Category: Furniture

20 Favorite Modern Bar and Counter Stools

Finding bar and counter stools can be a tough proposition. You want to discover the appropriate shape balanced with the ideal amount of comfort. You need to figure out the height. I discovered the hard way that there’s a difference between bar stools and counter stools: I impulsively snapped up three fantastic floor-model, final-sale bar stools and realized they left a mere 3 inches to squeeze the thighs beneath the kitchen staircase.

Ultimately, you want to locate stools at the ideal price, so this roundup comprises a range for every budget, from serious investment bits to steals.

Houzz Tip: Click on each photo to see merchandise tags for every one of these stools.

While each one of the stools are available online, I highly suggest going for a test-sit at a shop first. If that’s not feasible, be sure to check out the shop’s return policy before purchasing. If you have enough time, it is a fantastic idea to purchase just one to test it out in the event you do need to reunite it; depending on the retailer, you might incur shipping charges with yields, and it is a lot more affordable to return only one.

BAAN design

1. The Jamaica Stool: This hot counter blossom — a contemporary update on a tractor seat — is a favorite among designers.

Watch more Jamaica stools in action

Heather Garrett Design

2. The Cherner Stool: This midcentury timeless is a longstanding architect’s favorite, that spurred its rerelease from Norman Cherner’s sons. The gorgeous curved wood takes a timeless material and gives it a contemporary form.

Watch more Cherner chairs and stools in activity

Sullivan Design Studio

3. The LEM Piston Stool: The easy slip of a shape brings attention yet does not overpower the other elements inside the room. It comes in many finishes, whether you need crisp white…

John Maniscalco Architecture

… or rich walnut to decide on your kitchen. Additionally, it comes from blanched oak, many colors of leather and stainless steel.

Watch more LEM Piston Stools in action

Hufft Projects

4. The Onda Stool: This is one of those stools I have not had a opportunity to test yet, however, the potato chip-like kind is so dreadful I had to add it.

Watch more Onda Stools in action

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

5. The Emeco Navy Stool: This stool adds elevation to a hard-working midcentury chair, and is constructed to last a few lifetimes. The back gives plenty of support.

Watch more Emecos in action

Klopf Architecture

6. The Series 7 Stool: Produced by Arne Jacobsen in 1955, the Series 7 chair is now available in a stool version, bringing classic modern design to all styles of kitchens.

Watch more Series 7s in activity

Jennifer Weiss Architecture

7. The Bertoia Stool: Another midcentury timeless, Bertoia’s wire form creates a discreet silhouette that offers plenty of rear support.

Watch more Bertoias in action

8. The OFFI Jim Stool 30: This spinning stool adds circles to compact modern and modern rooms. Its form is simple enough to sidle right up to virtually any fashion bar or kitchen, from farmhouse to industrial.

Amoroso Design

9. The Spin Stool: Speaking of twist, this stool has great lines, tucks underneath the counter and is easy on the eyes and wallet.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

10. The Tolix Stool: This cafe stool dates back to France from the 1930s. Its enduring fashion has never been popular.

Watch more French cafe seating in action

Schwartz and Architecture

11. The Toledo Stool: This isanother industrial classic classic which retailers like Restoration Hardware now reproduce. Much like the Tolix stool, it fits just about every fashion of décor.

Amitzi Architects

12. Stool 1: This geometric stool has mad Victorian style, yet also has a hint of old-fashioned tractor seat in its own design.

Integrated

13. The Knicker Stool: What I love about this Blu Dot feces is that it has modern lines which easily transition between traditional and contemporary spaces. The way it is upholstered makes it looks like it is wearing a comfy sweater.

Niki Papadopoulos

14. The True Excellent Bar Stool: Here is quite another stool, also from Blu Dot. This one horizontal packs and contains a minimalist, origami-esque type; it looks like some sort of contemporary prototype.

Tip: Start paying attention to the stools at restaurants and bars. If you locate one particularly attractive and comfy, track it down. If you are not sure who the manufacturer is, then snap a photo and place a picture of it on our Questions Board. We will do our best to help you locate it.

David Sharff Architect, P.C.

15. The Fjord Stool: Love the fun shape and vivid color on these bar stools. These are investment bits, so be sure to select a colour that you won’t mess of.

Pure Design by Jerry Bussanmas

16. The Felix Stool: This modern stool joins the beatiful grain of walnut veneer with chrome legs, which makes it a versatile option.

17. The Radius Stool: I can not say it better than my colleague Lily Gahagen did in her description of the stool:”The chair of the stool hints up like a grin, which makes for a cozy seat — and also a happy looking chair.”

CB2

Vapor Bar Stool – $199

18. The Vapor Stool: This acrylic stool offers comfort for the rear without obstructing the view throughout the counter or bar. If space is tight, then these help maintain an open atmosphere in a space.

