Scandinavian Counter Stool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Fabric, Foam, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Hardwood, Walnut, Oak, Maple, Cherry
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Hardwood, Walnut, Oak, Maple, Cherry
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Stools
Rattan, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Leather, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Minimalist Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Stools
Steel
2010s Italian Modern Stools
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Walnut
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Ash
2010s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Ash
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Stools
Leather, Wood, Hardwood, Teak
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Leather, Walnut, Upholstery
2010s Spanish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
Late 20th Century Scandinavian Modern Stools
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Polish Modern Stools
Wood
2010s Spanish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
2010s Spanish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Stools
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Stools
Wood
2010s Spanish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Stools
Rosewood
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Fabric, Teak
Antique Late 19th Century Ukrainian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Linen, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Ukrainian Modern Stools
Steel
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Scandinavian Modern Stools
Metal, Bronze
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Stools
Poplar
- 1
Scandinavian Counter Stool For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Scandinavian Counter Stool?
A Close Look at Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
ORIGINS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged in the 1930s
- Originated primarily in Denmark, Sweden and Finland
- Introduced in the United States in mid-20th century
- Informed by the Bauhaus and modernism; influenced American mid-century modernism
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries
- Use of natural materials — native woods such as pine, ash and beech
- Open, airy spaces
- Promotion of functionality
- Emphasis on craftsmanship; rooted in cabinetry profession and traditional construction techniques
- Minimal ornamentation (little to no embellishment)
- A neutral or light color palette owing to prominence of light woods
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Alvar Aalto
- Hans Wegner
- Kaare Klint
- Arne Jacobsen
- Greta Magnusson Grossman
- Finn Juhl
- Arne Vodder
- Verner Panton
ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of Scandinavian design appear in the furnishings and decor created by Danish, Finnish and Swedish designers not as a stylistic gesture, but rather as a practical, ergonomic — and, as importantly, elegant — response to the human form.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Greta Magnusson Grossman and Bruno Mathsson — creators of the classic Grasshopper lighting series and Berlin daybed, respectively — but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the 1920s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced pieces in the Scandinavian style based on influences from folklore to Cubism; his skills were passed on to his versatile and inspired pupils Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Likewise, Finland produced a truly ingenious Scandinavian modern furniture designer in the architect Alvar Aalto, a master at melding function and artistic form in works like the Paimio chair, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. Yet Finnish glassware was pre-eminent, crafted in expressive, sculptural designs by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva.
The Danes excelled at chairs. Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen were exemplars of the country’s facility with wood, particularly teak.
Wegner created such iconic pieces as the Round chair and the Wishbone chair; Jacobsen — while the revolutionary architect and furniture innovator produced the best-selling plywood Ant chair — designed two classic upholstered pieces of the 1950s: the Swan chair and Egg chair. The list of great Danes could go on and on, including Finn Juhl, a stylistic maverick and maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Verner Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
Today, decades after their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight, and interior designers all over the world use their pieces to bring warmth to any given space.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern chairs, sofas, rugs and tables — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries.
Finding the Right stools for You
Stools are versatile and a necessary addition to any living room, kitchen area or elsewhere in your home. A sofa or reliable lounge chair might nab all the credit, comfort-wise, but don’t discount the roles that good antique, new and vintage stools can play.
“Stools are jewels and statements in a space, and they can also be investment pieces,” says New York City designer Amy Lau, who adds that these seats provide an excellent choice for setting an interior’s general tone.
Stools, which are among the oldest forms of wooden furnishings, may also serve as decorative pieces, even if we’re talking about a stool that is far less sculptural than the gracefully curving molded plywood shells that make up Sōri Yanagi’s provocative Butterfly stool.
Fawn Galli, a New York interior designer, uses her stools in the same way you would use a throw pillow. “I normally buy several styles and move them around the home where needed,” she says.
Stools are smaller pieces of seating as compared to armchairs or dining chairs and can add depth as well as functionality to a space that you’ve set aside for entertaining. For a splash of color, consider the Stool 60, a pioneering work of bentwood by Finnish architect and furniture maker Alvar Aalto. It’s manufactured by Artek and comes in a variety of colored seats and finishes.
Barstools that date back to the 1970s are now more ubiquitous in kitchens. Vintage barstools have seen renewed interest, be they a meld of chrome and leather or transparent plastic, such as the Lucite and stainless-steel counter stool variety from Indiana-born furniture designer Charles Hollis Jones, who is renowned for his acrylic works. A cluster of barstools — perhaps a set of four brushed-aluminum counter stools by Emeco or Tubby Tube stools by Faye Toogood — can encourage merriment in the kitchen. If you’ve got the room for family and friends to congregate and enjoy cocktails where the cooking is done, consider matching your stools with a tall table.
Whether you need counter stools, drafting stools or another kind, explore an extensive range of antique, new and vintage stools on 1stDibs.
- What is a counter stool?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A counter stool is a restaurant seating that is accessible to customers who are either sitting or standing. The standard height for a counter stool should be around 24" to 27" above floor level. Find a collection of antique and vintage counter stools on 1stDibs.
- What is a counter height stool?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A counter height stool is a stool that measures approx. 24 to 27 inches in height, at the seat level. Counter height stools are taller than chairs and are generally designed to go with counter height tables. They can be used in different settings, including counters, dining rooms, coffee tables, bars, restaurants and salons. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage counter height stools.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, bar stools are taller than counter stools. The average height of counter stools is 24 inches, and they are best suited for counter height tables and kitchen islands. Barstools are typically an additional five to six inches taller to fit the height of traditional bar counters. Shop a wide selection of bar stools and counter-height stools on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024The difference between bar stools and counter stools comes down to height. Bar stools are usually between 28 and 32 inches tall to provide comfortable seating at bars and bar-height tables. To pair with kitchen counters and counter-height tables, counter stools are normally 24 to 27 inches tall. Find a large collection of dining stools on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023How many stools you should have per counter depends on the length of the countertop. A good rule of thumb is to put one stool every 30 inches, so take the total length of the counter and divide by 30 to arrive at the right number. Shop an assortment of counter stools on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Since counters are generally 34 to 39 inches high, counter stools should be 24 to 27 inches tall; bars are 40 to 46 inches from the ground, so bar stools typically stand 30 to 36 inches tall.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Counter height bar stools are stools that typically have a seat around 24 inches to 27 inches high and are designed to provide seating along a bar or at counter height tables. On 1stDibs, find an array of counter height bar stools from top sellers.
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