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Project 04Furniture

Minimal Barstool

This stool is a copy of the Form series barstool from Normann Copenhagen, designed by Simon Legald. I was drawn to the simplicity of this contemporary, minimalist bar chair, standing out against the mass produced barstools on the market. It is characterized by its clean lines and the seamless integration between seat and frame.

It looks easy to manufacture, but as always, it is not.

Not currently available · Greece only
Minimal Barstool, finished
Materials
SteelPlywood
Dimensions
65 cm height, 38 cm diameterFootrests: two at 25 cm, two at 30 cm
Time spent
5 days
Finish
Steel: Vivechrom 30YY 56/060Plywood: Bondex Perfect Plus

The Process

A mockup stool built from OSB board and a plastic pipe, testing proportions
01 · Prototyping.
A raw steel tube held against the base to test footrest height and position
02 · Leg rest position and height testing.
The bare steel base with welds ground smooth, plywood seat already fitted
03 · Before painting, all welding smoothed.
Two of the four finished stools in use at a kitchen breakfast bar
04 · Two of four.
A single finished barstool with a plywood seat and white steel base, against a pale green wall
05 · Finished, on its own.

Tips &
Tricks

What I would tell someone building the same stool tomorrow. Most of it comes down to deciding early and welding patient.

  1. 01

    Settle on your exact height before you build

    This design has no height adjustment, so decide the finished height before you start. Normann Copenhagen sells the original in 65cm and 75cm, I went with 67cm since it suits me exactly. The same applies to the footrest: on the 65cm original it sits oddly high, so I mounted mine a few centimetres lower.

  2. 02

    Mock it up first, in plywood and plastic pipe

    Before cutting any steel, build a physical mockup to test the dimensions: two plywood discs for the base and seat, joined by a length of plastic pipe. It is far easier to judge proportions in the room than on paper.

  3. 03

    Weld the base in small sections, alternating sides

    The base plate is the hardest part. Steel this thick still pulls as it cools, and all four of my stools came out with slightly uneven bases because of it. Weld small sections at a time, alternating sides of the plate, to keep the warping in check.

  4. 04

    Prime before you paint, and use a spray gun

    Always lay down a primer before the actual paint coat. A spray gun gives a far better finish than a brush or roller.

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