Jensen Architects

19. Bombo Bar Stool: This sculptural bar stool makes me smile, since it is kind of like an ice cream cone for you to perch atop like a spoonful of ice cream. Oh, and yes, it also has mad, super-luxurious Italian design.

IKEA

JULIUS Bar stool – $69.99

20. The Julius Stool: Simple and straightforward, the Julius feces from IKEA has more than ample cushioning and tucks right under the countertop. At $69.99, it is also a fantastic option if you’re on a tight budget.

More: Browse More Modern Stools
Bar Stools: What Design, What Finish, What Size?
How to Select the Perfect Bar Stool

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10 Highlights from High Point 2011

I left my first trip to High Point Market over the weekend. It’s so much fun to see new goods favorite designers have created, discover new sellers, and most important, take what for a test drive.

The twice-annual event in High Point, North Carolina, is perhaps the world’s largest trade show for the furnishings industry. More than 2,000 exhibitors from all over the world present their products to buyers, designers as well as the media in more than 10 million square feet of space. The 2011 fall market runs through Oct. 27.

Here are 10 furniture styles that popped up in the marketplace; some are familiar, some put a twist on existing trends, and some are brand new.

1. Reinventing the wheel. It was a pleasure to meet Joe Manus of Shiner. I’d admired his corrugated cardboard fittings at Dealers, a favorite East Atlanta store, but had no idea how far his talent spread.

The very best thing about visiting the treat-filled Shiner stall was lounging on this rockin’ mattress (it literally rolls back and forth). I wish I had had hours to take a real snooze.

2. Sustainable design. These rockers were one of Manus’s earliest layouts. Everything is crafted from materials that could have otherwise wrapped up in a landfill.

3. Live borders. Live-edge furniture hasn’t gone out of style, and is much more popular than ever. Also, a focus on sustainability in the design world is significantly more prevalent than ever.

Instance in point: Robin Wade Furniture, which focuses on green practices from choosing only sustainable timber (frequently trees that were already down), to hauling it no more than 60 mile to their studio, and even making sure their leftover bits are put to use. The rotted-out hole within this coffee table adds so much character and reminds you of this tree’s previous life.

4. Peacocks. Whether it was peacock blue colors on walls and furniture, oversize peacock feather patterns onto a rug, as well as peacock statues to tuck on shelves and tablescapes, this proud bird was a popular theme at High Point.

This vignette is from the package of amazing rooms by Global Views.

5. Wild lights. No longer dull wallflowers with simple layouts, sconces have gone crazy. This textured Horn Sconce in Barbara Cosgrove caught my eye from across the jam-packed booth. I would love to use 2 of them to flank a fireplace or a mirror.

6. Favorite lines extend into new places. I’ve been a huge fan of DwellStudio for decades, and it was a joy to find out their furniture in individual. I also enjoyed seeing the lineup they have created in combination with Global Views, particularly the Polish decal glassware.

DwellStudio’s Hans Leather Chair is inviting and comfortable; ideal for a mid-century space in addition to a man-cave. The caramel leather fabric option is even more scrumptious in individual than it’s in its online listing.

7. Groovy menswear-inspired design. While Jonathan Adler’s stall had amped up Happy Chic to an even more joyful chic flat, we have some peeks of menswear-inspired fabrics blended in, such as these fun, plaid, buttoned-down Mrs. Godfrey seats.

Watch more menswear-inspired design

The Jonathan Adler stall was merchandised into a series of groovy rooms such as this one.

8. Stepping up the natural look. While nature-inspired components still reign, the Serge p Troyer Collection has taken them to a whole new level, gilding branches to make an elegant table foundation, and designing an oversize antler-inspired floor lamp. Oh, how I want that floor lamp!

Watch more natural components in action

9. Brazilian beauty and craftsmanship. I am so thankful we popped into Platinum Decor on our way back to the car. Not only were they some of the nicest folks I’ve ever met, but the Tissot lineup, made by Brazilian designer Guilherme Tissot, knocked my socks off. This is the Laos Table Base, which looks like a cube cut from the middle of quite a large shrub, but is really a clever wood mix. The table has been paired with the Galle Dining Chairs, which have contemporary contemporary style with a unique Brazilian twist. As you can see, my marketplace partner Michael is powerful comfortable sitting in one of them.

10. Lacquered finishes. The glistening finish on Tissot’s curvaceous Tulipa Dresser includes all of the way to the drawer pulls, which makes it an eye-catching piece for an entryway, living room or bedroom. The adjoining seats are the Revival Dining Chairs with an clear back option.

What’s your favorite trend? Are you really going to High Point this year?

More: 10 Sophisticated Lighting Designs from ICFF 2011
Top 10 Picks from ICFF 2011

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