John wanted me to work Stool Boom into the post title because of this video (which he requests that you all check it out so that you can hum the song while reading this post). Anyway, now in stool news… we got them for our peninsula! And we’re so excited about 1) where we found them, and 2) the price (because four stools can definitely be a budget breaker if they’re priced at $250 a pop). But first, let’s chat about the kitchen budget in general for a second…
We’ve actually spent some real money in certain areas like:
- new Corian counters (around $1700)
- new stainless appliances (around $2213 with the new microwave but not including a range hood that we still need)
- new cork flooring ($848 including underlayment)
- new backsplash tile (and lots of it, since we’re taking it to the ceiling on one wall – around $280)
- tearing down a wall to create an extra wide doorway into the dining room ($700 to the contractor plus $90 for the drywall/trim that we did ourselves)
- in-progress total for the big stuff: $5,831 (still need a range hood, new lighting, floating shelves, art, etc)
And like the majority of renovators, we’re also choosing areas to save, like:
- reusing our existing cabinets (they’re solid oak, full of interior upgrades, and in great shape)
- reconfiguring the layout ourselves (we had fun pushing the pantry around and building a cabinet to enclose the fridge)
- priming/painting the cabinets ourselves (we did it in our first house along with in the office for our built-in desk and really dig the finished product)
- installing as much as we can (like some of the new lighting that we have on the agenda, and those cork floors that we plan to lay ourselves)
- using as many discounts and coupons as we can (we stacked discounts when we got our appliances and our counters, along with using a coupon code on our backsplash tile, snagging clearance cork, and getting three contractor estimates to shave over 3K (!) off the highest one)
- selling things we no longer need on craigslist for money to put back into the makeover (so far we’ve sold our old kitchen table, our old granite, and the black over-the-range microwave that came with our house for a total of $815)
We still have a backsplash to install, cork flooring to lay, new lighting to buy/hang, and floating shelves + a range hood to go up – so admittedly it looks kinda crazy for the amount of money that we’ve spent (since many of the elements that we’ve purchased aren’t in yet). But in a month or two the kitchen should look significantly more finished and upgraded. At least that’s the plan! It’s all just a work in progress until then…
But weren’t we talking about stools? Back to that subject. First we debated something clear/acrylic but heard from a few people who said they really disliked how scratched and foggy theirs got with everyday use and only found a few options that we liked (all of which were over $100 a pop). So we went back to the drawing board, which basically meant examining a ton of inspiration rooms. Which (duh) allowed us to pick up on a pretty obvious theme. Apparently we have a thing for industrial metal stools. We also like that they’re not wood since there are a ton of wood-legged chairs in the nearby dining room, so a contrasting metal look is a nice variation (so not everything feels heavy and wood-y).
For functional reasons we decided that our stools had to have backs (so Clara’s booster seat can snap onto one, so bigger kiddos can more easily sit up there, and even for the added support/comfort they’ll provide for adults). So it eliminated some of the cool backless ones like the stools in this photo from atlantahomesmag.com (we’ve seen similar versions on overstock for anyone interested). But that decision still left us wide open to cool science-y stools like these from Restoration Hardware. Too bad they’re $375 each, making four of them a budget breaking $1,500 (sniffle).
So we set off to find some thrifty (preferably secondhand) options for our kitchen – hopefully at around $60 each or less (you know, in an ideal world where perfect $60 stools abound). We actually found an awesome vintage one at a local thrift store for 50 beans (it was even counter height and not bar height, which is what we need) but there was only one and we needed four. Wop wop. So we took to the internet to try to find some sort of industrial warehouse or bulk manufacturer who made science-y counter height stools in our price point. What do ya know, we found these guys on a school supply website of all places:
I know, I know – it looks more than a little nerdy in that pic (especially because they placed the backrest super high- it’s adjustable). And because it’s not in a delicious room like the other stools above (nothing looks as glamorous when it’s cut out on white). But oddly tall adjustable backrests and white backgrounds aside, there was just something charming about getting lab stools from a school supply place.
