I knew that I wanted a set of wooden bar stools rather than barstools made from metal. The problem was I couldn’t choose which wood I actually wanted, since there were so many different types to choose from. I looked at pine stools, and also at teak, but the trouble was that pine seemed to be too soft, and I didn’t like the color of teak. In the end, I made a compromise and choose a set of oak bar stools. The color wasn’t too dark, and so added a light touch to my kitchen, but also oak has a reputation for being strong, and that’s pretty essential when you have a bunch of kids climbing on them all day.