It doesn’t matter if you’re creating a masterful kitchen on an unlimited budget or if you´re upgrading little by little as your means allow – pick a decorating theme and stick to it.

First decide what style best reflects your personality and lifestyle. For example if you have children and often use your kitchen for hurried pre school breakfasts and quick family dinners you will not use the same design as if were a young executive hosting business parties around a kitchen island dispensing martinis and cocktails to guests propped up on bar stools.

Think also about the general theme of the rest of the house or apartment. Does it have clean lines and white tile floors or rustic unfinished wood and parquet? Does it have black leather sofas or hand carved hardwood with rich upholstery? Are you going for Asian minimalism, antique opulence, Euro chic, or country cottage?

In the following series of articles I will present 10 design ideas to help you choose your kitchen theme and select your ideal kitchen bar stools.

The kitchen themes:

1. New York Loft – A brief sketch of loft style, use of open space, use of height and color ideas plus suggested kitchen stools and where to buy them.
2. Boston Pub – A brief description of Boston Pub style, use of rich woods, textures and fabrics, and suggestions where to buy the best kitchen stools to mimic a Boston pub.
3. Thai Teak – A brief outline of teak wood products, and teak care. Also some recommended outlets to buy the best of this South East Asian look.
4. Rattan Garden – A brief article to help you decide where to buy the best stools and what items to blend with rattan furniture to compliment the garden style look in your kitchen.
5. French Provincial – A brief description of the kinds of stools available for a French provincial look that will bring out the creamy café o lait look of any kitchen.
6. Ultra Modern Funky – A brief outline of some of the funkiest modern bar stool and decor ideas that will be sure keep your family and guests entertained around the kitchen counter.
7. Chrome and all that Jazz – A brief description of what kind of pieces to choose from to jazz up your kitchen counter or barstools in modern or retro looks.
8. American Country Comfort – A brief look at what this style is about and how to achieve a cozy, warm kitchen where the whole town will want to come and sip coco atop your stools.
9. Zen Tranquility – A brief summary of what makes Zen so popular, how to achieve this tranquil look in your kitchen and where to buy authentic bar stools that start their life in peace.
10. Chinese Tao – A brief description of what is Tao and how to achieve a masterful Chinese theme using authentic antiques or reproductions to stun your family and guests with real Chinese Kitchen stools.

Kitchen breakfast bar stools – contemporary, funky, retro, leather, wooden, wood and chrome and sleek contemporary designer stools breakfast bar owners in the UK can easily purchase online, starting as low as £40.

Breakfast Bar Stool Designs From £40 To £100

What separates a breakfast or kitchen stool from a design used in a basement bar or other areas where stools are used is usually the height, the ease of cleaning or caring for the seats, the ability to adjust them to fit the style and design of your countertop or island area, and in most cases, the stools will swivel. However, the ones that are adjustable and swivel are usually more expensive. For example the Cube kitchen stool, which retails through an online UK based shop called Simply Barstools, and sells for just £39.95, does not swivel.

It’s still a good choice for several reasons: First it’s a modern design with a thick padded seat covered in faux leather. Second the legs are powder coated, which is essential for durability, especially in the kitchen where things get spilled and need frequent wiping. Third, it’s a lightweight design that’s easy to move around. Forth, it’s not just a residential model, but is constructed in such a way as to be able to withstand commercial use. In a home environment this means that it will take more abuse even if it’s by children. It’s also the right height for a counter which is where the breakfast bar stool is ideal…not at a separate high bar table. For creating a breakfast nook, these are great too. Imagine 4 or 6 of them around a rectangular counter top extension or a stainless steel cart or island.

Perhaps the best deal available is a design that actually adjusts and swivels and is so funky it will not just be a place to sit and eat breakfast but a design feature that can set the theme of your kitchen. It’s the Conica stool. It’s not a complicated piece of furniture, but a simple cone with a chrome base that’s really sturdy. It features an adjustable gas lift and a swivel seat….and talking about the seat….well it’s such a unique design that begins along the tubular base and opens up into its full cone 330mm seat. It adjusts from 550mm to 720mm so it can be used at a counter or table. The best part is that it only costs £49.95! There’s just one catch. You must order 2 stools to get that price. But who wants just 1 barstool? Anyway, even if you order 2 at that price you still get both items delivered to door for just under £100. Still a great buy! (Yes UK delivery and vat is included.)

In the same price range, and similarly modern and funky, there’s the Baceno kitchen stool that comes in black, and is marketed especially for use in your breakfast bar area in your kitchen. Why? Because it is designed to fit under a counter and with the adjustable gas lift and swivel this will be possible even if you have a countertop height that is slightly different than the norm. The seat is easy to clean being faux leather and is really well padded. If you’re creating a special are for a breakfast bar and stools, you’ll probably want to consider how much space you have for the seats, and how many stools you ideally need. 2 is the minimum, 4 is ideal, but with this sleek seat that has no back or arms and takes up so little space, you may be able to create space for up to 6 around a counter or island. This is usually not possible to do with the larger and heavier wooden breakfast bar stools that have tall backs and arms. Even if you have a wood, or wood veneer kitchen, the minimalist stool designs can work nicely. What we mean is that you needn’t have an ultra modern kitchen theme or sleek stainless steel kitchen cabinets and appliances to be able to choose a set of stools that have a chrome base and are streamline. In this particular case, the faux dark leather seats make this item combine well with natural wood, glass, marble, even distressed white cabinet finishes. About the only style kitchen this would not go well with is one with rich wooden antiques. By the way, it costs just £49.97, so it’s very affordable to get a full set. As with most of the items sold through Simply Barstools, they come in pairs, and delivery is included within the UK.

If you don’t want an average style breakfast bar stool but something that’s neither classic or modern…just unique…then have a look at the Bottle Top stool. Aside from being a fun idea, it’s also a gas lift design so it’s adjustable to a counter height, and the seat has a 360 degree swivel, so you can twist your bottle top if you like. The stool is made from a modern material called Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, otherwise known as ABS material, which is a lightweight moldable product that feels somewhat like ridgid plastic to the touch. It’s very strong, durable and is what protective headgear is made from, just to give you an idea what it’s like.

This funky stool design costs just over £60 and can be purchased online through Bar Stool World, which a UK based company that boasts it will have you stool delivered to you in 48 from the time you order.

Leather and Wooden Breakfast Bar Stools between £100 and £200

One of the best stool buys we can offer you in high quality genuine aged leather with a solid beech frame is the Ascot, which is very reasonably priced at about £185. This classic design is versatile for kitchens that have a rustic theme, a country cottage look, or even a modern décor that is accented in natural wood stools as a contrast to steel cabinets or even antique white or distressed wood. Leather and beech wood is so neutral, especially in the natural tones pictured here, that it will blend with almost any style. Bar Stool World is one of the retailers where you can order this product online. If you want to compare other wooden stool designs to this one, you may need to go elsewhere because this company specializes in more contemporary designs that are affordable. However they have a couple very outstanding deals on wood and leather, which is why we have featured the. After all, you only need one design, the right ONE, and this or the next item we have chosen may be the exact one you need.

For about £200 you can get a rich dark brown leather stool with solid wood legs, called the Palm Leather Stool. This item doesn’t swivel or adjust, but it’s elegant and one of those items that can go with a masculine or minimalist clean line modern kitchen, pushed up to a stainless steel island or counter, or can enhance a formal or traditional wooden kitchen cabinet theme that may even have wood tops or butchers blocks, or perhaps a dark grey or black marble top.

This item is a great design to go with glass bar tables. It can also be the single stool you may choose to have pulled up to the end of a counter extension, as the chef’s private stool where he/she takes a rest, with the other stool placed under a window, or at another counter area….although these stools are only sold in sets of two, there’s no reason you have to place them side by side at a counter or island.

If you are not in the UK, and would like information on where to buy kitchen furniture in the US, please browse related topics that interest you, like: ideas for unusual wooden bar stools according to lifestyle, ideas for folding chair designs, where to get kitchen carts and stainless steel islands, where to buy contemporary bar table models in funky glass and acrylic, and even where you can shop for fun and unique children’s step stool items. If you need stools, breakfast bar ideas, kitchen decorating suggestions or ideas on how to remodel or update your cabinetry, countertops or working space, Your Kitchen Bar Stools is where you’ll find it.

1. Monday in Manhattan

It’s 5:00 am. The espresso machine is warming up while Richard showers. His hair’s still wet as he reaches for the morning paper on the mat outside the door to his loft. Coffee’s ready. He pulls up a stool, spreads the paper over the counter, sips coffee….he won’t turn his phone on until he’s read the reviews and had a second cup…

He pulls his funky little wooden bar stool to the window…he’s just had an idea….a new recipe … stuffed French toast, but instead of the usual dried fruit and cream cheese, he’s going to add fresh herbs to the cheese, dice half a tomato, a few sautéed mushrooms and blend with three kinds of olives, all wrapped in wholegrain bread, soaked in whipped egg batter and lightly fried until golden brown. The final touch will be the sauce…instead of maple syrup and slices of fresh fruit, he’ll dribble an almond and wild mushroom sauce over the toast and garnish with a wedge of buttery Camembert and a fresh lavender flower. He twirls round on the swiveling stool……it’s time he dressed and was off…. the little SoHo café doesn’t open till noon for brunch, but first…to the market for fresh mushrooms, olives, herbs, lavender….he decides to reconsider the Camembert…

• Monday’s kitchen was designed by Manhattan cabinets (242 East 71st Street New York).
• The wooden swivel bar stools by Holland Bar Stool Co.
• Alternative stool design: Misha III – a backless swivel stool with a wood seat and curved chrome legs.

2. Tuesday in Chicago

It’s 9:30 am. Lou had a hard night. After filing the report at headquarters, he went out with the boys for drinks…a few too many, perhaps. He pours himself some Clamato juice, adds Tabasco, sets out eggs and… pulls up a stool….one of those swivel wooden bar stools like they used to make with solid wood, nothing of the sissy stools for Lou….

He holds his head. When the pounding stops, he’ll make a 3 egg omelet, smother it in bacon and sausage, and heap up a healthy portion of hash browns. He has to be in court today. Thankfully not until 12:45. Just a routine hearing, though Lou would rather be almost anywhere else. He swivels his stool round and reaches for the paper. It’s yesterdays. Doesn’t matter. He hasn’t read it yet. Flips to sports….naw…he saw the game last night…Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers…twirls slowly on the stool….finds the remote, switches on the TV…..

“Better start cooking…..” he thinks….just as the phone rings… he swivels his stool, picks up the receiver. “Lou. You better get down to headquarters fast, forget court…there’s been a murder.”

• Tuesday’s kitchen was designed by Cabinet World, Inc. (1401 W. North Ave. , Chicago, IL)
• The wooden breakfast bar stools by Boraam Georgia
• Alternative stool design: Boram Agusta or Boram Palmetto – a swivel stool with a wooden back and padded seat in cherry or brandy finish

3. Wednesday in Miami

It’s 7:10. Francisca has 20 minutes before Angelica and Jaime woke up. The baby will sleep till 9…she hopes. Andrea and Maria-Elena stayed at a friend’s house last night. Puff! She sighs. Switches on the coffeemaker. Measures her favorite Columbian blend… Mmmmmm.

Francisca married well. Everyone says so. Dr. Roberts has been good to her….She pours her coffee and pulls out a bar stool from the kitchen counter, a lovely marble counter. She runs her hands over it…closes her eyes…. laughs to herself. She never asked for marble counters or designer stools. She would have been happy with some cheap wooden bar stools on the patio…but He insisted on the best…a few more sips…..mmmm…the coffee…it reminded her of her hometown where coffee beans were laid to dry on the cement slab, then roasted on clay trays over an open fire….ah…the smell…of peace and quiet….of home… “Mommy…..” Angelica called from the hall…. “Jaime won’t get out of the bathroom…..” Francisca savored the last drops of coffee in her cup, twirled around on her fancy wooden breakfast bar stool and leaned over to open a drawer just below the counter. She took out her planner and ran her finger along the days….“Wednesday – 12:15 SMP. “Jaime!” “Angelica!” “Waaahhhhhh!” She slid off the stool. As she walked to the nursery she made a mental list: sandwiches for kids, call babysitter, check on Andrea and Maria-Elena, stop for gas, buy milk and cereal, pick up dry-cleaning….be at pier by noon…“one of these days you’ll slip up,” she said to herself, “one of these days you’ll come home with a bullet in your leg. How’ll you explain that to good Dr Roberts?”

• Wednesday’s kitchen was designed by Quick Remodel Inc., (2646 NE, 188 Street North Miami Beach)
• The wooden breakfast bar stools have been substituted for the metal Empress by Alston
• Alternative wood stool design by Amisco – the upholstered Jamie stool

4. Thursday in Los Angeles

It’s 2:00 am. Haley doesn’t sleep anymore. Breakfast consists of little packages of what some might call treats, bits of cheese on salty crackers, sugar-coated peanuts, teeny chocolate chip cookies…and wine if there’s any left.

The script lay strewn across the kitchen counter; some pages migrated to the floor….She drags the wooden bar stool to the island counter, reaches for the last of the wine and…No! She puts the bottle down. Yes! The vineyard …that’s it…in the wine cellar of the old family vineyard, that’s where the body was buried…Haley slides over to the kitchen island where her laptop sits; the cursor blinking on a half empty page….

7:00 am. The sun wakes her. She looks at the screen. All she sees are the words THE END. She smiles, pulls her legs onto the stool, scrunches her toes into the folds of her skirt and whispers: YES! Today she’ll go to the beach, buy groceries, cook dinner, not write a single word, not even open her laptop, not think about a single new idea for a story….

“That’s how it’ll begin,” she says to herself, “a secluded writer who hasn’t left her house in 3 years, at last opens the door one day when by chance someone knocks….”

There’s a knock at the door. Haley wriggles on her stool and glances at the door…

• Thursday’s kitchen was designed by The Kitchen Connection (13700 So. Broadway Los Angeles, CA)
• The wooden breakfast bar stools by Carolina Cottage – the Essex Counter Stool

5. Friday in New England

It’s 7:45 am. Adam has the pancake batter in a large stainless steel bowl on the counter, the waffle mix is also prepared. The maple syrup and the Maine blueberry jam’s set out on the tables in the dining area. He’s finished setting out heated trays of hickory and maple smoked bacon, thick slices of ham, and there’s a huge pot of steaming coffee.
It’s all ready.

Adam’s been running the Bed & Breakfast since he can remember. The best moments are right now….15 minutes before guests come down the stairs…these precious minutes when he pulls up a soft bar stool and sits at the central island counter, takes a deep breath and sips a mug of rhubarb tea . He doesn’t think about the guests, or the menu or the cleaning….he just savors his tea….until he hears creaking sounds on the hardwood floor in the hallway just outside the kitchen door.

• Friday’s kitchen was designed by New England Kitchen Co. (1 Gallery Court, 44 Walton Road, East Molesey, Surrey)
• Swivel wooden bar stool by Hillsdale – the Bayberry oak bar stool from Hillsdale Furniture, L.L.C.

6. Saturday in New Mexico

It’s 11:00 am. Carmen hangs a large chalkboard in front her door. She writes slowly, adding curls and twists to the letters.

Saturday’s Breakfast Menu:

1. Quesadilla grilled with jack cheese– scrambled eggs, guacamole, salsa jalapeño and homemade chorizo
2. Chile relleno and huevos– with roasted jalapeños and black beans
3. Huevos Rancheros –corn tortillas, black beans, chili sauce and melted jack cheese.

Carmen draws a cactus on one side of the board and a cocktail glass with ice and lemons on the other side, then sets down the chalk, wipes her hands on her apron and goes inside. The sun’s already too hot for her. She’s tanned enough for one lifetime.

She pours herself a tall glass of extra sweet lemonade, adds a couple drops of rum, sits in her rustic wood swivel bar stool. They all squeak a little….Antonio wanted to oil them, but she said no. She prefers to hear the creak when customers twirl at the breakfast counter; before the evening crowd arrives and the music starts and mixes with the hum of voices and laughter, guitars and horns, rancheros and ballads…but…right now…Carmen’s all alone. The kitchen bar is hers. Everything is just for her pleasure. The sun’s high outside. The fan whirrs above her. It’s cool inside and that’s where she wants to stay.

• Saturday’s kitchen was designed by Davis Kitchens (2200 Eubank NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico)
• rustic log swivel wooden bar stool by La Fuente Imports

7. Sunday in New Orleans

It’s 2:00 pm. Madeline never gets up before noon, not now anyway, not since…. And she certainly never eats breakfast! At least she didn’t used to eat breakfast….. before…. before…

Today there’s no one to eat with anyway. Even the cat didn’t come home.

Since HE left, there’s only one place she can tolerate being on a Sunday morning – in the kitchen, with a Creole bloody Mary to start, then poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, perhaps some bacon with marchand de vin sauce (like what she used to order when THEY went out together for breakfast at Brennan’s….before he left that is), and to finish, maybe some calas…or perhaps…some banana fritters and wine….where’s the wine? Where did the useless maid hide the wine?

Madeline gets off her stool, finds a bottle…pours a drink….rests her head on the polished marble countertop, and sobs…..