They’re admittedly not exactly the same (aka: not nearly as amazing in shape or finish) as the stools in the above inspiration images, but those were sadly (very) out of our budget. And we had a feeling in the right room these affordable guys could really be elevated (you know we’re all about mixing high and low, so things like the new counters, ceiling height backsplash, new appliances, pretty pendant lights over the peninsula, and cork flooring should really elevate them). And the price was riiight. They were $33 each (we got the fixed height 24″ ones). Which means for $168 (including tax and shipping) we got four stools delivered to our door. Here they are in our still very raw and completely unfinished kitchen (but just scroll up to see how metal stools can look pretty darn cool in more finished spaces).
As for their finish, they look nice with the stainless appliances, but once the room comes together more I’m not above tweaking them if I think they’ll look better that way (they were $33 after all…). I’ve definitely contemplated these four options:
- trying a deeper color, like the brown and oil-rubbed-bronze Elle Decor stools that are up a few photos (thankfully metal takes spray paint really well, and any painted metal chairs that you’d buy from a store are essentially just spray primed and painted in thin and even coats). I was thinking I could even upholster the seats with rough chocolate leather or something, along with using ORB spray on the leggier metal parts.
- spraying them all white with wipable leather or vinyl upholstered seats if we want them to gleam like the counters (we’re contemplating a deeper toned accent treatment under the peninsula behind them, so white could really pop – more on that in a minute).
- somehow roughing them up by scuffing, sanding, and maybe even tinting them with some sort of metal stain or glaze that would give them more of an aged/beat up look like some of the more expensive antique-ish stools out there (they could then be sealed with poly so they wouldn’t rub off on anyone)
- spraying them shiiiiiny shiiiiiny chrome like the ones in the Cote De Texas photo a few pics back
We’ll have to wait and see as the room evolves. You know we like to tweak/learn/figure it out as we go. Our house is like a big puzzle and I’m Nancy Drew… and maybe John’s Scooby Doo? Wait maybe Burger is Scooby and Clara is Nancy Drew. And I’m Angela Lansbury. And John is Mulder. Or is he Skully? I always forget which one is the guy. Update: the guy is Mulder. Thanks google.
Ugh- but those orange-y wood cabinets are really cramping our style. We’re actually working on trim and baseboards and puttying and sanding right now… which means priming and painting are just around the corner! So I know some of you might not “get” the stools at all right now (mom!) but I promise when the rest of the room starts to make more sense around them, you might come around. Just give us a chance to get the room a bit more developed. Pretty please? When in doubt, just remember that our first house eventually looked like this, but while it was in-progress it looked like this. Haha.
We especially love how the two adjoined spaces don’t look too wood riddled since we skipped wood stools for the kitchen and went with metal for some nice variety.
And although they look a bit light on their feet (thanks to the airy metal construction) these dudes are solid. Not wobbly. Not lightweight. They’re lab stools for goodness sake. So there’s no flimsy feeling because they’re made to last decades in classrooms with people/teens/teachers of all sizes sitting/beating on them. Most likely while using bunsen burners.
In the comfort department they’re actually really comfortable (there’s a bit of flex in the back rest, which is really nice). I mean it’s not like sitting in a padded armchair, but for stools at a counter we think they’re perfect. And Clara’s booster chair snapped right into the one on the end, so that was nice (it said it worked with any chair with a back, but it was good to have confirmation that she was nice and secure up there). Yup, that means we’ve all been eating (and generally hanging out) at the peninsula these days!
Look, here are Clara and John making cookies at the ol’ new peninsula (can’t see much of the stool, but she’s all strapped in and happy to help stir). More on what amazing concoction they were making here.
Speaking of Clara’s assistance, she also “helped” us assemble the stools. Check out our little leftie in action:
And now for a Burger photobomb:
He couldn’t resist getting in on the action too.
