If there is any invention for babies and kids that deserves high praises, the Tripp Trapp high chair would hold the top spot.  This marvelous innovation has already received rave reviews and the good words are still coming in.  This type of high chair, designed to suit the needs of children primarily for dining has evolved into such a revolutionary design that has greatly improved the whole high chair market.  They are just one of the most amazing and functional products designed for the young ones in the market today.

Why is a Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair so Great?

To start off, the Tripp Trapp high chair concept evolved from the designer’s own son.  Seeing the young child’s apprehension as he tries to be at the same level at the dinner table, Norwegian furniture designer Peter Opsvik thought of coming up with a special chair designed to fit the needs of children.  The normal, conventional high chairs for children become useless once the child grows bigger, since they are rigid wooden or plastic seats that are unable to expand and grow with the child.  Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chairs are different though.  The are designed to grow right along with a child, following his or her development until they are adults.  Yes, that’s right – even adults can sit in these high chairs, so long as you weigh less than 300 pounds, which is quite a hefty weight limit for a kids’ high chair!

One of the greatest benefits of these chairs is that the child is at the same level as the rest of the dining guests , right up against the table.  Adult chairs tend to leave kids at a lower level, which in turn makes it difficult for them to interact with everyone else at the table.

Another benefit of the Stokke high chair is that the kids always have a footrest.  When a child sits on a conventional high chair, their legs are dangling beneath them, and this becomes a source of discomfort, causing them to get restless and want to get out after a while.  The Tripp Trapp has a footrest that adjusts, which means that a child always has a comfy spot to place his feet.

This exceptional chair follows the growing needs of a child.  Its ergonomic wood design allows for adjustment of the seat and footrest.  The seats can be adjusted until the child is at a height even with the table, and the footrests follow it up to provide support for the feet and not leave them suspended in mid-air.  In a world where many of the items we buy – especially those meant for children, are cheap, low-quality items that are tossed in short order, this high chair is a breath of fresh air.  Yes, it costs quite a bit more than other cheapo high chairs, but the quality of the product and the fact that it is meant to last a lifetime makes it well worth it.  Buy one of these chairs for your child, and there is a pretty good chance that your grandchildren will be using it as well someday.  The company offers a generous 7 year warranty on the wooden high chair.

How Much Do Tripp Trapp High Chairs Cost?

The basic chair itself costs about $260.  This is reasonable, considering the high quality craftsmanship that went into it, and the long life you can get out of it.  On top of this, a very young infant is going to need the infant set to put in the chair, which will cost an additional $60 or so.

As if these were not enough reasons to get one, accessories such as cushions, harnesseses, and an infant support set with back supports can also be attached to this chair.  Babies below one year still cannot sit on their own, so a baby seat with a reliable back and between-the-leg support similar to conventional high chairs is definitely a necessity.  And they did not simply stop at designing – they have incorporated color in the collection!    You can take your choice between natural beechwood color, white, or walnut color.  Any of these can be customized further by your choice of cushion.

The chair’s service does not end at the dining table either.  For pre-school kids with homework and coloring hobbies, a Tripp Trapp high chair baby seat could also be utilized at a desk.  Learning moments with your child just doesn’t stop with a high chair as phenomenal as this. They wouldn’t be award recipients for design excellence if they were not as great as they are.

Tags: Kitchen Furniture, Stools by Jeffrey
No Comments »

There seem to be so many different names for stools. There are kitchen stools, bar stools, outdoor stools, step stools, and so on.  But what about breakfast bar stools?  Breakfast bar stools really aren’t a whole lot different than other types of stools.  In fact, it is the location that you put them that changes their name.  Nonetheless, there is great demand for these little seats.  People need a place to eat breakfast.  Many of us are in a hurry in the morning, and we just want to be able to pull things out of the fridge and pantry and eat quickly.  This is the beauty of the breakfast bar and stools:  You can put it right in the kitchen so it is within easy reach of everything.

A breakfast bar looks like a rectangular table.  They usually aren’t very big, since they need to be able to fit in kitchens that don’t have a lot of room to spare.  If you already have a kitchen island, you can just use that, and simply buy some stools to place next to it.  Typically, kitchen breakfast bar stools are made out of wood.  Though metal ones do exist, the vast majority of them are wooden.  The reason that wood is used is because they match other features in the kitchen like cabinets, which are made out of wood as well.  Oak is probably the most popular material, followed by cherry and maple wood.  These are beautiful and hard woods that last a long time.

