Should You Go Backless?

Nothing else quite shows your personal taste like leather barstools Regardless of the décor style, leather barstools bring a sophisticated look and feel to any kitchen island, breakfast bar, family room or den. The trick to attaining the appearance and functionality that best suits your lifestyle is to determine the purpose of the barstool and the overall form or profile you want your barstools to have.

When selecting barstools or counter stools, many people associate comfort with backrests. But others are loyal supporters of the backless barstool. Both backless stools and bar stools with backs have their own unique advantages. At Leather Barstool Select, you will find a number of both types of stylish leather bar or counter stools to choose from.

Since there is more barstool to look at, leather stools with backs can appear more impressive. Typically, the backrest of a barstool is where many of the stool’s defining decorative details can be found. Especially in the case of leather barstools where the seat back is made of wood, metal or a combination of both, the contrast between the leather upholstery and the backrest can be striking, adding texture to your décor while creating visual interest. The Hillsdale Lilly 30 Inch Wood Bar Stool is an excellent example of how leather and wood combine with stunning effect.

Aside from added comfort, another advantage of choosing leather barstools with a back is they are safer if children will be using them on a regular basis, since the backrest can help to prevent them from tipping backwards. Leather upholstery for a bar stool or counter stool might be the last type of material you would choose when buying stools for a family with children. However, you might want to reconsider. Leather is extremely resilient. A high quality leather barstool is durable and fairly easy to maintain, and it doesn’t necessarily have to cost much more than its faux leather counterpart.

At first glance, there might appear to be fewer reasons for opting for a backless leather barstool. But there are several advantages to consider, particularly when purchasing leather stools for rooms or counters where space is an issue. Backless leather barstools tend to take up less floor space than ones with backs. They are also lighter and easier to move around if and when you need additional seating in any of the other rooms of your home. Sitting down on a backless leather bar stool or counter stool is simpler.

The main advantage of backless stools, however, is esthetics. Because the profile of the barstool is unimpeded by the backrest, a backless leather barstool like the Hillsdale Backless Montello 30 Inch Swivel Leather Bar Stool is an excellent choice for high traffic areas, since the stools can be pushed underneath the counter or gathering table without hiding or obstructing their esthetic qualities.

Take a look at our great selection of leather barstools at Leather Barstool Select and you’re sure to find the ones that will perfectly fit your taste and style.

My New Perch

If you’re like many of us who spend an increasing amount of time at working at home on the computer, you’re one of two types and two types only. If you’re an A, you’ve already appraised the value of quality comfort and function seating – and invested in an office or desk chair that meets those needs. If you’re a B, this truth is likely becoming more and more apparent and you’re considering such a purchase yourself.

I’m the latter and have in fact, just today. decided to order a new Office Star office chair from Cymax Stores. OfficeFurnitureNMore.com has an impressive selection of desk chairs and I’ve decided to go with the Office Star Pillow Top Mesh Office Chair. The broadly cushioned seat and back panel seals the deal for me after all the function amenities. Lever-operated pneumatic height column, Tilt w/ lock, 360 swivel, adjustable arms – you know, the whole complement of what I’ll need when I’m looking to be productive in my workspace.

Truth is, since I bought my place I’ve been primarily using my computer while sitting on my drum throne. Now the Taye Drums 760 motorcycle-style cloth seat is one heck of a drum throne and super comfy, but I need something with a flex-back panel and some amrests for while I do my thing in the evenings. An office chair that features a molded mesh back panel and a built-in lumbar support beam is a good fit for anyone who can develop stiffness in their back after long seated periods or those who have existing back issues.

Those of you living in warmer climates can appreciate the appeal of a ventilated mesh or screen back office chair, and both Office Star and fellow American manufacturer Boss offer nice quality-made and competitively-priced models keep your shirt dry on hot days. The Boss Contemporary Executive Office Chair is a perfectly simple yet good-looking and full-function task chair that makes the grade for a professional office setting. A Boss Ergonomic Leather Chair can take on a more stately office role with a look that that can’t be beat at 134 dollars and only at officefurniturenmore.

Eurostyle Office Chairs are definitely the way to go for those whose workspace or den continues to be a focal point of their modern decor. These chairs have, as their name suggests, a very chic European vibe to them that falls right into sleek simple stylish.

Check out their Bungie Low-Back Office Chair and see what I mean.

I’m anxious to push off for a roll over to my file cabinet or all the way wall end to spy on the living room, not to mention lots of random 360 degree swiveling to “work it in”, you know. Looking forward to its arrival with, as I conveniently held until the last sentence,

FREE GROUND SHIPPING!!

