Bemz pillow...&....pimp your reading corner ; )

...reposting this picture over at my flickr, newly cropped, to set the focus on the lovely crisp, textured pillow ( the large, off white one ) Bemz company sent me, as a reward for entering their Christmas Crafts contest and in my turn, once again, thank them.

Since then, I' ve been enjoying lovely contact with Christie - www.flickr.com/photos/23272548@N02/ - who also offered me the chance to write a post as a guest blogger for Bemz's blog. 

You may read it here: www.bemz.typepad.com/itsacoverup/2010/03/iroivy-shows-us-....

As I 'm a fairly new and inexperienced ( but very eager and passionate! ) blogger, Christie showed a lot of understanding and assisted me firmly throughout the process.
I sincerely like companies, which not only offer nice products, but also have a kind, human "face"....

Christie, once again, thank you so much, I mostly enjoyed it and learned a lot !
And, last but not least, thank you for the repeated invitation, I gladly accept and will happily write a presentation again in your blog.... soon! : )

As simple as it gets....

....using mostly already existing furniture from our previous homes and spending as less money as possible ( so that most can be invested in gaining experiences through often travelling) were the drawing lines for making this Penthouse a home.

My things arrived by track from Greece almost 2 years ago.
So let's see how it goes from what is seen here:

His:
-> two piece sofa corner (Ikea)
-> wheeled coffetable legs, which were
added to a new surface from Ikea.
They were also wallpapered by me,
for a little luxus look.

Hers:
-> 2x4 Expedit
-> White flokati from Habitat
-> Alseda stool from Ikea
-> white, cotton curtains from Ikea
-> Vintage Albert Van Luit wallaper
found in an amazing shop's attic in
Athens, among with a few oher rolls,
that are mostly used in my crafts.
-> base lamp from Ikea
->handmede brown pillow

Bought together:
-> Leran big cental pendant lamp (Ikea)
-> Balck&white big cushion (x2) from
Ikea

Warming things up....

(more detalis on this photo here) 

by slowly laying all the carpets in the apartment, eventhough today's 

weather is like heaven on earth here in Hessen!

...and by spicing things up a bit by adding some fun details, something so needed in a white & natural toned environment! Here, some " flying milkjugs " , hunging from an Ikea tree, (also seen here) inspired by amazing and talented Ninainvorm's  display of beautiful mugs.

If you haven't already done so - something almost impossible coz she's eveywhere, from Flickr, to Wohnen Ideen, to this issue of Ikea Family magazine, to her blog and Etsy shop, be sure to pay her a visit at any or all  of the above places! Sit back and enjoy!

   

   By the way, if I did not already own this off white, pure woolen carpet (1,80 x 2,40cm), bought at Ikea 2 - 3 winters ago and being still in a pretty good condition, I would have very much loved to buy yesterday at my  - almost - regular Teusday Ikea evening visit  (after the Art Classes in English) this one, which celebrates earthy yellow and geometry so fine! It's the Alvine Ruta, it meausures  1,70 x 2,40 cm and it costs - in Germany - 149 euros. Not bad!     

  As a choice of carpet, I also find the grey Alvine Rand very appealing. It is the "brother" of the previous one, as they are made from the same material, have the same dimensions, style and price. Up to you to choose!

...just a quick post...

....loving how the colours and patterns of the fabrics
are standing out in front of the " quiet " but not so quiet
after all green wall!

I am daily amazed by many things, not to mention pictures of beautiful places, spaces or objects...today I was completely stunned by the fresh, crisp look of this Karlstad sofa, wearing a Classic Ruta - Black cover, accompanied by a few pillows sewed from Ikea's new, fabulous fabrics. The cover is one of the many that can be found at Bemz's collection. A company that makes covers to fit especially Ikea couches and model series, such as the Klippan, Karlstad, Kramfors, Ektorp, Stockholm and many others. Even older ones that are not produced any more! Such as our Falsterbo- yes!...finally found out what model our sofa is, thanks to Bemz. Here are the pieces that compose our sofa corner


+



For those of you who have and want to keep your beloved Ikea couch, but would like to give it a new look, nothing easier that a new cover! There is a rather big range of fabrics, from Belgian Linen Blend, to Panama cotton and Marimekko cotton. Last but not least, the good news: you can order up to five samples and get them for free, so long as you subscribe! Not bad, ha?...so that you are certain that it won't turn out the wrong way. That's good, coz they aren't exactly cheap - which is the bad news, still you can choose from various price ranges. Enjoy!

Pictures and sketches via Bemz

H a p p y T h u r s d a y !

....hmmm, is there such a thing as a " happy Thursday " ?...do not really know....have seen
" happy Friday "..... or " happy bench Monday ".... ( Oh!... still haven't managed to put myself on a bench and take a picture though....Oh well....will do soon )....but nothing about Thursday! For a reason unknown, I seem to be liking Thursdays the past few years a lot....something about it being straight after the middle of the week....it carries the relief of the weekend to come, yet leaves some time in the week for things to be done....
Concerning the picture, no the sun isn't exactly shining today, here in the Verna Park area of Main river in Hessen, this is why I picked this bright one, as a reminder of sunnier and brighter days. Still, the air is very fresh and there is a constant change of sunrays jumping out from the fast moving clouds, which often tend to monopolise the sky. Wherever you are, whatever you do, happy Thursday to all!

P.S: the new month, introducing also a new season, has brought me the need of changes in the Penthouse....let's see what will take place...and I don't forget that I promised to post pictures of the " new " apartment renovation in Athens....some are soon to be uploaded.

Tah - daaah....! Framed wallpaper samples on reading corner's wall.

Well, it took me longer than I thought to come back.... In the meantime I have been so much enjoying that our Penthouse has beenposted in some favourite blogs, such as Http://rearrangeddesign.blogspot.com/2009/07/house-tour_20,
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/inspiration-decorating-with-neutrals-09054, http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-decor-soothing-suite-4472/and http://www.kireei.com/index.php?p=1&id=633
A big thank you again, Ana, Susane, Christine and Chris! You brought a lot of visitors to my Flickr page ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivy_style33 ) and I have the oppurtinity to meet and exchange views with so many creative, wonderful people!
So, prior to leaving for vacation I was wondering wether I should wallpaper the reading corner's wall and if yes with which one. I loved all the samples so much, that I decided to decorate the wall using them. Something which also fits better to the fact that this house is rented. I also decided on keeping the costs of this project low, so I bought inexpensive RAM Ikea wooden frames and painted them white ( instead of buying for example the white RIBBA ones, which would mean the triple costs) .

Wallpaper samples framed. Size of frames: 20 x 30 cm. Size of wallpaper samples : 18 X 30. To fill in the gap, A4 white paper sheats were used.

The frames after three coats of white paint ( Weisslack) , painted with a roller.


10 Ikea RAM natural wooden frames were bought for 2,99 euros each.