Chic Bar and Counter Stools.

*Image above via interior designer Chauncey Boothby, featuring S&L’s sunwashed riviera chairs.

**Heads up: Nordstrom’s semi-annual sale opens to the public (i.e., me) tomorrow! All my top picks here. I did end up ordering a second Nuna Rava elsewhere because (ugh, aesthetics) I wanted it to match our first one, which is black, and I just thought it would look better in our new car. I really love this car seat. I’m glad I went ahead and ordered because I think Dillard’s is the only place that still has it in black!

We are in a bit of a conundrum, as we are not yet ready to kick off our engagement with our interior designer but we are in desperate need of bar/counter stools — we spend so much time in the kitchen, and we’re constantly leaning against the island, willing chairs to appear beneath us. I guess that’s one handy part about taking our time with decorating — we are beginning to know, with dead-on clarity, which pieces we will use heavily and which can be de-prioritized for the moment. Anyhow, though our first project with the designer will be focused on the family room, the family room opens up into the kitchen, and so we want the space to all “hang together,” and I’m thinking specifically of having the valence over the kitchen window match the drapes in the family room, and it suddenly feels like picking bar/counter stools is very high stakes! Ha! So I’m not sure if we’ll just wait until we work with her and forgo bar/counter stools in the meantime, or get something we love now and work it into the overall space when we do. I have been doing some homework, though, and wanted to share some chic options in case you are in the market:

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MR. MAGPIE AND I BOTH LOVE THESE CB2 ONES — SO UNUSUAL AND CHIC — AND THESE, THOUGH I FEAR THE LATTER MIGHT NOT BE VERY PRACTICAL AT THE MOMENT GIVEN THE UPHOLSTERED FABRIC (AM IMAGINING GRUBBY FINGERS AND SYRUP SPILLS AND MARKER SWIPES)

I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE TIRED OF THIS BISTRO STYLE, BUT NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, SUPER PRACTICAL FOR LITTLE ONES…CAN JUST BE WIPED DOWN! PLUS, I STILL FIND THE DESIGN CHARMING + LIKE THAT IT INTRODUCES SOME COLOR AND TEXTURE…THESE MIGHT BE THE WINNING TICKET

LOVE THE STYLE OF THESE ROUND-BACKED ONES; OUR DINING ROOM CHAIRS FROM RH ARE VERY SIMILAR!

THESE IN THE LINEN/COCINA GRAY COMBO ARE SO ELEGANT

THESE CHIPPENDALE STYLES ARE SO AMAZING — LOVE THAT THEY COME IN BLUE OR GREEN TO ADD SOME COLOR TO THE SPACE

SIMILAR TO THE ABOVE, FROM A MORE HIGH-END PURVEYOR

…AND SIMILAR TO THE ABOVE, FROM A MORE AFFORDABLE SOURCE

LIVE FOR CANING DETAILS

THE FRENCH GRAY/BLUE COLOR IS SO INTERESTING ON THIS GORGEOUS CHAIR

LOVE ALL THE FUN FABRIC OPTIONS THIS ONE OFFERS

CAN’T BEAT THE PRICE OF THESE, AND LOVE THE MOODY BLUE…IT HAS CROSSED MY MIND THAT MAYBE WE BUY THESE AND SELL/DONATE WHEN WE’RE READY TO SERIOUSLY COMMIT TO A PERMANENT SET, OR MAYBE WE’LL JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH WE’LL KEEP THEM!

