We have guests arriving from out of town next weekend and not enough seating in the living room to accommodate everyone comfortably. Since this situation doesn’t come up too frequently, we usually just pull in a few dining chairs. However, that’s awkward in its formality, so today I decided to go on a hunt for some stools. Since our living room can best be described as having a warm modern design sensibility, I decided to check out Plan B‘s 195 Davenport Road location where I found some great options.
I love the Riva stools (above) made from trees that have fallen naturally (no logging occurs). They have a wonderful heft and a nuanced wood grain that I appreciate. I also like that they can double as side tables, and that you don’t see this particular stool everywhere. Available in three sizes, prices are in the $400-$900 range. That’s a bit spendy for me, so I kept looking.
I came across these gnome stools by Philippe Starck for Kartell (above, priced at $430). Maybe I need a bit of whimsy. Maybe not.
The options from Kartell were numerous. I’ve always enjoyed these colourful stools made from polycarbonate (above, available in 18″, 26″, and 30″ seat heights, from $195). Plan B also had the Marcel Wanders Stone stool (left, $282) in the full range of colours. These strike the right tone but don’t seem to offer enough of what I’m looking for in terms of comfort and might be better in a kitchen or as spare seating in an office.
In the end, I didn’t quite find what I wanted in terms of looks, comfort, price, and durability. My stools are out there though. The search continues…
August 12th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Horsefeathers Home (1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto) has the Kartell polycarbonate stools marked down 40 per cent right now; prices are $120 for the small, $193 for the medium and $207 for the large. Cheap thrills!