http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/bar-stools/my-bar-stools.xml Bar Stools RSS Feed en-us Tue, 19 May 2009 22:12:18 -0400 Tue, 19 May 2009 22:12:18 -0400 http://www.mybarstools.com/perfect-size-barstool.html
Bar stools typically come in three different sizes. Counter height is usually found in homes where the kitchen counter may extend and provide space for below-counter seating. These types of stools are usually backless and armless and are made to tuck easily beneath the counter and out of the way when not in use. The counter stool height is generally between twenty-four and twenty-six inches. The second kind of bar stool is the bar height stool. This kind is found at your typical bar, home or commercial. These stools are a little taller, measuring in at 29-31 inches. These stools can be a bit more ornate, as they are usually the main source of seating in the area. They can have backs, arms and swivels. Finally, some vendors will offer the third height of bar stool that is called extra tall. This usually means over thirty-two inches and can also mean a heftier price tag.

Measure twice, buy once. The most important thing you can do to help find the perfect bar stool is to measure carefully the space where your stool will rest. If it is a counter or bar area, measure from the ground to the underneath of the bar. But be careful; if your space measures thirty-six inches, you don’t want to buy a bar stool that is that same height. You must be sure to leave space for your guest’s legs. A good rule of thumb is to leave about ten inches of space for movement. Your bar measuring thirty-six inches would require a stool that is somewhere around twenty-six inches.

Arms or no arms? Another thing to consider as you shop for bar stools is whether or not you want arms on your stools. If so, you will need to account for this in your measurements. If you want the arms to tuck under the bar or counter top, make sure that you subtract these extra inches from your bar height. If arms are not desired, you can simply go by the height of the seat.

Think of your setting. Sometimes the place you decide to have your bar changes the height of the stool you purchase. For example, in a family-oriented restaurant with a kid-friendly bar, it would be inappropriate to have thirty-six inch tall bar stool. Children would have great difficulty climbing onto the stool and they could be dangerous. Likewise, short stools would be awkward on the new counter-height dining tables that can be found on the market today.

There are many different kinds of stools available today and choosing the perfect height can seem tough. Think carefully about where your bar stools will be used and who will be using them and always measure carefully before buying. This should help you narrow down your height choices and find just the right bar stool for your space.]]> Tue, 19 May 2009 22:12:18 -0400 bar-stool-height-how-to-get-the-perfect-size-for-your-space http://www.mybarstools.com/home-bar-tough-economy.html
1. Buy in bulk. When shopping for bar stools, be sure to check out what sort of discount you can get if you buy two or more. Often sold in pairs, bar stools can sometimes be sold for less when they are purchased in bulk. Look around for the best deal and, if you have the space, sometimes buying four or more bar stools at a time can be a great way to save money overall.

2. Do it yourself. Buying unfinished bar stools can be another excellent way to save some money. Often shipped in an easy-to-assemble package, unfinished bar stools are a crafty and fun way to get the perfectly customized look for your home bar while saving a few bucks. Unfinished bar stools come in a variety of styles and designs, just waiting for you to put the finishing touches on them.

3. Go shorter. Having a lower bar can sometimes save you money. 18-inch, short bar stools are generally cheaper than tall bar stools and can be a wonderful way to cut back costs. Perfect for under-the-bar seating or a more intimate setting, short bar stools are a great accent to any home bar.

4. Keep it simple. After spending a lot of money on the big things like the surface of your bar, the lighting and cabinetry, a great way to save money is to keep your seating simple. A simple, stationary, backless bar stool can be found for an affordable $89. The more frills your bar stool has—swiveling seat, cushioned top, hydraulic lifting—the more expensive it is going to be. Keeping it simple doesn’t have to mean boring, but it can mean a whole lot of savings.

5. Incorporate the old. To give your bar a wonderful comfy touch, use some of your old pieces with the new. This will give your home a cohesive feel and will help you save money. Reconsider tossing old lamps and instead, give them a fresh coat of paint. Change out old framed art with fresh, new art and save on wall décor. Find a use for your old record albums and create funky wall art for your new space. Be creative and make your old stuff work like new in your bar.

Without spending a fortune on new items, you can still create the new home bar space that you have always wanted. Be a thrifty and careful shopper and find new uses for some of your old belongings. You’ll save money and feel great in your fresh new home bar.]]> Sun, 10 May 2009 21:44:21 -0400 creating-a-home-bar-in-a-tough-economy http://www.mybarstools.com/small-outdoor-patio-bars.html
The first step is to determine what it is you want to create in your outdoor space. Are you looking for a space where you can throw a large barbecue each weekend, complete with a patio table and chairs to seat a large number of your family and friends? Are you looking for an intimate seating area where you and maybe one other friend or family member can lounge with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine at night? Or are you hoping to create the perfect all-around outdoor space complete with areas for entertaining, relaxing and playing? Once you know exactly what you are hoping to achieve with the space that you have, you can determine the types of furniture or accessories that you will need to create your outdoor living space.