Once we have some amazing (we’re actively on the hunt) pendant lights hanging over them above the peninsula things should start coming together a little more. We sort of have something like this in mind, but we’re definitely not 100% settled yet.
Oh and speaking of the peninsula, a few of you couldn’t tell from the installation photos that we got the corners of it rounded, so here’s a pic from the top with a penny on the edge to show how they’re softly curved. Hooray for no sharp corners (for the bean’s noggin and our hips!).
But back to the stools (I’m all over the place today, huh?). Have you scored a deal from a school supply company or other unexpected source? Have you recently purchased new stools or chairs? Are you into the whole rough/ industrial mixed with fancy/polished look? It’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s funny how many of our inspiration kitchens are exactly that.
Psst- Ahhhhhh- who saw the Dexter finale last night? Don’t want to give anything away, but it was craaaaaazy! We’re still taking about it.
Ann says
Actually I am totally digging the cool science lab vibe just as they are. I know, wacky but have to say, love the deal, love them!
Beth says
I’m anxious to see what you end up doing with the stools! I think they have great potential!
On a kitchen-related note, are you still going to use the Ben Moore Advance paint for your cabinets? How are the cabinets in the office that you painted w/ Advance paint holding up? I’m thinking of refinishing a veneered buffet, and I want the paint job to hold up for a LONG time (I’m afraid regular semi-gloss paint won’t last through years of abuse). Any thoughts will help! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I love that stuff! The office cabinets look mint (even with lots of Clara beatings with puzzle pieces and cars) so I’m completely in love with it! Just finalizing what primer we’ll use with it to make sure the cabinets are suuper long-lasting, but I’ll post all about it soon – hopefully within the next few weeks as we tackle it!
xo,
s
Jaime says
I love that you bought your stools from this company! I also scoured the ol’ web and contemplated those same ones! My Mom also doesn’t “get it”…..um….science class stools?… but I’m totally sold on the industrial-mix look in my traditional kitchen. Go get ’em guys, fab idea!
Adriana says
Interested to see what you end up doing with them- as they are, just not my style. But I’m always amazed at what you two come up with.
We just moved into a house and there is a counter so I’ve been on the look out for stools. I wanted something very sturdy so my 3yo could climb up them and sit on them without fear of tipping them over. Found some at IKEA. Love them! No matter how much she pushes back on them, they won’t tip! Henriksdal, bar stool with backrest, brown-black legs. The cover is white, but I’m going to try and dye them. Because 3 kids and white seat covers- uh-uh, it’s not going well.
Daniella says
I love the stools!! I have also built a little island in our kitchen re-do and need to buy some stools. I went on their website to purchase but they don’t ship to Alaska…err…well they do but it costs $283!! (NOT including the stools). It’s so hard to decorate a house without TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, and barely any reasonable shipping up here from internet stores. Boo!! Thanks for the inspiration though!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man – so sorry their shipping to AK is so high! Hope you find the perfect substitute up there somehow!
xo,
s
Janelle says
So I had to laugh as soon as I saw your new stools. I teach and have 3 of them in my classroom! 2 have the back and one doesn’t. I absolutely love them. They are perfect for the front of the classroom. Also they hold up amazingly. I’ve only been teaching here for 2 years, but I know the stools have probably been in the room since it was built 20ish years ago. So they will last!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! That’s so awesome to hear!
xo,
s
Amanda says
I’m not sure if this was the look you were going for your pendant lights, but we have two of these over our kitchen table and really love them. We also have played with different light bulbs like edison and the plumen depending on the light situation.
http://www.westelm.com/products/globe-pendant-a563/?pkey=cpendant-lighting
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous! I love them!!
xo,
s
Lori says
I love the barstools! I am actually glad you chose something entirely different than the wood-legged chairs in the dining room. Even though the kitchen and dining room are close together and have cohesion, they definitely have their own personality, as do the chairs.
I also like that they’ll be easy to clean as you’ll likely be using them for various projects throughout the day.
