Personally, I would have something different to go with the style of the kitchen. I would get something with clean lines, but with some traditonal style. Nothing too slick and nothing too over the top with curves, etc. Try searching for "transitional counter or bar stools" and see what pops up, then post a couple and we can better see what appeals to you.

Thanks, Brutuses! I appreciate the reply.
I will attach a link to a dining room table and chair set that is very similar to mine.
Can you direct me to some specific bar stools that you think would look nice? I did a search as you suggested but don't even know what to be looking for!
THANK YOU!

Here is a link that might be useful: Dining set very similar to mine

Rather than try to match the dining chairs, why not try to get something that is close to the color of the table, assuming it goes well with the colors in your kitchen?

Ingrid,
Thanks for the post. Yes, the color of the table would go well with the colors of the kitchen (soft, earthy, neutral colors)... I like your idea, but I haven't found anything that seems to "work". All the brown-ish stools are wood (which seems too "heavy" for my bar space) or brown metal, which I don't know about. I have been thinking that if I go with metal, it should be *black*. But maybe I need to re-think that?!

PrairieGirl,
Thanks for your post, too. I think you and I are thinking along the same lines! I think I really like the idea of the "cohesiveness" between the dining chairs and the bar chairs... but I don't want to miss a good decorating opportunity, either!!!

And everything is complicated by the fact that I live in a very small, rural area... so most all of my looking is online, and I'm not getting to see things in person.

Decisions, decisions!!!

I had the same problem when I moved into my house and my original counter stools were too low. Les and everyone else here helped me pick out stools that complimented my chairs but the chairs themselves did not match. Here are some old pictures to give you an idea. Les actually found the stools we chose on the web and I took a leap of faith and purchased them sight unseen and they worked out beautifully. Good luck with your search!

{{!gwi}}

OH DEBORAH!!! That is exactly the kind of "coordination" that I would love to find!!! Your bar chairs look GREAT with your dining chairs, but not "matchy matchy"! OH, LOVE THAT!!! Thanks so much for the post and the photos!

OK everyone, what style of bar stools would coordinate with distressed black Windsors and a pine farm table???!!

I'd love to find black wrought iron... but they all seem so... FANCY... and my decorating style is country/cottage... very casual.

HELP! ;o)

Lynn

Maybe something like this?

MJLB,
Yeah, babeee, yeah, ;o) THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!! Ohmyword, I LOVE that!!! Thank you so much for the post and the photos! I am smiling from ear to ear!!! Can you tell me, please, where did you find that?!

WooHoo! **** SEARCH MAY BE OVER!!!****

How about a backless "saddle" seat stool?

Here's an example -- just for discussion and possible ideas ......

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: Overstock -- stools

I love the saddle seat and the one's above it. My kitchen opens up to the DR also, farm table, etc. What we have, and this isn't everyone's taste, are retro "diner" bar stools. Chrome finish with black vinyl round swivel seats. They get a lot of compliments even though they don't necessarily match the table. But looking at the wood ones above, I think I'd prefer those!

Jan,
You know, I actually thought about backless saddle stools; there's a store in my area that carries them in various heights, and not only are they reasonably priced, but they also have some that are black distressed (with red showing through) just like my Windsors. BUT, DH has asked for backs (for comfort)... and I would like to accommodate him, if possible!!! BUT, those are a possibility. And another "plus" is that the owner of the store is a friend of mine, so I could bring them home for an evening and try them w/o any committment, and that would be nice!

Oakleyok,
Thanks for your post, too! I was ALSO thinking about something like that -- something totally *quirky* and just plain *fun*, like a 50's type diner stool, or a real modern kind of stool... or maybe just something with a fun and whimsical (faux, of course!) animal print seat.

As you all can tell by now, I have been giving this a whole lotta thought!!! ;o)

Tiskers, I'm glad that I was able to help! I really can't take credit though, it was all Les. Here is a website that is a good starting point. Also try csndotcom. This site has a lot of websites that sell barstools. I purchased mine at everythingfurnituredotcom. They turned out to be a really good site. One of the stools was delivered damaged and rather than having to send it back, they sent me a new one!

I'll also take a look on the site and see if I can find anything for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: allbarstools.com

The bar stool with a back is from Amish showroom -- unfortunately you have to e-mail them for a price quote.

And deborah, thanks for the allbarstools.com link -- I know someone pointed to it before, and I forgot to bookmark it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amish showroom

MJLB,
Thank you very much for the link. I have e-mailed Amish Showroom for a price on 3 of them.
This forum is awesome, and you guys are wonderful!
Thanks to all of you.
Lynn

Something like mine might look nice:

{{!gwi}}\

My dining chairs, which are nearby:

Uxorial,
Your bar stools are beautiful! I love them. Something like that might definitely work. May I ask where you got them?

And, oh, one more question for any of you with metal chairs... are they "sturdy"? They look rather delicate, but I'm sure that's just an illusion!

Thanks!

I bought my bar stools in 2005 at Fred Meyer (a west coast discount store, sort of like Target, it's part of Kroger). I don't know if they still sell them or if they're sold anywhere else. Do you have Fred Meyer in your area?

The bar stools are very sturdy! And the seats are nice and big, unlike many bar stools. They don't get a lot of use though, so I can't say for sure how durable they will be over the long haul, but they still look new.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fred Meyer

OK, I'm back and I need a bit more advice, please!

I found this at Restoration Hardware... although this photo shows it in brown, it's also available in "distressed black" (which would be my choice) -- although no photo of that is available (and I even called RH). Does anyone have them in the distressed black finish that they could show me?

And here are my other questions. How do you guys think it would look with my Windsor back chairs? I really like the one (similar) posted above, and I even got prices from Amish Showroom ($1,000 for 3 chairs, and 10-12 weeks lag time!)

The RH chairs ain't cheap ($350 each), but at least they would only take 1-2 weeks, and they are returnable to a local store if I don't like them (although they are not carried in my local store) - as opposed to the Amish made ones which would cost me a fortune to send back if I didn't like them.

PLEASE, any and all advice appreciated! Thank you!!!