Customized Bar Stools

Customized bar stools are the ultimate luxury in bar design. Generally speaking customized bar stool are primarily found in higher end commercial establishments. These establishments do not want to run the risk of having their stools copied by a competitor. These bar stools tend to be more expensive than the average commercially available bar stool. The latter can be mass produced and the mass production of the bar stools can reduce the price per unit expenses.

There are a number of ways to order customized bar stools. The yellow pages or a Google search will have information on where to order customized bar stools. Perhaps the easiest way is to look for a manufacturer that has developed a catalog of his or her previous original work. Another way to get custom bar stools is to sketch out a design and get quotes from different bar stool fabricators. Another way is to build the custom bar stool yourself. The cheapest way to get customized bar stools is to make them yourself. Making your own bar stools can be difficult and not everyone has those types of skills. Custom wicker bar stools require great expertise.

There is a wealth of information on how to build bar stools. Most home renovation stores will stock books including home wood working and do it yourself project books. These books will include entire chapters on how to make wooden bar stools and how to reupholster bar stools. There are a number of different patterns to follow. Try to find a book that includes details about how to build bar stools with 4 legs and also how to build backless bar stools. Building a backless bar stool at home will be the best first project. Bar stools with spindle backs are best left to very experienced carpenters.

The easiest custom do it yourself bar stool construction will be a 4 legged bar stool with a round upholstered seat. If you are interested in making your own bar stools you might want to start with a simple project and work your way up to more difficult bar stool designs. These books will also provide information on such topics as how to paint a bar stool and how to tighten the seat on a swivel bar stool.

As mentioned above, another way to secure customized bar stools is to sketch out the design yourself. Make notes on the materials you want to use including the materials for the legs and the bar stool seats and bring the bar stool sketch a materials notes to a variety of fabricators. Based on your ideas, the fabricators could then make bids for your business. As a rule of thumb you should secure bids from at least three unrelated fabricators. The more bids the better. Make sure the bids are detailed and contain firm time lines and provisions for over run costs.

Another way to order custom bar stools is to browse through the catalogs of bar stool manufacturers. It is possible to find a pre-existing bar stool design that could be modified to your tastes. Finding a stool in this manner may result in a certain amount of cost savings as the manufacturing machines will already be modified to create at least some of the required components. If you have a strict budget then you should ask the different manufacturers about different ways that you could realize a cost savings. For example, you might be prepared to use the legs of one design with the seat of another design.

Customized bar stools are a definite luxury. However, with a little homework you should be able to defray a bit of the cost. You could find a book on how to build bar stools, get bids on original bar stools from different fabricators or order custom bar stools from an experienced manufacturer.

Backless Bar Stools

Backless bar stools are a handy additional to most seating areas. They are light weight and take up much less space than bar stools with backs. There are bar stools without backs that can fit into any type of decorating scheme. Generally they are into bar height or counter top height (24 inch bar stools) but they can also be found in children's sizes.

The history of bar stools is self evident from the name. These were the seats that allowed men to belly up to the bar. The Public Houses of Great Britain and Ireland had three types of seating arrangements. The first were cozy booths located around the perimeter. The second were table and chairs located in the centre area of the room. These first two types of seating arrangements were for groups and couples. If you were in the presence of a woman you would either sit in a booth or at a table. If you were with a group of 3 or more you would also sit at a booth or a table.

However, lots of men would come to the pub on their own. Perhaps they were traveling through the village or from a neighboring village. Others would venture to the pubs on their own knowing that they would surely meet friends and neighbors once they got there. These solo pub goers would tend to sit or stand at the bar in order to chat with the bartender. Bar stools were created for the men who went to the bars on their own.

Historically all bar stools had backs. These stools tended to be more comfortable than bar stools without backs. Backed bar stools also tended to provide increased stability to the potentially tipsy customer. The seat of these bar stool was identical to the seat on a normal bar chair. These seats were generally a wee bit smaller than 2 feet by 2 feet. The backs were approximately 14 inches high and were in a semi circular shape. The back of the bar stool tended to flare out at the top. These stools took up a fair bit of lateral space at the bar. Each bar stool needed 3.5 linear feet at the bar to be comfortable and to allow room to get on and off the stools.