Good choice, as always, Petersiks! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lori! I didn’t even thinking about the easy to clean thing, but you’re right! That has definitely already come in handy with the baking and crafting that we find ourselves doing at the peninsula!
xo,
s
Kirsten D. says
Love the stools! Me and my Husband watched the Dexter finale. My husband has read the books, and the sister knows in the books, so when deb came around the corner, he said finely! :)
margi h says
i like the idea of the metal stools, but sorry guys. the finish on these is too gun-metal. too army issue. nothing a lot of spray paint couldn’t fix.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, check out the post! We mentioned a bunch of different spray paint options and other ways to tweak them! Just waiting for the room to come together a bit more before making a final call!
xo,
s
Sarah says
I saw the title of this post and I knew immediately that you were referencing Waiting for Guthman. The “stool boom” is a frequently used term in our household….with a dog and a baby.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha- it’s always appropriate when referring to certain things dogs and babies do…
xo,
s
Ashley says
We just bought a new light fixture from Lowes with the Edison bulbs and quickly realized they don’t give off as much light as our old fixture (we have 3 lights on the fixture with glass surrounds). They give off a dim yellow glow at night but still look amazing. Good luck!!!
Jenn says
I have those stools (sans back) in my classroom, so I can’t say I would put them in my house too. I’m hope that your alterations will make them a little more like the example photos, and a little less like a high school art room ;-) The seat on mine have a Masonite/composite board top which sometimes stain when supplies get on it, so hopefully yours are coated or something to that jist so they wipe off easily.
Sarah says
Oh, I love the wood accent wall on the peninsula. It makes me wish I owned my house, because I would put that in in a heartbeat. But you do have a lot of beautiful textures going on already in the kitchen, so I could see the need to wait.
Elle B says
I was thinking, as I saw your inspiration photos, that you should check out a school–turns out, the stools you got are the exact same ones used in all the science classrooms at the high school where I teach.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that idea!
xo,
s
Erin says
Loving the stools! And I really like the idea of the wood – it will look great with the stools. Just not sure how the wood would work with the rest of the kitchen, as the rest seems relatively “smooth and sleek” in finishes. Maybe the cork floors will help to tie in a bit more rustic texture to make it work.
I’m sure whatever you decide will look great. Sherry, you have a great eye for what works and what doesn’t. (And if you try it and decide you don’t like it, a little caulk and paint and there you go.
Liz A. says
“…hock your jewels…use the money for stools!!!!” thanks for that…my fave movie. the kitchen is looking great. I love that we are getting to see the process of this transformation.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that’s my favorite line too. We sang it while we assembled them. It was awesome.
xo,
s
Chrissie says
I really like those stools! They do look nice and sturdy – some of the inspiration stools looked like they had narrower centres of gravity, which could be worrying with a booster seat if Clara was ever in a wiggly mood.
These ones look nice and wide and solid, which makes sense considering they’re designed for students! I love the idea of chrome with all the dark brown and white, but I’m excited to see where you end up.
Also, that video was hilarious, I shall have to check out the movie. I’d never even heard of it before!
Megan W says
And when I thought I couldn’t adore the Petersiks more, you include a “Waiting for Guffman” reference. Made.my.day!! Love the new stools, by the way!
Sarah K says
Happy Holidays! We’ve already had “first Christmas” also known as “irregular Christmas” with the in-laws. Then later this week we’ll head to my parents for “regular Christmas”.
Sarah K says
Love those chairs! (Sorry about the incorrect comment – I reposted it on the other thread.)
YoungHouseLove says
No worries!
xo,
s
jennifer says
Hey! Just a note – if you are going to put Clara’s booster seats in one of the stools, make really sure the stool will not get top-heavy and tip. I recently read about someone’s child having a terrible accident when she pushed back from the counter or something and the entire bar stool fell backward and seriously, seriously hurt her head.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes we read about that too! So scary! Our chairs are very stable and wide at the bottom (so they’re not top heavy) and are also counter height (bar height was just too tall for us, so we made sure the peninsula was counter-height, which is only a few inches taller than a regular chair). Thanks again for the smart reminder though! Can’t be too careful with our girl!
xo,
s
Jesette says
Love the rough wood accent! My husband and I have been debating on installing something similar to that under the counter where the stools are located. The wall is so dirty from everyone who has sat there and put their feet on the wall :(
I’m digging the stools. If we hadn’t already purchased our wooden stools from Pier One, I would have probably chosen something like the first picture.