• Sunday’s kitchen was designed by Habersham Custom Cabinets and Furniture (Toccoa, GA) through Artisan Kitchen and Bath (5235 Magazine Street, New Orleans)
• wooden bar stool by Cumberland – hardwood counter stool with distressed buttermilk finish and rattan accents
• alternative stool in metal by Hillsdale – Glendale high bar stool

Kitchen bar stools and tables in glass and acrylic; ultra modern architectural and geometric shaped bar table furniture from top designers; funky and chic decorating concepts for extraordinary kitchens – at Your Kitchen Bar Stools we have the scoop on the hottest trends; where to buy bar tables, contemporary stools, and innovative kitchen furniture and accessories to make your space as individual as you are. We have some surprises from high-tech French, Italian and Spanish designers, a little something from Haziza, and a sea-inspired treat from China.

Kitchen Trends

If you flip through the pages of local or international home décor magazines and view the latest kitchen designs in chrome and stainless steel, or the retro wood veneer styles, or the chic Manhattan loft designs, or the colorful artsy or art deco themes, you’ll notice that no matter how different the general concepts may be, they all have one thing in common – they all have an island, an extended countertop or a bar table of some kind incorporated into the kitchen.

One of the main elements that top designs integrate into kitchens is a place in the kitchen where barstools can be used, be it as a cozy breakfast nook, a set of stools under a window with a view, or a more central area that doubles as a juice bar in the morning and a chic cocktail lounge for the evening.

To get inspiration, if you are in the middle of renovating or creating your kitchen from scratch, browse the innovative designs available through companies like Omega Kitchens. Naturally you can buy your cabinets, counters, islands, bar-style extension tables and complete kitchen packages through them, or you can simply study the trends, learn what’s hot, get inspired, and then add elements of different designs to your unique space.

Another great source of design information and high-end contemporary kitchen furniture, which invariably incorporates modern bar table accents or focal points, is Tecnocucina, an innovative Italian company that has been creating single open spaces they call the Living Kitchen, which simply means they believe in ONE space that’s both high-tech and practical for everyday life. For over thirty years, Tecnocucina has been representing the top architects, builders, engineers and designers using international innovation and Italian quality craftsmanship. But what do you find when you look at what engineers and designers are creating at Omega Kitchens and what architects are being inspired to build at Tecnocucina.

From the US to Italy and France and even crossing the seas to Asian inspired minimalist/high-tech Japanese and Chinese concepts, what you’ll find in contemporary designs are these basic elements:

1. wide open spaces

2. clean lines and light

3. chrome and aluminum accents

4. stainless steel appliances, cabinets, islands

5. Extended countertops, adjacent tables

6. minimalist sleek or vintage bright

7. work space, lots of tables and counters

8. lots of…stools…stools…stools

What if you already have your basic kitchen?

It’s new. Chic.
Elegant or Funky.
You love it.

But it wasn’t designed with a nook or an island or an extending counter for stools. You can add this feature, without disturbing the flow or theme of the space, if you choose the right bar table and chairs and place them correctly.

Here are some of the top designs you can choose and some ideas on how to place them in a kitchen….and naturally…. we include the information you need to buy the tables and stools that are available online.

Haziza Studio – Architectural, Artsy, Geometric, Chic

We start with the items that are most unusual by Haziza Studio. They may not be table extensions for a kitchen counter top, but they can be placed at the end of a long counter or beside an island, or near a window….in fact, they are so unique they can stand alone as a feature. The bar table and stool sets by Haziza, like the Coil design shown at the outset of this post, can be purchased separately and can even be customized.

What we mean is that if you already have a table that’s part of a cabinet, counter or built-in theme, then you can just buy the stools, or vice versa.

Everything you see can be personalized or altered to suite your color scheme. For example the Remi bar table from Haziza Studio, with acrylic geometric squares as a base, and a glass table top, can be ordered in any of the zillion colors that their acrylic comes in – lavender and pink for funky modern, orange and mustard for art deco/retro, taupe and sage…or totally transparent for elegant classic chic.

Another example is the Liberty Bar Table that’s acrylic and glass, but you can choose from all these funky colors…Flamingo, Iguana, Grecian Urn, Passion, Tangerine and even Orchid amongst others. Even a stainless steel kitchen can be accented with a few of these hot geometric stools, or a cocktail area can be added with the table base, since the glass is sold separately, so you can choose a square or rectangular shape to make into a counter extension, or use a round top as pictured.

Choose some of the funkiest, trendiest bar stool designs that exist, like the Bello or the Loop. Pick a single color or mix and match. Set them up to your counter or island or buy the separate table, as you desire.

Pick your fabric, your metal finish and your acrylic backrest. The upholstery is suede, by the way….and the Loop stool for example is fully adjustable from 24 to 30 inches.

Choose A Pedestal Base and Glass Top

You can also create your own unique glass top bar table design by selecting a pedestal and then choosing the glass. Some of the pedestal bases are black and white with LED lighting and clear acrylic accents, others are stainless steel with acrylic twists. It’s doubtful you’ll find a more unusual way to create a bar set that better accents a contemporary stainless steel kitchen environment than the Haziza Arch pedestal, but there are dozens upon dozens of unique acrylic masterpieces to choose from – works of art all by themselves.

Deck Line

If you’re looking for wood bar table and chairs that are far, far from the run of the mill designs, you need to have a look at the French Deck Line collection. These are able to be used in home kitchens or on the deck of your yacht (or in the kitchen on your yacht)….The design is called L’escale. It’s wood, resin and chrome, adjustable, finely crafted and stable enough for high seas and low tide adventures on deck and on solid ground.

Protis

Another French company with innovative bar tables for sale is Protis. They have been offering high-end contemporary furniture, for residential and commercial use, since 1970, and feature some of the world’s top designer items. The collections include stools, chairs, unusual extendable tables, stainless steel and glass items that can be used to create more kitchen work space, islands and tables where tall seating or low seating can easily be accommodated. They also offer complete furnishings for the rest of the home, all in the crisp contemporary clean-lined style for which they are famous in Paris and throughout the world.

Even if your budget doesn’t allow you the option of buying a piece of Protis furniture, simply visiting their unique online showroom, which consists of slide shows and more, will provide decorating and design inspiration that can help in choosing pieces that may be within your budget.

SAMOA IZ Mesa Para Tu Bar De Cocina

We offer yet another unusual source of inspiration called SAMOA; a Spanish company that uses the latest technologies to create brilliantly engineered pieces of furniture by designers like Francesc Rifé who incorporates the basics of geometric balance, spatial order, and rational forms to create luxurious, yet minimalist concepts for home and garden, like the Samoa IZ Mesa Taburete. So simple. Clean. Taking inspiration from outdoor white pub tables, from Mediterranean outdoor cafes, and bringing them into the kitchen.

Ivini Dock Wood Bar Table

While we’re talking about outdoor influences, we must mention a Chinese company, not your average cheap Chinese furniture retailer, but an innovative design manufacturer and distributor called Ivini. Why do we mention them? Because they’ve brought the sea and its docks to life in high bar table and chair concepts that mimic the boards of a dock….set in chrome and stainless steel. For sand and breeze you’ll have to go outside, but for a small piece of a dock at which to serve cocktails, just bring an Ivini creation into your kitchen.

An Uppity Choice

If, after getting inspired by all the international creations mentioned, you come back to reality and realize that ordering the most innovative acrylic or stainless steel or Chinese dock design or glass bar table from Paris, isn’t going to happen, you may appreciate a funky, yet affordable solution. Here is just one, but it’s good: the LumiSource design called the Uppity Bar Table, which offers a contemporary UPPITY design but for a non-uppity price ….just under $240. It features a tempered glass tabletop, black trim and a chrome base with a round footrest. Pair this bar table with transparent stools or funky acrylic ones with matching chrome bases.

Dada Inspiration by Yabu Pushelberg

If you can’t afford to go for the fabulous contemporary stainless steel kitchen designs by top companies like Dada who represent designers such as Yabu Pushelberg and creations like the Losola Kitchen Concept…..at least take the inspiration and look at the elements separately. For example, examine the Losola:

1. the contemporary bar table is simply an extension of a kitchen island counter. It can be wood veneer or a real wood table. The key is the open space that can accommodate…..

2. two simple wood bar stools in pine or light wood

3. stainless Steel and chrome accents blended with natural wood, white flooring and mosaic tile

4. strong geometric lines that are long and thin, creating the illusion of space…space….space

5. natural lighting combined with strategic accent lighting over the counter

These basic elements can be achieved without necessarily ordering this entire kitchen through Dada, although if you can….how fabulous is that! But if you can’t, then here are some ways to get what you need to create the faux Dada Losola Kitchen:

The central island can be achieved by choosing one of the many stainless steel kitchen carts and islands that are sold separately, like the very affordable Danver stainless steel kitchen cart with drawer for just $475 through All Kitchen Carts. You can also go with a slightly more expensive choice by John Boos like the Cucina Magnifico that has a wood table top or the sleek all stainless steel John Boos Cucina Americana Marcella design that has two closed drawers like the Dada design, and costs just over $1,500.

