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!

Whitewood and oak, unfinished pine and a patchwork quilt nearby. That’s what American country comfort is all about; a fireplace, an oven with fresh warm bread, an open kitchen with enough wood stools around the counter to accommodate the town.

For a comfy barstool try:

1. Country Oak Swivel Bar Stool – based on an early American design in solid oak, with turned legs, wheatsheaf style back and a wood seat that may be custom padded. It’s a sturdy, classic colonial piece that nostalgically reproduces the comforts of homes in simpler times. These swivel barstools are at the heart of cozy American country style available through ivg Stores.
2. Country Pine High Kitchen Stool
   High kitchen stool with no back made of solid beech and your choice of finish: waxed, lacquered or painted, and there’s no assembly required. This is an inexpensive choice, at under $50 each, if you want to accommodate the whole town around your counter.

The Shakers created many simple yet practical styles of high stools that were originally intended as work chairs when they sat their looms weaving or ironing at high tables. Based on the Shaker’s simple design, light weight, yet sturdy construction, a company called S. Timberlake has designed some excellent ladder-back counter stools for daily use at your kitchen counter.



These stools stand the test of time and use and even abuse in commercial settings as is evidenced by this little story: The Timberlake people sold a set of stools to a restaurant client in Portland, Maine in the early ’80′s. Years later the restaurant owners invited the Timberlake people for diner. The original stools had acquired an aged, worn patina, but were just as good as new!

The Shaker kitchen and bar stools for kitchen counters are typically 36 inches high and bar height counters are 42 inches for bar height, but they will custom make any highchair height you desire…well, within reason!

The bands on the seats, called “Shaker tape,” are 100% cotton canvas, so the seats are comfy and also easy to clean. You certainly couldn’t say these were cheap bar stools but they are built to a quality that is well worth paying for.

3. Canterbury Shaker Weaver’s Stool – Item #: CAN5X
   Finished in dark cherry with dark blue and beige Shaker Tape
4. Enfield Shaker Weaver’s Stool – Item# ENF5X
   Custom butternut/raffia Shaker Tape with Minwax Ebony stain
5. Shawl Bar Stool – Item#: SBR5X
   This is one stool that you build yourself,so to speak, by choosing a back design, a seat weave and the type of wood. Choose from maple, early American dark, natural or cherry.
   In 1975, the Shaker furniture catalog had only 8 chairs total. Today they have a catalogue consisting of a hundred and eighty items, in maple and cherry woods. Many of their items are built-to-order so are not in their catalogue. Their motto is to build furniture that’s “functional” rather than “standard.”
6. South Union Counter Stool – Item# SUN5X
   The first of these counter stools we made over thirty years ago, reproduced from a model South Union, Kentucky high stool. Nowadays, the only difference is a slightly wider seat and using graduated slats, a feature typical of northern community seats.
   (For selecting your American Country Comfort Custom Counter Stool, go to: stimberlake.com)

Bring the South Pacific to your kitchen with rattan bar and counter stools upholstered with clean white linen look or bright colonial patterns or rich brown leathers. When you choose a rattan theme for your kitchen counter stools you’re bringing natural tree vines from South East Asia into your life.

One of my favorite stool sets is the Serengeti Swivel Rattan Bar and Counter Stool in Sienna which is a counter height stool with arms and a swivel base and foot ring. The upholstered seat and back come in gold tones.

Another great option is rattan bar stools from the Long Island Collection. These and others are available online along with some blends of hardwood and rattan, Bridgeport rattan bar and counter stools with mahogany, wicker on Aluminum, wicker-look bar stool, leather seat rattan swivel bar stools, Moroccan bar stool, Aloha swivel rattan, swivel counter stool in dark cherry – Bayberry, Regency bar stool, counter bar stools in antique tea finish, Coco Cay Bar Stool, Naples Resin swivel bar stools, whitewashed bar stools, counter stool – South Beach, Beachwood backless barstools, Aloha round backless counter or Bar Stool and the High Profile Bamboo Director Chair.

Some other top recommendations:

1. Boca Rattan Moroccan Barstool
Comes with cushion and the frame is bound with leather. Price: $283.90
2. Boca Rattan Regency Barstool
Comes in mahogany finish and has arms and cushion, also with leather bound frame. Price: $291.90
3. St. Croix Rattan Bar Stool
Kitchen bar stool features with arms and comes with cushions in sand color upholstery. Price: $283.50

Matching fabric and custom stool cushions:

To choose from a huge selection of colorful fabrics, from tropical bamboo to garden rose go to: zfurniture.com/fabricswatches or call them at (866) 941-5042

Where to buy:

Z Furniture has been delivering rattan kitchen stools since 1993, especially to Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland, but they ship nationwide. They carry products from Ashley, Lifestyle Solutions, Modus, Global Furniture, Eagle Furniture, Innovation Living, Amisco, Huppe, Rossetto, ESF, Steinworld, EFY Furniture, Lite Source, At Home, Office Star, Modloft and Lind Furniture.

Z Furniture Showroom Locations (for Rattan Kitchen Stools):

1. 5620 General Washington Drive
Alexandria, VA 22312
Tel: 703-941-5042

2. 2130 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202-833-3717
They ship kitchen stools, counter stools, barstools and bar tables nationwide. Call them at: 941-5042

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One last place to get rattan stools is Rattan Furniture Export Company in Bali, Indonesia.
Their stools and furniture is made from water hyacinth, rattan, mahogany and teak. They have some very unique pieces for your kitchen and export overseas. Contact them directly by email at: sales@rattan-furniture-export.com or at: Jl. Uluwatu, Taman Penta I E/60, Jimbaran, 80364, Bali – Indonesia