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Young House Love » Our Second House » Buying Metal Stools From An Industrial School Supply Shop

| By Sherry Petersik | December 19, 2011 | 563 Comments

Buying Metal Stools From An Industrial School Supply Shop

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…

Counters View To Stove

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…

Counters5

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:

Stools School Outfitters Sc

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).

Stools After From Stove

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
Stools After From Hall

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.

Stools From Dining Room

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.

Stools Close On Backrest

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!

Cookies Clara Baking 1

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:

Stools Clara Screwing Stool

And now for a Burger photobomb:

Stools 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.

Kitchen Light

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!).

Stools Penny On Corner

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.

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Comments

  1. Victoria says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:57 am

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, for the tip on Schoolhouse Outfitters. I am drooling over their website NOW. The prices are awesome and the goods are ripe for DIY projects galore. Oh, and now I have my first project idea for your next Pinterest challenge. Whee!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:27 pm

      Wahoo! So glad!

      xo,
      s

  2. amybeth says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:57 am

    I think they are amazing. I’m loving the industrial look mixed with a more traditional background.

    I might seriously have to start watching Dexter. I mean its on Netflix and you guys have awesome taste in everything else…

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:27 pm

      Oh man, we’ve made so many of our friends watch it and they’re all hooked! I bet you’ll love it!

      xo,
      s

  3. Jessie SP says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:57 am

    Wow – you guys are good. We have three mismatched vintage stools that I’ve been thinking about refinishing, but having recently put them into use as-is, one is ok, one is kind of too short, and one may be beyond refinishing. For $30, this may be an option worth looking into…I’ll probably do some bright colors, though!

    Reply
  4. Christine says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I love School Outfitters! Don’t you see a lot of stuff that you could use in other places around the house? I love the school chairs, the lockers, and some of the shelves. I think the stools are great as is, but I do like the ORB look, too. It’d look very “luxe,” if that is a word.

    Reply
  5. Becca McCurdy says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:58 am

    2 things! First, Lowe’s has a similiar pendant light: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=198671-2121-2428A&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3388492&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

    A little more rustic, but worth looking! :)

    And second, if you get a minute, I found our Crate and Barrel stools at GOODWILL. Here’s the post: http://mccurdyhouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-renovate-on-budget.html

    Kitchen’s really coming along! You guys have such great taste :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:26 pm

      Wow- you’re so lucky to find those stools at Goodwill! Amazing!

      xo,
      s

  6. Sarah says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    I almost posted on your FB page last night about Dexter. Whaaaaaaa???? Crazy town AND they’re gonna make us wait until next season?!?!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:26 pm

      I know! It’s killing us!

      xo,
      s

  7. Holly says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    Wow! It’s coming along. Cant wait to see it finished and I bet yall are too. At the pace you guys are taking, it may only take half the time it took to remodel your previous house. Good Luck guys! Love the site!

    Reply
  8. Dixie Redmond says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    I love your stool choice. I think they will be especially nice spray painted a color. I love seeing your progress on your kitchen. I wish I was 20 years younger and had your energy!

    Reply
  9. Kristen says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    I love the stools as they are! I bought industrial (not industrial-looking, but actually heavy duty industrial) stools for my kitchen and looooove them. Especially because they are very non-tippy and once Clara starts trying to climb up by herself you’ll be so thankful for that.

    If it were my house, I’d spray them a pale, pale green to bring some of the backsplash color over to that side of the kitchen. It would be perfect with the retro vibe and would also tie into the colors you have in the dining room/office. But I’m sure you’ll come up with something fabulous and can’t wait to see it.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:28 pm

      Aw, that could be really cute!

      xo,
      s

  10. Amanda says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I love them! The industrial look is perfect and I think they’ll fit in nicely with the room once it’s all finished!

    Reply
  11. Connie @ Daydream In Color says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    Love the stools & their inspiration!

    Reply
  12. suki says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    we only needed two stools, so we bought a pair from overstock. two for under $80, i think. not a bad deal for some very nice stools. :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:25 pm

      Oh yeah- that’s a great deal!

      xo,
      s

  13. Isabelle says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    When you mentioned the rough and tumble wood on the back of your counter, I immediately thought of Scrapwood wallpaper! Have you see it before? I saw it on a booth at Dwell on Design in June. Here’s the link:

    http://usa.scrapwoodwallpaper.com

    It’s kind of pricey, but it is so hard to tell it’s wallpaper and not wood!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:25 pm

      Haha- that’s fun too!

      xo,
      s

  14. Kate says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    I like the stools except for the paperboard seats (our stools in school were always paperboard stuff, so I’ll assume your stools are). But I’m sure I’d like them more once the kitchen is finished!

