24 Inch Counter Bar Stools

I believe that 24 inch bar stools are less than 10 years of age. I suppose these stools may have existed before, but they certainly were not prevalent. Historically most bar stools were of a standard height. The height was set based on fitting with old English style pub bars. I first started buying bar stools for different business ventures in the late eighties. These stools were all standardized. They were all of the same height, and for the most part made in a handful of designs. Now all different types of bar stools are manufactured and commercially available.

There are 24" bar stools and 30" bar stools. These are the two standard heights for bar stools available on the market these days. For the most part, the 30" bar stools are found in commercial areas such as bars, pubs, and restaurants. Both the 24 inch and 30 inch models are found in residential settings. There are hundreds of different models to choose from. Stools come in a wide range of different styles and colors.

During the 60s and 70s, the use of bars in private homes was generally limited to basement family rooms or possibly outside on the pool deck. The stools found around the pool tended to be made out chrome or resin. For obvious reasons, the stools needed to be water resistant. Bar stools found in the basement recreation rooms tended to be wooden with a swivel seat and a chair back. These stools were stained a dark natural walnut or oak color. All of these older style bar stools were primarily designed for use by fully grown adults.

Then about 15 years ago a revolution began in the kitchen. Kitchen renovations were becoming quite popular and very common. Kitchen renovation shows were popping up on TV. Lifestyle shows were being set in the kitchen. New glossy kitchen renovation chat rooms were being launched. It suddenly became self-evident: the kitchen was an integral and very important part, if not the most important room in the house. Today kitchens are still about function but they are also about lifestyle. The new kitchen reflects a redistribution of domestic labor. Husbands, wives, and children all contribute to meal preparation or clean up. Today's kitchen is about stainless appliances, cappuccino makers, and breakfast bars and breakfast bar stools. Breakfast bar stools are generally 24 inch bar stools.

New ways to use the kitchen as a family or a meeting area were created. At some point it became obvious that a breakfast bar was the perfect place to accommodate the modern eat and run lifestyle. This realization occurred at the same time that families were trying to maximize counter space. More counter space was needed if the kitchen work was to be shared. And so, the breakfast bar became the ideal place to read the paper or do homework while someone else prepared a meal or did kitchen chores.

There are two reasons the 24" bar stool was created. Number one the standard height bar stools seemed to overpower the kitchen and draw attention from other areas. The 24" bar stool was different enough from a chair to be unique, but blended into the kitchen. The second reason was safety. Children were to use these stools and the standard height stools were simply too high. The shorter 24" bar stool became an invention of necessity.

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