Bar stools without backs tend to be much smaller and require less space at the bar. A good rule of thumb is that you can generally fit 4 backless bar stool comfortably in the same space that you could fit 3 bar stools with backs. The use of these stools allows for more seating in a small space. Backless bar stools are a great idea for small bars such as residential bars or kitchen counter bars. Seat only bar stools allow the stool to be tucked away under the bar when not in use.

Backless bar stools often tend to have smaller seats. The most common bar stool seat is a circular seat. The backless circular seat bar stool comes in two different varieties: static height or variable height bar stool. The static height bar stool can either be fixed or have a swivel seat. The static height bar stools are most commonly found in commercial establishments. Whereas the adjustable height bar stools are generally found in residential settings.

Another variation amongst backless bar stools is the height of the bar stool. As previously mentioned adult sized bar stools come in two different heights. The original height is a 30 inch bar stool. Up until 20 years ago all bar stools were a uniform height. In the early 1980s, a shorter 24 inch bar stool became more and more popular for residential use. This shorter type of stool became very popular as kitchen renovations started to included islands and eating counters. There are 24 inch backless barstools and 24 inch barstools with backs.

Including an eating counter into your kitchen renovation is a great idea. In the late 1960s and 1970s, kitchens made a transformation from mostly utilitarian or functional areas into family areas or generally living areas. This transformation was, of course, due to the changing perceptions about what is considered "woman's work". As it became more common for women to take jobs outside of the house, the household labor, including cooking and food preparation became more of a general family chore. As more members of the family worked together in the kitchen, the kitchen became more of a social area. Even members of the family that were not involved in kitchen prep were in the kitchen to chat with family members that were involved. Children began to set the table and clear the dishes and become involved in kitchen chores. As the family spent more time in the kitchen, the idea of what the kitchen should look like changed.

Kitchens began to incorporate different seating options. The kitchen bar or breakfast bar was part of that evolution. The kitchen bar is generally higher than normal counter height but lower than standard bar height. The 24 inch bar stool services the breakfast bar perfectly.

When choosing a bar stool for your home or business you must first choose the height of the stool. The height of the stool will depend upon your needs. Most of the shorter stools are found in residential settings. Nest you must choose between a backless bar stool or a bar stool that has a back. The next choice is whether the seat will swivel. Swivel bar stool or definitely the most convenient stool. They allow people to get on and off the stool without moving the legs of the stool. Swivel seat bar stools help prevent wear and tear on your floor beneath the stool. The last thing to decide is whether you would like the seat height to be adjustable. Since most bar heights are standard having an adjustable seat height bar stool is an unnecessary luxury. Adjustable seat bar stools are good for sitting at a drafting table or for artists work.

Another thing to consider when choosing a backless bar stool is what type of material is used in te construction. There are upholstered bar stools and hard seated bar stools. Both types have pros and cons. Of course, upholstered seat make the bar stools much more comfortable. However, hard seated stools are easier to clean. In commercial settings to is common to find leather bar stools. These stools provide the comfort of upholstery but the cleaning ease of a hard seated stool. Most of these stools have backs but there are some backless leather bar stools.

As you can see there is an enormous variety of different types of bar stools to choose from. Bar stools without backs are handy for using in small spaces such as kitchen bars. Backless bar stools can be used in conjunction with regular bar stools to make efficient use of space and to provide different seating options for your guests.

Bar Stool Trivia/ Exotic Bar Stools

Did Aristotle Onassis have bar stools with whale foreskin seat covers? Is this true or is it an urban myth? Can people with enough money order any type of customized bar stool? Do whale foreskin bar stools even exist? One would hope that such a bar stool is a myth.

