Kitchen Bar Stools: Sitting in Style

More than just a chair: Kitchen bar stools aren't just for sitting down to eat at the counter. They can add a profound decorative statement to your kitchen while also providing a perfect place to relax and socialize in your home. 

Although bar stools were originally designed for use in bars, as the name implies, these furniture pieces made their way to the kitchen fairly quickly when high counter tops required taller chairs. In this idea guide, we want to help you make an informed decision when it comes to selecting the right stools for your kitchen.

Comfy and stylish: These creamy leather bar stools reflect the style of this kitchen nicely. Designed by Woodale Designs.

Kitchen Bar Stool Styles

When choosing a bar stool, you should not only look at style and design, but also its purpose. Do they only provide seating for a quick breakfast or a chat in the kitchen, or are they meant for longer lunches and dinners? The time you and your guests are going to spend in the chairs should be a key factor in your decision. You will have to look at chairs with comfortable padding, foot rests and back rests. However, the chair should also suit your kitchen, which is why you will have several style options to choose from, with many different designs that will work well with your specific interior.

Retro & Vintage Bar Stools

Retro bar chairs can really draw the eye and create a focal point. They are usually available in bold colors and contain a lot of shiny chrome. Cherry red is an all-time favorite, but you also get them in pink, blue, purple and basically all the colors of the rainbow. These chairs are great if you have a funky, retro kitchen design or you are trying to recreate the 1950's diner look.

Some Like it Hot: A modern twist on a retro kitchen with curved red cabinets, stainless and chrome accents, and retro bar stools. [+] More Pictures

These chrome and black leather kitchen bar stools have a retro feel. See more of this kitchen on the Woodale Designs portfolio gallery.

Mediterranean & Rustic Bar Stools

If you have a rustic kitchen, with a lot of wood and country-style decor, your bar stools should match this look. A simple wooden design will work perfectly in such a kitchen but will not necessarily be comfortable unless you go for an upholstered seat. Leather chairs also work well with the rustic look, but instead of the slick, modern black or white leather, stick to the browns. Wicker is also a great material that adds to the rustic look and is surprisingly comfortable to sit on. Fabric seats are also fine, as long as the print is in muted colors and not too funky.

A rustic bar hand-made bar stool fits nicely in this log home kitchen.[+] More Pictures

Victorian, Wrought Iron, & Steampunk Bar Stools

Steampunk is a style that is gaining popularity and also making its way into our interiors, including kitchens. If you are going for the Steampunk look for your kitchen interior, go for chairs with ornate ball and claw feet. Anything with machine-like properties and an industrial look will also go well with a Steampunk kitchen. Wrought iron designs in a Victorian style are also very suitable.

Wrought iron bar stools with woven seats cast intriguing shadows in this old world kitchen.[+] More Pictures

Elegant & Traditional Bar Stools

If you have a more formal picture in mind and are simply looking for something elegant, black leather is always a good option. These chairs are both comfortable and stylish. There is also a wide range of very elegant upholstered chairs available, with stylish patterns. Faux suede is also a good choice and will blend in nicely with the rest of the kitchen interior.

These elegant counter-height bar stools feature a dark tobacco finish on rattan frames with woven backrests and upholstered seats. [+] More Pictures

These traditional golden-brown bar stools are a good match for a Tuscan style kitchen such as this.

Modern & Contemporary Bar Stools

Contemporary kitchens are often small, which is why space saving bar chairs are quite popular. You can, for instance, install "floating" chairs that attach to the island and simply swivel out when used and can be folded back neatly afterward. Contemporary bar stool designs are usually minimalist, with flowing, curvy lines or very geometric shapes. 

These modern kitchen bar stools are classy and minimal -- a great complement to this award-winning space by Designer Kitchens LA.

Blue bar stools provide a bold pop of color in this monochromatic kitchen (also created byDesigner Kitchens LA).

Great contemporary designs are not hard to find; they are readily available from modern furniture stores such as UK-based Forrest Furnishing. Colors often include high-contrast black and white, bold colors, or beige and earthen tones.