    Reply
  15. AMH says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    Have you ever seen these?
    http://www.amazon.com/Zooper-HC920C-Margarita-Hook-On-Chair/dp/B0013FSHBK

    Made me think of your stool back dilema. I remember the stools you ordered from school. I really liked your backless options but it looks like it’s too late now haha. Love the idea of integrating metal though!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:24 pm

      Oh yes, those are fun! I think Clara’s borderline too big for that though, and they don’t have a tray (which we like for bringing to the sink for clean-up instead of watching her getting blueberry goo all over the counter).

      xo,
      s

  16. Ren says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    I grew up with those exact stools in my mom’s house! (minus the backs) they were probably a garage sale find years ago and she did paint them. those babies will last you for-ev-er!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:22 pm

      Haha – so glad!

      xo,
      s

  17. Laura B. says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    I cant remember, is your current floor tile or laminate? I looks like tile, so I cant remember why you are replacing it (damaged maybe?) I cant imagine the dark cork floors in the room at all, but cant wait to see how they look! Is the cork soft/squishy or hard?
    Love the chairs! I second the idea of you creatively upgrading them though, they could look really really cool!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:22 pm

      It’s vinyl tile (plastic-y like laminate). It’s damaged in a few areas and also just not our style since we prefer darker floors (our last house has mocha hardwood floors throughout). Although cork sounds soft, when it’s made for the floor it’s super hard. Just like hardwood. Sort of like how bamboo floors sound like they’d be round or soft or stick-like but they’re compressed to be hard like wood. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  18. Anne says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    Stools look great! Quick question – I’m expecting, and we have a similar island in our kitchen with stools that hubby and I use to eat at pretty frequently. Could you give me the name of Clara’s booster seat that works with these stools? Our stools have a low back and are kind of curved, so not 100% sure that they would work with a booster, but I’d love to hear what you guys have used. Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:23 pm

      It’s by Fisher Price. We don’t have the box for the name or anything, but it’s white with a maroon seat-back and a tan tray. I see it at Target a lot. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  19. Amy says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Just when I thought it was impossible to love this blog any more…. you link to Stool Boom. Awesome.

    Reply
  20. Jessica says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Those stools are great! I love them as-is.

    Reply
  21. Megan M says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    As a teacher, I love, love, love the stools! They are so fun and industrial! I completely understand where you are going with the design ideas. And the pendant lights sound awesome. I can’t wait to see everything come together :) You guys are so great. I’m so pumped to redo our kitchen because of you! xoxo

    Reply
  22. Rachel Gross says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Totally tracking you on the metal/industrial. We recently sprung for the ones from World Market… since I had coupons, and they were also on sale at the time! They mix a wood seat with a metal base. We went backless though since our dining area is pretty tight, we wanted to keep things as open as possible. My last stools had white wood base, and I’m very excited that these won’t ever need to be cleaned due to dirty shoes on the bars!

    http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11108349

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:32 pm

      Ooh those are gorgeous!

      xo,
      s

  23. stephanie says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Stools look great! I had the same ones in HS~brought back some memories :)
    So i just had a thought for the back of the island…you could run the cork flooring up it. Seeing as little feet will be banging on it…might as well make it floor :)

    Have a merry christmas.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:32 pm

      Ooh that’s another fun option to think about!

      xo,
      s

  24. debbie c says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    Love the stools!! Saw similar in one of Marthas Magazines not too long ago and loved the look of them. csnoffice.com and globalindustrial.com have similar, Lyon stools but more expensive.

    Like the idea of the wood on your island too! Looking forward to those cabinets painted!!!!

    Reply
  25. Katie says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    I LOVE the inspiration. And I think those chairs are cool! Nerdy chic?!? I can’t wait to see how they ultimately turn out.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:30 pm

      Haha, nerdy chic = awesomesauce.

      xo,
      s

  26. Rita says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Genius!!
    Where did you ever get the idea to look into buying school chairs? They look so high tech/soho loft! And, the price is awesome.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:30 pm

      Haha- that was all John! He just thought there have to be online vendors for schools and we just hoped we didn’t need a wholesaler’s license or something to buy them!

      xo,
      s

  27. kaylan says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    i LOVE the stools! as i was reading my first thought was “check out a high school furniture sale! you could totally get lab stools for a couple bucks!!”, but you beat me to it. i really like the color of the stools now because i can see them against an (almost) all white kitchen. the brown seat especially will pop when it’s no longer competing with the oak cabinets.

    and now you have me rethinking my office corner set up. i’m going to build a desk and i could easily make it a little taller to accommodate a lovely, old lab stool. and then the desk could function as a standing work station too… hmmm….

