It's a cover-up

Love, Love, Love this Ektorp sofa revamp

Facebook fan Christèle uploaded this photo of her Ektorp sofa with its new Zinc Grey cover from Bemz. "Very happy with my new cover :)" is what Christèle had to say (translated).

And I can see why. Don’t you just love how the deep, rich grey contrasts with the room’s simple white palette and wooden floor, accented with mementos giving the look personality and charm. You can almost feel the texture of the soft yet durable Panama Cotton fabric. In true vintage chic style, the room is now a great mix of greys and whites with a few metallic accessories and personal details. Well done Christèle - a wonderful choice and merci bien for sharing this with us!

For more inspiration check out our top ten best selling covers, of which Ektorp is number 8.

If you have a Bemz cover, why not send along a photo or two to blog[at] bemz.com. Or upload one to our Facebook page. We'd love to see and share your ideas!

House Tour: Summer in Canada for Ektorp and Bemz

Who doesn't love taking a peek inside other people’s homes? It's not just about curiosity - it's a great way to get ideas and inspiration, especially if it's a home done up by a professional. You can imagine how thrilled we were to find out that Canada's design star, Samantha Pynn decided to include a Bemz cover in not one, but two episodes of this season's Summer Homes on HGTV Canada.

In this episode, entitled Room to Grow, Samantha tackles a small charming cottage and turns it into a family-friendly summer home full of character. A cover in Eggshell Blue from Bemz for the Ektorp sofa plays a central role in giving the room that coastal feel.

The clean lines of the main living area are cool to the eye but warm to the touch thanks to Samantha's use of a variety of textures: solid wood and rattan, fabrics and other natural elements. The wonderful high ceilings and the sea-inspired palette bring the outside in and create a fresh, relaxing and airy oasis. By grouping furniture into functional areas in the open plan, Samantha ensures definition and order without sacrificing on cosiness or functionality - perfect for family dinners, entertaining and playing games.

Adding a covered porch is a great way to extend your living space and provides a graceful transition to the outside. Get more ideas on how you can achieve this look from the Bemz Simple Life Lifestyle, as well as previous posts highlighting how to use on-trend blues for spring and summer 2012. You can see the rest of the photos on the episode gallery or watch the episode.

If you enjoyed this house tour, then why not take a tour of Bemz founder and CEO Lesley's home or the Scandi country charm in France house tour both recently featured in France’s Journal Des Femmes. And stay tuned to find out what Samantha Pynn chose from Bemz next!

Credit and photos: Samantha Pynn, Summer Homes, HGTV Canada

Nautical & nice - Klippan sofa and footstool covers

Facebook fan Henriette uploaded a photo of her Klippan sofa and Klippan footstools revamped with Stockholm Stripe - Jet Black covers from Bemz to our Facebook page. And here’s what she had to say: “My absolute favourite fabric is the Stockholm Stripe – Jet Black from the designer Katarina Wiklund.... The sleeping cat in the attached picture is Hampus, he loves it too…”

I must say Henriette has great, up-to-the-minute taste. Stockholm Stripe, both nautical and urban, is right in line with this summer’s hot seaside trend. If you're thinking about sprucing up your home or office with the latest nautical look, now’s the time to do it as Bemz is currently offering a 10% discount on all covers in select blue fabrics ordered by May 15, 2012 at the latest.

And Henriette's not the only one who loves her Klippan sofa and footstool covers. Her hugely huggable cat Hampus looks relaxed and right at home. We love receiving photos of customers' pets enjoying their new Bemz covers. And I have to agree with Hampus. Nothing says crisp and clean better than a quality striped fabric like Stockholm Stripe, giving the room an instant lift. Thank you Henriette for sharing your home and your Hampus with us!

For more inspiration, check out our top ten most popular covers, of which Klippan is number 6. If you have a Bemz cover, share the love! Send me a photo to blog[at]bemz.com or share it on our Facebook page.

Trend alert: Nordic Blue - with 10% off

Nikkala sofa with a cover in Stockholm Stripe Deep Navy Blue/Sand Beige from Bemz

Blue has been a Top Trend for a while now, and gaining momentum in the run up to summer. Anything can be a catalyst for a great interior but at this time of year, nature and the seaside will provide the kind of breezy elegance our bodies yearn for.

Nils stool cover in Light Denim Blue Belgian Linen Blend from Bemz.