Office Waiting Rooms and Ice Cream Cravings

I absolutely hate the dentist. Like would-rather-scrape-my-eyes out hate. Like would-choose-to-stick-my-hand-in-a-tank-of-scorpions hate. But after avoiding the dentist for five years, it came to a point where it was too painful to eat ice cream, so I finally decided I had to go. Because really, who can live a happy life without ice cream?

So with a referral from a friend, I had an appointment. From outside the office, I peeked through the windows to search for torture devices (the windows were tinted, so I was unsuccessful and I’m sure my face, cupped in my hands and pressed against the glass was a treat for everyone inside). The receptionist had asked me to arrive early to fill out some forms, so with twenty minutes until my date with the devil, I anxiously entered the office.

I walked into bliss. I kid you not. This waiting room was incredible. I checked again to see if I had the right address, but was soon greeted by name and asked to take a seat. And what a seat! A wrap around black leather sectional sofa opened up the whole room; it gleamed at me and invited me to fall back into it. With plenty of room to spread out, relax, and convince myself that only a successful (and therefore good) dentist could have a couch like this in his waiting room, I felt better already. In front of me, a modern styled table that would emphasize any room made me feel as comfortable as I would be in my own home. After filling out my papers, I picked up a Time Magazine from a very chic contemporary magazine rack. And then my mantra started: This isn’t so bad. This isn’t so bad. This isn’t so bad.

Although a nice enough guy, with his mask on, the dentist bore an uncanny resemblance to the infamous cannibal, Hannibal Lecter. But as he came at me with drills and picks and all things horrible, I didn’t care. I didn’t care because I had a pair of headphones on, watching the comedy network on a TV, fixed above me on the ceiling by a TV mount. Escapism by means of Seinfeld… a perfect way to transform a dental-phobic into one of the easiest patients in the world. This isn’t so bad. This isn’t so bad. This isn’t so bad.

I left with a follow-up appointment to fill my (seven) cavities and a new appreciation for office waiting rooms. It got me thinking about other waiting rooms or lobbies that I’ve spent some time in: Doctors offices, real estate offices, my friends’ offices where I wait for them to get off work for coffee or dinner dates. Office waiting rooms should be inviting, comfortable, and relaxing; after all, people spend a lot of time in waiting rooms over the course of their life.

Deck out your office waiting room in furniture that makes your customers, clients, potential future employees, and anyone else who makes a visit feel at ease. At Cymax, shop online for chairs and sofas, tables and magazine racks, lighting, coat racks, and accessories that will make any office guest feel as serene as they would in their own living room. If they are comfortable in the waiting room, they will be easier to please once they pass through your office door. A happy guest equals happy business.

So is it the prospect of being able to eat ice cream again or the TV and couch combo that is making me return to have my cavities filled? I think it is a combination of both. My only suggestion to improve the dentist’s office: Free ice cream on the way out. That isn’t so bad. That isn’t so bad. That isn’t so bad at all.

The Good, The Bad and The Leather

It was a quiet evening at Dorothy’s Saloon. A relaxed game of poker was being played at the table in the corner; everyone was breaking even so there were no hard feelings tonight. The player piano filled the smoky room with a happy melody that had even the usual grimacing customers tapping their feet on the dirty wooden floor. Ice cold brew and warm whiskey flowed, keeping Dorothy busy and the atmosphere light. All was well tonight. That is, until Charlie Daniels walked in.

He pushed through the swinging doors with such speed and force, a loud bang made everyone stop in their tracks. Charlie Daniels had on dirty chaps and a dirtier hat. His shirt, once of a fine quality, looked like it had seen him through several rough nights. The whiskers on his cheeks cast a dark shadow on his face, implying several days on the road without stopping to clean up. Charlie was on a mission, and no one in the saloon wanted to find out what it was.

Ladies averted their eyes to the floor as he approached the bar. Cards were quietly laid on the table while hands slyly fingered their revolvers. Everyone tried to act natural in this most unnatural setting. No one dared speak; no one dared move. Nervous patrons quietly slugged back their beverages to make time at the bar disappear.

Charlie Daniels clomped up to the bar. His boots jangled and banged with each step, causing everyone to wince with his rhythm. Doc Holloway was shaking so badly, his eye glasses nearly fell off his face. He knew he should stay to tend to the impending injured, but he was a small man and carried no weapon. He jumped up and flew out the door in one fell swoop, careful not to cross paths with Charlie.

The sudden commotion from Doc caused a ruckus in the saloon. Every man cocked his gun; every woman gasped and shielded her eyes. Dorothy stood bravely behind the bar, like a captain about to go down with her ship. Charlie chuckled at the sudden sight of the room, even though every gun was pointed at him.

