Seating flexibilty - the stool 'at auction'

Everyone needs a few stools around. They are extra, easy to move around seating. They can be a table in a pinch. And they can be a place to rest your feet! They fit neatly away under a console table, or pushed in to a corner waiting to be deployed.

The designer, Isabel Lopez Quesada, flanks a classically arranged console table with two chic stools. In an entryway they can be a great place to sit to put on your shoes, or easily moved in to a room where they're needed.

Via Pinterest

Here a simple, but elegant, stool serves as seating at a drop down desk, and as a samml table next to a chair when needed. 

Elle Decor

The designer, Thom Felicia, uses two upholstered cube stools for seating in a small library to expand the seating. 

From Elle Decor

The living room in Cristina Azario’s renovated brownstone in East Harlem, New York has chic taupe walls, fun kilim covered chairs, and an orange upholstered stool for a pop of color. 

Cakebread Designer Auctions is a new venture of New Orleans Auctions. In their first auction June 8th and 9th they include these two stools. The one on the left is a stylish George III style mahogany stool with very smart upholstery. It's early 20th century and the seat measures 23 x 18 inches. It's Lot 4 and has an auction estimate of $75 - $125.

This ottomon on casters is quite cute. It has lovely crewel upholstery, and would be very versatile and easy to move around. It's 19th century, and the seat is 23 inches in diameter. It is Lot 3 and has an auction estimate of $125 - $250.

There are many stool style options, and I rather like this Thebes stool. It has a rustic and modern feel at the same time. This sold at a Doyle New York auction for $219 off an auction estimate of $300 - $500.

For something much dressier, this Regency style stool would add a decorative element to the room. This sold at a Doyle New York auction for $375 off an auction estimate of $600 - $900.

I need to include some modern examples for those of you with a modern design bent, or for those of you who like to mix modern and antique, as I do! My go-to for modern is Wright Auctions in Chicago.They always have the big names in modern furniture design. The steel and leather stool on the left was designed by Poul Kjaerholm (Danish, circa 1961). It's a PK 91 style, and sold for $3,500 off an auction estimate of $3,000 - $5,000.

This teak and leather stool was designed by Poul Hundevad who was also Danish, circa 1948. It's a 'Guldhoj' folding stool and sold at Wright for $875 off an estimate of $1,000 - $1,500. I love the shape of the legs - such design interest in something so simple.







Whatever your style, a stool will always find a place in your home, and maybe move around as needs arise. If you are like me, you might just want to re-decorate every once in a while, so the stool in the living room might become a great place to lay towels in the guest bath.