whatever

lindsaywillman - I have the green Target stools and my family loves them! I sorta wish they were a different color (pink! coral! NAVY!) but still they’re great.

Out of all those pictures though, I’d choose those flower-upholstered barseats for you…me too, if had older kids! They’re gorgeous and fun!

Erin - I love the “look” of bar stools, but sitting in a bar chair is way more comfortable. If you spend any amount of time sitting at your island, I would vote for a chair or something with back support. Can’t wait to see what you pick!!

SoCalLynn - I *love* the chairs with the grey bases and the floral fabric coverings. LOVE them. I probably wouldn’t get them because I am a chicken when it comes to color and pattern but I love them.

Cassandra - Just looking thru it seems the majority of what you’ve picked are metal & no back. I love the metal ones, but would probably go with a low back. And color ones!!!

Carol S - Regarding back or backless, which I think is first decision…I love tucking in my Target rush seat backless stools so I can use counter as a buffet. Friends or family pull up a stool and its not uncomfortable. If we’re going to hang out for awhile we move to sofas. I vote backless, unless its your main dining space. So many great pics, use your gut and you won’t go wrong.

Penny - Those metal chairs are cute and colorful, but they are oh, so, frosty in the winter. I like the tall wooden chairs with the back.

Kelly - The first photo is my fave. It looks very you but I get all the other comments about the barstools having backs for comfort too. Our (single) barstool that lives in the kitchen (not at a bar) doesn’t have a back and I never mind it but maybe it would be nice? I don’t like the acrylic for your house because they don’t seem very “you” – not that “you” has to stay the same from house to house either but I also would think they wouldn’t wear very well. If the colorful ones ended up with a scratched up section or something, think how you could modpodge or paint a flower or something over that section and how fun they would get over time! Kelly

shannon - You posted a couple of the photos we pinned for inspiration for our new kitchen. Ours ended up being close to the white kitchen with black granite… I went with the colored stools in red. Love them! They are comfy and have held up well with our kids.

tasha roe - forgot to add that the cloth chairs are darling, but a mess to keep clean. we have the dining chairs from ikea with the linen slip covers. they look like a crime scene after dinner and i don’t even have toddlers. grrrr

shelly davis - when i saw the aqua wooden, “x” back chairs, i thought those were “you”. i love them!! the multi-colored metal ones are adorable too – but i like the ones with backs best. way more comfortable 🙂 whatever you choose will be gorgeous!!

Lisa - Although I practically love all of those choices, I really do think that having a back on counter-height stools. It is soooo uncomfy otherwise, and people tend to “sit an relax” on them less. I love the look of the industrial backless stool, but my rear end sure doesn’t love that choice at all. lol.

No matter what you choose, it’ll look amazing, I’m sure.

Melinda George - Pick the metal stools that are brightly colored. You want backless stools so you can use all sides of the counter to easily stand and work without having to move the stools out of the way. They will last forever and you can repaint anytime. Stools with backs are comfy and beautiful, but for me not as practical. If you want super comfy you are probably not sitting at the counter anyway, you’d go to the table or porch. Go for the simple and pretty.

Lauren - I vote for stools like YHL had in their old house! I love that they looked like they came right out of a high school science class (but in a fun color of course).

http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/06/operation-stool-spruce-complete/

Lisa - My preference would be the turquoise wooden stools with the X backs. Stools with backs are much more comfortable, especially when you spend quite a lot of time sitting in them, as I imagine your family will do. I also think the style is more casual which seems to fit your family well. The turquoise is pretty, although any bright colors would be lovely in your always-colorful home.

kara - oh the rainbow! How could anyone be cranky waking up to a kitchen like that?? Although I’m pretty certain one of my kiddos would manage to fall or tip so maybe the turquoise metal stools with the backs?!!!!

rebecca - All such lovely choices! I say picture 17…the wooden ones with backs painted aqua (or any fun color(s)!! Here’s why…stools with back are waaay more comfy and non fabric chairs are much easier to clean. If you want to add fabric to the chairs, find cute lumbar pillows to jazz them up! Good luck! Can’t wait to see which ones you choose!

Julie Wearmouth - I love the multi-colored metal stools in the very 1st picture! When I think of you, I think of color, color, color!! I know whatever you choose will be perfect!!! Can’t wait to see what you choose.

Jennifer - Yeah…that’s hard. If I had to pick one…the second from the last, but in yellow or turquoise or maybe red or maybe all three 🙂

colleen from alabama - I think the rainbow metal stools are the ones that make me think of you 🙂 That said, I have metal chairs and I love them but be prepare for cold fannies! That metal is definitely not a warm welcome in the dead of winter 🙂 you may want to have a slip cover or something for cold months. Just a thought. I do love them though.