Add the kitchen bar table extension by choosing something like the dark wood Kyoto Kona Extension table (available through Crate & Barrel), which will be the long bar table you place adjacent to the stainless steel island. This item could also be custom made for less and could be designed with no legs or pedestals as it is in the original design. Otherwise, you can achieve a similar effect using a long wood, or wood veneer table that’s sleek, elegant, clean-lined, very geometric. That’s why we have recommended the bamboo table by Kyoto Kona.

The next items you need to mimic this kitchen design are the two wooden barstools. These can be simple ones or swivel bar stools crafted in natural pine or a clear color wood. This style of stool is not expensive; they usually sell for under $90, sometimes much less at online barstool shops.

You can also go with a more contemporary stool, part wood and part metal, or even a unique design like the Pall….crafted by talented Borge Lindau, or other styles in the Oblado Range.

It can be fun to create a more affordable version of a high-end kitchen design, and incorporate all the elements that the professionals use, but spend a little less.

At Kichen Bar Stools we also have a lot more information on choosing kitchen carts and islands in stainless steel, and we have a wide selection of ideas for folding chair designs that go with contemporary or classic themes. We also offer a series of recommendations on where to get affordable swivel bar stools, and we even offer suggestions on where to get unique step stool creations for the kids so they can join you at counter height. For even more ideas on how to create unusual kitchen decorating themes, browse our series of posts on such things as Zen Tranquility, Ultra Modern and New York Loft – all offer decorating ideas and suggestions on what kitchen bar stools and tables can be used to create the atmosphere you desire.

]]> http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/funky-innovative-kitchen-designs-with-contemporary-bar-table-and-stools/feed/ 0 http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/stainless-steel-kitchen-carts-and-islands/ http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/stainless-steel-kitchen-carts-and-islands/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 19:45:50 +0000 nena http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/?p=332

John boos kitchen carts and islands, with butcher block tops and food service grade stainless steel from the famous Cucina Americana collection, starting at $520 for the basic designs or professional style islands starting at just over $1,200; from Cucina Classico simple and practical to Cucina Grandioso with shelves, cabinets and stainless steel pot racks and hooks – that’s what Your Kitchen Bar Stool presents this week. If you need a kitchen island, a rolling cart or extra stainless steel countertop space before you can choose matching stools, then we have suggestions for some of the worlds top designs. We show you what’s hot and where to buy what you need to convert your kitchen into a modern, area – practical for the chef, inviting for guests, and comfortable for everyone in the family, no matter if it consists of one, two or twenty-two.

If you already have your dream stainless steel kitchen cabinets and appliances, and all you need is a little extra counter space or a cart to match the sleek modern look of your kitchen, then you may only need something like the John Boos Cucina Culinarte, which has a maple wood butcher’s block (that can be removed) and two stainless steel shelves. You can also add a set of sturdy commercial grade locking casters so the cart can roll. This small practical unit is affordable at just over $500, and offers enough extra space for whatever you’re chopping or dicing or slicing for a diner menu. It also works as a service trolley for wine, appetizers or desserts. Since it’s only 35 inches high, it may slide under an a counter when not in use, or can be a side table or buffet to a kitchen table.

Similar is size and design is the Cucina Rosato Butcher Block Cart, also by John Boos, and costs just over $600. The features that are different on each cart in this basic price range may appear subtle, and they are, but in a kitchen environment, only the chef can tell you that some very small things make all the difference. For example a handy towel to wipe the rim of bowls or the edges of serving platters and plates may be an essential item, and if the chef doesn’t have one tucked into his apron strings on his waist, he/she may appreciate the little towel rack that’s part of most of the kitchen utility carts by John Boos. And if having enough space to finely chop onions or parsley or slice mushrooms or dice olives without having to move things about on a cramped counter is important, then we highly recommend the butcher block kitchen cart models that are unique because the wood block can be used for cooking, then removed and set aside, and the cart can be used as a serving tray.

There are two great designs to consider, one is more affordable than the other: first, the Cucina D’Amico butcher block island cart, which retails for just under $1,000, and second, the Cucina Elegante butcher block stainless steel kitchen cart/island design that retails for about $740. The Cucina Elegante design has a 1.75 inch thick chopping block that’s solid maple and easy to clean because it’s finished with a coating of Varnique. Immediately below the block is a handy drawer, also maple, for easy access to utensils. Then there 2 stainless steel shelves, with the central one being reversible, which means that when you flip it over, it becomes a tray and can be used to store vegetables, fruit or even bottles of wine. The construction of the cart includes stainless steel legs that have locking casters so that when you don’t want it to roll it won’t. Moving back to the top of the cart, you can see that there are two drop leaves (which are optional) that allow for more chopping space or can be used to serve or even as a table at which to sit for quick lunches….a simple kitchen table for two.

Oddly enough the more expensive Cucina D’Amico model has fewer features and less shelves, however, this design serves a totally different purpose. It is specific for serious chopping because it has a 5” thick block that’s made from Northern Hard Rock Maple and is specifically designed to not wear out your knives. For cooks and chefs who value their perfectly sharpened knives, this butcher block will absorb blade impact. It’s also unique in that the block is constructed so as to not allow nicks …to minimize bacteria in the wood. It’s also treated with beeswax and can be kept smooth and moisture free if treated from time to time with the special Mystery Oil or the Board Cream, also made by John Boos. Everything else is stainless steel like all the other models we recommend.

The BBSS Cucina Classico stainless kitchen cart is very simple, very sleek, just a space to work. However the GRA Cucina Grandioso is a space to work, design, create and maybe even play. With pot racks and utensil hooks above the stainless steel counter, and drawers below and shelves under that, everything is within easy reach…whisks, ladles, tongs, strainers, large spoons, spatulas and turnovers; even mixing bowls, pots, pans and ingredients are all handy….with a little place for your olive oil and garnishes…

For professional chefs and serious cooks, there’s the CU Cucina Marcella, which is in fact the strongest stainless steel design made by John Boos. This professional food service grade, tray/trolley/workspace/island/table and kitchen storage cart all in one is made with 300 series 18/8 stainless steel and comes complete with a 16 gauge steel top, nylon roller bearing glides for the cabinet doors and the sturdiest of all cabinet bases available.

Keep in mind that many of the kitchen island cart designs are also ideal kitchen tables where the cook or helpers can grab a quick bite between courses, or where an early morning coffee can be sipped in a quiet space before the dinner rush….just pull up a bar stool and relax.

And while we’re on the subject of stools to pull up to your kitchen cart island, why not pick up a couple of the matching ones from the John Boos collection….chrome to match the stainless steel and wood to accent the butcher block….have a look how sleek and clean these counter stools are. And…they’re not expensive….just over $100. There’s also a funky table that goes great with the stools….it has no cutting board or racks…but it’s very chic for working space, called the SS-C Cucina Moderno with a bullnose top that’s stainless steel and a black painted base to match the black in the stools. It costs under $600. Yes, it’s also considered an island, but it’s not a cart.

We understand that the elegant and durable quality of the John Boos collections may be ideal, yet they may also be unaffordable for those on a tight budget who just want handy kitchen trolleys or a simpler stainless steel top kitchen cart that is otherwise made of wood. For a design that’s practical and a price that’s affordable, we suggest going with the home styles kitchen carts and islands like the Manhattan, which is just under $260 and comes complete with the following features: towel rack, natural wood legs, shelves and two drawers, hardware finished in brushed steel. Locking casters, and the heavy gauge top in solid stainless steel. By the way, one of the shelves can be used as a wine rack, and since the cart is portable, it’s a great serving trolley for wine and cheese. The Homestyles Manhattan island-cart can be purchased online at ekitchenislands. Just in case you’re interested in other designs, such as black or white kitchen cart models that are even more affordable, check out the complete line of Homestyles products also available through Kitchen Source.

Decorating Advice

Now that you have an idea of what’s available and how much these items cost, you might ready to take a look at chrome swivel bar stools, or wooden models that accent or contrast the modern look of steel. There are also some really funky folding chair designs in aluminum that look great in stainless steel environments. Also if you need some decorating ideas on how to pull everything together into a theme that’s your very own, browse some of our related topics, like: Chrome and All That Jazz Theme For Kitchen Stools or Ultra Modern Funky Theme or even Zen Tranquility Theme, which goes well with steely kitchen designs.

]]> http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/stainless-steel-kitchen-carts-and-islands/feed/ 0 http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/children%e2%80%99s-step-stool-ideas-%e2%80%93-wood-plastic-rubber-aluminum-and-folding-designs/ http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/children%e2%80%99s-step-stool-ideas-%e2%80%93-wood-plastic-rubber-aluminum-and-folding-designs/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 18:49:39 +0000 nena http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/?p=303

Children’s 1 and 2 step stool designs; fun and funky decorated wooden stools; hand painted styles, personalized and padded items; bedside stools and kitchen folding ones; Kitchen Helper and Learning Tower kitchen step stool by Little Partners; unique ways to elevate your kids to the height they need to be part of the family, or to be independent – at Kitchen Bar Stools we know where to get those special little items that instantly make children grow taller….