Do the rich and famous insist on having exotic customized bar stools. Are there bar stools made with exotic animal hides? Finding this type of information is very difficult and urban myths abound. Does using leopard skin or alligator skin as a bar stool seat cover say something about the bar stool owner? I think that is safe to say that these custom bar stools would only appeal to a select group of people.

Please feel free to post any questions of comments on exotic bar stool covers. We will try to separate the truth from the fiction when it comes to exotic bar stools and we will add to the post as we gather further information. We may even be able to tell you what kind of bar stools Aristotle Onassis owned.

Leather Bar Stools

Nothing adds a splash of class quite like leather bar stools. Leather stools exude elegance. confidence, great taste and wealth. Historically leather chairs of all sorts were confined to the private mens clubs frequented by lawyers and politicians and powerful business men. Thankfully for the rest of us times have changed.

Today leather bar stools are becoming more common and are certainly becoming more affordable. In certain instances leather just makes sense. Not only are these bar stools comfortable but most spills can be taken care of with a damp cloth. Leather can also be very durable which adds to the lifespan of your bar stool. There are definitely cheaper leather bar stool made with second quality or inferior leather but bar stools made with first quality leather can last for years.

These bar stools can come in cushioned or non cushioned varieties. The cushioned stools are definitely more comfortable. You can find backless bar stools, bar stools with backs and bar stools with backs and arms.

There is also an amazing array of available colors. I have personally seen black, dark brown, tan, blue, and red stools. I'm sure that custom made bar stools can come in any color you desire. I have seen stools with the name of the bar branded into the back of the stool.

The stools are also available in either the standard 30 " or smaller 24" styles. The height that you chose will depend on the height of the table or the bar that is to be serviced by the bar stools. If the stools are for residential purposes and their are children in the home then perhaps a 24" stool would be the best choice.

Whether they be for residential or commercial purposes good quality leather bar stools are never a bad choice. These stools are easy to clean and can last for decades.

Wood Bar Stools

Wood bar stools are amongst the most common type of bar stool. The first original pub bar stools of the United Kingdom were all wood bar stools. The common wooden bar stool has been around for centuries. This type of stool is still commonly found in pubs and restaurants. A well made wood bar stool can last for decades with just some minor re-gluing from time to time. Wooden bar stools have a classic and rustic feel that cannot be captured with stools made from alternate materials.

There are a number of different models of this type of stool. Some are quite fancy while others including a version called the saddle bar stool are very simple in design. Most types of durable wood can be used in the construction of these stools. The most common pub style bar stools were constructed from oak. However more recently, teak bar stools have become very popular. If the finished bar stool is to be painted then often pine is used for the construction. Approximately half of these stools have a metal foot bar while the other half have a foot bar made from wood.

Wood bar stools come in a variety of different heights. The standard heights include the 24 inch bar stool, the 30 inch bar stool, and the 34 inch bar stool. In addition, you can have customized bar stools built to any height you desire. The proper height of your bar stool will be determined by the height of the bar, table or counter you wish to sit at. Most commercial bar stools tend to be higher stools while those stools used in a residential setting tend to be of the shorter variety with the exception of patio bar stools. Patio bar stools are generally taller whether they are used in a commercial or residential setting.

Once you have decided that you want to add wooden bar stools to your home, deciding upon the height of the stools is the easy part. You also have to decide on the shape of the stools, the bar stool seat and whether you prefer a back or a backless bar stool. Do you want a wood swivel seat bar stool? Each alternative has pros and cons. The first thing you need to consider is the size of the intended bar stool space. Is the space open and airy like a pool deck or is it tucked into a corner some place. The taller bar stools with backs can take up a lot of space. If the bar stool is too big for the space the look and feel will be cramped and undesirable. Choose a stool that fits your space. Backless bar stools fit better into smaller spaces but they can also be less comfortable for those people that need back support.

There are three general wood seat styles. There is the classic shaped style that is somewhat molded to the person chair interface, there are round seats. The round seats tend to be among the most cheap wood bar stools. There are also the stylish wooden saddle seat stools as pictured above. The saddle seat stools tend to be considered the hippest on the market these days. Saddle seat stools are static seat stools and do not come with a swivel option.