Styles of breakfast bar stools

The majority of stools are simply designed and don’t have backs.  This kind of stool is fine for most people, but they aren’t the most comfortable when sitting for long periods of time.  Another option is the breakfast bar stool that has a back on it, just like a normal chair.  These have the features of a chair, but they have the long legs of a stool, so they sit higher off the ground.  If you are the type of person who likes to enjoy breakfast and read the paper or chat for a while, I would definitely recommend getting comfortable stools with backs on them.  You will also need to make sure the footrest is at the correct level.  Try a stool out, put your feet up, and make sure you like it.  Having a place to put your feet is important.
One of the most common styles available is the mission breakfast bar with stools.  The mission style is very popular and beautiful, with its simple, old fashioned, yet elegant designs.  Many of these mission styles feature bars that are very simple, and others have a table that is wooden but has a tiled surface on top, giving it a special accent.  You can match your stools with other items you have in the kitchen or bar area, such as a bar fridge or a the kitchen tiles.

Although you can easily find them separately, purchasing a breakfast bar with stools is most likely going to be your most economical option.  In addition, when you buy them as a set, you are ensured to have stools that perfectly match your little table.  Of course, if you want them in contrasting colors, you can just buy the table and the stools separately.  As far as quantity, pretty much all sets available include a breakfast bar with 2 stools.  For most households, 2 stools in the kitchen is all that will fit.  If you need more, you can always buy 2 more stools separately.  The reality is that few kitchens are large enough to seat 4 or more people, so you will have to move to the dining room.

Breakfast Bar Stool Prices

If you are looking to find some breakfast bar stools cheap, you can find them for as little as $20 each, but a greater value is to get a whole set including a breakfast bar with two stools for as little as $76.

Tags: Kitchen Furniture, Stools by Jeffrey
No Comments »

When thinking about purchasing bar stools, take a look at ones that swivel.  Bar stools come in many, many different shapes, sizes, colors, and materials.  Yet one thing differentiates them:  Whether or not they swivel around.  If you are going to get bar stools, why not choose ones that spin around?  They have all of the features of stationary models, but have the added bonus of maneuverability.  Let’s take a look at some of the many types of bar swivel stools that are available.

Wooden Swivel Bar Stools

The most popular type of bar stools that consumers purchase are made out of wood.  Wooden bar stools have so many good characteristics.  They are naturally beautiful, portray an old-fashioned feel, and are simple.  A few different kinds of wood are used to make stools.  Oak swivel bar stools are by far the most common.  Oak has great characteristics, which makes it an ideal material for making stools.  It is an extremely hard wood, which means that stools constructed out of it can be very durable.  Some of the better ones can last hundreds of years.  In addition, it is light in color, which means that any wood swivel bar stools made out of oak can be stained to match other colors in your bar or kitchen.

The second most common wood that is used to make bar stools is cherry.  Anybody who has ever seen furniture made out of cherry knows that it is an absolutely beautiful wood.  Cherry swivel bar stools look fantastic just the way they are.  Most come with a protective coating on them, but they don’t need to be stained.

Metal Swivel Bar Stools

Bar stools that are made out of metal have a completely different look than wooden ones, but they look great as well.  While wooden stools usually give a bar or kitchen an old fashioned look, metal stools will commonly add a sophisticated feel to the room.  You can get them to match major appliances such as a stainless steel bar fridge or dishwasher.  As for colors of metal stools, the most commonly available colors are black, white, chrome (silver).  You should be aware that many chrome swivel bar stools are made out of steel with a chrome coating.  If they are made cheaply, sometimes the chrome coating comes off or starts to rust.  Keep this in mind if you will be keeping them outside.  This is also true with black swivel bar stools or any other color that you choose.  They are painted over steel, which will rust if exposed.  Make sure that the quality of the paint applied is very good and doesn’t look like it will easily peel or chip.

If you really want to go with the rustic look, and want your stools made out metal, a good choice are the wrought iron swivel bar stools.  Wrought iron has a distinct look that many people love.  The iron is bent and twisted into flowing, creative curves that result in great looking furniture.  While other stools tend to have straighter edges, wrought iron stools usually curve more.

