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One major component of the 20th century home furnishings industry was Scandinavian design. While that movement featured many noteworthy figures, including Bruno Mathsson, Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen, perhaps one of the most memorable is Yngve Ekström, who was born in Hagafors, Smaland, Sweden in 1913.

The city of Hagafors in Sweden has a tradition of making furniture, which goes back a long time and a young Yngve Ekström was naturally drawn to an industry which was all around him. Like many Scandinavian designers, he not only studied the practice of wood crafting but also the theory of the evolution of the art through its history. He also studied aesthetics like painting and sculpture and these elements are reflected in his work.

He and his brother (Jerker) created Swedese in 1945. The company has become one of the most respected producers of modern furniture and decor in the world. He continued to be active in the company until he passed away, leaving a career that spanned more than forty years. Swedese produced items that were elegant and artistic home pieces. Their clean lines and utilitarian construction also helped their items find plenty of use in high end offices and business applications.

Possibly Ekström's most famous piece was the Lamino chair, first produced in the 1950's and still in production and popular now. The Lamino chair was actually named the best Swedish chair of the Twentieth Century by a Swedish design magazine in 1999 and received another significant award, the Design Innovation, by the I.M.M. in Cologne in 2003.

Sometimes sold with a matching ottoman (Lamino med pall), this chair has very attractive curves when seen from the side or front. Made in a variety of wood framework, the upholstery can also be picked from a myriad of desires and tastes. From woven cloth, all the way to sheepskin. Selling in the two to three thousand dollar range on new models, sometimes more on the older models, the simple elegant looks and durability have long contributed to the chairs popularity.

Yngve Ekström remained active not only in design, but also in leading his company, until his death in 1988. His ability to continue working and designing only added to the legend that is Ekström. His chairs are exceptionally nice with hardwood floors, but add well to many different styles. When his designs were introduced, many of them were breakthroughs, now they have become classics.