One last thing to consider is whether you want the seat to swivel. Swivel seats are much more convenient than conventional static seat chairs. They are much easier to get into and to get out of. In a commercial bar or restaurant or pub setting swivel seat stools are essential. The swivel seat stools will be more expensive but will save wear and tear on your floors and will be much more comfortable for your guests.

These types of stools can be easily found in a number of different locations. Of course, all furniture stores will carry assorted models. Also, all larger department stores will have bar stools in their furniture department. Some of the cheap wooden bar stools can be found in hardware stores and home renovation stores. There are also hundreds of different online distributors that will offer to ship the stools at a very reasonable price.

Wood bar stools come in many different styles and models. They range from as inexpensive as thirty to forty dollars per stool upwards to $400 or more per stool. There is a stool for every budget. Think about the characteristics that you want in a stool including the height and seat styles. Also think carefully about the amount of space you have available in which to fit the stools. Remember to choose a stool that fits your space. Wood bar stools come in an enormous array of models with some careful consideration you will find some that are perfect for your home or business.

Discount Barstools

Before going to your local furniture store or department store to purchase bar stools for your home or business you should really do some research into discount bar stools. I am not sure what twigged me to look for bar stools this way but something did and I did and I was pleasantly surprised by the results.

The first thing I did was look in my local yellow pages under discount furniture. I was able to get the names and addresses of a few shops in my town that specialized in and had a good supply of second hand bar stools. Both of stores were huge warehouses and they indicated to me on the phone that their inventory turns over rapidly so I would have to go to the store myself and look for bar stools. However, both stores felt certain that they would have some sort of bar stool in stock. I spent a Saturday afternoon combing through both warehouses with a nice high school kid who worked there. These types of places are hit or miss. I saw a number of different types of bar stools but none suited my needs. The only ones that I really liked only came in a set of 3 which simply wasn't enough for me.

My next step was to look at the Yellow Pages online. The online version seems to have ads from cities up to a five hour drive away. I was able to get a number of names and addresses of places within an hours drive from here. I contacted these stores to determine which ones would be able to deliver to my home.

In my search for discount bar stools, I started to ask where the stools came from. I was really surprised by the answers. The obvious answer is that the bar stools were liquidated from various merchants that had gone out of business. The less obvious answer is that some were in a group that was exposed to slight smoke or water damage (but you would never know it or detect it) and insurance companies were compelled to buy out the inventory. Another less obvious answer is that some of the bar stools came from large nationally branded furniture stores or department stores who simply needed to make room for new models.

Of all of the bar stools I saw, every single one was in excellent condition and none were second hand. With a little bit of investigative work you can find some very good quality discount bar stools at 25% of what you might expect to pay at a regular store. In my case, the search was well worth the effort.

Backless Barstools

Backless barstools have pros and cons. I have a brief list of the pros and cons of this type of stools. This list is by no means exhaustive. You will likely have your own reasons for liking or loathing backless barstools. Please feel free to add your own reason to the comments section below.

Pros

1. Smaller than those stools with backs. These stools fit better in small spaces. The lack of back lends the stool to a less intrusive look.

2. Cheaper. Some backless bar stools are very reasonably priced. Bar stools without backs are constructed with less materials and are accordingly less expensive

3. Adjustable height seat. Many of these stools have adjustable height seats. These are very useful for people working at drafting tables or easels.

4. Durable. Often the backs of barstools are the most vulnerable part of the stool. The absence of a back means there are fewer weaker parts.

5. Lighter and easier to move. These barstools are easier to move when sweeping and cleaning up.

Cons

6. Comfort. Backless bar stools provide no support for the back. This is very important if you or your guest will be expected to spend longer periods of time seated in the bar stool. In addition, this type of stool is rarely upholstered.

