| One of the most interesting lines of furniture available | | | | poles built into the underside of the recliner adjusting |
| today has it's roots established back in the 1930's | | | | to you as you move in the chair. Ekornes continued |
| before mass production and assembly lines and | | | | to improve upon Stressless recliners by introducing a |
| before furniture was being made in such a scale as it | | | | new feature called the Plus System. It was |
| is today. Stressless as it is referred to was born out | | | | engineered into two places the head and lumbar |
| of several popular lines of furniture introduced by | | | | regions of the chair. As you reclined back the head |
| Jens Ekornes a successful manufacturer of the | | | | of the chair would move forward to keep you in eye |
| Svane mattress and Ekornes leather furniture lines | | | | level with whatever you were doing be it watching |
| made in Norway. Stressless itself created it's own | | | | TV or reading a book. In the lower portion of the |
| history in 1971 and is sold throughout the world | | | | chair in the backrest a special lumbar support was |
| today. In this article we're going to examine the | | | | designed into the chair that would extend out to |
| history and relationship with it's parent company | | | | support your lower back when in an upright position |
| Ekornes and the things that make Stressless | | | | and would relax back into the chair as you reclined |
| different and unique from other types of furniture. | | | | back. These two features of the Plus System |
| Ekornes was founded back in 1934 by Jens Ekornes | | | | worked together and formed the correct support for |
| a Norwegian man who started the company with | | | | both your head and lumbar area in all positions. |
| nothing more than a few German pieces of | | | | Today's Stressless recliners feature these same |
| machinery and about 3 employees in Sunnmøre, | | | | options as well as 360 degree swivel bases on the |
| Norway. What started out as a business that made | | | | chairs and ottoman now have adjustable comfort by |
| steel spring components for furniture manufacturers | | | | allowing the individual to set it stationary or allow it to |
| evolved through modern technology and a desire to | | | | move with you with its built in glide function. |
| make a better product into creating their own | | | | Stressless® products carry a 10 year warranty on |
| mattresses and furniture. Several product lines have | | | | all working mechanisms. |
| been introduced over the years. The first product line | | | | From 2001 and beyond Ekornes began developing |
| consisted of mattresses referred to as Svane. Svane | | | | matching leather furniture in the way of Stressless |
| mattresses were created out of the desire to build a | | | | sofas, loveseats and chairs to coordinate with their |
| better mattress and Jens Ekornes and his company | | | | popular Stressless recliners and ottomans. The look |
| invested much time and travel into finding the right | | | | of these pieces took the same design elements used |
| machinery and techniques to building high quality | | | | in Stressless recliners and introduced them into the |
| spring mattresses after having built steel spring | | | | matching furniture keeping the look and design |
| components for furniture manufacturers they had | | | | consistent and as comfortable as the Stressless |
| the necessary skills and knowledge to take that to | | | | chairs & ottomans they were based on. Today |
| the next step and did in the success that soon | | | | every recliner in the line has matching pieces that can |
| followed in the design of the Svane mattress. | | | | be used with them as well as low back and high back |
| Another product line that followed after the success | | | | matching furniture which provides different looks and |
| of Svane was referred to as Ekornes. This line was | | | | designs depending on you're the needs of your room |
| born from the infrastructure already in place that was | | | | or living space. Ekornes continues to move forward |
| producing wood furniture components and plastics | | | | with new innovations in the Stressless line of |
| foams for other furniture manufacturers. The | | | | furniture and it will be interesting to see what new |
| Ekornes line of stationary club furniture as it was | | | | products and features will be available in 2008 and |
| introduced back in the 60's filled a need for smaller, | | | | years ahead. |
| scaled down furniture that fit well into most | | | | In this article we've taken a brief look at the history |
| European homes. This leather furniture's initial | | | | of the Ekornes company founded by Jens Ekornes |
| introduction was a national flyer campaign used to | | | | back in 1934 and the different lines of furniture they |
| introduce this product line to every home in Norway. | | | | have introduced which include the Svane, Ekornes |
| The Svane & Ekornes lines did well and in 1971 a new | | | | and Stressless lines of furniture. We examined the |
| line was introduced called Stressless. Stressless | | | | introduction of their most successful line of furniture |
| recliners were patented by Ekorne who introduced | | | | Stressless recliners and the unique designs and |
| many new features never before used in the design | | | | features that made this chair successful on a global |
| of a recliner and it was this product that eventually | | | | scale. Finally we looked at Stressless today and the |
| put Ekornes & Stressless on the map globally for the | | | | additions of matching furniture and what these have |
| accomplishments in this revolutionary new design for | | | | helped provide in terms of coordinating pieces for the |
| a recliner now sold in over 30 countries worldwide. | | | | popular line of Stressless® furniture. If you haven't |
| In the early 70's Stressless recliners introduced a | | | | had the opportunity to sit and relax in a Stressless |
| unique glide system that allowed the chair to move | | | | product I would encourage you to find a local retailer |
| with you. The patented system featured two rollers | | | | or dealer and take the comfort test™ to feel the |
| on each side of the recliner that moved along steel | | | | true comfort of a Stressless product. |