how high is your counter? my island is at 36" and i'm still using a 24" for comfort. i can't stand not having enough leg room to move around.

I have 26" high stools with no backs and they're perfect at a standard-height counter. We use them for perching, chatting, and snacking, not for eating meals. Ages range from 10-53, and we're all on the short side.

We are using 25'' counter height chairs for the table end of the 33'' high island. If your island is standard counter height, there would be more leg room. These are the chairs we use.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aluminum counter height stool

My counter is 36.5" and my chairs 27.5". It's not ideal, but I was dead set on getting these chairs. I can fit my legs under just fine and even cross them (just barely) but I'm also built like a string bean.

I have 26 inch schoolhouse stools from pottery barn and I love the height. We had 24 inch before and they just felt too short, especially for the kids. Our island is 36.5 inches.

Just bought (6) leather, low-backed, parson's-styled, chairs from Overstock. Seat height right @ 26" & nicely padded.
Bottom of counter is 35.5" with no corbels (used "Counterbalance" supports) & had to pry folks out to the dining room for TG. Height/weight range was a 5'2" skinny-mini to 6'5" > 250 lbs. There seemed to be plenty of leg room. Remember that for counter-height seating, the overhang standard is 15". I think if it's less than that you might want shorter chairs.

tomuch2chus, did you get the cosmopolitan? We love them. Have had them for 3 months now and no one wants to leave them here either :)

Thanks for all the great feedback, my counters are at right around 36" and we are short and have kids that will be eating at it everyday so it sounds like the 26" is a good choice. I'm going to try and post a picture of my stool Im considering, I dont know how 2 do it yet.

marcydc--yes! Burnt red! It's only been 3 weeks, but we love them.