Stacy says
If you are ever in the market for school type items again, it might be worth your while to see if your local school district has a public surplus that you could buy from. The district I work for does (in Colorado, though). I could get an amazing stainless steel table with butcher block top for about $100 right now. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s an amazing tip! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s
Leigh Ann says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the stools (P.S. I’m a teacher!) I am not as ORB-obsessed as Sherry, but I definitely vote that that would be a GREAT finish for these stools! I think it would elevate them for sure.
Adam says
Clara’s a lefty? Sweet!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that fun! We did a post about it on Young House Life last week. It was such a fun surprise since J and I are both righties!
xo,
s
katherine says
Wow, those really take me back to high school lab. Not a huge fan right now (I hope you do decide to adjust the finish/ do something to the seats) but I have faith that you’ll make it work!
Eve says
FYI….most kiddos are ambidextrous until at least age 2-3, so Clara still has time to pick a hand;-). Happy Holidays!!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s just so funny because if you put things in her right hand she’ll switch them to her left. She uses a spoon and a crayon only with her left hand- so it definitely seems to be a strong preference (my dad is a leftie and my grandma said he was the same way by one and a half – always switching just to use his left). Haha. We must have stubborn lefties run in our family!
xo,
s
Morgan says
Love the stools! And just saw near replicas (if not the same) of those globe pendants on One Kings Lane for $29. Almost picked one up for our bathroom remodel for over the sink!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s awesome!
xo,
s
Aron says
I bought chairs from the very same website last month for work. They are nice quality!
Laura K. says
Love the Stool’s!! Love the way it is all coming together. The hubster and I are hoping to have a house in the next few months and we can’t wait to pop back to see all the DIY tips when the time comes!!
PS. Please tell me the title Stool Boom is a little nod to Waiting For Guffman!! (fingers crossed!!)
YoungHouseLove says
Totally is! You can see we linked to the video of it at very beginning of the post. Enjoy!
-John
Ashley Hind says
Love the stools! We were lucky enough to stumble upon 6 of these same lab stools a couple years ago (except the seats are square vs. round) used for $20 each to fit around our large kitchen island. They were found at … (it’s like giving away our secret weapon, where we also found our kitchen table for $20 and other office chairs for $5 each)… the surplus at our nearby University. We haven’t modified the seats or color, and have loved them. They look nice with our concrete counters and metal curtain rods (fashioned from 1″ round metal pipes hanging from the wall with clevis hangers – also cost effective), without totally overdoing the industrial look (there is still good balance combined with the rest of the space).
I also noticed another commenter suggesting corrugated metal on the back of the island. We actually did that in our basement that we rent out. We simply screwed it in (didn’t worry about hiding the screw heads) and cleaned up the edges with simple flashing. It was so much more cost effective, and looks great too.
There are so many ways to get the look you want on a shoestring budget like ours – thanks for all the wonderful inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
I love that you found similar stools a a university! So cool. And the metal on the back of your island sounds so cool!
xo,
s
Susan DuBose says
Great job! You both are so talented AND patient!
FYI – we got a very plain stainless hood from Lowe’s (Broan – in their good/better/best it’s ‘best’) and it works great! Bright lights (with dimmers) and the exhaust comes on automatically if you have more than two pots heating up at once…blew my mind the first time but a nice feature.
