Sit in Judgment

Posted by Rory, Contributing Editor

If you've seen the excellent Waiting for Guffman, perhaps you, too, have had the lyrics "working, making, some from selling, some for keeping" stuck in your head. They're from the song about a stool factory that put the town, Blaine, Missouri, on the map. For years now, when I've gotten a little busy with work, I've sung this and done a little pretend-sawing dance for my friend Tom -- to crack him up, yes, but also to get him to feel for my plight. Now the joke's on me, since I've ordered some stools, and some are for selling (i.e., returning for cash-money) and some are for keeping.

I ordered them for our freshly renovated kitchen, which now has a "peninsula" built specifically for a.) drinking coffee and doing the crossword in the morning and b.) sitting and chatting with the person
who's cooking dinner at night and c.) eating said dinner.

At first, we perused a website called Bartsools & Barstools, which, despite its Waiting for Guffmanly/law-firm-on-The-Simpsons name, is a shockingly comprehensive site. But I was fixated on the kind of stools that are found in high school science labs, or the kind that my dad used to have around his machine shop. First, I found this one, from Design Within Reach:

Then, after I was defibrillated and had an emergency IV to treat the sticker shock, I found this version on a vast school-supplies site (trophy case, anyone?) ...

... and ordered two of them. They swivel up and down for an adjustable height, which seems just about perfect. But then, when they were in transit, the Sundance catalog came and I found this stool. (The 27-inch height is key here -- Design Within [So-Called] Reach offers these now, too, but in a 30-inch height that would be too close to the counter.)

So now we have four stools we really love, but only a sensible spot for two of them. Care to vote on which style you think looks best?

Option 1: Sundance

Option 2: Safco

(Don't pay attention to price. I'll go long-buck for the more expensive ones if they're the clear winners, especially considering how cheap I am in every other part of my life.)

Comments

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[Nan]

I'm having the same problem with the same stools! Which did you end up buying?

[shra]

safco!! without a doubt! i love that they're schoolhouse too...too cute. those are the ones!

[Susan]

This is a trick question! At first, the Safco seemed to be the no brainer, but as I looked and thought about it, the Sundance seems right. Both would work, especially the Safco following a bit of an industrial look with the faucet. It's a win-win. But, things like this, and hardware, are like jewelry, they really make a big statement!

[susan]

we're not making it any easier for you, are we?
i prefer the sundance stools, but think the safco look better in the room.

[Lynne]

Safco is my vote - I think the curved lines are more of a (good!) contrast to the clean edges of your kitchen. I do love the Sundance ones, too! But in this space Safco, if it were me.

[lynne]

safco

[Christie D'Anna]

Safco! I was going to say Sundance because of the height, but if the Safco can be raised a few more inches they would look perfect. I think the Sundance is too industrial for a kitchen with so much wood. The Safco are just industrial enough to contrast the natural look of the wood, but the curvy lines give them balance that the Sundance lacks!

[Sarah]

safco! ...the others look like they belong in a mechanics shop somewhere

[maryam]

option #1 all the way!

[Anne]

Until I saw them in your kitchen, I liked the Safco, by far. But the Sundance stools look sooooo much better in your home!

[Kelly]

Put another mark under the Safco tally!

[Kitty]

Sundance! Sundance all the way, I'm afraid.

[ALAN]

the Sundance ones rock ..

[lori]

The Sundance are very sleek, but they look a little evil/cold, esp. in such a warm space. I say spinny stools or one of each would be quirky and fun.

[Shannon]

Man, the Sundance ones just look so cool. The Safco ones are great, but just don't fit the space. The Sundance ones look amazing.

[ambient]

Definitely the Safco. Curvier, comfier, and cheaper!

[Morgan]

I vote for Sundance.

[katherine]

my vote = Option 1: Sundance

I would prefer the Safco, but the Sundance look much better in that space.

[Keri]

I prefer #1. They fill the space and feel more appropriate...but keep #2. They would make great plant stands.

[Rory]

Oh, the Safco ones (their name is actually the Safco Deisel, and Jamie refers to them as "m'boyfriend, Deisel" in an Austrian accent, the way Ali G, as Funkyzeit mit Bruno, refers to his boyfriend) actually extend upward a few inches. Their range is from 22 inches to 27 inches. That maximum height is the same as that of the Sundance one. But i love the feedback--clearly, i need to make a scorecard or something--so keep it coming.

[Teresa]

I like the Safco ones better. In addition to add some softer lines to the space they just seem like more fun. Anything that spins gets my vote.

[lsaspacey]

I was really pulling for the Safco for the quirky factor, but they seem too short. The Sundance ones fit your kitchen style and have more heft to them.

[Kate]

#1 All the way! Looks fab.

[caroline]

Option #1 ! So cool and make a statement more than the others. Either way though, you're looking at a lovely kitchen. : )