It's a cover-up

Design Spotlight: Royal Copenhagen

Design Spotlight is a new series I am starting this year in the hopes that it becomes a regular. The aim is to look at all those classic, iconic as well as up-and-coming pieces, we covet. I want to uncover how they influenced design today as well as the designers behind them. Plus, it's always nice to have something pretty to look at!

To start us off I thought I would first turn to the Bemz team and ask what design items sit on their wish list. And who better to start off with than our very own design expert Lisbeth!

Lisbeth picked Blue Fluted Mega Dinnerware from design icon Royal Copenhagen. This is a modern take on a classic Danish design from a 1775 dinnerware service and was lovingly achieved by artist Karen Kjældgaard-Larsen, at the ripe old age of 26.

These hand painted gems incorporate a selection of fragments from the original Blue Fluted decoration which were then enlarged to highlight the stylised chrysanthemum and its beautiful sweeping lines. They are stunning, timeless and classic. The blue and white are so very Scandinavian as well. Nice choice Lisbeth.

Did you know Royal Copenhagen offer a 24-month breakage guarantee where they will replace broken items?

Design-It-Yourself: Christmas gifts

I heard it said somewhere that the best gifts are either made or found and it has always stuck with me. Gift-giving is not about how much it cost but rather about how much effort and thought has gone into the process and that is exactly why Design-It-Yourself gifts are perfect! Not to mention the fact that they often are easier on the wallet...

Here are a variety of ideas from other blogs. Follow the link if you like what you see and want to give it a go.

This is great for someone who follows trends in interior design. Mounts are spot on trend and these ones are animal friendly too!

Do you know someone who is handy with the knitting needles?

These simple white ceramic pieces were transformed with a simply yet lovely botanical pattern.

A wood cutting board is ideal for foodies.

This is a great way of introducing a bit of retro style into the plethora of today's list of modern gadgets: it is a vintage book cover for an e-reader or tablet. Clever. 

And here's a really personal gift - a piece of art made specifically for the intended recipient: their astrological sign! this one comes from a blog dedicated to personalisation, P.S. I made this... Like!

These are only a few of the ideas floating around out there, the ones I liked the best. Check out the whole list at Design*Sponge for more ideas. Let us know how yours turned out! Mail us on blog[at]bemz.com or upload it to our Facebook page. 

Credit: Design*Sponge

Design-It-Yourself: Chandelier

This one comes via Bargain Hoot: a chandelier made entirely of glass jars.

They seem to be hanging from a rusty old wheel cylinder, which only adds to the charm and character of the piece. The jars are different sizes and colours and are hung using wire or string. Some contain flowers and other candles.

It seems like an "anything goes" kind of creation yet it really works. The overall effect is a unique bohemian, chic and welcoming chandelier. A stunner, and well suited to the exposed beams and flowing curtains.

Now that's what I call upcycled! Have you ever made something from upcycled materials? Share it! Send a description or a photo along to me at blog [at] bemz [dot] com.

Credit: photos c/o Braedon Photography

Design-It-Yourself: Chest of drawers... Again

I did a Design-It-Yourself: Chest of drawers almost a year ago but when I came across this little number I thought it was too pretty not to share. Plus, who doesn't have an old piece of furniture looking for a facelift? If you don't, pick one up at a flea market! This idea can be applied to any piece of furniture really.

This comes to us via Swedish newspaper UNT. As you can see they chose a very colorful and striking wallpaper - and you can too! This is your chance to use that wallpaper that you love but aren't ready to use in an entire room. Go with favorite colors and shapes, play with shades and even mix several colors. A feature I really liked about this example was the luxurious detail of giving the inside of the drawers their very own dramatic tone.

For this project you will need:
- sandpaper, tape measure, pencil, scissors, screwdriver
- putty/caulking
- primer, paint of choice and lacquer
- wallpaper paste and wallpaper of choice
- something to protect the floor
- a chest of drawers, of course

Here's how to do it:
Remove all fittings from the chest of drawers and roughen the surfaces to be painted with sandpaper to enable to paint to stick. Fill any imperfections or damage with putty. Once it has dried, sand it again for a smooth surface. Prime all surfaces to be painted not forgetting the insides of the drawers. Once dry, paint the sides of the chest as the rest will be papered. Then the insides of the drawers: choose a happy color, something matching yet contrasting the paper to create a bit of intrigue. Once the paint has dried apply a second coat.

Time to wallpaper: measure and mark with a pencil the pieces required to cover the drawers and sides of the bureau cutting them two or three millimeters smaller than the actual sizes to give it a stylish edge. Also keep in mind the pattern of the wallpaper, that any shapes are lined up on the drawers. Cut out the pieces of wallpaper, and brush the paste on the front of each drawer, one at a time.

Once all the drawers are papered lacquer them two to three times to protect the paper and finish off the look. And voila! A new set of drawers.

More Design-It-Yourself ideas.

Valentine's - a day for chocolate!

