic vintage chez Bemz: new Loose Fit designs

Bemz’s very own Loose Fit – Country Style slipcovers, a completely new design of cover available to fit IKEA furniture, were first introduced almost a year ago. Inspired by the Shabby Chic interior design trend, it combines a looser fit slipcover with the exclusive Rosendal Pure Washed Linen fabric, a pre-washed 100% pure linen.

By increasing the number of furniture models within the Loose Fit – Country Style range, we are making it easier than ever to introduce a touch of “romantic vintage” into your home, especially with the addition of our new Multi Fit chair cover which fits most standard size kitchen and dining chairs.

You can now get Loose Fit slipcovers from Bemz for the following models: the Ekeskog 3 seater sofa, sofa bed and armchair; the Stockholm (older model) 3 seater sofa, 2 seater sofa and armchair; the Ektorp chaise longue series (right armrest, left armrest and no armrests); and, the Jennylund armchair. Slipcovers from the Loose Fit range are already available for the Tomelilla series, the Nikkala sofa and the Henriksdal dining chair.

We've also added a new color to this collection: Lavender, a perfectly rich pastel, just in time for spring and summer.

To be true to the romantic vintage style of this range, we not only use beautiful 100% linen fabric and a looser fitting slipcovers, but we also cut the fabric by hand and use ties rather than zips (but to mention a few details!). All this and still machine washable!

Books to Inspire: Pale & Interesting

Pale & Interesting comes just in time - with the launch of our new pastels. Here's a book dedicated to decorating with whites, pastels and neutrals. Spring is here!

This is a book, by stylist Atlanta Bartlett and designer Dave Coote, dedicated to helping you create a relaxed and comfortable home that reflects your individual lifestyle and personality. Who doesn't want that? According to Pale & Interesting you just need to follow these 12 simple steps for lasting appeal:

1. Functional furniture: Make sure your dinner table is large enough to accommodate the whole family plus guests and be used for family meals, dinner parties, homework, hobbies... Another big ticket item is your sofa: spend as much as you can afford and opt for something that will stand the test of time. (With Bemz slipcovers you can easily change the look to suit your decor, season, mood...)

2. Think about form: Form gives a room structure, perspective and visual appeal. Juxtapose forms, like a mismatched selection of dining chairs, helps add depth.

3. Use color carefully: Color adds contrast, warms and softens, or can accent and highlight. A couple of blue cushions in an all white scheme add interest, while a strong neutral shade on one wall will bring depth and structure to a room.

4. Less is more: Don't lose sight of really matters in making a happy, comfortable home and celebrate the simple things in life. Keep only what you need,use or truly love. (See the seven deadly sins, sin number five!)

5. Ways to display: Choose one or two key pieces and let them have center stage. If it's something ornate, give it space to breath, if it's a collection group it to give it coherence.

6. No stress decor: Anything that makes you worry is a no-go in a relaxed home, like white carpets, surfaces that need a coaster, pale-colored upholstery that cannot be thrown in the machine (we hear ya!). Work within your frame of reference. If you have kids, pets, parties then plan accordingly.

7. Keep it real: Don't succumb to trends that aren't true to you. Create an interior that is honest, soulful but also functional and durable and works for everyone in the house.

8. Work with texture: As a general rule smooth, shiny and silky equates with formal while heavier, coarser textures portray a more relaxed look. Combine them, like mirrors and wood, or silk and linen, to add depth.

9. Plan the space: Open-plan gives a more fluid, laid-back look, and great for keeping an eye on children, but remember you need areas for privacy too, especially if those children are teenagers!

10. Become a curator: Display your treasures without cluttering by grouping items. 

11. Storage is key: A tidy, well-organized home, free of clutter will look, and more importantly feel, bigger. Build in storage so it appears to be a part of the architecture of the room or invest in statement pieces that give the room character.

12. Cultivate contrast: Identify the focal point of the room and then add something that will juxtapose it. An elegant, antique gilt mirror would look stunning in a sleek, contemporary, minimalist room.

Credit: Elle Decoration UK; Photos: Pale & Interesting

Trend alert: Six key trends for 2011

Whether you are wondering what's big for this year or just happy to see that you are spot on trend, here are six trends that we are sure to see more of in 2011.

1. Art

White Chair (left) by Simon Wright and Sky of Chandeliers by Delphine Lebourgeois

The ultimate personal statement, art has become more accessible with online galleries as well as an increasing acceptance of what constitutes art, from original pieces to printed artworks to photography.

2. Blues, greens and greys

Klippan sofa (left) in Tegner Melange Zinc Grey with cushions in Tegner Melange Bamboo Green and Tegner Melange Ink Blue; Karlanda sofa (right) in Tegner Melange Teal Blue, all from Bemz

This is the color spectrum du jour: blues for optimism and greens for longevity, with a touch of sobering grey to keep the whole thing grounded. But this doesn't mean it has to be boring: textured shades and loose patterns are very on trend.

3. Pretty

Kramfors sofa in Flamingo Park Natural and Kivik 1-seat section in Coconut Grove Black and White, both from Designers Guild collection at Bemz. Cushions in Gotland Stripe - Silver Grey, Coconut Grove Acacia and Stockholm Stripe - Jet Black.

Anything with soft edges is in: flowers, sprigs, blooms and nature florals. Think pretty. Yes! Read more about this trend here.

4. Wood

Henriksdal chairs in Loose Fit - Country Style slipcovers with box pleats in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen - Soft White from Bemz paired with a heavy solid wood dining table

Again, we see nature edging its way into our lives but this one provides the tougher side of it. This one is all about real, solid wood. Yes again!

5. Craft

Japanese bowls

The craft is cool trend has been ongoing for some time, but it's ceramics and clay taking centre stage now. This is a theme that sits close to our hearts at Bemz as it embodies individuality by virtue of not being mass-produced but instead is unique, bearing the mark of the maker. Ceramics from the East and South Asia are particularly hot.

6. Individuality

Upcycled furniture from Think Contemporary

Last but first in our books is that home decor should reflect the home owners personality. One very on trend way of introducing something original reflecting your individual taste is by investing in upcycled pieces: unique yet still functional. Or better yet, why not have a go at upcycling yourself? Check out our Design-It-Yourself series for some inspiration and ideas.

Credit: Elle Decoration UK, April 2011