A comfortable canvas for cushion art

Canadian Lesley Pennington, a computer design specialist, moved to Sweden to find love, family and a new career path. After purchasing an IKEA sofa, she launched a new business creating designer covers for IKEA sofas and armchairs, using natural, machine-washable fabrics. Bemz, based in Stockholm, Sweden, now sells a variety of fabric covers online and at the Inspiration Store in Stockholm, a combined sales outlet and workshop. Pennington’s newest offering is the Artist Series collection of digitally printed, specially designed cushion covers that take Scandinavian monochrome sofas and chairs to new heights of colorful originality.

In-house designer Katarina Wiklund designed five different fabrics with classic and retro designs, trendy neon colors, popular patterns, historical allusions and interesting trim and detail. Each cushion design works with Bemz furniture covers, using colors that coordinate with existing lines. Designs vary from Fiskis, inspired by a revamped church and screaming neon colors, to Vallsta and Dellen, printed with serene landscapes from 19th century postcards. “Each of the designs has been inspired by Scandinavian motifs or personal stories, as well as some of our own popular patterns,” says Wiklund.