I would spray paint them black and get some wrap on cushions for them in tan, or possibly an accent color of your choice. Beautiful home!

A big vote for black!

I did spray paint our kitchen stools -- with satin black from American Traditions. Be SURE to get one of those plastic "trigger" spray tops that snap onto the can of paint -- much much easier on hands!

A deep cranberry red. I think that would inject a really fun burst of color into your room.

Thanks for the replies. So it sounds like spray paint is the way to go.

I should mention that our table and chairs, and the coffee/end tables are a dark brown color. I think the picture of the table makes it look black.

Another vote for black. If repainting is too much work, aging it with a black tinted antiquing glaze would also look nice.

The same color as the dining room set... and then add cranberry cushions. Or whatever color you choose. I agree with auntjen that it needs a bit (and her color is right on. I guess because of the ?balls?apples? whatever it is on the bar).

Yep! That's where I drew that color inspiration from!
;-D

Thanks :)

I also changed out the niche decor to add some color over there...

Same color as the dining room set. Cushions would make the stools way too high for the counter. I would add color in ways other than the paint on the stools that you would have to live with always. Pretty house. Like the new niche decor.

I think it's as much the style of the stools as it is the stark white that makes them seem out of place. They're too country looking with the turned legs where as all your other wood furniture is not only stained, but sleeker and contemporary in style.
~Becky

I definitely don't love the stools, and have new stools picked out. But, at $150/each, they will have to wait. These are just Martha Stewart stools, ($20 each) and it was all we could afford at the time since we need so many of them. I'm hoping that painting them will help :)

Rust?

I was thinking more on the line of stools similar to what you have only plain legged. I like these, very much in fact. I've not priced bar stools recently since I've had ours for about twenty years I had no clue what they cost. I know things have gone up in price in the last twenty years, but I didn't stop to think about it.

Are you thinking of getting stools with backs on them? Do you use all them? Could you get by with maybe four? Though at one-fifty that's still plenty of bucks out of your pocket.

I think I'd paint them black. Which was my first thought before I say the rest of your wood furniture. It would hide the detail and give them more of a contempory look then the white does now.

The rest of your home is so perfect that no one, like you said yourself, would notice them without mentioning them when actually there. Funny how pictures can bring something to our attention that we can't see when it's right in front of us. I've found that if it doesn't bother me in real life, and it works, I just live with it. We rarely entertain unless it's family. And they've not complained yet!

May I ask what the two pieces on either side of your wall clock are? I'm intrigued.

I kind of wondered about a rusty color, since our sofa/loveseat is a rusty color.
So many choices, so little time ;) Maybe I'll buy a few cans of paint in different colors and try them out. I can always spray over them if I don't like them.

Good thought about the black probably hiding the detailing a little more. That would be a good idea.
We have four kids, and then my DH and I, so we use 6 of them regularly.

The stools I want have a tan color cushion top, and "iron" looking legs. By the time we have a spare $1000, I'm sure there will be something else I like though. And, I don't see us having a spare $1000 anytime soon anyway, lol.

We also rarely entertain, with the exception of family. They better not complain!

On either side of the clock are 2 doors that were on a built in piece. My dad built my parents house years ago. After my parents died, we purchased the house (long story). When we sold the house, we swiped two of the doors from the cabinets (took them down before we sold the house...the new owners never knew they were there). I thought they were special because my dad hand made them. We've held onto them through several moves, and now that we have our own house again, I wanted a good place to hang them. So, that's what they are. Original stain and everything. I feel like that particular wall needs something else on it, but I don't know what.
Anyway, sorry to ramble!!

Here is a very ROUGH PS with the stools in black. I think it will be a big improvement. Maybe you can find one like it in black and try it in your kitchen before you paint yours. This one is from Walmart (similar, but not exact), but it's online only.

Walmart stool:

My kitchen is very similar to yours. Similar color walls, cabinets & we even have the same pendants and light over the table and a very similar kitchen layout. My bar stools are black. I also have a wood floor and that was why I went with black. Love your kitchen! :)

Just for fun, you could paint them stainless!

(If Phillipe Starck can have clear plastic Louis XIV chairs, why can't you have stainless country stools?)

LoL on the stainless. It would be fun to see people's reactions to that.

THANKS for posting the pic with black stools! It actually looks really good.
The stools we have are from k-mart, "Martha Stewart". So they are probably VERY similar (if not exact) to the wal-mart one.
I'm excited to paint them. I think I'll go with black.
How do I go about prepping the stools? Do I need to sand them a bit? Prime them? They have a somewhat glossy finish to them right now, and I'm worried about the spray paint chipping/scratching off.

Dark brown or dark chocolate. Love your kitchen and colors!

robin, your kitchen reminds me a little of mine - similar pendants, etc.

Ours are black swivel stools with faux emu seats! (I thought I'd walk on the "wild side") - seat color is a deep cranberry. We love them and the added color really works with the rest of the house.

If you went with a cushion, what about a paisley or tapestry that picks up your other colors, since most of your furniture pieces are solid colors? Just a thought. Your home is beautiful, by the way.

{{!gwi}}

I love your kitchen! It looks like you have the stove that I wanted :)
Where did you get your stools?

I basically brushed on Liquid Sandpaper (yep -- thats the name of the product) waited about 20 min-30 min or so until the original shiny finish went "cloudy" -- then went ahead and started spraying. In a WELL ventilated area (and use a mask)!

LIGHT coats -- almost looks like you'll never finish ((LOL!)) but it works better! Wait about an hour or so in between coats (depends on weather or dryness etc. but thats what worked for me) -- and finally -- a couple of coats of spray-on poly.

The key is to wait about 24-48 hours before using them after that final step ..... give the finish a good long time to harden up .....

Thanks, robin.

We ordered our stools online, but I can't remember where. I know that they are the Grace Collection, so I googled and here are some that are similar. Be sure and review the different fabrics and metal colors they come in. A lot to choose from. It doesn't look like the have the faux emu anymore. Plus, ours just have the one footrest, not double. We've had ours almost a year and they are very sturdy and comfortable. Good luck with whatever you decide on!

Here is a link that might be useful: allbarstools

Thanks for the info wodka! I'm going to go look around online.

teacats, thank you! I had no idea there was something called liquid sandpaper! I appreciate all of your tips. I've never done anything like this before. I'm hoping to start this project in another day or two. I'll post when I'm done!
Thanks everyone!

I think matching the stools with the black kitchen furniture isn't a bad idea. It keeps things simple. You could always go for a completely look with your bar stools instead of just painting them. I found this helpful link about how to go about building your own bar stools. Could be of use here.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Build Your Own Bar Furniture