I didn't notice the conversation about black chairs earlier, but we have black chairs in our beach house kitchen and they are fine. Maybe because it's not our full-time house, or maybe because they have rush seats. Not sure. Anyway, my first thought is that black would be too dark or maybe harsh. What about a medium gray to pick up on the gray in your counter top (would also tie into the "gray" stainless steel of your appliances)?

Are your walls gray? Hard to see but looks like they might be. Maybe a shade or two darker than the wall color.

The walls are gray/green "Fieldstone" Benjamin Moore. I have never loved dark grey I think it is cold and BLAH. Do you think black would be to bold? Has anyone done their chairs in a grey that they could show me??

Even after reading your comment above, I have to agree with the others. Dark grey would be fantastic in there for an understated elegant look. I think black would be safe and predictable. It is hard to warm up a space filled with granite and stainless; I have the same problem.

Maybe someone here could photoshop your stools grey.

Dee

I would do black (Look at your pendent lights) or else a light, light grey (almost white).

Don't laugh, but I can see them red. Then you could put touches of red around. Even a bright yellow....be brave. What is the accessory color for the open room next to your kitchen?

The family room is open to the kitchen, still re-doing this room now. Will be replacing the sofa, floral chair, window treatments, tv area, (hahaha basically the entire room will be redone except I do like the color of the walls- BM Bleeker Beige) Have NOT picked any furniture yet. I am a "SAFE" neutral kind of girl. Not trendy,classic, antiques.
I actually was thinking fo having red or yellow toile cusions for the stools and on dog kennel.
My kitchen has been selected for a Kitchen Tour so I need to get my act together very quickly.
Thank you!

Call me crazy but it would look fab to paint them the fieldstone color and stain the seats the cherry cab color. If too much work to pop seat off then all fieldstone. I love them. I need 4 and my cabinets are a replica of yours. Do you mind telling me where you bought them. Must be good quality if there unfinished. I love the backs. Good luck

I think any of the choices of white, black, grey, the wall color or stained to match the cabinets would look great, although I would like white the least. (Isn't this a helpful post?!?)

Burgundy or a deep (brick) red color ,,, definitely something in the red family.

After months of looking for stools I found them at "The Mill Store". They are very heavy and well built, the name of them is ("Welton" XX 24" bar stool) they were 94.88 per stool the saddle was 31.40. We drove to Canton, MA to pick ours up.

I think I would go with painting or staining all one color.

Thanks for the ideas so far, please keep them coming. Do you think I should go with a gloss finish? The quartzite is polished, the cabinets are 10% finish (low shine)

I can see why some think that a shade of gray would be nice since it would pick up colors in your island, but I'm not sure how much I would like the look of something painted gray in and of itself. For that reason, I think you should paint them black. That would keep things classic and something black always grounds a room. Plus, it would be in keeping with the black accents of your appliances. I also don't think you'd get tired of black. Just another opinion.....I'm sure whatever you do will be nice.

I'd do the Fieldstone in a satin or gloss and if you don't like that, paint over the seat part in black and call it a day.

I think red would be fantastic! At least use red cushions. It needs a pop of color in there. I have black bar stools and I don't have a problem with them. I do swiffer them about once a month. Takes all of 30 seconds. No finger prints. I do have cushions on them.

sounds like you want black...if you went with black, i would go with a "soft" black--- (as in the color 'soft black' in mascara brands...don't know what that would translate to in paint! lol) if black, i would go with a very low sheen or matte. and definitely put cushions on the seats!
another possibility you could consider: a deep muted chocolate brown---almost like a dark brown/charcoal...

My vote is for yellowish-gold. The room desperately needs color and doing the chairs in a color is a great start for accessories.

Red or yellow is my choice. Oh, not that bright yellow though.

A nice deep warm grey would look nice, or you could go the route of choosing a fun color. I think that black would be a bit dark, but may be if you add a fun fabric cushion it would balance out. Good luck!

Hi, How about a water based stain/wash or pickling color that will still show the wood grain? Here is some of the minwax colors but they have many.

http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/?action=view&current=driftwood-1.jpg"; target="_blank">

A vote for classic satin black .... why? because I painted my kitchen stools in that color -- and I have loved it! :)

You have LOTS of black accents and touches around the whole area -- so that color would work really well.

THEN add some bold fresh touches of color -- in red around both rooms. Red touches would work well with the tones in the kitchen cabinets and the brick on the fireplace.

For the upcoming kitchen tour -- fill a large black wood bowl with red apples -- and sit it on the island. Or set up the island with a mock-up of a wine party -- with bottles of red wine, a basket filled with breads, breadboard with cheeses and grapes etc.

Thanks everyone!
I think a soft black maybe the way to go, as I have alot of antique/vintage linens,china,silver pieces and feel more comfortable using accessories for color and not big hits. I will get chair pads made in a color - red or yellow ;-). Depending on cost maybe 2 sets. I love toile and am a gardener by trade so maybe some kind of toile with large botonical prints. I know I have alot of work to do in the adjoining room too.

The Kitchen Tour also has local chefs, resturants & catering businesses set up in our kitchens, so I have to leave room for the tastings. I can use my own platters & dishes, linens. I will do up flowers for all rooms. The sunroom french doors will also be open and will let more light into the space. It will take me a few weeks to get everything painted and done up but I will post photo's when it's all done. Thank you so very much!

oh .. teacats will you post a photo your stools? Anyone else with black chairs post too?

An older photo of my breakfast bar area -- we had the ceilings scraped clean of the popcorn and my potrack has been removed and new lights installed in the kitchen area.

I spraypainted those PB stools myself -- into a basic satin black finish. Also added a few thin layers of spray poly too. And distressed a few edges very lightly ...

Was cruising through some sites -- saw this neutral-colored toile and thought of your kitchen chairs ....

And here's a quick thought too -- in some "Big Lots" stores -- there are SOME Waverly products like seat cushions etc. which might make a good buy for everyday use ....

Here is a link that might be useful: possible toile fabric for cushions

Though I wouldn't want a dining table and chairs in all black we, like Jan, have satin black high chairs at our island. They are very easy to keep clean. At one time they were a shiny black and I didn't care for them at all that way.
I also spray stained the rush seats to match our kitchen cabinets. That might give you an idea of what staining the seats of your chairs to match your cabinets would look like. Well kind of....
{{!gwi}}

black or stained to match the cabinets :)

Try Sherwin Williams' Urbane Bronze, a lovely, complex color with tones of brown, a little bit of gray, a little bit of black.

Here is a link that might be useful: urbane bronze

I went to the fabric store yesterday and came home with a few samples I like. I was thinking of the large peony fabric for a valance and the cusion on the dog kennel (basket is not going back on it) and the linen with red print for the kitchen chairs. I thought the peony would be to much in all places. Do you like the direction of these if I paint the chairs a soft black?

{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}