7. Stability and security. This generally only applies to children, people with poor balance and drunk people. The lack of a back can possibly lead to falling off the bar stools. For some there is a bit of a stretch to get up on the stool. A back provides a sense of security.

As you can see there are a number of different pros and cons to consider when deciding whether a backless barstool will meet your needs. I will try to update this list from time to time and I would love to hear from you about what you think the pros and cons of backless barstools might be.

24" Bar Stools

There is a pretty big demand for 24" bar stools these days. I don't believe I had ever seen such a bar stool until 5 or 6 years ago. When I first started buying bar stools for different commercial ventures in the late 80s I never came across such stools. Barstools were generally a standard height and were generally for one purpose which was for sitting at a bar to drink. More often than not, bar stools were most commonly found in bars and pubs. However, times have changed. Stools can be found in numerous residences and now comes in different heights. Now days 24" bar stools are everywhere.

Admittedly, most pubs and bars don't use a 24 inch bar stool very often and when they do they tend to order only a few for some bar that has to be lower because of a window or something like that. For most commercial purposes the bar stools remain at the old standard height. The biggest source of demand for these shorter bar stools has come from the residential sector, particularly families with children.

In the 60s, 70s and even into the 80s the residential use of bar stools was generally limited to rec rooms or possibly the edge of a very large living room. If in the rec room, they tended to be wooden stools with a dark stain and high sheen varnish. The idea was to replicate pub bar stools. If in the more formal area such a living room, they tended to be metal bar stools with a hard seat or sometimes metal bar stools with a cushion seat. These stools were invariably 30" barstools to suit a regular 42 inch bar. Perhaps most importantly, these stools were designed for use by adults.

In the mid-90s kitchen renovations were becoming a big deal. People were beginning to realize that the kitchen was an integral part of the family home. Kitchens were used for socializing and watching TV. The parent who generally was responsible for meal preparation didn't want to be cut off from the family. Even clean up after meals isn't so tedious when the rest of the family stays in the room to talk about their days or when the TV gets flipped on after the meal. As kitchens gained more status, kitchen design became more popular. Historically kitchen were about function. Today kitchens are still about function but they have to look good and have a certain style. Today is about granite counters, marble back splashes, and breakfast bars and breakfast bar stools. Modern kitchen include entertainment areas with music and TVs and home offices with computer desks and filing cabinets. Many kitchen have ares for sofas or lounge chairs. In short, the purpose of the kitchen has changed from an area for food preparation and consumption (although remember: food was consumed in the dining room in the pre-50s) to an area for family living.

As people became more interested in kitchen design they started creating new ways to use the kitchen. It soon became apparent that families rarely sat down for breakfast together as breakfast was generally done in shifts depending on the availability of the bathroom or shower and or the hours at which a family member had to be at work or school or volleyball practice. At some point it became obvious that a breakfast bar was the perfect place to accommodate shift eating. It also was a perfect place for a family member to sit and chat with someone preparing dinner or washing up after dinner.

People didn't want their children climbing on to backless bar stools that were bigger than them. In the interests of safety the stools needed to be shorter. It became clear that if the breakfast bar was the same height as the counter then when not in use the breakfast bar would become coveted extra counter space. So in combining the accessibility of table height chairs with the functionality of creating extra counter space the breakfast bar bar stool or the 24 inch bar stool became needed.

As with any stool, a number of factors (over and above bar stool height) must be considered. Will the stools be upholstered? Is is easy to wash the upholstery? Remember food and drink will invariably get spilled. How many stools can easily fit in the space. Most breakfast bars have 2 or 3 stools at a maximum. Will these stools need to swivel? Having a swivel seat bar stool saves the wear and tear on the floor under the stool. The money you save on replacing your carpet or refinishing your floor sometimes can make buying the more expensive swivel bar stools very attractive. Will the stool need a back? Stools with backs are clearly safer for children. Finally, do you want a wooden bar stool or a metal bar stool?

