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Home Decorating

Counter height stools for warm modern kitchen?

13 years ago

I love lurking in this forum. Now I have a question.

We're finally done with a whole house remodel. 1951 house that we made more open. Used clean elements- white walls, slab front cabinets, natural wood floors and windows, no trim. We were going for "warm modern with a touch of lux." Really, I'd live in a 1920's home with a big porch and shaker cabinets... but that's not this home. I do love our new clean, open spaces- but I don't want to get lost in MCM ( although I love Scandinavian...) or stark orderliness.

...oh, the question! Oops. We need 2 stools for our kitchen. We have an old oval wood one, which we like well enough. I think we don't want backs. We like the aluminum ones from Crate and Barrel (but don't want to be too cold (on the butt) or too trendy/ bland). We also like some vintage french ones (too iconic or expensive?). I have a dumpster-found utilitarian stool in my mudroom/ family desk area. I like it and might not even steel wool/ recover it.. I keep hoping we'll find two perfect stools at goodwill or in the trash- but not yet.

Suggestions? I'm open!

We also need a rug for the living room part of our open plan ( while you're at it).

THANK YOU!!!

Kitchen:

{{!gwi}}From New Kitchen
{{!gwi}}From New Kitchen

The mudroom stool:

{{!gwi}}From Stairway and other details

Crate and Barrel option:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/furniture/barstools/spin-24%22-counter-stool/s422282

The French ones:

http://www.dwr.com/product/marais-stool-30-in.do?sortby=ourPicks

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Comments (8)

withoutanh
13 years ago
My kitchen is "warm modern", as DH likes rustic. If it were up to me, it would look like it was ready to launch on an interplanetary expedition!

We got barstools from Scandinavian Designs...they have many modern styles available at reasonable prices.
Stacey Collins
13 years ago
I love your kitchen! Great job.

How about some Thomas Moser styled stools, like these, below? I would try to keep the "warm" element, rather than metal or industrial. I think the more handmade, organic vibe (like MCM Scandianvian) is the way to go there...

These are what I have been lusting after for my own kitchen (which is also in a 1950's house but we did do cherry shaker cabinetry). Thomas Moser is a Maine furniture maker, and I live in Maine. Unfortunately, they are ridiculously expensive, and I could not find any affordable copies :(
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Thanks for all the info. Sorry I wasn't clear mercymygft, 22" to the top of the frame. Wish I had your sales rep sas9! The salesperson I normally deal with was going on vacation and he told me I could place the order with anyone because they were not on commission. I didn't like the salesperson I was dealing with but did not want to be rude, so I placed the order with her. I probably would have gotten better info from my regular guy. I called the manufacturer and they told me I could have had the stools made anywhere from 24-30 inches. Sigh. They cannot be returned angela12345 because they were a custom order. On a positive note, I have been a regular customer of the furniture store for many years. They have taken the stools back and are looking to see if they can add some inches under the seat. If they can't maybe you can give me some pointers on eating at chest level:)
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I think those slope ones are super comfortable! We have four kids and chose white leather (actually bonded leather due to budget). There is a lot of wiping involved lol. My four year old likes to climb across all four stools…..WHY??? But they do wipe clean easily! Do you know what your counter top will be? Can you wait until things are installed for better recommendations? I think you’ll have so many really nice options to choose from! For example, if you Google modern brass counter stool, there are so many pretty ones!
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I was also thinking of the classic Eames-style molded fiber glass style, which you can find in black. Here's a relatively affordable option: https://www.inmod.com/molded-fiberglass-counterstool-with-wood-legs.html This pic looks like bar height to me, though the description says "counter stool" Other (more expensive) options that I turned up with a quick search: https://modernica.net/products/case-study%C2%AE-side-shell-h-base-bar-stool https://www.dwr.com/kitchen-dining-bar-counter-stools/eames-molded-fiberglass-stool-with-seat-pad/2518166.html?lang=en_US It looks like DWR has a molded plastic version at a lower price point.
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teacats
13 years ago
Check out the ones at Overstock.com -- might be something there!

Perhaps just a couple of basic saddle seat ones? No backs and quite neat and thin enough to sit against the counterspace.

Jan at Rosemary Cottage
Penelope
13 years ago
I have to say I'm not partial to the mudroom stool, which looks like an old office drafting stool. But I'm afraid I also dislike the aluminum chairs and stools that are so popular now, they look like they should be in a police interview room!

I agree with Stacey that the Thos. Moser stuff is gorgeous, but you could put a house addition on for what they charge.

How about something Shaker, warm and simple yet traditional? The examples below have backs, but they're not tall backs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shaker Workshops counter stools
miller88
13 years ago
I loved these stools, which someone else had used in their kitchen. Not sure if they are the right style or not...

http://www.snapretail.com/product.asp?PT_ID=176&mt_id=754&buytype=2&hist=1&strpagehistory=manu&P_ID=33646
midwifekim
Original Author
13 years ago
THank you for you feedback and suggestions. I really like the $$$ ones (of course!). We received a burlwood bowl- it reminds me of those stools. It looks great in our modern space.

I found a stool I'm seriously considering getting. More $$ than I wanted to spend- but for an experience, a handcrafted item, it's an amazing price, actually. I would get the kit in walnut- with the funny holes!

http://www.geoffreywarnerstudio.com/picture.php4?album=Furniture/Ltd-Production&picture=9&lang=en
redecor8
13 years ago
How about colored metal stools like the ones used in The Brooklyn Limestone blog's kitchen (overstock has a set of 2 similar Tabouret stools on sale for $94):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanier/3625791147/

Or the Radius stools from Room and Board:
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19650&catalog=room&category=rm_dining_spaces&subcategory=din_stool

Or these white three-legged stools from overstock might work (2 for $116):
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/White-Three-legged-Metal-Counter-Stools-Set-of-2/5095641/product.html
pps7
13 years ago
We have the Turner stool from crate and barrel. It's similar to the spin that you posted but I likes the styling of the Turner a bit more.

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