TamiV - I live the yellow stools, I think a splash of yellow in every room makes things happy! With that said, those rainbow stools in the very first pic are so totally you! I wonder about not having a back on the stools though. If you want people to sit and stay, the back is more comfortable. I also love that blue wooden spindly chair. If you can find those in bar height and paint them in rainbow colors, I think that’s it! 🙂 can wait to see what you choose!

Katy - I vote for something simple and timeless. Something with a back and is easy to clean.

Michele - The choices you show are outstanding. I really like the colored metal stools but my fear is that stools will not make you happy n the long run. Backless is really not comfortable. I love the image that has the floral fabric with the black and gray island. I wish I would be brave enough to do that but I worry that I would tire of it too fast. Whatever you choose I know it will be great.

Angela - I love the colorful metal ones and I noticed those are the ones that you have the most pictures of in this post. 🙂

Jenny B. - Had to come back and add more… 🙂 After reading so many comments about wanting a back on the stools, I have to add my 2 cents (or more like 10 cents now?). Anyway, I have had wooden stools with backs in my kitchen, and got so sick of them I took them out to the garage, and we’ve been without stools completely for months while I figure out what to replace them with. I definitely want something with NO back. The ones with a back were a bit unwieldy to move around when sweeping and mopping, and they always ended up covered in stuff. Jackets, purses, etc. I like the idea that the backless ones can tuck under the bar and (hopefully) not be a magnet for hanging things on. Also, those metal ones from Target (or elsewhere?) are really lightweight and easy to move around. And like I said above, they are actually very comfortable to sit on. Now, if you’re going to be eating every family meal at your bar, then I would probably go for a seat with a back. BUT, if it’s just for extra seating, or for your kids to hang out and talk to you while you cook or something, then I say go backless. 🙂

Meredith - I originally had stools with high backs at my island. I didn’t care for them at all. It made the kitchen feel smaller and prevented us from having a buffet area. I replaced them with the stools you have in picture #13 and I love them. They stack too which is a nice option plus they were a steal on overstock.com too!

elma - Oh I love the bright colored metal ones!! So nice in a white kitchen and easy to clean:) Do you know who makes the pastel ones?? Have fun!!

Christy - Floral patterned ones are great! Definitely get stools with backs, anyone who has to sit in them for any length of time will thank you!

Jenni - Definitely the multicolored stools in first picture. Seems like your style. But…If you are wanting your house to be a bit different than the craft house, maybe something with fabric, and a back?

Sarah - I’ve been reading your blog for a couple years now, and I could not imagine you having a set of stools that all look the same. I look to your blog for difference. For this beautiful mishmash of colors and textures and thoughts. In my brain, your stools would match that.

So, answering your question: I would choose the something like the set that are sitting in the grass. Different colors, interesting shape, fun to look at.

Good luck caring about all of those choices, they are important! 🙂

AshevilleGirl - I love them all! So much color 🙂 But the painted wood turquoise stools with the low backs would be my pick – it’s so nice having a back for support, and a low back doesn’t interfere with sight lines. You can punch up the color quotient even more with fun slip covered cushions that can go in the washer and dryer as needed, and be changed with the seasons – or with your mood! Loving your new house and am so excited to see how it all turns out. Happy decorating!!!

Penny - Love your blog. Can’t wait to see the finished remodel. Home tour, please. Now about the stools … definitely the brown with leather seats and bronze foot rests. They would look outstanding with your wood floors and not distract from all the fun, colorful accessories you most likely will be using in the kitchen. Also, you have some men in your family and they can only stand too much color for so long. As my Montecito interior designer told me, “Get yourself calm!”. You have a real good-looking family. Happy Easter!

Christy - I love the rainbow color stools, they are so happy!

My best advice is something that the kids are less likely to rock on. 🙂 If yours are anything like mine, they will rock the stool, which cracked my tile & wore out my stools. I went with the metal base/wood seat stools from World Market & they are awesome. We use our bar a lot & backless stools don’t bother us. My son is there from the time school lets out until about bed time. Just get something comfy to sit on & a sturdy base.

stephany - Meg-
I absolutely LOVE the metal stools, but EVERYBODY has them. Not to say they are a bad choice, or don’t do it because everybody else is, but…
I say go with the metal stools…WITH A BACK. Spray paint them different colors if you want…or leave them silver or white.
AND, get a cute oilcloth fabric to make seat cushions so they are a little bit more comfortable.
Just my humble little opinion.
I am living vicariously through your new kitchen…
Stephany

Dana - Stools are oh-so-cute but…ones with a back are WAY more comfy!

Jennifer Nanninga - Definitely with a back rest for comfort. I am digging the upholstered ones!