Bed skirt in Loose Fit Urban style, 100% prewashed linen Cobalt Brera Rigato designed by Designers Guild, from the Bemz Designer Collection

It takes just a few cool accents on a restrained palette to create the overall effect of a blue room. Washed out greys, greige, alabaster, putty and pebbles on the beach are the inspiration, while blues are the nucleus.

Nikkala sofa with a Bemz cover in Unbleached Belgian Linen Blend

Depth and character are added by mixing textures from the translucent sheer curtains to the weighty stone floors and rough-hewn woods. Splashes of simple pattern, especially blue on blues, from the azure seas to the lighter, wispy skies, create an ideal summer interior scheme.

Nils stool with a cover from Bemz in Light Denim Blue Belgian Linen Blend

Straight bed skirt from Bemz in Absolute White Panama cotton

Read more about the Nordic Blue trend on the Bemz website - plus get 10% off the ten most popular blue fabrics chez Bemz until May 15, 2012.

Henriksdal chairs with covers from Bemz: left, Medium length skirt in Absolute White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen Loose Fit Urban style; and right, Long skirt in Bolster Stripe Eggshell Blue cotton

Now that that's settled, you can start focusing on more important things like what you are going to eat, drink and listen to on those long, warm, lazy summer evenings. Roll on summer!

One Zinc Grey Klippan and one matching kitty cat

Every Friday we try to feature one of the many, many photos sent in from our satisfied, or should I say proud, customers, right here on It's a Cover Up. We know all too well how daunting the decision making process can be when you are trying to decide on a colour or pattern for a whole sofa cover, based on a two inch by two inch piece of fabric. For that reason, we try to get as many different styles, colours and patterns up on our list of testimonials as possible. Please peruse through them if you are looking for inspiration or ideas. They are also available on our Pinterest boards.

We often get photos of customers' pets enjoying their new Bemz cover, such as adorable Mini-Me and lovely Lily. This week it's Alexander of the Netherlands and his fluffy kitty cat's turn.

Alexander chose covers in Zinc Grey for his two Klippan sofas and they slot in perfectly in this modern, warm room. His use of textures with dashes of colour give the room character and depth. And what a beautiful big window! Can you see his cat propped on the corner edge of the sofa? He blends in beautifully with the room. Perhaps Alexander will tell us his name once he sees this post?

Here's what Alexander had to say about his Bemz shopping experience and new Bemz slipcovers: we are very pleased with the slipcovers and they look awesome! It can even withstand our young cat! :-) We are so happy Alexander and veel dank je wel for sharing your home with us! If you have a Bemz cover, show us your home too: send me a photo at blog[at]bemz.com or upload it to our Facebook page.

Vanvik and Stockholm 1.5 enter the fold

Loose Fit Urban cover for Karlstad 3-seat sofa in Cobalt - Brera Fino. Loose Fit Country cushion cover in Cobalt - Brera Quadretto. Designers Guild collection for the Bemz Designer Collection.

With all the excitement around the launch of the latest addition to the Designers Guild at Bemz collection, we forgot to tell you about our latest family members.

Vanvik bedframe in Sand Beige Raffia

New to the Bemz bedroom series are covers for the Vanvik bedframe from Ikea. The Vanvik bedframe cover is available in two sizes, 160 cm and 180 cm and with or without a bedskirt. Sweet dreams!

The Stockholm family welcomes covers for the 1.5-seater armchair into the fold, completing the look for all those who already have the Stockholm sofa.

Karlanda sofa with long skirt in Gotland Stripe Silver Grey/Absolute White

And finally, all those unsightly pins can be tucked away under some beautiful fabric for all you Karlanda owners, as we now offer a long-skirt cover for the Karlanda corner sofa and Karlanda sofa bed, joining the two and three seater Karlanda sofas. The Karlanda is a range available in short and long skirt as well as Loose Fit Urban and Basiq. 

Is there a product or style you're holding out for? Tell us! Drop us a line at customerservice[at]bemz.com. We keep a tally of all requests and any products the majority ask for gets launched faster.

Mocha Chenille Ekeskog in Sweden

As the Ekeskog, number five on the Bemz Top 10 models most preferred by customers, was discounted this week, I decided to do a customer feature on it. This one comes to us from Helen of Sweden.

Helen chose a cover in Chenille Mocha for her Ekeskog. And here's what she had to say (translated): I'm very happy with my sofa cover - it is great! Thanks so much for your fantastic service. I would recommend you to anyone with an Ikea sofa!