No matter what you are hoping to achieve, you need to be realistic with not only what you can accomplish with the space you have, but also with your budget. While there are many important pieces of furniture that you just don’t want to cut corners on, there are some ways that you can affordably build your outdoor space. Some key elements to your outdoor space are certainly worth investing in. If you plan to use your space mainly for entertaining for example, you may want to spend the extra money to purchase a high-quality grill that will be sure to become the focus of your space. Do your research and you may also want to invest in outdoor furniture such as a teak outdoor bar set like the ones available at MyBarStools, that will last years and years if taken care of. You may already have some items that you can easily give a facelift to update your space. Consider investing in a high-quality outdoor paint to add a fresh coat and a new look to your existing patio set. With a mix of old and new you can have the perfect outdoor space.

Finally, you want to be sure to take care of the space that you create so that you can be sure to enjoy it for years to come. When you purchase any new furniture, be sure to carefully read the manufacturers guidelines so that you can best care for your furniture to keep it in good working condition season after season. Consider purchasing covers for your outdoor furniture so that you can protect your pieces from all of the elements. During off-season, or any extended period of time when you won’t be using your space, place your furniture in storage to extend its life. From the moment that you envision your outdoor space, you want to keep these tips in mind so that you are sure to have the perfect space for your every need.]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:54:14 -0400 inviting-outdoor-patio-bar-settings http://www.mybarstools.com/cozy-kitchen-furniture.html
One of these things is to select an accent color. This color will be sprinkled throughout the kitchen to bring a little life to the room. Before doing this however you will want to decide if you will have a themed kitchen. These are easy to come up with. If you like the older style kitchens of like a farm house, that is one theme, or if you like the new, modern and fancy kitchen, that would be another. There are hundreds out there, but you should pick one because that will give you a reference point to go back to every time you aren't sure something should go into your kitchen. Back to the accent color, this color will be your guide as you find different cabinets, curtains, counter tops and other art or accessories you will have in your kitchen. Once you've got your accent color selected it is time to head out to shop.

If you are handy with a sewing machine, your choice for curtains will go through the roof, because you simply need to find the fabric you like. This fabric should not only have some of your accent color in it, but should also match the theme or motif that you are going for. New curtains alone can sometime spruce up a kitchen enough to make it feel cozier, but there are more things that you can do as well.

If you've had your cabinets for a while, or they are looking old and dirty, you may want to consider either buying new or repairing and brightening what you've got. This isn't something that is hard to do, but it will take some time. If you have wooden cabinets you will have to take down the doors and sand them down, also you will need to sand the frames (taking them down can be a hassle, but you may need to in order to sand and stain them properly). Once you have removed most of the stain off of the cabinets you can select the new color that you would like them to be and begin to re-stain them. This will brighten up the kitchen quite a bit and make everything look a lot cleaner. If you don't have wooden cabinets, you will want to do the same thing, but you can select the paint color that you would like to use. If all of this seems like too much work, just check out your local home improvement store for information on new cabinets.

The last thing that you will want to do is to find a few trinkets and gadgets or pictures and art that fit the motif that you've selected that you can display around the kitchen. These can be pictures in frames or antique kitchen utensils or art that seems to fit with your style. You won't want to go overboard but filling in a few large, blank walls with these types of things will bring the entire room together. Again, work on finding things that have a little bit of your accent color in them. You can also look into finding new appliances that will have a little color or style to them to have out in your kitchen. Anything you feel would make your kitchen easier to be in, will be perfect in creating a cozy kitchen. ]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:20:26 -0400 creating-a-cozy-kitchen http://www.mybarstools.com/personal-home-bar.html home bar is a luxury that they don't want to have to do without. These bars can be a great accent in a basement or game room or even in a living room or kitchen. They can be as classy or elegant as you want them to be. They can also be as big or small as your needs or wants require. With all of these different options available to you, home bars can take on numerous different shapes and styles and the choice is all yours. This article will help you by simply walking you through the steps that you will have to go through when trying to put a personal touch on your home bar.

The first thing that you will have to decide is what type of theme or styles are you going for? This can range from very basic things like, what type of materials (wood or metal), what color; to more complicated, elegant things like, old bar feel or modern, futuristic bar. Anything that you want is available for the most part. Once you have the style that you style you feel will fit the room, you just have to go out and find that particular style out there. Many furniture places will offer selections of bars and if you can find anything that way, start a search online. Find the look that you like and then start to look for someone who will help you order and set up your bar.

Once you have the bar in and in place you have to start looking at chairs or stools. Either one works for a home bar, and again, it is completely your call on what you go with. Obviously you will want to go with something that matches you bar. Often times you can even get matching bar stools with the bar of your choice. If your bar didn't come with that option, or you just didn't like the stools that it came with, you have to start a search over again. The basic difference between a stool and chair is the back. A stool doesn't have one, a chair does. Normally bars have stools, but again, it is your home bar and you can personalize it however you want, and if that is with raised chairs, then go for it. Chairs and stool will come in various colors and sizes. You won't want to get anything too tall that no one can get on it, but also something so short that you can't comfortably reach the bar top when sitting on the stool.

