American Retro

A typical retro bar stool is a basic metal bar stool with a red leather seat. People love this stool because it looks like the ones from 1950s diners. Another classic is a backless metal bar stool with a brown leather seat. This looks much like the stools found in bars in the mid 20^th century.

Many bars, diners and railroad dining cars of the 20^th century featured swivel bar stools. These are stools with seats that turned. Quite a few people loved sitting on these when they were kids and will like sitting on them today.

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Wooden Retro

Another kind of nostalgia is found in wooden bar stools and pub furniture. This furniture tries to create the British pub rather than the American diner. Many people like this style because of its rugged simplicity.  Those of British heritage like pub bar stools and pub furniture because it may remind them of their roots. Others may just enjoy a simple yet classic look.  Common styles, like oak bar stools, can last quite some time because of the density of the wood itself.

French Retro

Another kind of retro that appeals to those with more sophisticated tastes is French bar stools. French bistro stools are designed to look like the seating in Paris cafes and France’s country bistros.

Since they are more elegant these retro seats can actually be used for formal or semi formal dining. They can also serve as an alternative to basic wooden bar stools.

Uses of Retro

Interestingly enough many people love to combine retro bar styles with modern or contemporary kitchen decor. They may put pub furniture including tables and stools in a kitchen furnished with modern stainless steel appliances and granite worktops and counters.  Others may try to recreate a bar complete with leather swivel stools in a loft apartment. Such retro style is appealing and fun.

Where To Buy A Genuine French Cafe Swivel Stool

If you want a genuine antique you will need to shop at antique French furniture shops, but if you would like a replica of an authentic design, then you can shop for these funky stools at places like TK Collections, which is an online shop that has a few real bistro stools in the old design.

If you want something a little different, you can also get replicas of the metal versions from the 1920’s French cafe stools from a place called Up River Home.

Another place that has funky stools and some unique replicas of French café stools is Seating Products.

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Other Funky Stools

If you’re not stuck on having a replica of a French retro style in wicker, but would like a stool that’s funky metal and is made specifically for French cafes, then try the Cerruti Baleri Café Chair and barstool collection. Some of the Cerruti Baleri pieces are designed by a famous French furniture designer who creates the stools for the likes of the Café Costes in Paris and also crafts ready made styles for the Italian Baleri furniture house.

These materials include some combination of rattan, bamboo, cane and additional materials that are used sometimes as well. Wicker stools, while often made entirely from wicker alone, are sometimes also made in conjunction with aluminum frames or some other metal. They may also be made in combination with wood or plastic as well.  Wrought iron bar stools are a popular type of bar stool today.

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In addition to the traditional wicker stool, some are available with custom bar stool covers for added comfort, or if you prefer, you can purchase a stool made up solely of wicker alone, with no extra materials used. These stools come in a wide variety of different sizes and shapes and a host of designs that will change the look of any of the rooms in the home.

Bar stools, as indicated by the name, were at first designed for use in bars, but with the wide range of designs available today they can now be used just about anywhere and are well suited for use all around the home, garden and even in some places of work.

They may not always look it, but these kinds of stools are usually very sturdy and long lasting pieces of furniture. Today, wicker stools vary as to their design, color and size. Traditionally, though, they were mostly limited to  a fairly standard design with four legs similar to the way that (now) retro barstools were made with four, often chromed legs. But now they are designed in many alternative forms. A popular choice is the swivel stool design, and some stools feature arms, giving a new look to the traditional old style design.