Småland Comes to Stockholm: A Celebration of Timeless Design

Last night, we had the pleasure of hosting an exclusive event with Stolab at Stockholm Stadshotell to celebrate the relaunch of the Småland chair and sofa. Originally designed by Yngve Ekström in the 1960s, Småland embodied the era’s longing for lightness, color, and forward-thinking design. Today, that same longing is alive, and we are proud to see Småland return—still “Made in Småland” by its original manufacturer, Stolab, in Smålandsstenar.

The idea for the relaunch began with restaurateur Johan Agrell, the visionary behind the newly opened Stockholm Stadshotell at Medborgarplatsen. While working on the interior, he stumbled upon a beloved vintage Småland chair. “I was immediately struck by its elegance in our bistro,” he recalls. “Other chairs take over the space, creating a busy landscape of high backs. But Småland felt effortlessly harmonious and inviting. So, I called Stolab and kept pushing them to restart production.”

Now, Småland is back—true to its original form but with fresh new colors. The palette includes vibrant lingonberry red, sophisticated light gray, serene Nordic dawn blue, classic cream white, and timeless black. Additionally, a light matte lacquer option allows the natural wood grain to shine through. The collection features both an armchair and a sofa, meticulously crafted. As Martin Johansson, a craftsman at Stolab, describes it: “Småland is solid yet elegant. It has both movement and stillness, and the more you study it, the more you appreciate Yngve’s obsession with the perfect feeling. The way he sculpted the armrests so that your elbow lands just right—without you even noticing. And the material—pure wood, no screws, no metal fittings, just honest craftsmanship. What you see is what you get.”

Guests at the event, including journalists and industry professionals, were treated to a carefully curated menu reflecting the refined yet down-to-earth essence of Småland. The evening began with bouchot mussels served with white wine and parsley, followed by a main course of pork with beans, carrots, and salsa verde. To finish, we indulged in a rich chocolate cake with crème cru.

Småland is already a part of Stockholm Stadshotell, and the bistro chair and sofa will be available for order from Stolab starting March 6th. A huge thank you to Stolab for their trust and Plodder PR for a great collaboration!