As with buying furniture for any part of your house the purchase of these stools should be carefully considered. They only way you are going to get the ones that truly suit your needs is by giving the entire issue a great deal of thought. Try to think about the purposes of these stools. Are they really for breakfast or are they for another purpose? Will the kid do their homework there? Will you read the paper there? Will it be a spot for your best friend to have a glass of wine while you prepare some cheese and crackers. Do you want to watch the game and have a beer and chips there? I could give another dozen of examples of potential activities to consider. When you think of the purposes you most want to achieve you will be able to choose the stool that is perfect for you and your family.

There are plenty of things to think about before buying. Remember not all 24" bar stools should be considered the same.

Wooden Bar Stools

Wooden bar stools are the perfect type of bar stool for a pub or a road house type restaurant. They are sturdy, durable, and easy to clean. The combination of all of these features makes wooden bar stools the best choice for that type of business. In my experience a sturdy bar stool can last up to 5 or 6 years. With some regular maintenance or attention to the bar stool they can last even longer.

With respect to the bar stools we use at our restaurants, we set aside a morning every month to inspect the integrity of the stools. We look look to see if any have developed a wobble or seem to have loosening joints. If we think the chair might be weakening we send the entire chair to a nearby carpenter. The carpenter then decides if the chair is suitable for a quick fix with carpenters glue and a few nails or if it is necessary to take the entire chair apart and re-glue it. The cost of this simple monthly maintenance saves us a lot of money in the end. I would suggest that this regular maintenance of wooden bar stools is a good idea for bar stools at home too.

In choosing a wooden bar stool for your home of business, it is important to answer three questions. They are as follows:

1. What is the height of the bar? There are generally two commonly found distinct heights of wood bar stools. Which is best height for your purposes?

2. How many bar stools do you need to have? Bar stools can be fairly wide. Make sure that the space you have can accommodate the number of bar stools you might need. If space is tight you might have to go with a narrower bar stool, for example perhaps you might consider a bar stool without a back.

3. Do you want your bar stool to swivel? If you have a large number of bar stools then perhaps some might swivel and some might not. Bar stools that swivel are a lot more expensive than static position bar stools. Furthermore, the swivel mechanism requires some ongoing maintenance. A Swivel seat bar stool seems to have a shorter life span than a none swivel seat bar stool.

Take some measurements of the area in which the bar stools will be placed. Take these measurements and a tape measure with you when you go shopping for bar stools. If you think carefully about your needs and the purpose of the wooden bar stools then you will end up with a product that suits you and your budget.seat

Bar Stools

Bar stools - not just for your local pub anymore! They have become the new chic for furnishing your newly renovated kitchen. Why is that do you think? They come in a huge range of looks, styles and colors, and can add a design element that is just not possible with regular chairs. Installing a bar or a bar height table just makes socializing in your kitchen all that more fun. They are compact - tall and narrow, give people a higher view - which is great for equalizing guests whether they are standing or sitting - and are just all around suitable for creating a great social atmosphere.

Materials and styles to choose from are endless. High back or low back, wood, metal, plastic, modern or rustic, swivel, attached to the floor ... ranging from basic to custom and economic to super designer prices. Bar stools offer so much choice these days it may be hard to narrow down your choice to just one style. You may decide that you need to outfit your backyard bar as well. Patio bar stools had a touch of glamor and flare to your outside living spaces.

So, let's talk about the details for a minute - how high are they? Normal chair seat hight is typically 18". Standard bar stool seat height 30", there is an increasingly popular extra high 36" height used with high pub tables, and a less common 26" high seat height used for use with kitchen counter height bars. Even though these heights are standard, because of the range in seat heights make sure you match your bar stools to the counter or bar table that you will be pairing them with.

Hopefully this was a good introduction ... check back soon, as I'll be adding a lot more posts about styles and designing and things to watch out for when you're looking for bar stools.

Privacy Policy

This website/blog uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads when visiting this site. These third parties may collect and use information (but not your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit Google's Advertising and Privacy page.

If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at Network Advertising Initiative.

Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at Doubleclick as well as opt out options at Google's Privacy Center.