Industrial bar stool

Retro seating turns the kitchen island into a welcoming coffee-stop.

Need to know…

These designs hark back to Britain’s manufacturing days, when many a worker would have been glad of a seat and a chance to rest their legs. Churned out in their thousands, the stools combine production-line practicality with rustic appeal. Look out for an oak seat with a slot for easy carrying. If you’ve come across a set of ripe-for-renovation vintage stools, sand and revarnish the wooden parts and give metal sections a new colour scheme with a coat of Hammerite.

Where to buy…

• Cult Furniture for a large selection of standard and swivel bar stools. • Maisons du Monde for a similar wood and metal stool. • Trainspotters for a metal stool with plywood seat.