WHY WE LOVE THEM
Most elements in a kitchen are permanent installations; cabinets, counters, tile, lighting etc… items that can not be swapped out at a moments notice. However, the right kitchen stools can make a huge difference. They can often be the only furniture in a kitchen (if you don’t have a table and chairs) so they carry a lot of weight.
If chosen wisely the stool can set the tone of the space. It is something that can can blend into the background or be upholstered in a bright bold pattern.
Kitchens contain many hard materials as mentioned above and it can be nice to balanced out with softer materials and texture. Stools can to add a soft dimension to the overall design feel. Since the choice of kitchen stools is infinite we will only begin to scratch the surface below. Read More
Black Rattan Stool // Serena & Lily Backless Linen stool with nails // Pottery Barn Black Winsor Stool // Serena & Lily Woven Back Seagrass Stool Stool // McGee & Co. Striped Linen Stool // One Kings Lane
THERE ARE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SELECTING THE RIGHT STOOL. WHAT DO YOU WANT MOST OUT OF YOUR STOOL?
Practicality - If you are looking for something that can hold up with a lot of wear and tear we recommend you think about the materials.
Kids -Select a stool that has a back if you have young kids, you don’t want them flying backwards off the stool when you pass them their bowl of steamed veggies!
If you are concerned about the stools getting stained, we recommend selecting an all wood, metal or plastic option. Something that can be easily wiped down with a cloth. If you do want a softer surface, we suggest either using something with a performance fabric or leather. Slip covers are another option that can be removed and washed. (check fabric content to confirm the fabric is machine washable) or that the seat and or back can easily be removed to be upholstered.
We love the rattan and natural woven materials that are popular these days. However, do keep in mind that crumbs can get stuck in those little crevices and overtime rattan can unravel. So before you buy, always read customer recommendations and talk to the store about the product’s durability.
Space Considerations - Here we recommend you look at backless stools that can slide under the counter. If you are looking at something with a back and arms make sure that the arms will easily slide under the counter. Also backs that have curve designs tend to take up more counter space.
Style - This is probably our favorite area to focus on. This is when we are selecting a stool that compliments the space. We believe that a kitchen should speak through its materials (woods, stones, tile and metals) and that the stool is the perfect opportunity to bring something special to the feel but not overwhelm the space. The star is the actual kitchen itself, but the stools play a supporting role.
Statement - This is such a fun area to explore, as are want the stools to set the mood in the space. Perhaps you have designed a more neutral kitchen that you plan to keep for the next 15 years but you want to be able to make small adjustments to keep the kitchen fresh. Stools are a great solution. Keep in mind, stools can be pricey, so choose wisely. If you are selecting something that is super trendy, you will most likely want to swap those out in maybe 2-5 years. Make sure you can stomach knowing whatever you spend on them you will be replacing them in a few years.
Comfort - So are you are someone who might work from your counter, or read the whole Sunday Times cover to cover at your kitchen counter? You most likely will want to select something that has an upholstered seat and a back. Look at the back height of the stool and see if it hits your back at just the right spot. Also look at how durable the material is and imagine yourself sitting against that back. Make sure it is comfortable!
Budget - Stools add up quickly and this is the last place we want you to put your renovation money. We would recommend that you buy something temporary that just blends into the space until you can save up and get what you really want. We believe that the kitchen budget should go to items that will increase the value of your home. See our Kitchen Budget Priorities for more on this. When you are looking for budget friendly items, look for ones that appear to be well made and classic. That doesn’t mean that you can’t purchase something trendy. If you see the right stool at the right price….go for it! Quality items are not always expensive versus poor quality items that can bring down the overall feel for a space.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Counter Stools vs. barstools - Make sure you are getting the right height stool. If you are getting stools that are for a standard kitchen counter, you will want to get COUNTER HEIGHT STOOLS (23” to 28” from the floor to the seat to accommodate a counter that is 35” to 37” high). If you are looking for stools that are for a raised bar, you are looking at BAR HEIGHT ( 29” to 32” from the floor to the seat to accommodate a counter that is 41” to 43” off the floor.) General Rule you want 10” to 12” of space between the bottom of the counter and the top of the seat for leg room. If you are selecting a chair that has arms, you need to make sure that they can slide under the counter or that you have enough space for them to sit in front of the counter.
Stool width - The Rule of the Thumb here is that each person seated should have 24” of width per space, So if you are trying to figure out how many stools you need, Take the overall length that the stools will be located (note that this is different from the overall length of the counter because you might have corbels (Design features) or shelving that will not allow the stool to tuck under, so make sure you are measuring the usable area where the stools will sit and divide that by 24”. We like a minimum of 6” (8” to 10” is better) between stools and also between the edge of a stool and the corner of the counter,
Make sure to Read the customer reviews, stools need to function in most cases, So read what people are saying.
Make sure that the legs can have glides on them so that you don’t scratch your floors.
Read the product descriptions, make sure that the materials you are buying are what you see in the image.
NOTES ON STYLE
We love it when a stool can bring a sense of warmth to a space that already has enough pattern and color, but still needs a bit more than just a neutral fabric. We recommend looking at a woven or caned stool.
Another element that you might want to add to the kitchen to “soften” the space. With exception to maybe window treatments and a rug, seating is the only other opportunity to add a little fabric and pattern into your kitchen design concept. Again, we only suggest this, if this works for your family and if you have chosen a fabric that makes sense for the space. For example; if you are empty nesters who are neat and tidy, you want want to consider a beautiful linen upholstered stool. If you have kids (really at any age) then we recommend that you select a performance fabric, a slip cover that can removed and washed (provided the fabric is machine washable safe) or a stool where the seat and back can be removed and reupholstered with ease. If you can do that, we love adding a small stripe or pop of color to the space.
Metal. Yes, yes, and yes. We love it when the pendants and the stools relate. Think of it this way, the lighting of the kitchen is the jewelry and the “stool look” is the handbag! When they work together it creates a beautiful harmony.
Warmth - Sometimes all you need to do is add a little warmth and contrast to the kitchen and you can do this successfully by introducing wood or leather .
Wood - If you just want a little whisper of something different in a monochromic all white kitchen, a great thing to do is to add in softer tones such as a warm grey wood.