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Size and Space Considerations

Now that we've covered different bar stool styles, it's important to go over some functional basics about kitchen seating:

1. How high should a kitchen bar stool be?
   For comfort, a stool's seat should be about 12 inches lower than the countertop surface. Since a typical bar counter is 42" high, use a standard bar stool with a 30" seat height. Single-level island countertops are normally 36" high and require 24" counter stools, while kitchen desks are usually 30" high with normal chairs at 18" seat height.
2. How many bar stools will fit along your countertop?
   Most people prefer at least 2 feet of space to themselves when sitting for a meal, so a 6-foot island should comfortably seat three adults. Wider kitchen bar stools with arm rests will require more space, so only use the 2-feet-per-stool rule as a bare minimum when planning your seating arrangement, and be sure to measure for your own setup.
3. What about shapes and features?
   Saddle seats, round stools, chair-backs, arm rests... these will all depend on both the style and comfort you're looking for. Keep in mind that rounded shapes take up less space and are easier to walk around; that goes for both the countertop shape and the bar stool itself.

Looking for more kitchen seating inspiration? Check out our gallery of Kitchen Islands, Kitchen Bar Stools, and Kitchen Chairs & Tables on Pinterest.

Take a look @ one of our own listings Wet Bar w/Bar Stool Chairs:

Read more: http://www.kitchen-design-ideas.org/kitchen-bar-stools.html#ixzz2h4yI9GyA

What Not To Do When Selling Your Home

Now that it's time to sell your home, you're probably trying to make sure you get everything right.  You don't want to make any mistakes that could cost you a top dollar sale.  However, there are many common mistakes that sellers often make.  Not because they don't know any better, but because they truly believe they are right despite what their realtor is telling them.  Here are some of the most common seller mistakes that could easily be avoided.

                             Here is an example of a presentable master bedroom for showings


1.  Don't overprice your house.  We know you have lived in and loved your house and you're probably emotionally attached to it on many different levels.  However, no matter how much you have put into the house or how many upgrades you have completed or how much you owe on it, your home is only worth what the market is willing to pay for it.  Even if yours is the best house on the block.

2.  You must remove all clutter and all personal items.   Your buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in your home and they can't do that if they see your personal decor and your family pictures, etc. all around the house.  You need to keep it as neutral as possible.  Additionally, by keeping everything to a minimum, you will make your house appear bigger and cleaner.  So go ahead and pack up anything you aren't using and store it until you are ready to move.  You have to pack anyway and this is a great way to get a  jump on things.

Presentable Family Room- from our listing 45 Eastfield.

With all clutter removed.

3.  Be prepared for lowball offers.  Lower than asking price offers are inevitable.  You will receive lowball offers but don't get offended and whatever you do don't ignore them.  This is your chance to negotiate a better offer.  You can't blame the buyer.  Some sellers will accept a low ball offer if they are in a desperate situation.  But that doesn't mean you have to.   Just take some time and try to get the buyer up to a price that is agreeable to both of you.

4.  If something is broken - fix it.  And that means everything!  Never neglect to fix something that is broken no matter how small it is.  The minute your buyer sees something that needs to be repaired, they will begin to look for anything else that may be wrong with your house.  Additionally, it will cause them to wonder just how well you have maintained the house over the years.  Once the buyer is in this mindset, it's very difficult to change it back.

5.  Don't skimp on the marketing.  About 80% of homebuyers will start their home search on the internet.  The internet offers them thousands of options from which to choose.  If you only have a few low quality pictures of your home and most every other ad has plenty of high quality pictures, as well as, virtual tours; which ads do you think they are going to click on?  Yep, that's right - the ones with the great pictures and virtual tours.  Talk to your realtor about how to get the most out of your advertising.

Clean & presentable decor ready for marketing.

Taken from one of our listings on the market.

Selling your home doesn't have to be a chore.  Allow your realtor to guide you in the right direction.  Your realtor has the experience to sell your home quickly and to help get you the highest selling price possible.  Therefore, take his advice and know that he is doing everything in your best interest.

Long shutdown could hurt housing market recovery

If the standoff lasts for weeks, it could stall sales because lenders can't access IRS data. FHA and other government-backed loans also could be affected.

LA TIMES: By E. Scott Reckard, Andrew Khouri and Alejandro Lazo

A prolonged government shutdown could deliver a 

substantial blow to an already softening housing recovery.

If the political standoff lasts for weeks, it could stall sales because lenders can't use IRS documents to confirm borrower qualifications. The impasse could also threaten loans backed by agencies such as the Federal Housing Administration.

"With each passing day, the anxiety in the marketplace is building," said Stuart Gabriel, director of UCLA's Ziman Center for Real Estate.

The FHA's staff has been greatly reduced, which may cause delays in "processing or closing of FHA-insured loans," according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the agency. For now, the FHA — traditionally an insurer of loans to first-time and low-income buyers — will continue to endorse new single-family loans. The agency currently insures about 26% of all single-family home purchases.

"The longer the shutdown lasts, the more serious the impact will be," a HUD contingency plan said.