Amber - It’s pretty clear you love the metal stools, so I say go for those. You can always spray paint later if you get bored. Also, I’m guessing that it’ll be mostly kid/teen rear ends on those stools, so let the young deal with them not having a back, they’ll be fine. Ahhh, youth. : )

Juli - You do show the metal stools in rainbow colors more than anything else. Perhaps that’s your choice already, and you just need to acknowledge it? They certainly look like your sunny, rainbow-y style!

Adrienne - First one = SWOON! I think I would be so in love with them that I wouldn’t even care that they aren’t super comfy because the color is so happy!

That being said, I also liked the frenchy upholstered ones, which would be more comfortable. Maybe you could upholster them in brightly colored wipe-able fabric?

Also I liked the multicolored floral fabric ones.

I think it definitely depends on how messy your people are, and what exactly they are being used for. 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you choose!

Jaimie - They all look great!

We have the yellow metal ones from Target and love them! At the time we ordered them, there was some kind of deal if you spent a certain amount on furniture, you got a good % off and we used the Red card for another 5% off and free shipping. They already seemed at a good price compared to searching for a while online and in stores.

We’re really happy with them! They’re very sturdy and are a great height for our counter. We had to steer clear of stools w/ backs as the counter leads to the basement stairs and we didn’t want to limit the walk way. With these stools, they tuck nicely under the counter. We were restricted with our color choices as we have a very bright backsplash of bright red, green, and yellow alternating tiles…so that’s why we went with the yellow. It’s a great color! I do love the turquoise ones, mint, and green ones that you’ve shown, but we couldn’t get away w/ anything other than those three bolder colors.

I think any of those stools you have listed would look nice, but I think I would recommend going with a metal, grayish or neutral type stool, like you listed http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/moe-39-s-home-collection-sturdy-bar-stool/3251644?categoryId=12635

This way, if you change things up down the line w/ color schemes, you’re not tied down to incorporating a specific color from the stools. Maybe go w/ one that could work with any palette, so you’re not limited down the line.

Love them all, though 🙂

KirstenP - I really like the idea of stools in different colors of the rainbow – especially with your white kitchen and because it’s you! I also agree with others that whatever you pick should have backs. And cushiony seats.

Makila - We recently remodeled, finishing a little over a year ago. It was a hard decision for so many reasons! First off barstools can be so expensive! Our main criteria was ease of cleaning, sturdy but not too heavy our four kids couldn’t pull them in and out, and no swivel!! Swivel with four young kids (11 and under) was not happening at my house. We also wanted something comfortable. We now sit here for most meals as our island seats six. We chose metal backed counter top stools from Restoration Hardware. When we ordered they were on sale. You have similar ones pictured in the picture with a side view and wood counter tops. Good luck!

Ruth Umney - i LOVE the bright metal stools, would look great in contrast to white units and really bring the kitchen to life!!! loving seeing the re-do come together, must be so exciting, if not totally exhausting!!! xxx

emily hope - We just moved into a new house last year, and I searched high and low for the perfect stools. Was going to go with ones like you have in the first pic, but knew my kids would complain about the non-comfort factor … so then … I found these on Amazon. Super sturdy. And comfy. Not to mention bright & cheery. Also easy to clean. Got one each in red, yellow, blue, green. Perfection. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BLQXI8I/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amy Huff - I always like to have a chair with a back and love some color.

Aimee Di Croce - I love those cloth flower ones! I like the first pic with the many colored metal stools but I personally like comfortable stools for my counter. I often sit there with my laptop so I like something soft for my bum. I love any of the ones with. I am a color loving fool like you are.

Molly - The ones with bright color are fabulous, but I agree with some other comments that ones with a back may be more comfortable in the long run. What about upholstering some with fun oil cloth fabrics? They would be easy to keep clean and you could even do the backs (facing out) of the chairs with chalk cloth- write everyone’s names on them or change things up for holidays/special events!

molly - i like the bright multi-colored ones. because they are fun and not so serious. and they are just chairs so when you become more serious…..you can get new ones:) ps i would pick them for my house too.

Amy M - Definitely something with backs…I had a high top table with bar stools for years, and it got frustrating to not be able to sit back and relax…never really ended up using the table much. My faves of the ones you picked are the metal ones with backs or the turquoise ones with backs. I’m sure that whatever you pick, it will be perfect. 🙂

Erin Ussery - I love the brightly colored metal ones. They go with your style so well. Our friend owns a company called Industry West that carries these types of stools, as well as a lot of other fun chairs! http://www.industrywest.com
Happy Shopping! I’m sure whatever you choose will look amazing.

Karen Gerstenberger - All gorgeous choices – of course, the brighter the color, the better I like it! I vote for something with a back (not plain stools), because we committed to bench (backless) kitchen seating and have regretted it. I love the French style upholstered ones, and the turquoise chairs with the X backs.