The other areas I’ve been looking at in my home are the children’s rooms. We are missing a lot of pieces for them since mini’s room in NYC doubled as the playroom — it was actually enormous for a bedroom so this worked nicely, but now we have a proper play room for them in addition to nice sized bedrooms for both of them — and micro’s room was what the NYC real estate market refers to as “a maid’s room.” It was itty bitty, and right off the kitchen, without enough space for even a glider! A few pieces I’m eyeing for them…

+A glider for micro’s room. We are well beyond the nursing/bottle-feeding days, but I still think it’d be cozy to rock in there with him. We read books together all the time — usually on the floor of his bedroom — and I still use the glider in mini’s room with her ALL the time. Anyway, gliders. I’ve heard such good things about this one from PBK. I wish it came in more fun colors, but I’m guessing I would go with a neutral or gray and then add some fun throw pillows, or maybe add a bold contrasting ottoman (<<I love the stripes on this one!). I’m torn between that one and this cute rocking style (!), possibly with the ottoman I just mentioned or this navy skirted style in front of it. I also think this traditional style in the aquamarine blue is reasonable and attractive, this Monte design is ultra-chic (our bassinet was this brand, and it was so beautifully made and so chic), and this look-for-less style (under $300!) gets strong reviews, too. This leather style doesn’t look quite as inviting but man! It would make a bold and interesting statement. And this S&L is such an investment — I adore the large gingham fabric. If I weren’t positive micro will destroy whatever we buy, I might be tempted.

+Toy storage. We moved the Ikea cubby system that we used to have in mini’s bedroom up to the playroom, along with most of their shared toys, but there are still toys that they keep in their own bedrooms. I am thinking of a set of these La Jolla baskets in blue for micro for some of the bulkier toys, and these popular scalloped baskets for mini.

+A desk for mini. Mini will be starting PK4 this fall, so we are still a ways out from homework and the like, but I am beginning to want to move her toddler table to the play room and instead put a big girl desk in her bedroom in anticipation. I think she’d like being able to draw/work at a proper desk. I often find her laying on her stomach doing her little workbooks and the like — plus, it’d serve as convenient space to keep some of her trinkets and art supplies and would prevent me from buying an interim solution to “fill the space” that she’ll eventually outgrow. I really love this desk, and am contemplating it in the olive green of all colors for her room (!) but also may go with classic white or the pretty pink. All three colors are exceptional; I love that both green and pink are muted/not too childish-looking. I think the green would add a dusty sophistication to her room (and could be passed down to micro eventually, too). I’ll detail more on my thoughts on bedding below but it may explain the appeal of the green. I also adore this Jenny Lind spindle desk. So chic! And the optional hutch would add extra organization space. However, we did move the leaning bookshelves that used to be in our living room in NYC into her room, and so I might just go with this matching desk. I love that this solution is so reasonable but would afford the impression of built-ins and not block any light in the room.

+We are also thinking of converting her toddler bed into a full-size / “big girl” bed soon. (Hers was from Land of Nod — RIP — and no longer manufactured, but this one is similar, with its upholstered panels.). I’m thinking of doing this dusty pink gingham duvet (I’ve used this duvet insert in the past for guest/children’s rooms and it is great and so inexpensive) and mixing with Biscuit’s gorgeous Truvy print. Or maybe I’ll just buy the Truvy duvet set. The print is SO good. I would probably pair either way with this eucalyptus/sage green sheet set from Boll & Branch. If I go this direction, I think the olive green desk would look so crazy chic! Otherwise, a few other sets/pieces I loved:

THIS SET IN THE PINK COLOR

TBBC’S BELLE MEADE BOW…I THINK THE PINK IS TOO BUBBLEGUM FOR WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR BUT I DO LOVE THIS SET AND THE SWEET BOWS

THIS DUVET COVER IN THE SHELL PINK, PAIRED WITH THE TRUVY PILLOW ABOVE, OR MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE ON-TREND BOWOOD

MINI STILL HAS A GIRAFFE THEME IN HER ROOM…THIS PILLOW!!! WITH A HUGE MONOGRAM IN CENTER!

More to come! So fun.

P.S. Chic bedsides tables and chic lighting.

P.P.S. In case it’s towels or bedding you’re after.

P.P.P.S. The last day of mini’s school this past May was unexpectedly emotional for me. What a year.