Chenille is a cotton fabric with a velvet texture, which is ideal for Helen's room. She has stuck to a neutral, dark pallet, focusing predominantly on deep browns but adding character and depth through a variety of textures, including the fur throw and cushions. The result is cozy and inviting. Beautiful. Tack Helen!

If you have a Bemz cover, send a photo to me at blog[at]bemz.com or upload it to our Facebook page.

Design spotlight: AGA

We started this design spotlight series in the beginning of the year, with the hopes of featuring some real dandies. As a starting point, I ask Bemzies to tell me what designer item would top their wishlist. First up was Production Manager, Lisbeth with her Royal Copenhagen dinnerware then Project Manager, Sara's cabinet from Svenskt Tenn. So far, so good! Now it's Customer Service Rep, Emma's turn and her choice: the iconic AGA oven.

Photo via AGA: Classic two oven AGA in cream

I'm really glad this feature made it to our list, as the AGA is a stunning piece of furniture for the kitchen that suits many different styles, despite first being launched in 1929.

Photo via Ideal Home: Updated Shaker style kitchen with modern handles and pure white AGA

Photo via Homes & Gardens: Country style kitchen with a splash of colour

Photo via Sylvarna Kitchen Designs: Classic black AGA completes a modern kitchen design

Plus, we at Bemz have more in common with it than we perhaps first suspected: it was invented by a Swede! Nobel Prize winning physicist Dr Gustaf Dalén, who was house bound after losing his sight due to a failed experiment, created a cast-iron cooker capable of every kind of cooking simultaneously through its two large hotplates and two ovens, otherwise known as the AGA.

Photo via AGA: Cream coloured conventional AGA

Photo via Beautiful Homes: Earthy tones and rustic touches give this fisherman's cottage kitchen a coastal feel

Photo via Livingetc: A country kitchen with a modern edge

More importantly however, an AGA sets the standard for kitchen design and gives this heart of the home a stunning focal point. Like any clever company, AGA has made changes to meet customers' more modern demands over the years without ever losing sight of the all important look of this iconic appliance.

I think Emma put it perfectly when she informed me that the AGA cooker topped her designer wishlist: Something I would love to have but do not actually need is this iconic appliance, although I would prefer it in Duck Egg Blue.

Photo via AGA: 3-oven in duck egg blue

Photo via Henry Gorden Jones: Duck egg blue AGA

Read more about the history of AGA and their range of cookers. And thank you Emma for your brilliant choice providing us with another intriguing Designer Spotlight!

PS FYI: Dalén contributed more to this world than this iconic piece - he was awarded the Nobel prize for his work in developing automated lighthouses, an invention which saved countless lives.

Crimson Red Tomelilla in Sweden - discounted tomorrow!

Carina of Sweden has a Tomelilla sofa  - the model ranked number 7 in the Bemz Top 10 favourites as voted by you, the customer! And it just happens to be the model that will be discounted by 10% tomorrow- but for one day only (April 21, 2012). Carina chose a new cover for her Tomelilla from Bemz in Raffia Crimson Red and the results are stunning as you can see from the photo below.

I love the way the red is so deep and warm. It makes the room very inviting! The reds are repeated in accessories like the Iittala candle holders and the print above the Tomelilla sofa, and then offset by the cool metallic silver of the cushions and rug. It's a wonderful choice and a beautiful result. Well done Carina!

Raffia is a textured cotton fabric made up of a blend of weaves which creates an elegant, multi-faceted look with an attractive structure and silky soft feel. Other textured cottons in the Bemz collection include Tegnér Melange, Sybary, Frescati and Piper Twill. Carina wrote (translated): It turned out really nice and I am very pleased. Tusen tack for sharing with us Carina! And if you have a Bemz cover, share it with us. Send a photo to me at blog[at] bemz.com or upload it directly to our Facebook page.

And don't forget! If you own a 3 seat Tomelilla like Carina's, strike while the iron's hot: 10% off tomorrow, April 21, 2012 on any and all fabrics for this model. Happy shopping!

Top 10 at Bemz - discontinued and discounted

At Bemz, we offer covers for over 20 models of Ikea sofas and within each of those models there are any number of styles: two seat sofas, three seat sofas, corner sofas, modular sofas, chaise longues and sofa beds. And that's just the sofas! We also sell covers for over 15 models of Ikea armchairs, a dozen or so models of footstools, dining-room chairs, day bed covers, cushion covers, bed skirts, bed frames... Phew! 

