Rustic chic interiors are on the rise. Perhaps we have Joanna Gaines to thank for that – shiplap anyone? Some of the most functional and beautiful elements often featured in rustic spaces are barn doors. Since their introduction from the exterior to the interior, barn doors have continued to evolve to span all design aesthetics – from neutral, reclaimed woods, to industrial steel and metal, and even to brightly colored modern materials. They don’t have to be rustic anymore – there is truly an option for every type of decor and taste.
Glass Barn Door from Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine
Graphic Black & White Door
Reclaimed Wood Door from the Ranch Mine
Beyond the design aspect, the versatility of barn doors makes them even more appealing. Once installed, barn doors function like any sliding or pocket door – they just pack a lot more visual punch. It is a great solution for small spaces or to cover up any unsightly views (such as a laundry room or pantry) or rooms that require some privacy like a bathroom.
Creative use to divide a bathroom from a bedroom.Perfect way to conceal additional china and servingware.Fun, quirky use of chalkboard paint to hide a pantry.Beautiful way to keep a laundry room hidden but accessible.
There are a variety of barn door options available for sale on Etsy and you can search for sellers close to you to keep shipping costs low. Check them out here.
We moved into a new apartment a few months ago and I’m slowly plugging away at designing our space. Apartments in New York are notoriously small, so we spent the last few years being very selective with our furniture. We just didn’t have the room for anything that wasn’t really necessary.
But, with this most recent move, we lucked out with a bigger, more open floorplan so I’ve made it a point to live in our space for awhile before making any major changes or choices. The wait wasn’t easy, as I really wanted to do a complete overhaul of our decor and furniture due to all of my Instagram and Pinterest perusal for inspiration. However, I couldn’t be happier that I did wait as things are starting to come together and I’ve only had to purchase a few items.
One of those purchases were counter stools. I’d never purchased bar stools or counter stools before as I’ve never had the need for them before. I sat on the decision for awhile as I couldn’t make up my mind about which aesthetic I wanted to opt for. I was between a metallic wire look and a more minimalist approach in fabric or leather. Then, one fateful afternoon, I was scrolling through Instagram and found the exact counter stools I wanted in my kitchen.
I fell in love with these counter stools on Stone Textile’s instagram.
As you can see, I loved them so much, I even commented asking them where the chairs were from. I did some research and soon found that the original design is by Harry Bertoia for Knoll and they retail for a little over $1,000. Expensive taste, huh? Obviously, I wasn’t going to let that discourage me and after a bit more searching, I found some great options for replicas in a variety of color options, both for the metal and the chair pad. I ended up purchasing mine from a site called Advanced Interior Designs for a few reasons, namely the price and the fact that the shipping time was just about a week. So many furniture purchases take weeks to arrive, so the quick turnaround was a huge benefit for me.
Available in gold, rose gold, chrome and white wire with white, black and a variety of colored seat pads.
They arrived within a week, came wrapped securely to protect them in transit and look just like the photo. Eventually, I want to purchase different seat pads to help add some texture and warmth – but, for now, they’re perfect!
A side view of the counter stools.
Here are a few other options that were at the top of my list!
Linda Bar Stools from Joss & Main | $283.95 for a set of 2
CB2 Mack Leather Counter & Bar Stools | $299-$329
CB2 Rake Brass Counter & Bar Stools | $399-$429
CB2 Germain Counter & Bar Stools | $199-$219
West Elm John Vogel Counter & Bar Stools | $369-$379