It’s an hour before dinner. Everyone’s hungry and a little cranky. Daddy’s not home yet. Suzy’s doing her homework at the kitchen table. Little Michael’s been asking for pizza all week….and you did promise…..so yesterday you bought tomato sauce and cheese….but you know that right in the middle of kneading the dough Michael’s going to start asking if it’s ready yet…and then when you’re slicing the salami and pepperoni and dicing the olives and mixing the spices into the sauce and trying to grate the cheese, Michael’s going to tug on your pant leg and ask again and again if the pizza’s ready yet…and then he’s going to start to cry…..if only he could help…if only he were tall enough to kneed a little dough, spread it on a pizza pan, choose his toppings and sprinkle the whole mess with cheese….if only….

Now Michael can do all that and more. And when Suzy’s finished her homework and daddy walks in the door, instead of finding a very frustrated mommy with a crying Michael tugging at her, he finds Michael working and laughing on the Kitchen Helper or the Learning Tower while he sprinkles the last few shreds of cheese onto the extra special little pizza he’s just created (wit a little help from mom). But what is a Kitchen Helper (if it’s not a lady that comes to help)? And what’s a Learning Tower (if it’s not a place where naughty princes are sent when they refuse to learn)? In fact both are kinds of really well designed kids step stools that are sturdy and stable and allow for children to participate in whatever is going on at a higher elevation than what their little legs naturally allow.

Many parent’s are finding that allowing their children to help prepare food, wash windows, clean the sink, wash dishes and other routine tasks is a pleasure for children, a means to get closer to each other, a way to teach and have fun. It’s frustrating for a child to be excluded from almost all activities due to height issues. Cooking, cleaning, washing, drying, mixing and helping isn’t work until they reach 12 or 15 years old; until then it’s a forbidden pleasure. Include your children in activities like cooking, making cakes and cookies, planting seeds in window pots or even washing dirty windows by bringing them up to your level. The Guidecraft Kitchen Helper is sometimes difficult to order online due to backorders, but the Learning Tower is easy to find at places like My Step Stool and even at Amazon.

Why is the Little Partners Learning Tower a kid’s step stool that has parents excited? Because it allows joint working situation and independence without worry. The layered birch construction is made in such a way as to not tip over, and the wood is finished with a non-toxic coating, and it’s easy to wipe clean.

It’s designed so that when a child is standing on the step they will be about the right height to work at an average counter, with the top of the step being flush with a kitchen counter design. But if it’s not just where you need it, the platform where the kids stand is adjustable. And let’s hope that no one has a 500lb toddler, but just in case the whole family wants to climb aboard, the unit can withstand that much. Have twins or triplets? Then let them stand on the step two by two…..and afterwards let them turn the step stool into a playhouse, dollhouse, chalkboard, fort or anything else that they can imagine. This complete unit…so full of possibilities and opportunities costs about $200 no matter where you choose to shop. By the way, it comes in a zillion colors….just pick one!

Fun and Personal ….Personalized Step Stool Ideas For Kids

Bedtime and teeth brushing time is a bit different. Large stools like the Learning Tower and Kitchen Helper are ideal kitchen step stool options, but when it comes to small bathroom spaces and getting into bed you’ll still need a little stool for your Michael or Suzy or Noah…as the case may be, and there’s nothing quite like a personalized stool with your very own name on it…. in this case your child’s name, not your own, since we hope you are tall enough to reach your sink, brush your teeth and get into bed without a stool….. Anyway…if your little Noah is into Harley Davidson, or you hope he will be, then try personalizing the Harley Davidson Flames Step N’ Store kids step stool that sells for just under $40 at My Step Stool and other fine online shops.

The other idea is the Puzzle Step Stool that can also be a personalized design, like the wooden ones where the letters of the name are the puzzle itself. For about $60 you can have the puzzle, wood stool, and an engraved message on the underside of the stool. My Step Stool offers this service, but you have to think in advance if this is to be a birthday gift because these are custom made pieces that take about 5 weeks to make and ship to your address.

For both girls and boys, but especially girls, wooden hand-painted designs are winners. Just take a look at adorable bed step stools like the Ballet Step Stool made of Birch with a lacquer finish that’s ideal for little girls that are about 3 years old.

And the Magic Garden stool or the Princess and Frog motif that’s sold through My Step Stool are so cute and cost just $60 and $70. Perfect gifts from anyone to a child who they love.

For race loving boys there’s also a race car step stool that’s also hand painted, and it has so much detail that it naturally costs a little more, about $99.

Cheap Rubbermaid Step Stool Solutions

If you love all these great ideas, and wish you could afford them but really have such a tight budget that anything over $20 would be too much, then you may want to try the Rubbermaid stepping stool styles that are not specific for children but can be a quick and handy option if the kids need to get at the bathroom sink or wash their hands or reach a shelf in their room that’s too high.

The best ones are the basic flat square designs that have a non-skid surface and are sturdy. These cost just under $10 and are sold almost everywhere that Rubbermaid products are sold, including Amazon and most department stores.

The 2 step stool or the folding varieties are more expensive, and for kids they are less stable. Although the commercial design of the two-step model, which costs about $33 is a good design and would work for older children. However, folding step stools in general are not recommended for kids because they an get their fingers pinched and if they’re not opened properly can be dangerous. If you really want a cheap Rubbermaid design as a toddler step stool then we suggest sticking with the white roughneck step stool that costs about $22.

Kik Step Stool From Cramer

The Kik Step brand stools are ideal for everything, including librarians and children who want to wash their hands. They’re stable, but they get their funky name from what happens when you kick them…they roll. But….for safety all you have to do is step on the stool and it gets locked in place and doesn’t move. That’s what makes these stools so fantastic and popular….aside from the really cool colors they come in, and now a new one that’s all stainless steel.

These modern, funky and very practical one step step stool innovations by Cramer are reasonably priced at about $65. They can be bought online at places like Crate & Barrel, JC Penny, Target and other authorized shops.

Plastic…..

We don’t feel it’s necessary to devote much time to talking about plastic step stool models that are good for children, mostly because you can pick up really cheap plastic ones almost anywhere if that’s what you’re after, and the high quality ones that are heavy duty, non-skid, built with grommets for grip and safety railings and stack and are still lightweight enough to carry about, cost about $70 and are made for industrial purposes. Since they’re not exactly cheap, and they’re not fun or innovative in themselves, they don’t excite us and don’t excite most parents either. That’s why they aren’t found on the websites that feature products for training toddlers to use a potty or in the shops that specialize in children’s step stools as lifestyle aids. However, if safety is foremost on your mind and design is secondary, then you may appreciate the heavy duty stools that are sold through Global Industrial.

A Long Time Ago….

Remember that a long time ago, before we consulted the Internet about the best products available, before we shopped online, before we were so safety conscious, and before we became inundated with phrases like non-skid-, non-toxic, non-slip and safety-approved ….there were children who helped their parents make pizza (even in Italian ovens) standing on apple boxes, old wine crates or barrels, laughing, helping and learning without ever thinking once about skidding or slipping or getting intoxicated by anything other than a bit of wine.

So if you don’t want to buy a stool, find a sturdy wooden crate, a used barrel, an old wooden apple box, a plastic milk crate or anything that can be stood on, and have fun making the stool and then using it about the house.

Practical and Fun Kitchen Stool Ideas

If you would like more information on other home furnishings for the kitchen, then you might be interested in counter height bar stools and even vintage style step stool chairs that kids can use to do their homework at the kitchen counter, or retro swivel bar stools to create your own 1950’s soda or ice-cream shop theme for the children to enjoy at home. You might also appreciate information on folding chair designs that are practical for the whole family, especially when a birthday rolls around. At Kitchen Bar Stools we offer lots of suggestions on how to make your kitchen a more practical, personal and fun place to share with your children, extended family and even adult friends who might love to sip a cocktail (without the kids) while sitting atop a funky set of stools.

]]> http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/children%e2%80%99s-step-stool-ideas-%e2%80%93-wood-plastic-rubber-aluminum-and-folding-designs/feed/ 0 http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/24-swivel-bar-stools-for-the-kitchen/ http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/24-swivel-bar-stools-for-the-kitchen/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 12:39:07 +0000 nena http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/?p=273

24 inch swivel bar stools in leather, oak, cherry, metal, wrought iron and chrome; backless styles and elegant swivel back designs; adjustable models from all the top manufacturers; innovative and unique outdoor creations and counter height stools for the kitchen; retro and contemporary design ideas to incorporate into your home – at Kitchen Bar Stools we know what’s happening in the world of seating. This week we present twenty-four 24 inch swivel stool ideas that cost under $100.

