Ergonomic Kitchen Barstools

Three years ago, Paula, my sister-in law, asked if I would build four kitchen stools for her newly remodeled bar height countertop. “Of course” I replied enthusiastically, “as soon as I finish the projects on my list”. I started the project in November, 2006.

After “Googling” the images of every kitchen barstool in the world and looking at the throw-away home furnishing magazines that came out of the garbage covered in bacon grease, I could not find anything that looked like a fun build. As a result, I considered that I might “take the plunge” and design a chair on my own.

I am an Osteopathic Family Doc. If I was to consider an original design, my conscience decided that it was my Hippocratic duty to design a kitchen barstool that was, at the same time, functional, durable, pleasing-to-the-eye and , most importantly, ergonomically comfortable. As a result, I went “swimming”.

I went into research mode. I repeatedly attempted to define the exact contour of my own and, to their displeasure, my family’s butts. I sat on, leaned on, tilted and bounced as many kitchen barstools as I could find. Finally, after lots of scribbling, figuring, choosing, cutting, planing, edging, planing, etc., etc., etc. I finished the stools for Paula.

I am remarkably pleased by the result, because I think it meets my pre-build criteria. The design features peculiar (this would be my wife’s, not my, adjective of choice) to this chair are:

1. Slight backward lean: Legs are of equal length, yet the rear legs are angled at 12 degrees while the front legs 8 degrees. This feature helps to fit the sitter into the contour.

2. Seat contour: With the backward lean, the lumbar area is delivered to the chair rail.

3. Chair rail height: lower than typical, the chair rail provides excellent stability and support to the lumbar spine. Additionally, the length of the chair rail is much less than usual, providing protection to otherwise flying elbows.

4. Wide footprint: This feature protects the sitter from overutilizing the comfort of the lean, contour and lumbar support features, guarding against inadvertent backwards descent.

Construction and Finish: Wood is White Oak. Finish: Sealed with two coats of dewaxed blond shellac, next I filled the grain and applied two more coats of shellac. Top coat is two coats of gloss polyurethane.

That’s it. Thank you for the opportunity to communicate and exchange information with fellow jocks and jockettes. Ron Baird, D.O.

-- Ron Baird, Pennsylvania, WINDGAP375@aol.com