Dorothy’s son Jackson peeked out from behind the bar. He was a brave boy; losing your dad at a young age will do that to you. Dorothy whispered his name, but he didn’t listen. Jackson approached Charlie, and with his toughest, meanest voice said “You can sit in this chair, Mr. Daniels,” and pointed to Doc Holloway’s abandoned barstool. Charlie tilted his head to one side. He pulled out the stool and walked a full circle around it, nodding his head. It had a fine leather seat that, despite its age, looked brand new. The wooden legs were sturdy and had a lower foot rest for comfort. “Thanks, boy,” said Charlie as he settled in to his chair. A deep exhale of relaxation blew out of his mouth. He adjusted himself and discovered most happily that this leather barstool also had a swivel. His eyes widened in appreciation and declared, “Miss Dorothy, this is the best dang barstool I’ve ever sat on in my life! Whiskey for everyone, on me!”

A cheer rang out that could be heard for miles. Men who had contemplated shooting him on site gave him an approving pat on the shoulder. Things at Dorothy’s Saloon returned to normal – cards were dealt, music was playing, and every toe was tapping on the peanut shell-filled floor . . . even Charlie Daniels’.

When the Chips are Down…

In these irritatingly health conscious times when everyone is making sure that their antioxidants are detoxifying and their Omegas are Omega-ing, one can find themselves a little overwhelmed amongst the obnoxiously fit and the pompously healthy. One might even find themselves so irritated that they want to go out and buy a bag of chips just to spite those endlessly athletic goons who seem to be absolutely everywhere. So you go to the local 7-11 and buy yourself a delicious bag of Doritos. Oh Doritos, you think to yourself, you would never tell me that I need to drop a few pounds. You pull open the bag and that glorious whoosh of Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch or Sweet Chili Heat wraps your face in deliciousness. You look inside the bag and, what is this? Your hard earned scratch (for some reason, Doritos always seem staggeringly expensive compared to the rest), has been spent on half a bag of chips and half a bag of air. Don’t get me wrong, that first sweet gust of nacho breeze is a delight, but a five dollar delight? No thank you.

This is only the tip of the iceberg and this reporter has had enough. At 22 years old, I feel as though I am far too young to be saying, “I remember when you got a whooole bag of chips for only $2.50! That’s right! Doritos! And I had walk up a massive hill, there and back in my bare feet…in the snow…chased by wildebeests…just to get them.” All of that is true.

Seriously though, if I am buying a pricey bag of quality potato chips, I want a full ass bag, not this half air foolishness. Hey, I wish I didn’t have to spend close to five dollars on a bag of chips, but unfortunately, Doritos have made their chips so delicious and irresistible, there is really nothing I can do about it now. They are far superior to any other kind of chip, let alone nacho chip, and whether that is due to an addictive chemical sprinkled in with the Cool Ranch, I don’t know. But what I do know is myself - and I’m sure many others - find ourselves craving them nightly. There is a reason that 7-11 is open all night, and believe me friend, it has nothing to do with convenience. It has to do with the financial liabilities related to nacho-crazed fiends tearing up the front of your store every night. You think insurance covers that? As well as the fact that 7-11 probably makes a sixth of its entire revenue based on nightly Doritos sales alone. Think about it.

So what is going on around here? Has anyone taken a look at the Big Mac lately? Or should I say, Moderately-sized Mac? Those two all-beef patties would blow away if someone left a window open. The “special sauce” barely drips down my sesame seed buns. And don’t get me started on the lettuce. I have never seen such a mountain of shredded lettuce in my entire life. Did they think that no one would notice? That they could camouflage the declining Mac with heaps of watery lettuce? No way. I needs me meat. I may as well start getting the Filet O’ Fish; at least that has ALWAYS sucked. And there is something to be said for consistency.

Well luckily, there is one unhealthy outlet that will always remain consistent. And that my friends, is the bar. Regardless of where you go, the alcohol ratios are always the same. One mixed drink, by law, contains one ounce of alcohol and the alcohol percentages of beers are printed clearly on the label. Sometime you wanna go where everybody knows your name; where you know exactly how many gin and tonics it will take to get you nice and crunk. And there is nothing better than parking your caboose on a comfortable bar stool, whether it’s a chic and fancy leather bar stool or a sunny patio’s outdoor bar stool. A nice, consistently boozed-up cocktail is made that much better with a comfy barstool to relax on. Who doesn’t love a good swiveling bar stool? Now that is some sassy seating.

So take a good old fashioned trip to the bar, or, better yet, start construction on your own home bar and simply visit LeatherBarstoolSelect.com, SwivelBarstoolSelect.com or OutdoorBarstoolSelect.com and explore the vast selection of stylish swivel barstools, durable outdoor barstools and chic leather barstools. Start building your own personal drinking environment, where the drinks are always generously proportioned and the chip bags are half full…not half empty.