    Reply
  28. Ginger says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    Thanks, John, for insisting we watch that video. That’s 2 minutes and 10 seconds of my life that I’ll never get back. Lol.

    PS The progress looks awesome! :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 12:36 pm

      Haha- he’s so weird about Waiting For Guffman. The man loves that movie.

      xo,
      s

  29. Ally says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    Just when I thought I couldn’t love YHL any more, you hit us with a ‘Waiting for Guffman’ reference. Well done, you two. (I LOVE that movie.)

    Oh, and the stools look awesome. Great choice. :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:46 pm

      Mibick, schmibic – I need more ham!

      xo,
      s

      Psst- Hope you get that Guffman reference of I just sound crazy.

  30. Cindy says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    Hi Sherry: I smiled when I read (Mom). Whenever I am working on a home project, and speak with my Mom, she never gets the vision, but is pleased with the results. I love all that you guys have done to your home. Cindy

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:45 pm

      Haha, yes my mom can find it hard to withhold judgement when things are half done, but happily when they’re all put back together and the dust clears she’s the first to say she loves it and apologizes for doubting us. Doesn’t quite keep her a repeat performance since things are always in progress around here though – haha. Love that lady.

      xo,
      s

  31. Adrienne says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    When I saw you had posted a video about stools, I thought “Could it be…?” And yes! It was from “Waiting for Guffman,” my husband’s favorite movie. Y’all rock.

    Reply
  32. Alli says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    I saw your pendants you have in mind and it reminded me of the styles I saw in Home Depot when I was wandering around the other day. sorry for the long linkage below! :)
    Not totally sold on the stools yet, they kind of remind me of science class in high school, but you guys seem to make everything work out in the end, so I’m excited to see how it all turns out!

    http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Indoor-Lighting-Indoor-Ceiling-Lighting-Pendant-Lights/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbvloZ1z13ny5/R-202786138/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Indoor-Lighting-Indoor-Ceiling-Lighting-Pendant-Lights/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbvloZ1z13ny5/R-202786146/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Indoor-Lighting-Indoor-Ceiling-Lighting-Pendant-Lights/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbvloZ1z13ny5/R-202786154/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks! We definitely plan to check out Home Depot and some other local spots too!

      xo,
      s

  33. Condo Blues says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    My dog photobombs my blog post pictures too. So much so that they dedicated a post about it on Crafterminds blog.

    Reply
  34. Rachael says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    My dad has the same stools at his workbench and bar in the basement! Instead of the wood/cardboard seat they have maroon leather. They’ve been there my whole life, so they should last for at least 30 years!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:43 pm

      Haha – that’s awesome!

      xo,
      s

  35. Liz says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    First, and most importantly, I saw the Dexter finale and it was amazing. My husband and I were trying to remember if they ever had a semi-cliff-hanger ending to a season before and we didn’t think so.
    Second, I know your stools will rock your kitchen world when everything comes together. I love me some industrial infusion. We have the stools in the first photo (the ones from Overstock, and we love them for anyone who needs to know). We wanted backless stools to keep the profile down. We have a big, open kitchen/dining/living area with a lot going on and didn’t want a row of four stools popping up to compete with a table with six chairs close by or to block the view of our marble island countertop. And the metal helped break up the woodiness of the cabs, the table and the floor. Anyway, I’m on the edge of my seat (or stool) waiting for your cabinets to get painted!

    Reply
  36. Gaidig says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    I really like the contrast of the more industrial finish against the shiny white of the counter and future cabinets. I’m not much of a fan of the idea of a dark wood under the peninsula because of the dark cork floor, and the proximity to the large dark dining table. It seems like it would defeat the efforts you mentioned earlier about not wanting things to look too dark and woody. On the other hand, I think that staining the seats darker could be cool, so that you have pops of little circles of dark wood. Either that or upholstery.

    Reply
  37. Robyn in Chicago says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Love the Guffman reference. Nice one John!

    Also, love the school stools! Such a great idea. I know you will make those things look awesome however you choose to dress em up but I have a sneaking suspicion that they will end up ORB’d… :). Love that wood backed peninsula too.

    I am loving the mental picture of this kitchen!

    Reply
  38. JanetL says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I love these! I actually love all the potential options on how to finish them too but I think I lean towards the roughing them up. It’s a tough call they all sound fab!