A Trip Down Ice-cream Memory Lane

Retro is still the hottest stool theme, and the Birmingham retro barstool is the cheapest design on the market that offers quality 1950’s style chrome and vintage vinyl seats in black, bright yellow or cherry red with white edging, just like the ones in the old ice-cream parlors. For just $65 you can choose which color suits you or mix and match all three. You can get these items through Overstock and a place called One Way Furniture has a similar style in black for $69. Unfortunately none of them swivel, so if you must have chrome swivel bar stools to twirl on you’re going to have to pay a teeny bit more, about $93 from Elegant Bar stools, and get a bit better quality as well. The backless swivel bar stools we’re talking about are actually commercial grade and have a few extra features.

If you think retro is only about ice-cream stools, then have a taste of a different old flavor with another classic fifties design but this time with a full back. The bucket seat style swivel back bar stools with all the support you could ask for costs just $85 and is metal, double chrome ring base framed design with a vinyl padded bucket seat that’s 18 inches wide. Sink into this vintage piece of furniture and sip a little soda from your very fountain.

By the way, if black isn’t vintage enough for your trendy décor, try one of the other colors like: bright yellow, dark cherry, tea rose, mauve, chocolate chip, mushroom, pearl or super white. In fact if you can afford to add $8 to the price of the stool, then you can choose about a zillion upholstery colors, even indigo, cranberry, Jamaican jade, silver surf and avocado. For no extra cost you can select crimson, spice brown, walnut, mahogany, bark or green.

Affordable Leather Swivel Bar Stools

It’s a bit of a challenge to show you the best designs in leather for under $100, but we’ve found a couple in faux leather and hope that counts. The first is the Hillsdale Lakeview Backless Bar Barstool that retails for $89 through One way Furniture. The only part that’s leather is the seat, and as we said, it’s not real but a nice brown imitation that’s easy to clean. It does swivel 360 degrees and is sturdy, made of tubular steel. Hillsdale Furniture actually has lots of really great leather and faux leather designs to choose from, the problem is that the ones with backs and extra features cost over $140 in most cases.

There’s a very different design by Milano, more modern, or at least more sleek and masculine, and it costs just $99, so meets with our under $100 criteria. The funny thing is that it says the seat and back are covered with ECO leather, which I do believe is a really fancy way of saying it’s not really leather either. So, if it makes you happy to know that no cows were used to obtain hides for your seat, then this is a good stool because it offers a back and solid pine construction. There’s just one catch. It doesn’t swivel. We had no idea how difficult it was going to be to come up with 24 unique stools that were under $100 and swivel…..pufff!!!! So, if you don’t mind that the leather isn’t leather and the swivel doesn’t swivel…then this is the stool for you!

Cheap Adjustable Bar Stools

In this category we’re in luck. There are several adjustable bar stools that meet the necessary criteria of being under $100. For example, there’s the Hillsdale Sanders design that is an adjustable stool and it’s also a swivel style and it’s only $79. It has a brown faux suede seat which is neutral enough to match most design themes, and it’s adjustable from 24 inches to 30 inches, great for kitchen counters and islands as well as bar tables when guests pop over. We think this adjustable backless bar stool and its cousin, in pewter finish and black, are great buys. The cousin, also a Sanders, is the same price and is also faux suede…just that it has a black seat.

Oak

You’re not going to be very happy with what we have to say about oak swivel bar stools because there’s not much choice and they’re not very pretty or innovative. The best choice we can offer is the Hollander Deluxe, which is a rather standard looking round seat stool, yes it swivels, and it costs just $85 and is made of oak. It has turned legs and is classic in every way, with a sturdy swivel base and nicely finished oak….although you can also choose maple. It’s 24 inches high, so it fits all the criteria of being swivel, 24 inches and made of oak!

Sidetracked…again….

The next item is much sexier and would go really well with a Zen minimalist themed kitchen, but unfortunately it doesn’t swivel, it’s 29 inches high and therefore, apart from being cheap, priced at just $89, it really meets none of the goals we set out for finding you the perfect stool. You have to admit ….it’s a pretty stool though!

Back to serious matters….. a genuine oak stool that swivels and is just the perfect 24 inch height…hmmm….Wildon home has one for about $67…a classic dowel back design….Holland Hardwoods has a backless stool much like the Hollander Delux, just that this one costs about $70 and can be found at Mercantila…..but we think the best overall choice is the Home Styles Furniture design. It’s a gorgeously upholstered swivel stool in cottage oak and costs just $95!

Winsome has the best deal of all…..a set of two for 24 inch counter height swivel bar stools with lovely upholstered seats and they cost just under $97! Shop for these items at More Bar Stools. Naturally there are zillions of other temptations there that cost more than $100…so be careful.

Metal, Wrought Iron and Chrome

Wrought iron bar stool designs not only are the most expensive of the metal designs, but it’s also hard to find ones that swivel, especially if we want affordable pieces under $100. We got sidetracked again because there is a really great design for outdoor spaces and even as a funky option for adding to a sunny kitchen counter area, but unfortunately the stools don’t swivel and are over our budget being about $120. It’s called the Pangaea Folding barstool, and it’s made from iron…but what got us excited was the fact that it folds, which is really unusual for wrought iron. That’s why we mention it, even though it falls short of the basic criteria. Look at how great it looks when it’s set up and how well it folds down to store during winter. No need for covering it or wondering where to store it because it would fit stashed away almost anywhere, even in a garden shed or indoor storage room.

Another great thing about the Pangaea wrought iron bar stool is that it’s powder-coated so it’s rust proof and weather resistant just in case you decide to leave it outdoors even during less pleasant conditions. Another little bit of trivia regarding the makers of the Pangaea Home and Garden stool collections is that they are made by an American company that cooperates with talented artisans from the Philippines to create these gorgeous pieces. You can also get matching bar tables, benches, regular chairs, wine racks and even funky matching candle sticks. You can buy all these products through All Metal Barstools if you have fallen in love with the design like we have.

Getting back on track….we have found discount metal swivel bar stools that do swivel and are really metal and come in 24 inch counter height models. They are sold through One Way Furniture and the top selling design costs just $59…so it’s perfect! It has a back, sort of fan-shaped with five metal rods, a vinyl padded seat, a circular rod for a footrest and a black metal finish that’s durable for kitchen usage. You can’t order just one stool, they come in sets of two, although they’re priced individually. We recommend this stool for those who have a classic décor, a kitchen where there are children who eat breakfast at the counter or those who need extra seating.

For those who have a more elegant kitchen theme and want an affordable option without sacrificing design, then we recommend the stools made by Linon Home Décor Furniture who specialize in affordable yet beautifully crafted counter stools and tables. One of the choice picks is the design sold by One Way Furniture called Diamonds, which is a swivel metal stool with a powder coat finish. It features a diamond pattern metal back and costs just $69. There are a few other designs in the same price range, also by Linon, like the Mission style swivel model, and the Circle Top design.

For just $10 more, $79 total, you can also choose the most elegant Linon model that is called the Crown Bar stool, which is very ornate and features a metal back with scrolls and swirls in a crown-like design. The seat is padded vinyl, and the lower part of the stool has a ring footrest, as well as curved legs that give the stool a distinctive classy shape.

Any of these items are good buys since they are affordable and make excellent kitchen counter additions. They can also be used with iron or metal tables as outdoor furniture or on the patio during summer.

It may surprise you to know that some of the most affordable chrome swivel bar stools are the ones with official team logos. These are great seating choices for a basement counter bar or for a funky masculine kitchen that has a TV for watching your favorite sports, and may have chrome fixtures, a chrome or stainless steel finished refrigerator and appliances, and a very contemporary design overall. Take a look at what’s available in cool swivel stools in chrome with trendy logos like the World Poker Tour by Gemsen America which comes in several designs and colors, like black and red. The price of these pieces is just $89, so you can afford to order a few and watch the action with friends over some cool bears.

Oops! We just realized that the Poker Tour design is not a swivel model…..that’s why it’s so cheap. Sorry….
For swivel ones you’re going to have to pay $139 to $169 for logo seats that twirl as you guzzle. The ones for $169 can be customized with the logo you desire, be it a team logo, NCAA or even military logos. If you have a team of your own or an emblem or crest, it can also be printed onto the seat, just send your request with your order through One Way Furniture, or view the official ones they already have.

For sleek contemporary swivel bar stools in chrome, we suggest a company called LumiSource that makes lighting and really contemporary accessories, especially affordable modern stools for kitchen counters and bars. The piece for just $99 is really funky, called Ale, with an upholstered leatherette seat and a great adjustable swivel pole vase in polished chrome. It swivels and adjusts with hydraulics so it’s easy to use. It also has a chrome footrest that attaches to the base pedestal. If you want a design that has a small backrest but is still crafted in the contemporary LumiSource design, then you can get items like the Venti barstool for a little more, about $119. Choose modern black or pure white options.

