Edition 20: The Impossible Stool
And seasonal hand soap that's not pumpkin spice
Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
Last weekend, I went to visit my recently relocated pal in Philly. She is a true arbiter of great taste, and we had the best time wandering around her neighborhood and popping into all of the cute shops. One shop that we encountered really gave me a good chuckle: Mr. Bar Stool. Yes, a shop that specializes in bar stools. These are my favorite kinds of shops — very earnest specialty shops. I’m beginning to think that you are all mind-readers because upon my return, and still thinking about Mr. Bar Stool, I found this request from Jenny in Portland:
“I have a tall countertop bar in my new kitchen--46", and I need bar stools with a seat height of around 32" to use the counter comfortably. I am having the HARDEST time finding something at that height, most things seem to be 30.5" seat height at the tallest. To make things even narrower, I have a kitchen table right next to the bar, and I have chartreuse colored chairs, so I want to avoid anything too colorful. Ideally wood, a neutral beige/cream/brown fabric, or a dark metal. I'm open to something with a back or backless though!”
I feel your pain, Jenny! Stools are so tricky because counters are all different types of heights. During my shop reno in winter of 2020/2021, I learned the hard way that there is a big difference between counter height and bar height and had to have my shop counter shortened at the last minute. Before we get started, I want to give everyone a primer on the difference:
Counter height: This type of counter is for surfaces where one is going to stand and do things. The standard height for a kitchen counter, cash wrap counter, etc is 36”, and the standard seat height for a 36” counter is 24”-27”.
Bar height: This type of counter is higher, and meant for sitting at. Unless you’re really tall, it’s awkward to do things at a bar height counter because your elbows are below the surface. Typical bar height is 42” with a seat height of 28”-33”
For the average sized adult, it’s ideal to have 10”-12” of space between the seat of a stool and the surface of the counter.
So, all of this considered, Jenny’s counter is a whopping 4” taller than the average bar height!!
The criteria for Jenny’s stools:
Must be at least 32” tall
Neutral colors only
A slim profile since it’s near other furniture (this is my addition — I strongly dislike bulky barstools unless it’s a very open room)
I am sad to report that I struck out with Mr. Bar Stool, or rather, I got tired of searching through the 4,000+ options. My next approach was to search the following options:
Adjustable height stool — perhaps a from a school furniture supplier. This is one of my secret weapons. School furniture is usually very versatile, durable and affordable, and as long as you’re okay with the simple and industrial style, it’s a really fun option, and can be a good canvas for DIY customization.
Unfinished wood — lots of unfinished wood furniture vendors make things in many sizes and/or custom sizes. I love buying unfinished wood furniture because it’s lovely on its own and can also easily be stained or painted to be exactly what you want.
“Extra tall bar stool” — this seems to be the correct searchable term for anything over 30”
Etsy — Is there someone who can make a custom height stool?
What I found is that there just aren’t a lot of great readymade options out there, and there are SO MANY truly hideous bar stools on the market. It really just comes down to: are you planning on staying in this home for a while? Custom furniture doesn’t always cost a ton more than readymade, so if you’re going to be in this place for the long haul, I’d advise you to invest in something that’s just right if you have the budget for it. Here’s what I found:
READYMADE:
Satao Bar Stool by Simone Viola ($340 currently with 20% off promotion): This is the most expensive stool I’ve got for you but boy, is it gorgeous, AND available in a 35” height. This stool, in white, would be weightless in any room despite the fact that it has a supportive back.
Not looking for forever furniture? These simple wood stools (35”) are $79 each, and could be painted:
If you like the simple backless wood look but want something a little nicer, Holland Bar Stool Co. can do a variety of types of wood, with a swivel seat in 36”.
You probably don’t want this, but just for kicks, National Public Seating (my favorite school chair company) makes an adjustable height lab stool with a back in 31”-39”, for $130, which would be so fun in an industrial space:
CUSTOM:
On Etsy, I found these gorgeous and comfortable looking stools that can be made in custom height, and in a variety of wood types (I vote for walnut!) for a little over $300. Based on the preferences you listed, these seem just right for your kitchen.
And on custommade.com, I found these solid wood stools from The Wood Hobbit that can be totally customized, which are a nice option if you prefer to have a back but don’t want something bulky (starting at $350):
And there we have it! Extra tall barstools. I wish there were more out there, and that we could normalize abnormal counter heights, but I think you’ve got a few good options to choose from.
QUICK ANSWER
Lisa in NYC: “I’m traveling to Portugal soon and I’d love to stick up on affordable and good quality linen clothes and linens. I understand that we will be staying near the Parachute factory in northern Portugal but curious to know if you or your well traveled readers have any suggestions!”
Lisa, I am so envious!! Portugal is #1 on my list of European countries to visit, and I hope you’ll share your discoveries with me after your trip! On my shopping list for my future pilgrimage: so much tinned fish, Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics, lots of old-school stationery (hi, Emilio Braga!) and, of course, a suitcase full of linens. I don’t have any particular brands for you to look for, but if I know anything about shopping for textile products in countries known for them, I’d look for two specific types of places: the oldest mom and pop linen shop you can find (the host of your Airbnb, or hotel concierge can help you with this), or an open air market. European open air markets are AMAZING, and there are vendors for just about everything. I’ve bought locally-made clothes, tea towels, fabric by the yard, even underwear at them!
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Seasonal scent season is upon us, and though I don’t have anything against pumpkin spice, it’s just not for me. My favorite way to usher in this important time of year is to pay a visit to a Bath and Body Works, preferably in a mall, to purchase 5 for $25 hand soap to cover all of the holidays: general autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is not a task that can be done online, because it’s imperative to smell all of the soaps and fall into an artificial scent stupor. That’s half the fun. Unfortunately for me, I do not have a car and do not anticipate having the opportunity to go to a real mall until October, so I purchased by #2 favorite Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day hand soap this week: MUM!! And it really does smell like mums — a gentle ease into more intense seasonal scents. If I didn’t love the adventure of visiting B&BW so much, I would just buy 6 bottles of this to get me through the season, but hey, I’m just an Ohio girl at heart.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next week for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline