Raising the Bar!
Frontways, sideways, backward, or leaning against the back. Breakfast, beers, or bitters. The versatile barstool is indeed a perfect place to perch.
A barstool says as much about its bar as a drink says about its drinker. Ernest Hemingway was a daiquiri man, Hunter S. Thompson downed whiskeys on the rocks, and, of course, we all know how James Bond takes his martinis. But when picking a barstool, form should follow function, says architect and interior designer Peter Bentel, who lends his expertise to our barstool lineup.
“What makes a good stool depends on what it’s meant to do,” he says. “If it’s a lunch counter where a lot of single diners go, then the barstool needs to accommodate sitting frontward. If you’re out with friends, you want to be comfortable sitting sideways. If you’re settling in for the evening, a high back can be quite comfortable but could prevent you from turning around. You can get away with a less comfortable stool if it’s only supposed to be a place to plop yourself for a half hour.”
At home, where our kitchens have become living rooms, bar and counter stools make a supernal spot from which to enjoy a bowl of cereal, sit and read the newspaper, or enjoy a late-night nightcap. We rounded up six of our favorite stools—–from time-tested classics to those fresh from the factory—–and asked Bentel to decide which could claim the title of high seat.
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Spoon Stool
Polypropylene.- Designed by: Antonio Citterio
- Made by: Kartell
- Price: $620
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Bertoia Stool
A grid of industrial-strength steel rods forms the back and seat of this iconic counter-height stool, launched by Harry Bertoia as part of his 1952 Seating Collection. An optional seat pad can snap in or out of place. The piece is manufactured solely by Knoll.- Designed by: Harry Bertoia
- Made by: Knoll
- Price: $747
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Ribbon Stool
Laser-cut metal / 14.75" diameter x 17.25" H (counter-height stool); 14.75" diameter x 30.25" H (bar-height stool)- Designed by: Nendo
- Price: $538
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Miura Stool
Reinforced polypropylene / 18.5" W x 15.75" D x 32" H with 30.5" seat height.- Designed by: Konstantin Grcic
- Made by: Plank
- Price: $510
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Cherner Stool
- Designed by: Norman Cherner
- Price: $699.00-829.00
Designer Norman Cherner created his molded plywood stools in the late 1950s. They are available in counter or bar height, and can feature either a wood or a metal base.
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