Ashley says
You guys finding those stools at a school supply site reminds me of one of the deals I scored for my wedding. I looked at what must have been a hundred different stores and websites trying to find some little vases that I could use to put a flower at each place setting, but everything I found was either out of my price range or seriously NOT my style. And then, when I was looking for cheap silverware online, I came across a restaurant supply site. On a whim, I searched for vases, just to see what would come up. Lo and behold, little curvy black and white vases for $1.99 a pop appeared before me! (All of the other options I’d liked were at least 5 or 6 bucks apiece – which was a little much, considering I needed a gross of them!)
I still have several of them around my place, and I managed to sell the rest of them to another bride, so in the end I only spent $20 or so on them. :-D
JoannaChen says
These were exactly what I am looking for!!! I did need 5 for the island and office nook so I ended up buying the adjustable height ones so I could get a multiple of five! Great find!!
Although I am a little worried the feet might screw up our brand new hard wood floors. What kind of feet do they have? I’m a little bit nervous now…
YoungHouseLove says
Ours came with those hard plastic caps that fit over the metal end. They slide remarkably well… at least they do on our vinyl tiles. :)
-John
Joanna Chen says
Thanks! I chatted with their live support today. “David” was very helpful. Turns out if I’m really worried about my hardwood floor I can buy these snap-on felt pads that fit most school metal stools. http://www.allglides.com/feltpads.html
Can’t wait to get my stools!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Enjoy them!
xo,
s
Joanna Chen says
Oh here are fun colored ones. Will probably pick up the gray ones after I figure out the size of the glides. http://www.floorsaverglide.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_26
YoungHouseLove says
Nice!
xo,
s
Heather says
Oy! These are the stools I have in my science lab. Just a couple of tips for you… The particle board on the seat warps REALLY easily. I’ve tried sealing them and it doesn’t help. If you decide to go that way, I would recommend using some kind of water-based spar urethane. I tried to paint an entire stool and it pretty much destroyed the particle board seat. If you go the painting route, maybe consider covering the seat with fabric instead of painting it too? The stool I use has the back attachment (it doesn’t get used nearly as much as the student stools). I’ve only had it for a couple of months, and the more I use it, the looser the bolt on the back rest gets, and it seems that no matter how much I tighten it, it’s loose again in a day or two. I’m glad you got the fixed height ones, the adjustable height stools came with screws that didn’t fit. I’m curious to see what you eventually end up doing with the stools – admittedly, for me, these get very drab to look at day after day in my classroom – so hopefully whatever you do with them will inspire some ideas for me and my stools!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I think if we painted the stools we’d seal the seats with something waterbased (we have a favorite no-VOC brand) or just reupholster/slipcover them with the leather/vinyl option that we mentioned. And so sorry about the bolt on yours getting lose! So far ours are nice and tight and we’ve heard from lots of other teachers/students who use exactly the same ones and say they’re totally sturdy and have lasted for decades at their school, so I wonder if 1) the adjustable height ones are a bit more troublesome in general than the fixed height ones, or 2) if you got one that’s a bit of a lemon for some reason (that loose bolt might be connected with the screws that didn’t fit on yours – perhaps it’s just too big and contacting the company for a new one will help it stay tight). Good luck!
xo,
s
Alice says
I could definitely see those stools working in ORB, white or shiny chrome with wipe-able upholstery. I have full faith in you guys being able to make them oh-so-glamorous in the end, just like with all your projects!
Oh, and I had a feeling you were going to mention the Dexter season finale…my husband was covering both of our eyes near the end because we couldn’t bear to watch the craziness unfold. Can’t believe they left so many loose ends and now we have to wait til next fall again! By the way, have you guys ever watched Breaking Bad? That is another amazing show!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh we have heard such good things about Breaking Bad! We need to netflix that too (along with Homeland!).
xo,
s
Lindsay says
I love the new stools and think it’s great that they’ll be so durable. Good choice, guys! I also think it’s awesome that there are so many options to change them if you choose in the future.
