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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Real Good Stool
Expert Opinion: I love that this is a flat piece of perforated metal that you fold into a barstool. It looks like a stealth bomber with its faceted shape, but it flexes and is actually very comfortable—–though I wouldn’t use it for a place where people are going to be turning around and leaning on the back because it’s a little sharp. But I really like the ingenuity of the construction technique—–I just wish the legs were as ingenious.
What We Think: We, too, love the surprising comfort of Blu Dot’s laser-cut stool, which is mailed flat, easy to assemble, and looks great from just about any angle. The seat pad (available for $39) is a nice addition for longer lounging, but for $199, the Real Good stool is a real good steal.
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Cherner Stool
Expert Opinion: This is an extremely elegant chair and truly an American classic. That it was designed in 1958 and continues to impress with its profile and sensuousness is really quite something. The seat is perfectly comfortable to sit in sideways, and because the stretcher bars are on all four sides you can put your feet up and your friend standing behind you can put her foot up too.
What We Think: The Cherner line of furniture is revered for its dramatic use of molded plywood and timeless appeal—–and these faithfully reissued stools are no exception. We prefer a chilled martini to a chilly barstool so we appreciate the warmth of the wood Cherner uses.
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Miura Stool
Expert Opinion: I like the hole that’s created between the seat and the footrest. It’s quite open, and from certain angles, it’s like, “Where did the chair go?” It’s very light because of the polypropylene mate-rial so it’s easy to move around. Of all the chairs, this is the one you could lean on and be comfortable. In multiples, it’s a really interesting sculptural statement.
What We Think: The winner of numerous accolades, the Miura stool is a staple in MoMA’s permanent collection. We love it for its light weight, bold color options, and stackability. Nevertheless, we’d rather admire it in a museum display than sit on it at the bar—–the back lip can bite rather than hug, and the angled seat makes for a high-difficulty-level dismount.
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Ribbon Stool
Expert Opinion: This is clearly a pedestal for humans to perch on briefly but not great for staying forever, mostly due to its lack of backrest. I could imagine a small group of them—–a large number might be too visually busy—–in the corner of a hotel; different heights would make a beautiful arrangement. The Ribbon stool is lyrical and fun but probably less useful and so less appealing overall, because I can’t see it in many different contexts.
What We Think: Though its design was inspired by a ballet slipper, this stool is as solid as a rock. (We also love that the playful design means it doesn’t really have legs.) The optional seat cushion attaches with magnets so that there’s no slipping-and-sliding. A blue ribbon for Ribbon.
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Bertoia Stool
Expert Opinion: It’s a very wide chair; you could sit lotus-style on it and be quite comfortable. The Bertoia is also a very deep chair, so, unlike most of the others, you really can sit back. But you end up looking like a waffle if you sit on it for any great length of time. If you want to create a room that is very knowing of mid-century modernism, this is the chair for you.
What We Think: In the early 1950s, sculptor Harry Bertoia playfully bent and shaped metal rods into his now-iconic family of seating for Knoll. There’s a good reason the line has been in continuous production ever since (and continuously appears in the pages of Dwell); it harmonizes with almost any interior while retaining a distinct personality.
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Spoon Stool
Expert Opinion: This is the only one that swivels. The gas piston makes the stool go up and down, which is fun, and the stool can adjust for people who have personal height restrictions. It’s a funny stool in that the name of it is “Spoon,” and you can easily imagine the creative process of Citterio and his crew taking a cheap metal spoon and bending it to make this shape. It doesn’t have a big backrest but it does cup you quite well.
What We Think: We dig the clean simplicity of the Spoon stool’s single-stem silhouette and love that the footrest moves with the seat when you turn to talk to a neighbor. Although unnerving at first, the seat flexes when you sit in it and allows you to find its sweet spot. We can’t wait for Citterio to get cracking on a fork and knife.
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