John wanted me to work “Stool Boom” into the post title because of this video (he asked everyone to check it out so you can hum the song while reading). Anyway, stool update: we finally found stools for our peninsula, and we’re thrilled about both where we found them and the price. Four stools can easily blow a budget if they’re $250 each, so this felt like a win. But first, a quick note about the kitchen budget overall…
We’ve spent on a few big-ticket items:
- New Corian counters (about $1,700)
- New stainless appliances (around $2,213, including the new microwave but not the range hood)
- Cork flooring, including underlayment ($848)
- Backsplash tile — lots of it, since we’re taking it to the ceiling on one wall (around $280)
- Removing a wall to create an extra-wide doorway into the dining room ($700 contractor plus $90 for drywall and trim we did ourselves)
- Current total for the big items: $5,831 (we still need a range hood, new lighting, floating shelves, art, etc.)
Like most renovators, we picked spots to splurge and spots to save. On the saving side:
- We’re reusing our existing solid oak cabinets — they’re in great shape and already have interior upgrades.
- We reconfigured the layout ourselves, moving the pantry and building a cabinet to enclose the fridge.
- We primed and painted the cabinets ourselves.
- We’ll install as much as we can ourselves, including the cork floors and some lighting.
- We hunted discounts and coupons — stacking savings on appliances and counters, using promo codes on tile, buying clearance cork, and getting multiple contractor estimates to trim costs.
- We sold unneeded items on Craigslist to fund the makeover (old kitchen table, granite, and an over-the-range microwave) for $815 so far.
There’s still a backsplash to finish, cork to lay, lighting to hang, and a range hood and shelves to add. It may look a little chaotic right now since several purchased elements aren’t installed yet, but in a month or two the kitchen should feel much more finished.
Back to stools. We first considered clear acrylic, but many readers warned that acrylic scratches and fogs quickly. Most acrylic options we liked were also over $100 each, so we went back to the drawing board and looked through inspiration photos. A clear theme emerged: industrial metal stools. They provide contrast to the wood legs in our adjacent dining room, so the metal adds variety instead of making everything feel too heavy and wood-y.
Functionally, we wanted stools with backs so Clara’s booster can snap into one, older kids can sit comfortably, and adults have better support. That ruled out some of the cool backless designs, but still left plenty of options — including some stunning science-lab style stools from higher-end retailers. Unfortunately those were $375 each, which would have been $1,500 for four.
We aimed to find thrifted or budget-friendly industrial stools around $60 each. We did score a great vintage counter-height stool at a local thrift for $50, but there was only one. So we searched online for industrial, bulk, or school-supply sources. Surprisingly, we found exactly what we needed on a school supply site: lab-style stools at a very reasonable price.
The product shots look a bit nerdy — especially with the high adjustable backrest and the white background — but there was something charming about getting lab stools from a school supplier. They’re not identical to the more expensive inspiration pieces in shape or finish, but with the right room they can be elevated. We believe mixing high and low elements — like counter tops, tall backsplash, new appliances, pendant lights, and cork flooring — will make them feel intentional.
Best of all, they were $33 each for the fixed 24″ counter-height version. Four came to $168 delivered, tax included. Here they are in our still-raw kitchen:
The finish pairs well with our stainless appliances, but I’m open to tweaking them later since they were so inexpensive. Options I’ve considered:
- Painting a deeper color and using oil-rubbed-bronze spray on the legs, possibly upholstering the seats with chocolate leather for a richer look.
- Spraying them white and upholstering with wipeable vinyl or leather so they gleam near the counters; a white finish could pop against a darker peninsula treatment.
- Distressing them with scuffs, light sanding, and a tinted metal glaze to achieve an aged, antique look and sealing with poly to prevent rub-off.
- Giving them a shiny chrome spray finish to mimic higher-end metal stools.
We’ll see how the room evolves and tweak as needed. Renovating is a process of experimenting and refining — our house is a big puzzle and we like solving it as we go.
Those orange wood cabinets are still visible while we finish trim and baseboards, but priming and painting are coming soon. I realize some people (especially my mom) may not love the stools yet, but once the rest of the room comes together they should fit right in. Our first house went from a messy in-progress look to a polished finished space, and this kitchen will follow the same path.
We like that the adjoining spaces don’t feel overly wood-heavy because we chose metal stools for the kitchen. The stools are sturdy — not wobbly or flimsy — since they’re built for classroom use and designed to hold up to daily wear. They’re comfortable enough for counter seating; the backrest has a bit of flex which helps. Clara’s booster attached securely to the stool with a back, so she can safely join us at the peninsula. Lately we’ve been eating and hanging out there most of the time.
Here’s Clara and John making cookies at the new peninsula — you can’t see much of the stool, but she’s strapped in and happy to help. She also “helped” assemble the stools, which made for some cute moments:
And of course Burger photobombed the action:
Once we find the right pendant lights to hang over the peninsula — we’re picturing clear glass globe industrial pendants — everything should start to come together. Also, a small detail: we rounded the peninsula corners, and a photo with a penny on the edge shows the soft curve — hooray for no sharp corners to bump little heads and hips.
Back to stools — have you ever found a great deal from an unexpected source, like a school supplier? Or do you prefer the polished or the rough-industrial look? It’s not for everyone, but many of our favorite inspiration kitchens mix industrial and refined pieces, and we think that contrast will make our room feel intentional and layered.
P.S. — Did anyone else catch last night’s Dexter finale? We won’t spoil anything, but wow — it was intense!
