Bottoms Up!

So, you have just had your brand new, sleeper wood bar installed in your entertainment area and you are already seeing it in your mind … dinner parties, birthday parties, long heart-to-hearts with your best mate … and of course the look of admiration on your guests’ faces each time they see your new piece of art!  But wait! Isn’t there something missing in this picture?

One surely can not have a bar, without the proper barstools to compliment it! “Fine”, you think and head down to your local supplier to go and get some stools. But once you get there the trouble starts, as you did not know there were so many different options available and suddenly you feel uncertain about which stools will go well with your bar and which are more comfortable for social get-togethers? Doesn’t not knowing make you feel less excited about your new bar?

We decided to call in some help from the experts to make this task fun and easy!
 

Alpha Creations is a manufacturer of fine quality discount furniture. They have a lovely visual website where you can get a pretty good idea of what is available, and they constantly add new products as the trends change and new designs become available.

Kevin, from Alpha Creations, agreed to answer some questions to make choosing the best barstool for your needs an easier task:

Q: Which different types of barstools are currently available on the market? Please name different styles, shapes and sizes? Our readers have different requirements.
 

A: “We distinguish the styles of barstools by their leg configurations. This is the easiest way to organize barstools into categories:

• Sled style: Sled style barstools typically have small profiles normally 12mm bar that is bent into a sled shape. These are sometimes stackable with an injection moulded seat or bent wooden seat. Our Candy-XD sled barstool is a great example and can also be stacked.
• Four leg style: Four leg barstools are either stackable or non-stackable. Most often they are non-stackable. Most commonly they have legs made of powder coated steel, chrome, aluminium and wood. The seats are either upholstered, injection moulded, rattan or wooden. There are so many thousands of styles available and too many to show in an article. Related to these a tri or three legged barstools that fall into the same category. These are much less common and are not stackable.
• Pillar Style: These are the most common barstools sold at all major retailers. They are usually chromed and fitted with a gas lift mechanism. The seat is either bent wood, PVC & wood, injection moulded plastic or fibre-glass. The powder coated pillar barstools without gas lifts are also found permanently mounted to the floor in restaurants and takeaway outlets. The leg supports vary in style, but these single pillar barstools are very popular for home and commercial applications.
• Zed-Barstools & Variations: The Zed-barstools are often popular for kitchens and busy or crowded areas.”

Q: Please tell us a bit more about the different types of materials barstools are manufactured from?

A: “Monoblock: These seats and legs are injection moulded in one shot and are known as monoblock barstools. These are moulded in ABS, Poly Propelene (PP) or Polycarbonate (PC). The typical “ghost” or clear barstools are made from polycarbonate.

• Frames: Metal frames are usually made out of mild steel that is either powder coated or chromed. Powder coated frames are better than painted frames as they are less scratch resistant and chip resistant. Aluminium frames are also common.
• Seats: The seats are either solid wood, bent ply-wood, plastic (PP,PC or ABS), fibre-glass, rattan or upholstered.”

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of barstools without back support?

A: “Barstools without back supports are generally cheaper as less material is used to make these. People generally feel more secure on a bar stool with a back. The misconception is that a barstool with a back gives better back support. This is not true, it is the leg rest that gives the back the support on a barstool.”

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of barstools with back support?

A: “People feel more secure on a bar stool with a back. They are also more child-friendly. But, they are generally more expensive.”

Q: Which styles, shapes and materials are currently very popular and why?

A: “The bling-bling of chrome in combination with a hard leatherette or leather is currently popular.  Gas lift barstools remain popular. Depending on application we have found many different barstools to be popular. For home we have found gas lift chromed barstools to be popular. For commercial purposes we have found solid chromed four legged barstools or fixed single pillar barstools to be more popular. Hiring and catering companies prefer stackable barstools.”

Q: Please give our readers some tips and advice on how to choose the perfect barstool?

A: “The perfect barstool would complement the style of the room and would not draw too much attention to it. A solid wooden barstool would be perfect for the “old English bar”. A chromed stool would suit a kitchen or modern restaurant. Solid wooden barstools do not suit kitchens and restaurants as the grime and oil stick to the varnish and soon make these look rather tatty.
The perfect barstool would also depend on its purpose. Barstools for hiring should be wear resistant and lightweight. Barstools for factories and workshops should be strong where rigidity is paramount and elegance is less important. A swivel is often a good idea if less space is available. The swivel makes it easier to climb up and get the legs under a table.”

Q: Please give our readers some tips on how to maintain these barstools?

A: “All barstools should be kept clean with a mild detergent. Stainless steel can be maintained with a commercial stainless steel cleaner. These are readily available at most grocery retailers. Powder coated barstools in heavy commercial environments can be re-powder coated after a few years for a minimal fee, and these will look brand new again. Reupholstering can also completely change the look. A good powder coated upholstered barstool therefore has most flexibility over time.”

Visit www.alphacreations.co.za for more information