But this is not about an exhaustive list of what we sell. This is about what you, the great majority of our customers buy. What are the top 10 products sold, by model, at Bemz? To stay true to a top 10 list, we will countdown from number ten:

(drumroll please)

Number 10: The Ektorp armchair

Even though you can still get covers for this comfy number at the giant furniture retailer, it comes in as the tenth favourite product for Bemz customers. The Ektorp armchair is available in made-to-measure and shabby chic inspired Loose Fit Country styles.

Join the Prime Minister of Great Britain and get in at number 10 with your Ektorp cover.

Number 9: The Nikkala three seater sofa

The Nikkala is a discontinued model from Ikea. At Bemz, covers are available as regular, made-to-measure fit, in our exclusive Loose Fit Country style and as low cost Basiq fabric for our number nine spot, the Nikkala. Nikkala is also a town situated in Norrbotten, the most northerly region of Sweden.

Nine means long-lasting and harmonious. Perfect! One Number nine Nikkala cover, please.

Number 8: The Ektorp two seater sofa

The two seat Ektorp sofa, available from Bemz in made-to-measure and Loose Fit Country styles, ranks eighth on our top 10 list. Ektorp is a commuter town located outside Sweden's capital city, Stockholm, also home to Bemz. Yay!

Good fortune and prosperity go hand-in-hand with number eight. Better order your Ektorp two seater cover today.

Number 7: The Tomelilla three seater sofa

The Tomelilla is also a discontinued model from Ikea but its namesake is situated at the very south of Sweden in the Skåne region. Covers for the Tomelilla three seater are also available as regular, made-to-measure fit, in our exclusive Loose Fit Country style and as low cost alternative Basiq.

Seven is a lucky number for relationships - better get your lucky Tomelilla cover.

Number 6: The Klippan two seater sofa

 

This is one of the most iconic and longest standing sofas Ikea has ever offered. It was launched back in 1979 and is still going strong. For some, that's reason enough to get a unique and personalised cover, in made-to-measure or Loose Fit Urban style, from Bemz. Did you know that Klippan means cliff in Swedish?

Six is happiness! And good for business. If only you could order those as easily as your Klippan cover.

Number 5: Ekeskog three seater sofa

The Ekeskog is another discontinued line from Ikea with covers available as made-to-measure, Loose Fit Country style and in Basiq from Bemz. The town of Ekeskog is located between Sweden's two largest lakes: Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern.

Five is for the five elements. Oddly fabric is not one of them so complete the circle with an Ekeskog cover!

Number 4: The Ektorp three seater sofa

This is still a popular sofa at Ikea - one of many you can buy without any slipcover and save yourself a few clams to be put toward your stunning individual cover from Bemz, whether made-to-measure or Loose Fit Country style.

The number four represents solidity, calmness, and home, much like the Ektorp three seater sofa.

Number 3: Goteborg three seater sofa

Goteborg is Swedish for Gothenburg, the second largest city and home to Volvo. It is also a discontinued sofa model at Ikea with covers available in made-to-measure and Basiq.

Coincidentally, number three is associated with birth and your Goteborg will be a brand new baby with its new cover.

Number 2: Karlanda three seater sofa

The Karlanda is discontinued at Ikea but that doesn't mean you have to get rid of it. And many of you don't! This second most popular model's covers come in made-to-measure, the new Loose Fit Urban style and in Basiq. 

Lucky number two can be yours - get your Karlanda cover.

(one more time...drumroll please)

Number 1: The Ektorp two seat sofa bed

This item from the Ektorp collection, now discontinued at Ikea, is the most popular item among Bemz customers. With over 180 fabrics to choose from, you can rest assured that your much loved Ektorp sofa bed need not be kicked to the curb and better yet, look like no other Ektorp sofa bed in the world.

Are you number one? Yay! Get your Ektorp cover - and join our other number ones.

As a special celebration of spring and the renewal it brings, we are going to knock 10% off* your favourite model from our Top 10 list so you can make a renewal of your own. These discounts will be for one day only though. To take advantage of this promotion, all you need to do is 'like' our Facebook page so that you can stay tuned for the daily updates. The offers are going to crop up like spring flowers!

*promotion will run from April 18 through to April 28, 2012. Each promotion will be valid for one day only. Each of the top 10 products listed above will be discounted individually. To participate, 'like' our Facebook page, stay tuned and get ready to order your favourite from our top 10!