Nathan James Arlo Saddle-Seat Counter Stool, Feather Gray & Matte Black

This is a single backless counter stool with a double-layered saddle seat upholstered in feather gray fabric, set on a matte black metal frame with straight legs. The seat sits 27 inches high and the stool measures 15 inches deep by 19.3 inches wide. It weighs 10 pounds and is rated to 275 pounds.

A saddle seat is shaped rather than flat, dipping in the middle and rising slightly at the sides, and the difference shows up after twenty minutes rather than in the first thirty seconds. On a flat backless stool you slide forward without noticing; the saddle contour holds you in place, which is why this shape keeps appearing on stools meant for kitchen islands where people eat rather than just perch. The double layer of foam here is what makes the contour hold its shape instead of flattening out.

Feather gray on matte black is deliberately quiet. Where a leather or caramel stool becomes a color decision, this one recedes and lets the counter and cabinetry carry the room, which is useful if your kitchen already has a strong material story going on. At 27 inches the seat suits counters around 36 to 39 inches. Assembly takes about 15 minutes, cleaning is a dry cloth, and the frame carries a lifetime manufacturer warranty. Sold individually.