These Are The 12 Ikea Products The Company's Design Chief Personally Owns

Johan Ejdemo started his furniture career at 15 when he began training as a cabinetmaker. Now, he’s an Ikea lifer, having notched up nearly 30 years at the company. As design manager, he leads an in-house team of 20, as well as a roster of freelance designers, shaping the 1,500 to 2,000 new products the company releases every year. Last month, he launched the PS 2026 collection, the tenth edition of the brand's budget design series, which has returned after a nine-year gap. Its 44 pieces are built around the concept of “playful functionality” and include a shape-shifting floor lamp, a see-saw bench, and an inflatable easy chair (tested by cats, no less). All of the items are affordable, ranging from $5 to $500. Considering the brand has worked with designers as notable as Verner Panton, Tom Dixon, and Gillis Lundgren, and vintage Ikea gear is now going for thousands, it felt entirely proper to grill the impeccably dressed and softly spoken Ejdemo on what Ikea pieces he's personally bought for his own home. Has this cabinetmaker ever bought a Billy bookcase? Let's find out.