Some are already feeling the pain.

Ron Tanzman, an agent in Calabasas, said two of his buyers planned to use FHA-backed loans, but the deals are now on hold.

"You can't close any FHA deals right now," he said. "We just got notice from the lender that we are in a stalemate."

The federal government partially shut down Tuesday afterCongress — amid a fight over Obamacare — failed to pass a budget, forcing the furlough of roughly 800,000 workers and the first federal shutdown in 17 years.

An extended mortgage market freeze could further stall a housing recovery that has cooled after rapid price increases earlier this year. The threat comes just as mortgage rates are falling again, which normally would entice buyers. Rates have tumbled for the third straight week, with Freddie Mac pegging the 30-year fixed loan at an average of 4.22%, down from 4.32% last week.

But a short government shutdown should cause only small headaches, because most loans close at the end of the month and take up to 60 days to do so, said Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, which tracks mortgage rates. Lenders are still taking applications, Gumbinger said, expecting the shutdown will end soon.

Most lenders use IRS transcripts of borrowers' tax filings to confirm their income and ability to pay.

"A few days' delay in getting documentation shouldn't derail too many deals," Gumbinger said.

The shutdown entered its third day Thursday with major mortgage lenders such as Wells Fargo & Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. operating much as usual. They said they anticipated only minor disruptions — so long as the shutdown didn't stretch past, say, three weeks. Most borrowers near completion of a loan have already had items such as tax returns verified, they said.

New mortgage applicants were being asked to fill out the usual paperwork. Processing of government-backed loans from the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs also continued as usual at major lenders that are pre-authorized to issue such loans.

Wells Fargo is among the lenders with delegated authority from FHA and VA to write loans, which are computer-processed and approved. The only problem with such mortgages would occur if borrowers fall outside predetermined guidelines for credit scores or income, requiring them to get special approval for government loans, said Tom Goyda, a spokesman for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the largest residential lender.

Experts said mortgage seekers should discuss timelines and expectations with their lender, and inquire about longer commitments, longer rate locks and extension policies for each.

"Right now, it's business as usual," said Los Angeles area Realtor Rose Fahey, who hasn't run into problems with a deal currently in escrow, in which the buyer has a conventional loan.

The greater fear, economists say, is that Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 17, causing the nation to default on its debt and mortgage rates to skyrocket. Affordability would take a dive and potential buyers would grow increasingly uncertain about the economy, said UCLA's Gabriel.

"We are playing with something big and bad and nasty," he said of a possible default.

Rates to Stay Low Central Bank Says

LA TIMES:
European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said the bank was ready to use "all available instruments" to keep market interest rates from rising and hurting a fledgling economic recovery.

He said the bank would "exclude no option," such as a third round of cheap, long-term loans to banks. Draghi spoke after the bank left its benchmark rate unchanged at a record love 0.5%.

The U.S. Fedderal Reserve is considering scaling back its effort to keep bond market rates down. That has left to concerns that market rates might rise in Europe despite the record low ECB benchmark. Europe's economy has just begun a recovery and still needs the support that low borrowing costs provide.

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Tips That Will Make Your Move Easier

It's a well known fact that moving can be one of the most stressful events in your lifetime.  Therefore, if you are getting ready to move, why don't you plan to use the easiest, most efficient way possible?  Here are some moving tips that will help make your move easier.

1.  Know the quantity of your needed moving supplies and gather them ahead of time.  For a five room house, or approximately 2500 square feet, you will need the following:  21-25 small moving boxes, 12-15 medium moving boxes, 18-20 large moving boxes, five extra large moving boxes and about 8-10 wardrobe boxes.  In addition, you will need boxes for your electronics, unprinted newspaper,  2-3 rolls of 150' bubble wrap, some permanent markers and 10-15 rolls of sealing tape.  Don't forget the box cutters, Styrofoam peanuts, mattress covers, stretch wrap and any specialty boxes you may need.

2.  It's helpful to use different colors on your boxes.  Each family member should have their own color.

3.  The most frequently lost items in a move are the wires and remotes for all your electronics.  Therefore, you should put each set of wires and remotes in their own bag and label them accordingly.  Then you should put all of those bags in a separate box and carry them with you in your vehicle where they can't get lost.

4.  After you have disassembled your furniture and other items, you should take all the screws and loose parts and put them each in their own envelopes and seal them.  You should then tape that envelope to the part or piece of furniture to which it belongs.

5.  Make up a separate box of move in supplies.  This should contain things like picture hooks, different sized nails, brackets, a screw driver, a hammer and a level.  Additionally, you should add some toilet paper, paper towels, soap, wipes, rags, trash bags, drinks and some quick snacks.

