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Swedish company Bemz makes beautiful slipcovers for Ikea furniture, partnering with Marimekko, Bantie, and Designers Guild, among other companies, to create its diverse covers. One element that's often missing for visitors to its website is the way that these various patterns and covers can coexist in the same apartment. Luckily, today I'm sharing an apartment in Stockholm, Sweden, which uses a Read more
Earlier in the week, I gave you a sneak peek at Bemz's new textile designer, Bantie. A fellow Swedish company, Bantie is owned and operated by Ulrika Gyllstad and Wilhelmina Wiese. You can look for the new Bantie fabrics to hit Bemz's website starting in January 2011. "Aside from the fact that we clearly love the Bantie patterns, we see this launch as a natural continuation of our work with both Read more
Finnish textile designer Marimekko was made famous when Jackie Kennedy bought eight Marimekko dresses, which she wore throughout the 1960 US presidential campaign. Soon, in the mid-'60s, the company sparked up a relationship with Crate & Barrel, using their designs on textiles like bedding in their stores as well as display backdrops.Nowadays, Mari's brightly colored graphics have made their Read more
Would you believe that this chair is from Ikea? I know, I know, you've probably never seen this swirling textile pattern at the Swedish store, and for good reason: it's not actually offered through Ikea. Instead, this vibrant cover, as well as many, many others, is offered through Bemz. This Josephine cover is an inexpensive $185, which means you can transform a worn Ikea sofa or armchair for Read more
While I have been a big fan of the Bemz slipcovers in theory, I hadn't had a chance to check one out for myself. Luckily though, Bemz was kind enough to send me a cover for an Ikea Lillberg rocking chair. Now, this rocking chair is incredibly comfy. I love it. It's big and wide and the cushions are firm and supportive. However, it looks like this: It is so boring. The cover isn't even white, Read more
Bemz, the Swedish shop which offers slipcover solutions for a variety of Ikea sofas, chairs, and cushions, now sells a mix-and-match collection of slipcovers. The collection allows you to participate more in the design process of your furniture by choosing any combination of covers from 6 color palettes. That way, you can have one pattern for the sofa frame, another for the seat cushions, and Read more
Tired of looking at your Göteborg sofa's bland, boring color, but less than inspired by the Ikea slipcovers available to you at the big blue Swede? Then check out Bemz for ways to improve your sofa's look without spending your entire paycheck. Bemz offers slipcover solutions for a variety of Ikea sofas, chairs, and cushions, and you can request up to five free fabric samples mailed to you, so Read more
On last night's episode of Mad Men, Don's new secretary, Dawn, and Peggy shared some beers and office stories on Peggy's floral sofa. Here's hoping that the sofa was comfortable — Dawn had to sleep over on it to avoid riots in her BedStuy neighborhood and deal with an awkward interaction between herself and Peggy before the night was over. Truth be told, I actually love the look of floral Read more
Dying to update your sofa, but can't stomach the idea of buying an entirely new piece or paying big bucks for a reupholstery job? There's no need to spend major money on your sofa when renovating or redecorating your space. Spruce up your seating area with these simple and effective ideas, from least to most expensive. Least Expensive: New Pillow Cases While you could always buy new pillows, save Read more
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for rose prints and patterns, but I've worried that they look a little too matronly or shabby chic in most decorating schemes. It seems as if the designing powers that be over at Bemz must have read my mind (and my concerns), because they just posted some helpful hints for decorating with roses in a decidedly modern fashion. Check out some of their great Read more
