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!

Go Chrome, black, white and crystal. Add a touch of lavender, retro blue, soft green or even pink. Keep it simple. Use a Jazz backless bar stool with metal legs and footrest in chrome, a leather or PVC seat in black or white.

For a retro Jazz look try the snazzy

1. Fifties Style Swivel Bar Stool

Classic chrome and jazz from bygone days. Choose retro vinyl padded seat in berry, emerald, flame, lagoon, ocean, oyster, sunburst, teal, spectra blue, ebony or greenbriar.

The following jazzy kitchen stools come from Bar Stools Gallery – 16 knights Drive, Glen Waverley, Victoria 3150, Australia, where they have a good selection of modern chrome and jazz-style bar stools, kitchen stools and all in adjustable heights that work well as kitchen breakfast stools. Designer stools without the designer price and they deliver to your door.

Here are some pieces they offer in the chrome kitchen counter stool and general Jazzy stool department:

2. Crystal Bar Stool
3. Saddle Bar Stool
4. Venus Bar Stool
5. Mars Gas Lift Bar Stool

Another great kitchen stool selection is found at Norsk Design. Their Jazz Collection has was originally designed by Steinar Hindenes and Dave Vikøren for the Kulturhuset USF Art Center in Bergen and then taken on by Fora Form. The Jazz Collection bar stool stands out due to its coned legs that provide extra strength while remaining light. It’s true to the Jazz idea of Simple!

6. Zuo Barstools 301212 Pinch Barstool Jazz Stripe
7. Zuo Modern Pinch Barstool ZM301212 – Jazz Stripe
8. Beacon Bar Stool – Contemporary swivel stool for counter height or bar height.
______________________
The next recommendations are from Danetti who have a collection of modern furniture including bar stools and designer counter stools that would be talking pieces around your jazz counter or bar. They have a designer collection from the best of Italian and European furniture designers.

Here are some examples:

9. Geo Chrome Bar Stool

A sleek stool best suited for a stainless steel or metal bar or countertop. The Geo Chrome Bar Stool is adjustable and swivels. The seat comes in four different faux leather colors and is really easy to clean. This stool is simple, elegant and practical because it’s small.

10. Ciro Bar Stool

Jazzy cubical Comfort! Yes, this is a cube stool. A small square seat sits atop four chrome legs. The seats are your choice of black, white, red, dark brown or brown faux leather and all have super extra lots of stuffing so they’re comfy. Ciro’s chrome frame is strong. Try jumping on your stool…after a few drinks that is!

Go Crazy! From barnyard animals to tiger and zebra patterned counter stools, or neon bright to chrome to the max.

Here some FUNKY stool ideas:

1. The Opla Sgabello folding bar stool from Ozzio by Gaetano Poratelli and Studio Pizeta can be just what you need to take boring out of your kitchen! These modern designs will convert your kitchen into a place where anything can happen. They combine folding stool functionality with funky style. The seats are made from Vitrex available and come in your choice of 16 cool colors, or choose leather in 21 stunning hues. There are also wood and cowhide. The folding frames have gentle curves in embossed or satin painted finishes or chrome and nickel. Mix and match bar stools for a dash of eccentric.
2. Napoleon Height Adjustable Bar Stool
   This funky stool has a gas lift and comes in black, green, yellow and red with five legs under the brightly padded swivel, leatherette seat. It has a gas lift and swivel seat.
3. Pas Height adjustable Bar Stool
   Electric seat colors, totally adjustable and 5 legs to make it just a little different than your average stool.
4. Sam Gas Lift Bar Stool – kitchen Breakfast Stool
   The Sam counter stool is a commercial grade bar stool for kitchens with heavy use. Italian by design with unusual square padded leather seat and backrest. This is one very Cool Stool! The chrome steel base and stem are ultra strong yet take up very little space at the kitchen breakfast counter. It comes in black, ivory and brown.
5. Slim Bar Stool
   This is a winner in the crazy, funky, cool department!
   It’s handmade by an Italian designer from Plexiglas and the seat is shaped like a person.

6. Alfonso Kitchen Stool
   This stool is not just quirky in general style, but in specific: it has a translucent seat, made of acrylic, that comes in red, electric blue, lilac, smoke and florescent yellow! These stools have a way making a dark kitchen area appear lighter and brighter.
7. Cenzo Kitchen stool
   Fun, fun, fun! Again a translucent acrylic, 360 degree rotating, bar stool seat mounted on a chrome stem. Features a gas-lift for adjustable height and comes in the best colors: bright red, smoke and florescent yellow.

Teak casual furniture can brighten and lighten a dark kitchen space or can be used in an outdoor setting. Teak furniture goes well with a splash of Thai, Indonesian or Malaysian fabric. Choose accent color schemes from rich-earthy to luminous-regal.

“Among timber, teak holds the place which the diamond maintains with precious stones and gold among metals.” -Lord Monteray, 1892

Give your indoor kitchen a touch of Thailand with a Barlow Tyrie – Equinox Backless Bar Stool that features a combination of steel, aluminum, and soft teak tones.

If you want a little Java in your kitchen stools get the real deal from Ascot Teak – a green international trading company from Java, Indonesia. They use only teak that is certified from Government controlled plantations. The secret to their beautiful kitchen bar stools and counter stools is due to the teak aging and proper Kiln-drying process. All their stools are water resistant and guaranteed not to rot or warp.

They also make custom make teak and rattan furniture if you have a design in mind or a special fabric to use in the upholstery.

The beauty of decorating with teak is that you can keep the natural honey colored look or leave it to fade to a silver grey color over time, or you can paint it any color to suite your décor. It’s very versatile and requires little care. Remember in Bangkok and all over South East Asia, the temples and palaces and stately manors of the wealthy were traditionally made of teak. Year after year, in the Asian monsoons and Typhoons, these buildings stand as beautiful as ever. Teak is really the diamond of woods.

Here are two of the best:

All teak stools are not equal

There are many grades of teak. Be careful of patchwork joinery. And please stay clear of teak that’s been logged illegally. One company from Costa Rica is Reforest Teak and their products are all part of an ecological reforestation program which includes a manufacturing facility which benefits the local community.

Teak Barstool Care

Some teak makers suggest retouching your teak occasionally with wax or oil, however Reforest Teak from Costa Rica don’t recommend using either. As teak ages naturally it changes color, which is part of its charm. It begins golden sand color and slowly turns silvery gray. The only reason you may want to use a little oil or wax is if your décor is based on the original golden hue. Otherwise, there’s no need to do anything other than wash with a mild cleaner diluted two to one.