The only thing we knew we needed when we renovated our kitchen was more seating space. We have three children who often have friends over, we tend to eat and run, like many busy families. We needed a place where we could put kitchen stools in our kitchen. So we decided, when we renovated our kitchen, to add a very large kitchen island where we could fit five swivel stools for our family and friends.

When we shop for our kitchen stools, we look for styles that will enhance our Tuscan-style kitchen. We were surprised by how many different ones there were. We find wrought iron stools, wooden stools and upholstered stools. Most upholstered stools come in a variety of fabric options.

We knew that since the kids were going to be using the stools, they couldn’t be too heavy for them and we wanted to make sure their feet didn’t scratch the tiled kitchen floor. When we planned the kitchen island, we made sure to have 10″ to 13″ of space between the seat and the bottom of the counter. This is the space needed to sit comfortably.

When you go online and search for kitchen stools and bar stools, you can shop for them by height, 18 inches, 24-28 inches, 29-34 inches, and 34-36 inches. You will also find a selection of metal, wooden and swivel stools. You’ll find leather, rattan, chrome/vinyl, stainless steel and rattan seats. You will find stools without backrest, stackable and stools with arms. You can choose between counter height and standard height and even extra tall styles.

There are many different brands of stools available, some of them are Holland, Regency, International Concepts, Hillsdale, John Boos, Alston, Richardson, Powell, Regal, Grace, Winsome, Koch and Cambridge.

Kitchen counter stools not only give you extra seating, but also provide a way to enhance your kitchen and home décor. As I mentioned earlier, we have a Tuscan theme in our kitchen. We have plenty of wrought iron in our kitchen, dining room, and family room. We purchased beautiful Hillsdale Tierra Mar bar stools. Although they were a southwestern style they fit perfectly in our home. We like their rustic look and that they are upholstered and swivel stools.