It’s true: I’m a serial redecorator! Well, I say that but it’s not always the case. For example, I’ve not changed any of the design elements in the master bedroom at our NYC apartment since we decorated it this time last year. We both adore this space and I honestly can’t see us redecorating it anytime soon: it’s become part of our lives in this apartment and it’s a true sanctuary. However, some spaces in the apartments in which my heart mate and I have lived over the years have always been more transient when it comes to their decor. I find it kind of funny that two rooms right next to each other evoke different responses: when it comes to one space, the bedroom, we both can’t imagine changing the decor, but when it comes to the other space, our living room, we regularly embrace switching up the design and decor. All the while, both spaces, one constant and one ever-evolving, each feel like the fabric of our life and equally as comforting. They both feel like home. Do you guys have this differing design approach and ‘relationship’ with any of the rooms in your home? I’d love to know! And on that note, I’m gonna dive straight into the design updates we’ve recently made in our NYC apartment living room, including a beautiful new Bemz IKEA SÖDERHAMN sofa slipcover. Check it all out below!
Have you guys heard of Bemz? If you’ve been a long-time reader of the blog then you may remember me sharing some sneak peeks (the whole space was included in my second book, Dream Decor) of my last London apartment we lived in before moving to America, which had a gorgeous white linen Bemz slipcover on a Stockholm couch from IKEA. Or, you might remember the striped curtains we had made by Bemz which hung in this former apartment and the bedroom in the 17th Century Cottage we rented for a year. Oh, and I waxed lyrical about my love for Bemz slipcovers here and here. So, you get the picture: I’m a big and long-time fan of this company! I love that their custom slipcovers for IKEA furniture allow you to bring a luxury and elevated feel to something relatively affordable, such as an IKEA sofa. Plus, they have 250+ fabrics (which are machine washable!) to choose from so it’s easy to find exactly the right style for almost any space. We loved the white linen slipcover we had three years ago so much that we decided to go with a linen slipcover again when we recently redecorated our living room.
This time, we opted for the Rosendal Pure Washed Linen in an unbleached finish for our Bemz IKEA SÖDERHAMN sofa slipcover. I wanted to bring a feeling of texture and warmth into the space, and this gorgeously tactile linen custom cover was the perfect piece to do just that. For a while, I toyed with the idea of not painting the wall and going for a blue linen slipcover. However, in the end I decided to switch it and painted the wall this gorgeous shade of Alfresco blue, choosing then to contrast the Bemz IKEA SÖDERHAMN sofa slipcover in the unbleached linen against it. The result is so beautiful and it feels so cozy for autumn!
The Around coffee table and Grossman Grasshopper Floor Lamp were both in the room before (I love them too much to sell them or move them into a different room!). The December XL leather occasional chair is from a Finish design brand called Nikari, and I managed to get it 50% off as it was a floor sample. I squealed with delight when I saw it because it was the perfect piece to continue the Scandi vibe in the space, while also warming up the blues. The rug brings in some much needed pattern, while the blue Billy bookcase was an affordable way to layer blue on blue. I love how the glass doors mean I no-longer have to dust everything on these shelves (!) and I’m so glad I added the two lights at the top because they create a really cozy warm light in the space now the nights are drawing in. For the gallery wall, most of it is art I had from previous apartments and gallery wall iterations. I added the pencil life drawing which I bought at a street art fair in Bellport this past summer, along with a small vintage ship painting that I bought on Etsy. The pillows are a mix from IKEA’s Stockholm 2017 collection and H&M Home. I’m a big fan of mixing high and low: most of the pieces I’ve kept from previous iterations of this space are the investment items that I cherish, while I opt for more accessible design pieces elsewhere so that I can afford to switch up the design and decor of the room each season! What’s catching your eye from my new look living room? Have you redecorated at all for fall?
// Photography by Will Taylor in partnership with Bemz.
15 Comments
Gorgeousssssss! You kill us every time with these design posts Will! I want everything!! lol
@Joy – Awww that’s so sweet, thank you! 🙂
Very sophisticated and tasteful. I especially like the French seams on the sofa. The grasshopper lamp is timeless as well. Great job.
@Harry – Thank you, Harry! The French seams are lovely detail to the linen slipcover – the whole thing brings so much tactility to the space that I love!
Bemz are new to me but they look promising. I assume as you have used their slipexovers before you can attest to them washing well etc.? That’s always my concern with slipcovers….
@Sue-Anne – Yes, they wash really well! We washed our white linen slipcover quote regularly and it came out great every single time. 🙂
WOW! I love how you went with light and dark to create that contrast! The gallery wall is stunning and so is that blue bookcase against the blue wall. I’d never have thought to do that! Beautiful xoxo
@Mary T – I always love a color contrast moment, I’m so glad you like it too! Thanks for stopping by!
Lovely décor, Will. I liked very much the wall color and the gallery.
Your blog is full of inspiration;)
Kisses from Holland!
@Liduh – Thanks so much! Hugs back!
oh Will, it’s looking amazing!!! Love the linen texture to the sofa cover. Those Bemz guys are a bit too clever.
@Mary – Thank you so much! Bemz are so awesome, I’ve loved their products for years!
I love how gorgeous your apartment and house are and yet you still manage to always redecorate them and make them look even better.
-DIdier
http://www.didieryhc.com
@Didier – Thanks so much, Mr!
Beautiful! Definitely loving the blue color scheme.