For exactly $100 you can get something very different. We found this item hidden at Elegant Barstools, but it’s worth a second look because it’s totally made from aluminum and therefore it’s very sleek and would go with a contemporary kitchen theme. They’re also really sturdy yet only weigh about 10lbs so they are easy to move and store. If you want to create a complete aluminum kitchen design, you can order the matching chairs, tables and other items to create a really clean looking space. Add white cushions or funky colors and have a really trendy area, especially for a loft or small studio apartment.

Consider how these stools would look in a contemporary stainless steel or aluminum style kitchen where everything is crisp and clean-lined and sleek white metal from the counters to the appliances…and now all that is lacking are the counter stools.

If you still haven’t found the exact item you need at the price you desire, then we suggest browsing related topics for more ideas. We offer ideas for adding a folding chair set to your kitchen or outdoor bar, and we also provide dozens and dozens of ideas on how to decorate using stools from Ultra Modern Funky Chrome to Chinese Tao and Zen Tranquility. If you need inspiration for decorating with unusual seating or if you just want some practical suggestions on where to buy the most affordable kitchen bar stools available online, please read the feature articles on the topic of your choice.

]]> http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/24-swivel-bar-stools-for-the-kitchen/feed/ 0 http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/wood-metal-aluminum-plastic-and-padded-folding-chair-guide/ http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/wood-metal-aluminum-plastic-and-padded-folding-chair-guide/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 18:56:11 +0000 nena http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/?p=225

Kitchen folding tables and chairs with padding and without; outdoor folding chairs for lawns, patios, decks and gardens; lightweight camping chairs; beach and poolside lounge styles – everything you need to know to choose the best portable seating – at Kitchen Bar Stools we don’t just recommend stools you can use in the kitchen. We understand you also sit outside in your garden or need to get away to the beach; and sometimes you simply need extra seating for guests.

Elegant Padded Folding Chairs For Kitchen and Dining Room

If you think a folding chair must be aluminum, plastic or metal, and if you believe it must be ugly, something you hide in a closet unless absolutely necessary, then think again, because there are really elegant wood folding chair designs, like the Queen Anne cherry wood creation that’s made from solid hardwood and padded like any other dinning room chair or cherry barstool you may already have. The extra beauty of it lies in the fact that it can be folded because it has a steel mechanism that allows the gorgeous sculpted front legs and the white fabric padded seat to collapse and press against the back of the chair.

It’s so compact for storage it doesn’t take up much more space than one of the ugly metal card table chairs, yet when extended, it’s as classy as any of your other cherry kitchen or dining furniture. This item offers the best of both worlds. Is it expensive? Yes, but we think it’s reasonable for what you get. Each chair costs about $65 or a set of two for about $126. There are several designs made by Stakmore, like the slat-back design, the schoolhouse chair and the mission wood one with a vinyl seat. The woods you can choose are cherry, fruitwood and oak. They all cost about the same price for a set of two and you can order them online at places like Dining Rooms Direct and can be shipped within the USA and Canada.

By the way you can also get the Stakmore folding table to create a complete set. The table is an expanding design and comes in the same finishes to pair perfectly with the cherry, schoolhouse or mission chairs mentioned above.

Contemporary Sleek Designs For Modern Kitchens or Outdoors by Calligaris

If you have a contemporary theme in your kitchen or want some sleek outdoor patio furniture you must see the trendy Calligaris Skip Stool that’s simple, practical and folds for easy storage. There are several reasons why you should consider this lightweight folding chair.

First, it’s cheap, retailing for just over $160 (a set of two). Second, it’s got a wood (wenge finished) seat, although the rest is lightweight aluminum. So you get the best of wood without the weight. Third, the design is sleek and contemporary so it can be used not just as guest seating but as the main chairs in a kitchen or minimalist living room or on a patio deck or summer garden.

The Calligaris line also includes a funky flexi table, which also folds and is of a similar design. This very trendy set of folding table and chairs can be incorporated into a permanent or semi-permanent kitchen or dining concept by adding none-folding seating and elegant accents.

For example in summer, if you’re having a gathering on the patio, you may choose to bring your more formal dining chairs outdoors. Chairs are easy to move, tables are not. Add the formal chairs to the Calligaris table, and add extra skip stool chairs for more guests. The arrangement can be funky or classic depending on how you accent, but suffice to say it’s a wonderful solution, because when summer is over, and the guests have gone, the table and stools fold away to await next year. However, since the table adjusts to seven levels, and can be extended to seat 6 people, it may be ideal furniture for all year round.

Italian Outdoor Wood Folding Chair and Table Sets

We have some gorgeous wood folding chair surprises for you! If you had the notion that outdoor wood furniture, which folds, must look portable and cheap, you’ll love the find we’ve come up with.

Take a look at the Emu Cetra folding chairs. You’d never guess they fold, right? Poolside diners and garden parties needn’t ever look makeshift again if you choose the interwoven teak and antique bronze metal creations designed by Ciabatti in the Italian Emu collection of folding furniture sets.

For about $345 you can have this exquisite design, and pair them with a matching extendible table or get the complete set called the Emu Mito and Cetra dining set. No, they are not the cheapest outdoor folding chairs on the market, but they may well be the most versatile, distinctive and elegant outdoor furniture you can store away with ease. Match with teak bar stools for even more seating, or add a bar table for pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers.

Since you may love the above suggestion but find it’s beyond your budget, here’s a teak alternative that’s not quite so luxurious but affordable and tasteful.

The Infinita Corporation has a line of teal slat folding chairs and tables that start at about $150 (set of two).

The series is called Le Bistro, and that’s exactly what they are. Fun, classic folding bistro chairs that are made from premium teak wood grown on government approved plantations. The wood has been duly hand sanded and finished with 3 coats of oil. The hardware, which makes these items foldable, is marine quality stainless steel and therefore very durable.

These items are recommended for outdoor areas, poolsides, open or uncovered decks and gardens and even for placing on boats. Why? Because teak is one of the only woods that can withstand the elements. It gets better with time; gets a gorgeous aged look….that’s part of the teak charm. Choose a matching folding table for about $250, and there are two different designs, both from Le Bistro collection. You can order the above items from shops like All Modern

Axa The Funky Metal Folding Chair From Italian Sidewalk Cafes

Forget the ugly metal chairs you think you want and think Italian bistro and outdoor sidewalk cafes. That’s what you can have when you order the Axa metal folding designs created by Emu. One of the most versatile options in affordable outdoor or indoor furnishings that also can be stored when not in use.

Why so versatile? Because the metal frame and seating can be classic iron or antique bronze and beige or contemporary aluminum and white. It can also be ordered in trendy and funky colors like vibrant green, blue and even pink and orange. Naturally you can also choose the marine designs that come is solid white or light nautical blue. Mix and match for a modish outdoor bistro design or choose neutral tones to create a formal space for entertaining.

By the way, these items are quite affordable at just over $180 when purchased through All Modern.

Lightweight, Square Folding Beach Chair & Anywhere Sand Chairs & Loungers

It’s also metal, but really light and easy to transport. It’s made by Emu, so it’s a fabulous Italian design that will have you feeling sexy even on a non-Mediterranean beach or beside a home pool. It comes with the folding table, which is great for seaside gatherings of two under a little portable marquis tent or sun umbrella. The entire set with two chars and the table costs over $600, so you might want something cheaper if you’re on a tight budget. Here’s another affordable option: for about $88 you can have a funky Anywhere Mini Sand Chair. It’s sold through Mercantila. The fabric you se on the chair is by Sunbrella, so it’s really durable, and comes in a zillion colors like: linen tweed and plain linene, beige and toast, walnut brown or tan, 5 different shades of green including sea spray and forest, 3 shades of blue including sapphire and navy, black or charcoal, burgundy, jockey red, orange or sunflower yellow. This item is great for the seaside, for beside pools, on decks and boats, and is also considered a folding camping chair that can even be taken on canoe trips.

If it’s not large enough, then try the full size folding lounge chair, also by Anywhere and with Sunbrella fabric, just that it costs about $129. Yes it’s waterproof, and the frame is American oak. It’s one of the favorite resort hotel loungers, so you won’t be disappointed if this item is part of your holiday gear.

Versatile Folding Camping Chairs For Big Buddha’s Up to 300lbs.

There are zillions of camping chairs that fold and most are made from lightweight nylon and durable polyester fabrics that are coated and have treated aluminum frames, etc…but there is one that stands out and it’s made by The Travel Chair Company. The design that we recommend is called the Big Bubba, and it’s worthy of note because although it only weighs under 12lbs, it’s constructed of a tubular frame that’s so heavy duty it can hold up to 300lbs of weight. The second great feature is that it’s not just a chair to sit in, but also a place to really relax and put your feet up, be it at the sea or by a fire. It has a padded headrest and a footrest as well as a cup holder. You can order this folding camp chair in red, blue, green or black and it costs just under $70 when purchased through places like Beach Chairs.

