Barstools - to swivel or not to swivel

16 years ago

I just had a breakfast bar installed around my kitchen island. The island consists of an electric range in the center with a 30" cabinet on either end. The breakfast bar is U shaped, covering 3 sides of the island.

My question is whether I should get barstools that swivel or not. I really like the saddle type "Nan Barstool" at Pier 1 (at the link below), but I'm wondering whether or not I should get barstools that swivel in order to make it easier to turn to talk to someone else sitting at the bar.

What has your experience been with barstools that don't swivel?

Thanks,

John

Here is a link that might be useful: Nan Barstool

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Comments (6)

terrig_2007
16 years ago
This is a good question. My DH and I just moved into a house with a bar. However, ours is on the outer perimeter of the kitchen with plenty of room surrounding it. We likely will get barstools with backs as we'll be eating at the bar and will want to be comfortable. But I've been debating to swivel or not to swivel. I think swivel would be easier to get in/out of, and would save wear and tear on our flooring. I like the "nan barstool" though it would be too impractical for our use.
kmealy
16 years ago
Another data point: I had a client with swivel barstools that said he wished they didn't because people kept banging the arms/back into the bar's edge.
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Dodge59, not what you mean about a chip on my shoulder. The "planned decor" comment was meant to be jacose. I am definately a patina/rustic person. I have spent time in Europe and fell in love with all the beautiful marble that has been around for hundreds of years as steps that people walk on no less. I plan to use my marble, know there are going to etches and scratches. I would prefer to not have huge chunk of the edge fall off and wondered if anyone else had encountered this problem. I banged my current chairs against the flat edge of a sample and it didn't chip. Sounds like gharborwa actually has had marble/ swivel barstools for 18 months and has not noticed issues. Love the clear bumper idea thanks GWlolo!
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After Ravencajun's comment, I will definitely make sure that the barstools do not have casters - I did not like that idea anyway. The problem with one design is that it is somewhat cone shape that goes down to the floor, and so there is not a separate base from which the seat can swivel. I told everyone that this was a bad idea from the beginning, but they kept telling me that they wanted it. If this design does not have casters, it will be very difficult to move, but we can still put a swivel in the base, although it still does not seem like a practical design to me. The design is based on a popular lounge/occasional chair that we have that is barrel shaped and has both casters and swivel, but it is also a very heavy chair and difficult to move, even with casters. I did some other designs with a 6" diameter column and round base, but not everyone liked those, although I think they are more practical. However, my boss had me put casters in those, but I will be taking them out. At work I have an intermediate stool/chair that is like an office chair, but is between the height of an office chair and a drafting stool. I use it at my work table, which is about 33-34" high, I think. I had the work table built for me so that the top would be at the point where my hip flexes, and this makes it easier for me to bend and reach across the table. It's a very large table, about 42" x 80", and I am able to cut sheets of cardboard that start out at 48"x96". Do you like barstools with a column base or do you prefer four legs. I tend to prefer the ones with legs, and I have done several of these with swivel seats. The ones with the center column have to have a round foot rail attached to the column, but the ones with legs I did with either square or round foot rails. For the ones with square legs, I rotated the legs 45°, to accommodate the round foot rails. I really appreciate all of this help, especially since there are so many diverse ideas on this subject.
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furniturebob
16 years ago
I sell bar stools for a living, GET swivel with arms,if you want comfort. Padder seat a ++
Age and weight are a factor. saddle types are ok for a quick meal ,but if you want to sit for an hour and talk, eat ,watch tv.etc .
Iron with welded joints not screwed ,works loose because of all the movement.

Don't buy cheap. you will replace. I see it every Day,
Customers say I will never pay $300, $500 etc and then come back after two cheap setsbroke from outher stores and had to be returned. THEN they buy at $600
amck2
16 years ago
We debated this as we are building and will have an island with counter height work space and bar height seating.

I liked the saddle type stools because of the style and the ability to tuck them under the bar overhang when not in use. But I was told that while they're a great option for counter height bars, not to get that type for use at bar height. Unless you and guests are quite tall, they will be unstable, not comfortable for any appreciable amount of time, and climbing on or off will be challenging.

An armless swivel is what we've decided on, and the rep advised not to get the automatic returning ones as they are more likely to be the ones people clunk the bar with. We are going with Holland Bar Stools which are more expensive than what we'd originally planned on. They are built to last, have a strong comfortable back and a welded metal base. If you check out their site, they have a variety of styles and can be customized to go with most decors. Again, they are pricey, but you'll likely never have to replace them and even your heaviest guests will feel secure sitting in them.
debo_2006
16 years ago
Swivel, backed stools are a constant issue with people banging the chairs into the counter. With our formica counter, the wood back ends would get chewed up from hitting the squared edge.

Now we have granite, and while the backs aren't getting chewed up, they still bang the granite. Luckily, no chips in that (yet).

If you have kids who will be using these stools, I wouldn't recommend getting swivel. There's a very recent post in the kitchen forum about someone's granite getting chipped from her kids always swiveling into the granite, even though she told them to be careful. DH's can be just as bad like mine is about his careless swiveling - though he doesn't mean to be.

Deb
dockside_gw
16 years ago
I have had, for 16 years, swivel bar stools that have a fabric covering the back of the stool and on the seat. I bought them for comfort and for the fact that when they hit the countertop, they aren't marred nor is the countertop. The only negative about them is that the footrest comes out on a bar on just one side. I have decided to pay $150 each to have a circular footrest welded on them as I doubt that I could ever find any as comfortable. Plus, I cover the seats and the back with fabric to go with the kitchen decor. I have no idea what brand they are but they cost me $125 each 16 years ago, a price I thought was high.

Barstools - to swivel or not to swivel

Comments (6)

terrig_2007

kmealy

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