Styles of Swivel Bar Stools

Whether you choose wood or metal stools, there are many styles to choose from.  You can pick the basic 4 legged models with a round seat that turns around, or you can go with something fancier.  Leather swivel bar stools are popular because they feature a soft, padded seat that makes them more comfortable and relaxing.  Other common styles are stools with full backs.  Some of them even have armrests.  When thinking about kitchen counter swivel bar stools, it is important to remember that you need to have your arms free to do tasks like chopping vegetables and other things.   For this reason, armrests might get in the way.
As for height, stools can vary by about 6 inches.  When you see stools advertised as 24 swivel bar stools that means they are 24 inches in height.  The most common heights to be found are 24, 29, and 30 inch stools.  Kitchen counters are pretty standard when it comes to height, but bars can vary more.  You want to choose bar stools that let you sit at the perfect height to lean on the bar or kitchen counter.

Prices of Swivel Bar Stools

Whether you choose wooden or metal stools, the prices go from rock-bottom cheap to very expensive.  At the very bottom, you can get cheap swivel bar stools that are made of either metal or wood for about $25 each.  Keep in mind that these will be made in a factory, and might be of inferior quality.  You can get higher quality stools that are made by reputable manufacturers starting around $60 each.  If you are looking for that personal touch, there are many woodworkers who custom build your stools according to your specific requests.  You can get them at the height you want and have a color that matches other areas of your kitchen or bar.

Tags: Kitchen Furniture, Stools by Jeffrey
No Comments »

When it comes to choosing a bar stool that is made out of wood, oak is by far the most popular choice.  What makes oak so good for furniture like stools, chairs, tables, and other things?  First of all, it is a very dense hardwood, which makes it strong and durable.  Another great feature of oak is its natural color.  Natural oak bar stools have an amazing color, and they have come to symbolize the way natural wood is supposed to look when made into furniture.  Oak is however, a light-colored wood, and some people prefer a darker color.  If you still want oak wood bar stools, you can use a wood stain to make it darker.
Of course, if you want  darker colored wooden bar stools and don’t want to stain it, you can get one that is made out of cherry or maple.  Both of these woods are beautifully dark and very hard.   In terms of styles, oak bar stools come in many different forms.  Some of them look like high chairs.  Others swivel around.  Some are hard, and others have a soft cushion.  There is a lot of variation when it comes down to choosing a style.  Let’s take a look at some different kinds of oak stools.
Many people just want a basic four legged oak bar stool with a round top.  You can get stools that don’t move, or you can get ones where the round top swivels.  The basic round top stool is probably the most common style available today.  It is simple, functional, and versatile.  The top can be padded for extra comfort as well.  If your oak bar stools swivel around, it makes it a lot easier to get in and out of them.  In addition, constantly moving them around can have adverse affects on the floor.
Another popular style of solid oak bar stools is the design with a back that looks like a chair.  These look like chairs with long legs, set at just the right height for sitting at the bar or kitchen counter.  A stool with this type of back is called a spindle back stool.  Wile many people choose oak backless bar stools, having a solid wood back to rest on makes it a lot more comfortable.  This allows you to lean back and relax, instead of hunching over the counter or bar.
One of the more unique styles of oak bar stools for sale is the pedestal style stool.  Unlike most of the other models that have four legs, the pedestal has a round pillar that extends from the base to the seat.  The base of these pedestal stools can be either round or square.  One thing you should know about pedestal type stools is that they are not as stable, and therefore work better if they are bolted onto the floor.

One of the most famous and trustworthy manufacturers of wooden bar stools is Mission Oak Designs.  Mission Oak bar stools are hand crafted in the USA.  What makes this company different than its competitors is that it uses a different way to cut the wood.  They use what is called quartersawn oak, which differs from normally cut wood.  The result is a much stronger oak bar stool that can easily last for centuries.  I have seen log home builders in Montana use oak for most of the kitchen furniture in some of these homes, and it looks wonderful.