Mac Sports Folding Lawn Chair With Canopy

Lawn chairs have always been a bit of a problem. They’re ugly when new, rusty and even uglier after a season in the sun and rain, they crack and melt and make your bottom itch, they never sit right on the grass and they blow away in the wind. We just couldn’t find redeeming qualities to rescue the reputation of chap chairs for lawns and backyards…until we saw the Mac Sports design that’s sold through ACE. It’s still a lightweight folding chair you can pack in the trunk of the car to take to the lake but it has a large enough frame to actually be comfy. And, it has a soft polyester fabric hammock style seat so no itchy bottom or plastic strap lines on your thighs. Best of all, it has a little canopy to protect you from the sun. It comes in funky colors that aren’t ugly and when you buy a set of 4 you get two of each of the yellow and red trimmed styles. The whole set costs about $120. That’s 4 chairs with little canopies and cup holders….and all you need to buy extra are the beers. It’s a good deal for sporty, none-ugly outdoor seating!

White, Solid Cedar Lawn Chair

The only other lawn chair that we can get excited about is a wooden design that looks like the ones that don’t fold, but this one does. It’s called the Folding Adirondack Chair and it comes in classic white and costs just $70. We really like this style because it folds flat when you don’t need it and only weighs 29lbs, which is really great considering it’s solid cedar. Take a look at how it folds and how easy it would be to store. And yet you could leave it out all year if you have a covered deck. There are several styles to create a complete set, and with some thick cushions these chairs are really, really comfy…something about the angle at which they recline.

There’s nothing ugly or cheap about some white Adirondack chairs on a lawn. Even if you don’t happen to have a lake or a forest beside your lawn, a tea service on these chairs is a delight. Use also for an all season porch area, a covered patio or even inside a gazebo. If you have been looking for an affordable folding arm chair that you can use in a variety of different places around the house, this is one very good option. It also comes in a bench style that’s ideal on a kitchen patio area or inside where you may have sliding glass doors. It can give a large kitchen an outdoor feel. Choose some white kitchen bar stools to go around the island or kitchen counter and you have a summer feel all year even inside. Decorate with French Provence style console tables, dinning table sets or buffets and add some floral lavender cushions or soft sage accents.

More Unique Seating Ideas

If you’re looking for unique seating ideas for your kitchen, dining room or patio, please find related topics that deal with a variety of stools and decorating themes. We offer suggestions on how to design a kitchen with a rattan counter stool garden theme, a Zen bar stool theme, an American Country atmosphere or even a jazzy New York bar stool loft style. From French Provincial relaxing to Classic Boston Pub, we have ideas to make your indoor or outdoor space as unique as who you are and where you live, or even, where you wish you lived.

]]> http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/wood-metal-aluminum-plastic-and-padded-folding-chair-guide/feed/ 0 http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/kitchen-bar-stools-chinese-tao-theme/ http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/kitchen-bar-stools-chinese-tao-theme/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:29:23 +0000 nena http://yourkitchenbarstools.com/?p=205 10. Chinese Tao

Want to make your kitchen authentic Chinese Tao? Then why not order direct from Y&T Chinese Furniture Co. They manufacture solid wood reproductions of bar stools from Tibet, China, Japan and Korea. Add red fabric seat cushions, a replica Ming dynasty vase, some tiny tea cups and you’re done! Check out Y&T Chinese Antique Furniture:

(86) 13901116656 (English)
(8610) 6150 2772 (Chinese)
Fax (8610) 6150 2773
1999-2007 107# Li Er SI, Zhang Jia Wan, Tongzhou,  Beijing, China  101113

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Another great option for kitchen bar stools within the Chinese Antique theme is Green Tea Design. Green Tea is also the sole distributor for the Mizuya Kitchen line.

Their wooden barstools are based on Chinese farmers’ stools, made from solid elm (and reclaimed wood salvaged from Korean farmhouses), then varnished with black or red lacquer but keeping the beauty of the wood grain. Some of their pieces are left unfinished, or finished with only a small amount of wax or varnish, so as not to hide the delicate, natural wood grain motif. Some have bold finishes in symbolic colors of red or black. Black Yin for earth, water, North, and even numbers. Red for Yang: life, sky, fire, South, and odd numbers.

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The Real Chinese Stool Deal!

Lily’s Antiques and Hualun Antiques have real antiques and amazingly authentic reproductions. Since 1998 they are one of the largest dealers in Beijing, with 200 employees and 15,000 square meter exhibition center full of unique pieces.

Here’s what you can expect:

They purchase and restore antique furniture, including original Chinese stools, collected from China’s countryside. They focus mostly on walnut from Shanxi, Shandong and Gansu provinces. They have a 7,000 square meter workshop for restoring the antiques and making replicas. When making replicas, they will accept orders for custom sizes if you need a counter stool of a specific height.

If you need some other authentic Chinese pieces to add to your bar or kitchen ambiance, Hualun Antiques has porcelain, pottery, bronze and wood sculpture.
They will arrange transportation service and providing an antique certificate for each piece.

Contact Lily’s Antiques and Hualun Antiques:
Gaobeidian warehouse 8610-65729746/Gaobeidian showroom 8610-85792458
Songzhuang factory 8610-69592824

Chinese Wooden Stools

Chinese Antique Furniture

I have saved the BEST for last….Chinese Antique Furniture Inc is one of those places that if you can’t find your perfect Chinese Tao barstool or dream kitchen accessories with them then what you want doesn’t exist!

Chinese Antique Furniture is an exporter of antique, reproduction, and ancient Chinese furniture. They specialize in collecting, refurbishing and reproducing antique pieces from all over mainland China, Tibet, Korea and Mongolia. They accept custom orders or will reproduce a kitchen stool or piece of furniture based on a photograph of what you desire.

Although the company is located near Hangzhou, China, their staff speaks and writes English and they operate in modern offices.

Chinese Antique Furniture Inc
Yonghe Industy Zone, Shangyu, Zhejiang, China
Tel: 0086-575-82931166
E-mail: linda@eastfurniture.com

Simple. That’s it. It can be wood, dark or light, chrome or black and white.

The only rule with Zen is SIMPLE!

Some good choices can be found at Gingko Furniture.

Gingko kitchen bar stools are well-designed and affordably priced. All their designs are based on Asian aesthetic forms with contemporary twists. Some of the inspirations have come from imperial palaces such as the way the edges of the stools curve upwards like Asian temple rooftops. Their entire collection is made of solid wood, kiln-dried and handcrafted by old world techniques. Since every piece is an original, individual workmanship and the grain of the wood causes slight variations among items. Each stool is hand finished using a 9-step process with multiple coats of hand-rubbed lacquers. 

When a stool is born under the tender care of artisans’ hands, and not in a factory, the task of mounting a tranquil kitchen space is simpler. The stools arrive with the calm touch of their makers. All you do is unpack some ZEN!

With stools around the counter, you might have space for a chair or two, since you will likely have little else in the room – unless you have a few twisting lucky bamboo plants and some auspicious white stones and teeny rake.

The following stools are made of solid wood and are some excellent choices in counter stools and chairs for all your Zen decorative needs:

1. Chelsea Stool -Counter Stool – $175, standard stool and $195, counter stool
   Walnut
2. Chelsea Bench – $490
   Walnut
3. Horseshoe Chair -$360
   This piece looks like a Chinese antique! Actually it’s a traditional design slightly modified for comfort.
   Solid Elm Wood in java or black.
4. Three-legged Stool
5. Mirror Garden Stool
   These look like Chinese temple drums.

6. Zen Bench -$230 and $390
   This is a single plank of elm with gently angled legs and gracious seat curves. It is available in two lengths: 1. Zen Bench 42 inch length for $230. 2. Zen Bench 52 inch length for $390. Solid elm wood.


Zen Counter Stool

7. Zen Counter Stool – $155
8. Zen Stool – $130
   There’s nothing simpler!
9. Zen Bar Stool – $175



Wabi Sabi Bench

10. Ox Stool – $110
    Thick legs…yes, like an ox!
11. Wabi Sabi Bench – $175
    The name says it all. If it’s possible for Zen to be funky, this would be it!
12. Lily Chair
13. Indigo Chair
14. Xian Chair
15. Xian Bar Stool – $325
    This is a new interpretation of an old Chinese classic, also in elm with a rush seat. Available in Java or Natural and finished in Black Stain.
16. Rio Chair – $180
    The Rio is light and airy, although still java or natural colored elm wood, with an upholstered tan chenille seat. I would say it’s a contemplation seat!