Original_Ann says
I’m a big fan of the school outfitters website and happy to see what you’ve purchased! What a brilliant idea to potentially give them a makeover for the new kitchen – I can’t wait to see what you end up doing. This entire kitchen transformation has become one of my favorite ‘serial storylines’ and I just love getting another peek at your delightful tree! The colors are beauuteeeful! :)
Kristin F says
Great find on the stools, never would of thought of school supply. I totally agree that they need a boost with some fabric, is that just plywood on the seats now? Also, I think they’d be real jazzy painted shiny chrome, that would really mix up the semi-traditional feel of white cabinets.
On a similar note(finding deals), we had to replace a toilet in our 1952 rancher this weekend. Long story short, the stock flange from big box home improvements did not work. I was sent to a local supply company for a special flange and while there saw an amazing deep, two basin stainless steel kitchensink for only $87!!! The same sink retailed for over $200 at HD. We’re in the midst of planning a kitchen remodel right now so that couldn’t have made me happier. So today’s lesson is: check out local suppliers when remodeling!
YoungHouseLove says
Nice score- and such a good tip! As for the seats, yes they’re sort of like a fiberboard (like some Ikea furnishings) so they’re not splintery like plywood or anything, but they’re definitely not as good-looking as they could be. Should be fun to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Emily says
We bought barstools at Garden Ridge shortly after buying our house. I think they were on sale for like $70/apiece.
Unfortunately, since that store is notorious for not carrying the best quality, they have not stood up to the ravages of a rambunctious little boy…
Heather S. says
Please don’t ORB them with a brown cushion since you might as well have just bought wood chairs since they’ll be so dark. There is plenty of dark wood just opposite that big wall opening so I’d stick with a fun color or something lighter (white, chrome). Can’t wait to see what you do!
tara says
Love your vision. We redid our kitchen two years ago with wood floors/white cabinets/soapstone counters/stainless appliances and industrial stools. I LOVE THEM. We decided on backless since they’re used at the island and we can “tuck them in” when we have guest and use the island as a serving buffet. I have two boys and the absolute best thing about them is they are so easy to wipe clean! :) I believe we paid about $99 each at Crate and Barrel.
tara says
ps: my soapstone counters always remind me of a high-school chemistry lab… (but they are my favorite thing in the remodel!)
YoungHouseLove says
Mmm, soapstone is awesome!
xo,
s
Jessica says
I LOVE those chairs! I think they’ll look fabulous when the kitchen comes together. What are the seats made of? cork? What a find… great work!!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re actually sort of a fiberboard material (it’s in a lot of Ikea furniture). They’re very smooth (not splintery like plywood) but we still think we’ll stain or seal or slipcover or somehow spruce them up for that extra “something”!
xo,
s
Anne Marie says
I really like the stools. It wouldn’t have been something I thought of, but I think it will work really great in your space. I agree that they need “something”, but I don’t think they need to be painted. What about upholstering the seats (just the brown part)? Either a neutral charcoal or a pop of color would make them seem less classroom and more glam. Good luck; it is looking great already!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we mentioned that we’re considering some seat upholstery! Should be fun to see where we end up! And you know we love charcoal…
xo,
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Emily L. says
You probably already know about these, but here are some great websites for light fixture ideas! Beautiful, but a little pricey.
http://my-sparrow.com/
http://www.shopgreige.com/
YoungHouseLove says
Mmmm – so much eye candy!
xo,
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Janet Gaupp says
Not that you need yet another comment, but I do REALLY love this choice of stools! My husband is a chemistry teacher and I LOVE the nerdy/cool choice. Great score on price too….that is a true steal of a deal.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Janet!
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Megan says
I really love the stools! I work in a “science” lab and I can really appreciate how sturdy they are.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re built like a tank, huh? We have been loving them too!
xo,
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Katie says
I work in a school and we actually have those stools in the art room. They hold up really well – our school has been open for about 10 years and most of the stools are still here. Considering we have 500+ kids from PreK-8th grade sitting and rocking on them, that’s not too bad! I think they’ll look nice in the kitchen. It’s definitely coming along!
YoungHouseLove says
Love hearing that!
xo,
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Samantha says
I predict these stools will end up being painted :)