What are the edges of the backs made of? The part that would hit the counter if they were swiveled with enthusiasm?

Do you have kids? My kids (3 & 12) have yet to find a swivel stool that they don't immediately climb onto and spin themselves wildly dizzy on. My 3yo was spinning so fast at Lowes that he flew off the chair. (My KD was very concerned, but my kids are built like brick houses so he was fine.) Even backless stools would be problematic, because they have to stop themselves somehow and it would be on the edge of the overhang. One DS is ADHD and the other is 3, so maybe this won't be a problem at your house.

I have counter height swivel backless stools. My 4 1/2 year old twin boys do spin on them occasionally and grab the granite overhang to stop themselves. The stools don't spin really fast though. It seemed that once the "newness" of the stools wore off, the spinning became few and far between. My stools are below the granite edge, so the only thing in danger of becoming damaged is the paint job on the island. That would be from kicking feet or a falling stool. So far, so good on that front. The kids have instructions to keep their feet off the island.

We've lived with Mariana on the perimeter counters for 3+ years and love it. It's very hard, but I can tell you that even this soapstone on an island, combined with swivel stools with backs, is a recipe for chips. Kids or no kids. Murphy's Law, remember?

No kids here, but there are lots of visiting kids.

And here I was more concerned about what kind of damage I might inflict on the soapstone edge! LOL

Actually, Boysrus2, you make a great point of something I hadn't considered. We also have a painted island and the backless swivel seats would encourage the feet on the island issue. Hmmm....

Oruboris... excellent point. If it was the cushion part, it might not be an issue.

Laxsupermom... loved your visual images! No kids, but definitely something to think about.

Pecan.... We have Santa Rita Venata, a much softer variety of soapstone. And Murphy and I are such good friends, I hate it, but I have to plan on him interfering. Grrrrr.

Thanks for the insights!

I have 10-year-old twins and they swivel on the bar stools, and yes occassionally the iron backs on the chairs hit against the granite overhang. At that point they usually hear me gasp and they say "sorry". Thankfully there have not been any chips (yet). We've had the granite for a year and hopefully as they get older, the need to swivel will decrease!

By the way, my barstools have "memory" and always swivel back to the front. They have some kind of spring inside and cannot actually swivel all the way aroung 360 degrees. They always "spring back" to the front facing position. Don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your post Susan. I have seen the "memory" type of stool.... very nice! I like that concept.

I have a soapstone overhang on my island and swivel stools with metal backs. We're empty nesters, but have lots of little ones who visit.

I have had no issues yet with backs hitting/chipping the countertop. I think a lot has to do with my barstools. They are Holland stools, and though they have a full swivel, they don't spin around loosely.

I ordered them without the swivel memory (which was an option) because the salesperson at the showroom told me that was what often led to them smacking into the overhang. Kids seem to love twisting themselves to the side and then letting go to have a "ride" on the swivel return. Even without wanting to, adults will sometime dismount from a swivel return stool in a way that will cause it to collide with the overhang. I would stay away from that style.

I recently posted when someone was looking for barstools about how much I love my Hollands. I swear I have no connection with them - actually first heard about them on this forum. But I think they are one of the best investments I made in outfitting my kitchen. And they were an investment...But nearly everyone who sits on them comments about the comfort of the seat & back and the solid feel.

I was going to say the same thing, that if you have the memory option on the stools, that might be more of a danger to your soapstone. I'd think that if you have regular swiveling, and especially if you don't have kids at home all the time, it probably wouldn't be a problem. My in-laws have swiveling chairs at their kitchen table and they came with clear plastic bumpers that fit around the edges of the chairs where they would hit the table typically, if that helps. Not the most attractive things but not very noticeable either. Might be something you'd want to pull out when kids come to visit!

Amck - Thank you for the first hand experience. That is just the kind of information that makes this forum wonderful!

Rmlanza - Yeah.. I can definitely see how the memory option could be more of an edge hazard. I hadn't thought of that aspect.

Decisions, decisions!

Which is softer...the wood or the SS? In our case, the granite counter is harder than the wood of the stool back. And, sorry, but as kids get older they don't stop swiveling...mine are 12 & 14 and they still swivel...but probably not as much as young children. My DS likes to swivel back & forth while using the peninsula for his laptop. The stools are definitely losing the battle....there are dents in the stool backs where the they've hit the counter. They're not huge, but I know they're there!