I would say "no" to the stools for a few reasons:

1) would look too crowded at your island
2) introduces another "back" that may make it look busy
3) kitchen looks great as is, introducing more stools would IMO be too much.

If you don't need the seating, I would stick with two stools, four would look crowded and be too much going on at the island.

I love your kitchen; I have been following your updates for months. My kitchen is so similar; I too had the smaller bar stools and when we enlarged our island, I bought bar stools with backs, and I conveniently tuck the 2 smaller bar stools under the counter over by your stove.

You could reupholster the new green bar stools with the fabric that matches your other chairs, as you indicated.

I think you got a great new look and you will love the bar stools with backs, they are so much more comfortable and complete your look.

Enjoy this forum and will continue to see how you handle the new chairs. I loved them, lucky CL shopper.

Marilyn

It looks great the way it is. I think adding 2 would be crowded and uncomfortable for the people sitting with the corbels between their legs. (Worse yet, when a guest bangs their knee agaisnt it). I added a 4th bar stool to our island and although they are all used when we have company, I preferred when it was less crowded.

Your kitchen stools look good as they are. I like the CL ones as well, but I think it has to be one or the other. I don't think they would work or look good together.

I would go with the CL ones and get rid of your old stools.

Thinking more about the height, from doing the beadboard I know the face of my island is 34" so I'm assuming the whole thing is 36" from the floor. Trying to get a visual knowing the stools are 40" high. The 24" would be a correct height right?

Fabricmarilyn - Thank you! Out of curiosity, what size is your island? There's only enough room for one along the side of mine.

You guys are right. Looking now I believe it will be too crammed with all four.

Typing through this..
With nothing else factoring in I like the CL stools a tad better. Knowing what I spent for the cushions and personally knowing the lady (not real well but through a family member) that made them, I'm having a hard time with the idea of getting something else. Originally I also didn't want to spend a bunch of money on stools and I was having a hard time finding ones to work with the light oak cabinets. I also thought it would look less visually cluttered by being able to slide them under. Ha, here I am asking about adding more stools when those were my original thoughts.

So one or the other. Which looks better in the space?

Need to stay off CL!

I will have to measure my island but it looks similar to yours; the overhange on the end allows one bar stool near the kitchen table and the other one is situated where you have your stools. Hubby and I can see each when we eat. We use the island for all meals, unless our adult children are visiting. Even have room for the morning paper!
Again the comfort of having a back on the bar stool is great!

I would just hold off, for now, shee. Two kids are a long way away and you might get tired of the different chair combo.

What you could do is just keep your eye out for the perfect set of four black iron counter stools. They would match your brackets and, perhaps, be backed. You'd be able to use cushions and replace when needed.

This would still give you plenty of opportunity to browse CL for the next few years. :)

I'm going to ditto what filagirl and parma both said. I don't think they are the answer - I like your kitchen as is for now. Right now I would put that money on something else other than these particular stools.

tina

I do like the style of the backs but I think a backs in general would be more comfortable. However, my sister is the only one that ever sits there when visiting. DH and I are content at the table for meals.

Parma - I really like black iron anything and that sounds great. I did wonder if it would be too much with the iron corbels already but prior to seeing the CL ones that was my thought for the future.

I've passed up some pretty nice (but expensive) iron stools more than once now on CL. . . :( I'll just tell myself they weren't the ones.

The price of these ($10 for both) was also luring me in.

I believe I'll pass for now. Thanks everyone!

I have iron bar stools with backs. They look really nice, but they're heavy and clumsy when pulling them out to sit in or move across the room if you need to. I wouldn't go with iron again.

Shee, the iron might be too much if it was the scrolly type, IYKWIM.

A cleaner design would look great.

Four stools would be way too many for that island, but I agree that the ones with backs would be more comfortable. Seems silly to buy more when you don't even use what you have now, but then again you're only talking $10. ;) I'd at least see in person before deciding.

Four stools going across is too many and too crowded and jumbled. Things look better in odd numbered arrangements rather than even also.

I would get the new ones since you say the price is right. The backs are low so it would not visually cut the kitchen like high backed chairs would.

The best thing about the CL chairs is that the legs are straight on them. Those stools with the flanged legs can be annoying with the legs catching on each other when pulling them out and using them.

I would put the two CL chairs where the stools are now and if possible stick just one of the stools under the overhang on the side of the island. Do this only if the overhang completely covers the stool so that people don't catch their feet in them when walking by.

I don't see why you can't use the CL stools at the counter and keep the current stools against a wall or stashed at the end of the wall cabinets, where they can be grabbed when needed for use at the counter.

I think the mix of fabrics and chairs in the same room can work as long as you keep them apart in separate "sets" when not being used and not jumbled together.

I'd pass I think. In addition to everyone else's comments, the style and backs of these don't work well with your dining chairs...that's something I think you need to take into consideration.

Sheesharee,

I have a friend that is looking for new bar stools. I sent her a link to this post to take a look at your fabric covered seats. They are so cute! Can you give us a close up picture of them? You said that you had them made; do you have any details on how they were made?

Thanks!
Necia

I agree with above comments, four stools are too many. NKB guidelines recommend 24" per diner so for 4 stools your island would need to be 8' long. I do think you could fit three, tho. If you decide to replace these, I highly recommend getting swivel counter stools so that you don't always have to scoot in and out so much. Ours are in a micro fiber seat--easy to clean which is a must with kids. Need to be careful though what is safe for little kids as we just had a 2-year-old visiting and he stood up on stool holding onto the back. Scary...

Jant - Didn't even think about the DR chairs. Very good point. I don't care for the styles that close together. Someone will get some stools with potential for a good price!

Necia - Thank you! I took some close up photos. The lady who made them sews for fun but never made anything like this before. When I got the remaining fabric back there were square pieces left over for around the bottom she pieced on. I asked her to make them as you see but if I could do it again it would be better if they somehow fit around the top of the stool. I cut out those rubber shelf liners for on the stools thinking it would help keep them in place. They're fine to sit on but when you get up they usually need adjusted. Since I don't really use them it doesn't bother me. I'm sure I can rig them somehow but I didn't get around to it. Maybe a big square of velcro. :)
The stools are 24". Top is 12". I ordered the foam online from the place in the link below. Bought the 2" thick Lux Foam High Quality. The pleats are 5" long. The gold fabric is silk and she picked up that white piping stuff. She wasn't sure how to finish the piping but I think it looks fine how she did. I know they're not the norm but I do get a lot of compliments on them and I think they look nicer IRL. Hope this helps!
*I see the pleats are a little wrinkled. .. Also please ignore the weights on the floor. It's a Christmas present that didn't make it in the door far!
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Val - We had some friends visit recently with young ones. We discovered is house is not kid proof in any way. lol I'll keep that in mind!

Here is a link that might be useful: Foam Factory

Thank you, Shee!
Sorry it took me so long to find my way back to this thread! The pictures are very helpful. I am going to forward this link to my friend now!

=)Necia