Valentine's has always been a funny one for me. Don't get me wrong: I've got nothing against gifts, chocolates or flowers. If someone wants to organize any or all of the above for me, that's great. It's the pressure - the feeling you have to that leaves the bitter taste.

But let's not be all bah-humbug about it. Here is the perfect solution to sweeten the deal (you getting these puns?) A Valentine's happy medium, to me anyway. Not too sweet that it makes you sick - just the right balance. Homemade peanut butter cups, c/o fave blog Design*Sponge.

Happy Valentine's everyone!

More one-of-a-kind-pieces thanks to upcycling

A Danish teak coffee table by Ben Allen

Not too long ago, Lesley shared her insights on design trends from her recent trip to Paris in which we stressed the focus on upcycling furniture: turning old pieces into one-of-a-kind objets d'art. I just came across another group focused on this trend: Urbankind.

Chest of drawers by Static and Dan Innes

A vintage oak desk Aroe of Heavy Artillery

What's unique about this group? They combine the functionality of classic 60s furniture like G-plan, and max out on urban hip-factor by letting some of the UK’s most celebrated graffiti artists loose on them. The end result: Art Decor - totally urban pop art on limited-edition furniture. It doesn't get more one-of-a-kind than this.

McAttee's dining table

The official opening of the Urbankind gallery took place October 28th. What do you think?

Credit/photos: Life.Style.etc

Trend alert: love - hearts

It's like we're back in the days of peace and love man. Nowadays, you can pick virtually anything up with a heart or the word love written on it. 

Credit Wood & wool stool

I think the heart first became cool back in the I heart NY t-shirt days which became iconic and the must-have t-shirt of the late 70s and early 80s. Did you know that the graphic designer who made that logo, Milton Glaser, did the work pro-bono?

Love cushions.

Heart hook.

Love tea towel, also available as a print, and vinyl wall stickers.

"Life would be rubbish without you" heart print, in a variety of colors and even as a ceramic tile, and Love in printer's blocks.

A contemporary take on art with a heart made of retro badges.

Heart tapestry wall hanging and a rainbow cross stitch kit.

Photo: roddy&ginger

Screen printed hearts in a variety of colors, and as a cushion.

Heart shaped balloons and a porcelain love tattoo box.

Hearts a flutter by Kim Clayton-Jones

Butterfly heart print with hand drawn butterflies.

From craft is cool to contemporary chic, from sincere to humorous, this trend seems to cover the gamut of styles. What do you think about it? Do you have any love - heart stuff at home?

Photos: all photos, unless otherwise indicated, c/o Rockett St George

Do you hoo or twit-twoo? Cutest top trend

Have you noticed how popular owls have become? They are on everything and offer a beautiful combination of vintage chic and humor. I love them.

 

Photo c/o Roddy&Ginger and Lagerhaus

I recently spotted a wooden owl moneybox at Cath Kidston that I want to get for my children's playroom but unfortunately it wasn't on the website so I can't share.

Photos c/o Omm Design and Ferm Living

Does our obsession stem from Owl living in 100 Acre Wood in Winnie the Pooh? Or have they regained popularity thanks to their role in the Harry Potter series?

Photo c/o The Oz Material Girls

Photos c/o Iittalla and Sköna Hem

Photos c/o Lagerhaus and Ferm Living

As a native Canadian, my owl's hoot would sound like a hoo hoo but now that I have relocated to the UK, I have been informed that the British owl says twit-twoo! What does an owl say in your language?

Credit: Elle Interiör

Pick-me-up: colored bubbles

It has been raining buckets for the past five consecutive days (well - that's not entirely true: we did get a little snow in there for good measure!) and it really started to affect my mood. Just when I thought I was going to start ripping my hair out I came across these: Colored bubbles!

Magic. Happy Easter everyone!

Top tip: gift for the person with everything?

There's a lot from this throw-back to the 80s rehash that I could probably do without (shoulder pads for one!) but my memories of putting together a mixed tape for a friend (more likely someone I wanted as more-than-a-friend) are heartwarming. I'd spend hours pouring over the tracks, ensuring they reflected my taste and appealed to the recipient's taste. The order of the tracks was critical and timing was down to a science: you didn't want the end of a song to get cut off nor did you want too much dead time at the end of one side of the tape...

 

There were few gifts you could give that required as much effort and time as making a mixed tape and that's why I think they were one of the nicest, most personal gifts you could give. And guess what? They are back! Just in time for Christmas too...

If you're stuck for the ideal gift for your lifelong dance partner (or someone you'd like to have as a dance partner!) give this a go. Make a Mixa provide you with the nostalgic look without the awkwardness of mixed tape technology, or lack thereof. It looks just like the old tapes but with a hidden 1 GB USB stick. Make a Mixa have really captured the essence of the old world mixed tape era by giving you the opportunity to completely personalize the gift: you get to decide on the color of tape, including a totally retro turquoise, design the sleeve and even include (I quote) fancy pants stickers for that added touch. All that, and delivered in a box for only £19.99 (+shipping).

And let's be honest - copying a playlist from your iTunes directly onto a USB sure beats recording them off old LPs!