6.  You should make a home inventory list and design a map of where you want your furniture to go once your movers get there.  

7.  Talk to your new neighbors and give them advance notice about the date and time that your moving truck will be parked in front of their house or blocking their drive.

8.  Purchase all your new locks ahead of time.  Make sure you have covered all your bases.  You will need locks for the front door, back door, any storage doors or exterior utility areas.  You will also need to know the garage door opener codes and alarm codes, etc. for your new home.  It's a good idea to have the garage door opener codes and alarm codes changed once you have moved in.

9. Make arrangements for your pets and your children on moving day.  Pets and children usually become extremely stressed when their environment is disrupted and they could be easily lost or hurt during the move.  So it's best to remove them from the situation for the day.

Talk to your realtor about more moving tips and tricks.  Your realtor will also be more than happy to provide you with the name and number of a reputable mover if you need one.

The Pros And Cons Of Leasing Your Next Home

If you are thinking about moving into a new home, you may be wondering whether you should lease or buy.  Just like anything else, there are good things and bad things no matter which route you decide to take.  Below are a few pros and cons of leasing your next home versus buying your next home.

Pros:

•Leasing is a huge benefit if your life has the potential to change sometime within the next year.
•You won't have to perform any repairs or worry about any maintenance issues.
•Generally, you will not have any landscaping responsibilities such as mowing the grass and raking leaves, etc.
•You won't be required to pay any property taxes.
•In some cases, your utilities are already paid for you.
•You may have access to amenities that you wouldn't normally have if you had a house.  Things such as a pool, spa, tanning beds, tennis courts, fitness center and planned social activities, etc. that may be included as part of the community.
•You may have a 24 hour security guard.
•You generally have access to a landlord that can help with noise complaints and other types of neighbor disputes.

Cons:

•You will have to sign a lease so if you are not sure where you are going to be in a month, signing a lease could be a problem.
•Pets may or may not be allowed.  If pets are allowed, there could be some breed restrictions.  And generally a hefty pet deposit, a portion of which is usually non-refundable, is customary.
•Sometimes you may have to deal with noise issues.
•You may not have a yard for your children and your pets.
•You cannot remodel your rental or make changes to fit your lifestyle.

There is a time and place for everything and you will more than likely change your lifestyle several times throughout your life as your family grows and changes.  The best thing to do is to make a list of your own personal pros and cons to determine whether or not you should lease or buy.

Call your real estate agent and let him know that you are thinking about moving but aren't quite sure whether you want to lease a home or buy a home.  He will customize a list of rentals for you to view, as well as, a list of homes for you to tour  that are for purchase.  You can look at each to see which one best suits the current needs of you and your family.  Don't hesitate to ask your realtor for help with any questions or quandaries you may have.  Your realtor will be more than happy to guide you through the entire process until you have reached your ultimate decision.

The Pros And Cons Of Buying Your Next Home

To lease or to buy - that is the question.  This dilemma is a sticking point for many people.  But the truth is that there isn't a one size fits all answer.  Whether you should lease your next home or buy your next home can only be determined by making a list of pros and cons based on your family's current needs.

Below are some of the pros and cons of buying your next home versus leasing your next home.  You can take these issues and add your own to the list as well.  These pros and cons will assist you in making the right decision.

Pros:

•You can claim your mortgage interest as a deduction on your taxes.
•With each mortgage payment, you will be building equity in your home.
•Mortgage interest rates are at an all time low.
•You can customize and change your home to suit your lifestyle.
•You may have a yard for you, your children and your pets to enjoy.
•You will have pride of ownership and will have something of your very own to call home.
•If you buy a home that is below market value, you could have a larger return on your investment in the long term.
•In most cases, owning your own home will offer you more privacy.
•Owing your own home will help you build your credit as long as your mortgage payments are being made on time.

Cons:

•You will have routine maintenance and repairs that will need to be performed.
•Buying a home is a serious financial commitment. You can't just break your lease and move out whenever you feel like it. You will have to take the time to sell your house before you can move.
•Not all homes increase in value. So you must weigh the risks before making a commitment.

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments most people will make in their lifetime and the decision to buy is one that shouldn't be taken lightly.  Do some research and take all the time you need in order to make an educated decision about whether to lease or to buy your next home.

Call your real estate agent and let him know that you're thinking about moving but haven't decided whether to lease or buy.  Your Realtor will be a great resource in helping you make your final decision.  He will supply you with all the information you need in order to find the option that is best suited to your family's current needs.