Zilio A&C INTRODUCES AROMA

Images courtesy of Zilio A&C

A Contemporary Café Chair by Alessandro Stabile

Zilio A&C proudly presents Aroma, a new chair designed by Alessandro Stabile, offering a refined reinterpretation of the iconic café chair. Rooted in tradition yet unmistakably modern, Aroma blends emotional resonance with formal precision—balancing minimalist design with artisanal craftsmanship.

With its gentle curves and clean, simple form, Aroma brings to mind the easy charm of a European bistro — where the lively spirit of Paris blends with the quiet warmth of Scandinavian design. Made entirely from solid ash wood, the chair is shaped with care, featuring a soft silhouette, a compact rounded armrest, and thoughtful details throughout.

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“Rather than replicate historical forms, I wanted to reinterpret them with clarity and honesty,” says designer Alessandro Stabile. “Aroma is about creating atmosphere—a sense of warmth, familiarity, and ease.”

Alessandro Stabile

It all started with a memory. For Alessandro Stabile, the small, curved armrest — a familiar feature in classic café chairs, especially those by Thonet — sparked the idea. Rather than copy the past, he chose to reinterpret it, capturing the feeling in a fresh, modern way. The result is a chair that feels both timeless and new. With the expert craftsmanship of Zilio A&C — a family-run company rooted in Udine’s chair-making tradition since 1951 — that vision took shape, blending design insight with generations of woodworking skill.

Crafted from solid ash wood, Aroma is shaped through steam-bending — a technique that allows for its soft, flowing curves. The rounded armrest is slightly widened for comfort, while the backrest gently tapers into it, creating a smooth, continuous line that feels natural and inviting. The padded rectangular seat fits neatly into the frame, and rounded legs complete the calm, balanced look.

The collection also includes a matching side table that shares the same mix of curves and clean lines, all in solid ash wood. For added flexibility, Aroma is also available without padding — adapting easily to different spaces and needs.

Aroma is available in a carefully chosen range of finishes, allowing it to shift moods effortlessly. The natural ash tone brings a calm, Nordic feel, while deeper shades like smoke and black add timeless elegance. For a bolder look, colors like olive green, oxide red, and bright red bring a playful, modern twist.

Though designed with cafés and restaurants in mind, Aroma fits just as easily into the home — thanks to its warm presence and understated charm. It’s also practical: stackable for easy storage, and the armrests are shaped to rest neatly on tabletops, making cleaning simpler.

At its heart, Aroma is about balance — between past and present, emotion and function, simplicity and detail. It doesn’t try to impress loudly, but gently creates a mood, a sense of ease. With this design, Alessandro Stabile and Zilio A&C continue a thoughtful conversation around materials, craftsmanship, and the quiet beauty of well-made objects.