After you've found your chairs or stools you are basically done. There are a few things that you can look into for minor personalization though. I would check out neon lights if you have a more classic bar theme, or even and older lamp. If you have an elegant bar set up you will want to some fancy chandeliers or some other form of elegant lighting. Assuming your bar as an old-school feel, trying to mimic the old breweries from long ago, you may want to try and find some really old looking lamps and possibly even an old wooden tap. Anything that you can think of to make your bar, feel like you want it to. If you need to you can study pictures of other bars to get ideas. Just make sure you don't start colliding ideas and themes. You don't want an elegant lamp with an old wooden bar, it just won't fit right. You also will not want to go overboard with “decorations.” The more simple you keep it, the better it will look and the more room you will have on the bar itself. Limit it to one or two items other than the glasses and drinks. An overcrowded bar is a good place to put things you want broken. ]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:36:54 -0500 putting-a-personal-touch-on-your-home-bar-furnitur http://www.mybarstools.com/customize-your-bar.html
Custom bar stools are a great way to add style to your home bar. You have a plethora of options to choose from when picking the bar stools for your bar. You can go with the simple backless and armless stool that is no frills if that is what your budget and your style demands. Even then you have choices about the height, material or finish of your stool. For example, if you are building your bar to be more retro, a plastic stool in funky and bright colors will be the perfect fit to your bar. If you have a more classic, dark wood bar, you might opt for a more traditional wood bar stool with arms, a back and cushioned seats for comfort.

Now that you have the key pieces to any bar, the bar and the stools, you need only complete that look with some other accent pieces. Your glassware is a great way to let your guests feel like they are either sipping a martini at an upscale bar, or enjoying a pint at the downtown pub. Choose glassware that compliments your bar's style, or mix-and-match pieces for a totally unique look. You can find wine glasses, martini glasses, beer steins and soda glasses in a number of styles to round out your glassware collection. Store them under the bar so they are out-of-sight, or store them on shelves or racks behind or above the bar to add to the authentic bar feel.

Another great way to customize your home bar is with a theme. If it's a sports team you love, you can find any number of sports paraphernalia from cups to posters that you can decorate your space with. If you wish to represent your heritage in your bar, you might paint the walls a certain color, or hang wall art that is customary in your culture. If your goal is a very contemporary bar, a more clean and streamlined look with minimal yet modern accents such as strategically-placed lighting might look just right. Either way, decorating your home bar is a great way to add your personal twist on the space and should be fun in the process. In the end, your guests will be amazed at how great your home bar looks, and you can be proud that its style is all you.]]> Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:38:50 -0500 customize-your-home-bar http://www.mybarstools.com/barstool-space.html
1. Decide where your stool will be located. Whether you are outfitting a retro diner style kitchen or a cozy Tuscan themed breakfast nook can have a big impact on the type of bar stool that you choose to buy. Think about the space you are decorating and try to find the best stool for the location. A sturdy bar stool made out of weatherproof teak wood would be perfect for that outdoor poolside bar. A traditional dark wood armed bar stool with green vinyl seat cushion and a decorative pin border would go great in an Irish-style pub bar. Remember what the theme of the space will be and you are one step closer to finding the perfect bar stool.

2. Take in the surroundings. Once you know what type of bar you will be furnishing, take a look around your surroundings. Is there space for arms on each of your new bar stools? What is the height of the bar? Perhaps you are outfitting a family-style bar-height dining table. All of these things are important to take into account when choosing a bar stool. Likewise, you want to have a good idea of the traffic that will be coming and going in your bar area. This can have an effect on whether or not you choose stationary, floor-attached stools or movable, swiveling stools.

3. Shop for quality. As you begin to shop for bar stools, you will quickly realize that there is a wide range of prices to choose from. The best idea for shopping for new bar stools is to buy the very best that you can afford, especially for a commercial bar setting. With people coming and going regularly, it is important to have the highest quality stools, not only for safety reasons but for durability as well. Buying a higher quality bar stool can save you time, hassle and money in the long run. Look for dealer guarantees and warranties as you shop and be sure to check the return policies at the company you decide to buy from.

4. Remember function. Before you shop for bar stools, you will want to keep in mind the use that your new stools will receive. It makes no sense to purchase ornate, delicate stools for a rugged woodsy cabin. Think about how the stools will be used and how you want your guest to feel as they sit. If you are furnishing a home bar that turns a corner, you may want to consider swivel top bar stools to make for easy conversation. If you are hoping to create an English teatime type of seating area, you may want to check out beautiful painted wrought iron stools to accent the space. Whatever your atmosphere, having stools that help your guests feel more comfortable is key.

With so many amazing choices in furniture today, choosing the right bar stool for your space can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be, and with these easy-to-follow tips, you will be on your way to the perfect bar space.]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:44:41 -0500 how-to-choose-the-right-bar-stool-for-your-space