    Reply
  39. Cameron says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    If you’re looking for filament lightbulbs for your lighting fixture, I think Restoration Hardware has them cheapest. (Only time you’ll ever that sentence, right?) I made a new pendant fixture with an antique wire lampshade and bought 3 squirrel cage filament bulbs from RH for $11 each (they were $18 at Anthropologie). They’re awesome- they give off the warmest amber glow. I’m totally in love with them!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:42 pm

      Thanks for the tip! We’ll have to check that out.

      xo,
      s

  40. Meghan says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    As a teacher- I love this!!!

    Reply
  41. Ginny says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    Ooo… I love the pendant light globe that you show, but we don’t use any bulbs that aren’t CFLs for energy use. Can you get pretty CFLs or would you be stuck with high energy-use Edison-style bulbs?

    I always love the exposed bulb lights, but limit us to light styles that hide the lights.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:42 pm

      Yes! There’s this gorgeous LED (or is it CFL?) light called the “plumen” – just google that to see how gorgeous it can be! And it’s totally eco!

      xo,
      s

  42. Katie Hartman says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    I was totally in the same boat for our bar stools too- way too expensive at $250+ a pop when I needed 3. So I did some hunting and found a rental company that did events for weddings and asked if they would sell me 3 of their bar height Chiavari (faux bamboo) chairs in white. They said yes! Got all three for $225. Less than the price of 1 online. So amazing…gotta think outside of the box!
    Love the blog!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:41 pm

      That’s so smart! Love it!

      xo,
      s

  43. elaine says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    love the stools, and they are very nostalgic of high school. And about the dexter finale….Really, deb?….REEEEAAALLLYY?!?!? OH.EM.GEEEE

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      Aiiiiiie! It was so good. Still freaking out.

      xo,
      s

  44. Christine says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    Oh – I have the shades of light globe pendant over my sink and I love it. (I first saw it on your site) The bulb puts of this really warm light and is something everyone comments on in our kitchen.

    Reply
  45. Jenny B says

    December 19, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Love the stools. We’ve been looking at some similar Bevco stools (lab type as well). I suggest looking at http://www.prolinerangehoods.com. We got one for our newly remodeled kitchen; they are a fraction of the price of similar range hoods, look great and work great and are quiet. Great customer service as well.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:41 pm

      Thanks for the link! Off to check it out.

      xo,
      s

  46. Ashley says

    December 19, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Gosh darn it, $herdog! How’d you two(four?) get so smart?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      Haha, maybe it was all those science classes spent sitting on stools like this…

      xo,
      s

  47. Katy Morrow says

    December 19, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    Oh my goodness, I just did a bit of a backflip over this post. I’ve been following your blog for some time now, and always find your projects inspirational! But I was excited to see that you just bought the EXACT SAME STOOLS that I purchased for our new home when I was looking at some very similar inspiration photos a year ago! I painted them a fabulous blue color and totally beat them up! I’d love to share a picture with you — do you have an email I could send it to?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:39 pm

      Wahoo! I love that you painted them blue and beat them up! Feel free to link to a photo of them on flickr right here in the comments, upload a pic to our facebook page, or email us using the contact us link on the sidebar (near our big smiling faces pic).

      xo,
      s

  48. Haley @ thedistractedblogger says

    December 19, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    What a steal for those chairs!

    What about punched tin for the peninsula or a tin/wood combo like, http://www.piercedtin.com/custom.htm.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:39 pm

      Another really fun possibility!

      xo,
      s

  49. Suzanne says

    December 19, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    I would have bet my last dollar – shows how much I know! LOL – that you would go for these from JCPenney! Just curious now, did you see them and discard them for the more “industrial look”? I thought these would have looked awesome in your space. :-) JMO. I DO like what you have, but… I will always wonder. ;)

    http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=1b09cf9&Nao=0&SearchRedirect=True&Ne=4+840+877+878+5+961+6+29+3+579+963+1014+1031+8+587+15+12+1011+598+11+506+10+23+585+969+596+1022+586+1007+879+968+1027+18+904+903+833+949&NOffset=2&Ntt=barstool&SearchString=barstool&N=4294959029+4294965241&SO=0&PSO=0&cmAMS_T=XGN5&cmAMS_C=MERCH&cmAMS_Z=XGN5TOPOFRESULTS&CmCatId=searchresults

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:38 pm

      I just think we’re not really scrolly iron people! Simple clean lines are usually our jam!

      xo,
      s

  50. Joelle says

    December 19, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Is it weird that I thought with the title of this post it would have something to do with Burger’s poop? Just got back from the vet with my dog so I must have the pups on the brain!

    I digress (thank goodness), I like the stools so far and like you said there are probably so many options with them!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      December 19, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      Haha- I for one, am so glad it was about kitchen stools!

      xo,
      s

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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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