It's a cover-up

Barbie does Bemz

A great big thank you to Marjolein of the Netherlands who sent in this very creative photo:

BEMZ helped make my home my way vintage, I'd say. Perfect like I imagined in my childhood play, I get to live in a retro dream home everyday. That's why I love BEMZ.

Barbie appears to be partial to Symmetry- Light Olive Green for her chairs :) Well done Marjolein!

PS THIS JUST IN: Marjolein contacted me to let me know that the doll is Fleur, the Dutch version of Barbie. "An old doll from the 70s" - not unlike myself ;)

People in glass houses...

Shouldn't throw stones as the old adage goes but this is taking it to whole new literal level!

This glass house is only a concept designed by Carlo Santambrogio and Ennio Arosio of Santambrogiomilano who have previously designed glass furniture that is either partially made of glass to fit in a glass environment or made entirely out of glass.

 

The pictures are stunning and the idea is beautiful but you couldn't be a prude and live there! I love the utter contrast of the über modern home and style planted smack dab in the middle of nature. Somehow, that's what makes it work.

I can just see the real estate listing now: "360 degree views..."

Credit: Freshhome

Heja Josephine!

Annika of Sweden posted this picture of her newly covered Göteborg sofa on the Bemz Facebook page. Annika wrote Our old sofa Göteborg feels happy today! I'll bet - I wish someone would wrap me in designer fabric. The Josephine- Graphite Grey, designed by Göta Trädgårdh and custom-made by Bemz, really helps make her room pop. Well done Annika and thanks for sharing! 

If, like Annika, you would like to share a photo of your home with the rest of us, please send it along to me at blog[at]bemz[dot]com or post it on our Facebook page.

The ultimate tree house

Check out this home made of whole trees. Not only is it super eco-friendly, it's also architect designed and most importantly, beautiful. Architect and 'inventor' of Whole Trees Architecture, Mr. Gundersen uses small-diameter trees as rafters and framing in his airy structures, and big trees felled by wind, disease or insects as powerful columns and curving beams.

First of all, a whole, unmilled tree can support 50 percent more weight than the largest piece of lumber milled from the same tree so these whole trees are more efficient. Secondly, when the trees are left whole, they sequester carbon, a ton and a half  for every ton of wood to be exact. Compare that with producing a ton of steel which releases two to five tons of carbon. Thirdly, these passive solar structures also need very little or no supplemental heat.

And if all that weren't enough, Gundersen's method is even beneficial to the forest as taking small trees from a crowded stand allows the remaining plants get more light, air and nutrients.

Find out more about this project through the New York Times or via Inhabitat. 

Photos by Paul Kelley for The New York Times

Bemz Inspiration Store

Pssst! That's Lesley in the brown dress, chatting to visiting press... Thanks Sara for the photo!

Oh happy day! The news is out: yesterday, a press meet was held at the soon-to-be Bemz offices on Odengatan 22 in Stockholm, Sweden. Any of you following us on Facebook will know that there was something special to be launched in conjunction within this new location. 

With today's social media firmly entrenched, communication is instantaneous and the leap from secret to press took about a nanosecond. The secret is no more: Bemz will be opening the first ever Inspiration Store!

What's an Inspiration Store you ask? It's a place 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, or feel daunted by making a choice online for such a large piece of furniture as a sofa, or are unsure of how the fabric color will work with the rest of the decor in the room in question. Sound familiar?

Have no fear, the Bemz Inspiration Store is here. The goal is not to sell products but rather deepen our relationship with you, the customer. We all need a little hand-holding at times and this 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. The Inspiration Store will not sell sofa covers but we can happily help you place an order.

There are a few fun activities in line with this launch (official opening is Dec 3), as well as some proper pictures to come. Watch this space!

Designer puzzle

Fancy yourself a dab hand at puzzles? Swedish interior magazine Hus & Hem (Swedish for House & Home) has this puzzle featuring the Tomelilla armchair in Bemz Marimekko Fandango - Red looking pretty fab. Click on the "Pussla!" icon and see how fast you can put it back together. My best so far is 943333 - not good enough to make it to the top ten list though. Grrrr!

Ikea Klippan in Urban Tapestry- Olive Green

Jeske Maters of Holland was so pleased with her new Bemz cover for her Klippan sofa that she sent in this picture along with a little note: I've just got the sofa slipcover and it is beautiful, thank you very much!

Jeske's Klippan has an Urban Tapestry- Olive Green cover on it from Bemz in 100% cotton Panama weave, designed by Katarina Wiklund. Some more textile facts include a Martindale rating of 25,000 cycles (or rubs!) and machine washable at 60˚C/140˚F (the warm to hot cycle).

Thank you, Jeske for sharing a part of your home with us! Cool idea with the white frame.

Norway's National Opera & Ballet

And while we are on the topic of Nordic design... There has been a lot of talk about the new Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, located in Oslo, and pictured below.

Photo: by Jens Passoth

It acknowledges and embraces all that is good with Norway and in fact, with all Nordic countries: from their ethical approach to social responsibility, to their keen eye for beautiful design, to their passion for nature. On the outside, the sloping roof provides an extended piece of space accessible to everyone while the inside, largely lined with woodwork crafted following the traditions of Norwegian boat builders, embraces heritage.

The exterior, made of white stone, metal and glass makes for a truly contemporary, pure and clean building that reflects light, a commodity that is lacking in winter months and in excess in  summer months in these Nordic lands, but always unequivocally cherished. The aspect that is perhaps most distinctively Nordic in the design however, is how this structure, despite being man-made, still somehow manages embrace nature, flowing fluidly from the water's edge and sitting serenely amongst the scenery behind, one with the landscape.

It's no wonder the architecture practice responsible for this landmark, Snøhetta, have won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2009.

Photo of the foyer above: by Jiri Havra
Credit: James from Land+Living

How white is white?

Frida of popular Swedish design blog Husmusen and one of our esteemed judges from the recently completed the My home, my way: Bemz competition wants to buy a new cover from Bemz for her Goteborg sofa but can't decide on which.

She's torn between Raffia Soft White, Chenille- Soft White and Soft White in Belgian Linen/Panama Cotton. She needs your help. Visit her blog and let her know which you think she should go for!

The Winner: Congratulations Linda Burbank!

The judges have had a look at the three finalists' entries in the My home, my way: Bemz competition and thought that all three had done a lovely job. Here are a few excerpts:

Maria Paola Pineda of France was heralded for the dramatic improvement she made with a Bemz cover - from an old and tatty, rather unremarkable blue sofa to a stylish statement, jazzed up with colorful cushions.

Veronica Yngwe of Sweden was praised because "the color makes me smile, and I bet it's very cheerful during the cold, dark winter" and because "she dared to choose a strong color, perhaps easier to do when buying a replacement cover rather than a brand-new sofa."

But Linda Burbank of the USA brought it all home: "Love the picture and the way she managed to match the color in her painting on the wall with the furniture". "She used the color combinations so well that everything fit in perfectly well. It's a beautiful composition." "The gold is such a solid base for the other warm rich hues in her home. The floor, curtain and cabinet, seem to be differing shades of gold and that gives a level of depth to the composition. The striped cushion on the armchair is a really fine finishing touch. Love the cat too." "A great example of how to pick a color from the room - in a painting or a cushion - and by changing the chair covers pull the whole room together."

Linda has won the 5000 Swedish Crown shopping spree at Bemz. Happy Shopping Linda!

And to all the contestants who entered the My home, my way: Bemz competition, a great big THANK YOU for your beautiful pictures, for sharing your homes with us – you helped make our competition a real success.

Thank you to our wonderful judges for their input and expertise.