Many of the manufacturers of kitchen stools will actually customize your order.  You can have your stools stained to match other furniture in your kitchen, such as cabinets and tables.  Another option to keep in mind if you don’t mind doing a little work yourself is to get unfinished oak bar stools.  You can stain an unfinished stool yourself to attain a color you like.
The height of oak kitchen bar stools can vary.  They can range in height from 24 inches to 30 inches.  Stools that are shorter than 24 or taller than 30 are not very common.  Stool height depends on personal preference.  Try out a few sizes and see which one you like better.  Keep in mind the height of the kitchen counter or other equipment such as a bar fridge that you will be using the stool with.

As far as prices go, there are cheap oak bar stools that go for as little as $30 each, to extravagantly designed and handcrafted models that can cost hundreds of dollars.  The cheaper models tend to be made by machines.  More expensive ones are usually handcrafted by master woodworkers.

Tags: Kitchen Furniture, Stools by Jeffrey
No Comments »

You need bar stools, but how do you know which ones to choose?  There are so many different models to choose from that searching for that perfect stool can be frustrating at times.  Wooden bar stools are some of the most popular pieces of furniture.  This is a guide to choosing the right wooden stool for your home or business.

Most people buy stools to put in the kitchen, but others have a separate bar in another part of the house.  You might also be looking for stools to put in your commercial bar.  Wherever you plan to put them, wooden kitchen bar stools make a fine choice.  Many people have a breakfast bar that is part of their kitchen.  Others have an island.  The fact is that you need a stool to be able to sit comfortably at the counter and read, eat or do whatever else you like.

Types of wood used for bar stools

The vast majority of wooden bar stools are made out of oak, beech, or cherry wood.  Oak is by far the most common.  The advantage of using oak or beech is that it has a naturally light color.  This feature allows the manufacturer to stain it whatever color they want, or just leave it alone to give it the natural look.  Cherry wood is a darker wood with a beautiful, natural look.  Another reason for choosing these types of wood is that they are very solid and heavy.  Cheap wooden bar stools are sometimes made out of inferior pine wood, but these don’t last as long.  If you buy a quality stool made out of a hard wood, it will last you decades or even centuries, and will still look great.  You can even get stools to match the color of your bar fridge, whether it is stainless steel, black, or white.

One other type of wood that is sometimes used for outdoor wooden bar stools is teak.  The reason is that teak has natural properties that make it more water resistant than other kinds of wood.  If you have an outdoor bar, using teak stools is highly recommended.  Another option is to use a different type of wood with a weatherproof coating on it.

Different Kinds of Wooden Bar Stools

Stools come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  One of the most common features they might have is a swivel.  Swivel wooden bar stools have two main advantages:  They are easier to get in and out of, since you can just turn around and step off.  Stools without swivels are a little tougher to mount or dismount.  Another advantage is that swivel stools tend to be adjustable as well.  The majority of stools made out of wood cannot swivel.

Wooden bar stools with backs are another type that you can get.  Some of these stools have all of the features of a nice chair, except they sit a foot higher off the ground.  There are many stools that have backs.  Some of them have armrests on them as well.  It all depends on what you prefer.  Some people like the backs on there.  Others prefer backless wooden bar stools because they allow you to slouch more and lean on the bar.  There is one other type of design that deserves mention, and that is the saddle design.  Wooden saddle bar stools are much wider than normal ones, and the seat is contoured, like a saddle.

Another great feature that is a recent addition on the stool scene is the folding wooden bar stool.  These are very cool because they have all of the features and beautiful appearance of a nice wooden stool, but they can be folded up and stored away easily and conveniently when not in use.

When it comes to color, you have lots of choices.  The high end stool manufacturers can custom stain your order so that it matches other features in your kitchen.  If you prefer to do the staining yourself, you can purchase unfinished wooden bar stools and then stain them at home to match the cabinets or other features.  But what if your kitchen doesn’t have the “rustic” look?  What if it has a more modern design?  Fortunately, you can get black wooden bar stools that either match or contrast the room they are in.  Either black or white wooden bar stools also blend in great with kitchens that have a checkerboard floor.

Whatever style you prefer, there are cheaper basic stools and expensive designs from famous designers that are more expensive and may feature customizable options.  If you are looking for inexpensive wooden bar stools, expect to pay around $30 or more.  The fancier stools that are built to last with quality materials and superior craftsmanship can cost upwards of $200 each, but they are built to last a lifetime.

Tags: Kitchen Furniture, Stools by Jeffrey
No Comments »