Very cool. I like!

I recommend chalk paint. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. She has a couple colors that may work well for you, and the paint is easy to work with. No sanding first.
I'm putting a link to her site in this post, lots of gorgeous colors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie Sloan's website

There is absolutely NO WAY that chalk paint is an appropriate choice for furniture that you are going to sit on and out your feet on. A lightly used buffet, maybe. But super matte finishes of any kind are to difficult to clean and burnish too badly to ever use on seating, or IMHO, in a kitchen.

The red that you used on the saddle stools would work as well, especially if you've got some left over and want to use it up. Prime first with a good quality primer like Bin by Zinzser and a couple of top coats of any enamel would work well. Spraying IS easier, once you get the hang of it, bu the secret is light coats, and plenty of them.

I don't see the saddle stools as being "too wide" for the space though. Too sharp edges, that might be another story. You can always sand off those sharp edges and do a couple of other sand through areas to "distress" the stools and then do a coat of clear acrylic to protect it. You could even do a glaze on top of the red before the acrylic topcoat for even more antiquing.

starinasgarden, those chalk paint colors are really beautiful, but, as GreenDesigns mentions, it won't work for a stool that's going to be graced by butts and cat paws. Besides, I want a semi-gloss finish that I can wipe down.

GreenDesigns, I do have paint (BM Caliente) left over from the saddle stools, but the cure time was so long for that mixed red (approx. 6 weeks and counting) that I'm considering using a similar red that is factory-mixed from Kelly-Moore. I do have dark tint Zinzer Bullseye 123, if that's comparable to Bin. What product do you suggest for top coat enamel?

Spraying and I are no longer on speaking terms. My other stools went to hell in a heartbeat and I would rather go slow than risk a repeat of the utter mess.

For me, the saddle stools occupy too much lateral space. They're too much in the way. If one day I sand them, they'll be a complete do-over. I don't care too much for faux distressing.

OTOH, glazing does appeal to me. Now you mention acrylic top coat. Is that the same as the enamel you mentioned above?

Sounds like staying with red is a good idea?

Love your red saddle stools! Too bad they're not comfy. I do like the idea of sanding them a bit if you're up for it. Or go red with your round top ones, I love red, so I am a bit biased but I think it looks great with the saddle stools you have pictured.

why don't you do a reddish-like mahogany gel stain-you control the intensity with wiping off. Then top coat with a heavy polyurethane. The stain product would allow grain to show and there are different red toned choices[I used the Old Masters brand].Wiping or gel [or any stain for that matter] is a nice and fun project.

herbflavor, I had been considering dyeing the stools until I realized I have some filling to do and that stuff's tricky to stain. Will gel stain cover wood filler? The grain isn't much to write home about, so that why I've pretty much decided paint is the way I should go.

like anything else..it depends....the stools look new...can't see what flaws you have to fill. I've filled deep layers with "filler"/applied stain and then mix wood putty colors up on apiece of cardboard to match and finger pressed it across top and into adjacent grain-then stain over that or not...it depends.However with the handling and wear and tear of a stool I can see the point of foregoing this if there are big flaws-and going with prime/paint route. If you had no repairs,stain and semi gloss or high gloss topcoat would be nice.

OK, how are all the 12-year-olds going to resist commenting when you say your stools are too wide and hard?

mpagmom, when I read your comment, I was in church choir rehearsal and everyone turned around to ask me what was so funny.

herbflavor, I agree that a stain would look very nice, but these stools have some small dings that will fill very nicely, but will need to be painted.

I very much like the red of the saddle stools. The vibe of the room calls for a clear, primary-ish color, not a grayed or too-blended color. The red teapot, like a lot.

I was just going to whine: "how come you-all let linelle get away with this thread title without giving her a hard time like here? when I got to mpagmom's comment. I think it she who, ahem, colored the other thread first too? ...wait, maybe it was linelle herself?

You have absolutely ruined my future ability to think about kitchen stools with a straight face. ruined. ;)

aliris, I gave you a straight answer. It's Linelle who has had us all chuckling for 2 days over stools, so I figured some payback was due.

linelle, I should have been more thoughtful and posted that after choir practice was over. My bad.

I like the red stools (and I'm being serious here). Aqua would also be pretty, but I think you'd have to eat a lot of blue food coloring to achieve it. Sorry, I couldn't stay serious.

westsider, agree about the shade of red. Groans aside, I'd like to say a rich blood red.

I appreciate the laughs and knowing I'm not the only 12-yr-old in the bunch. I can't say stools with a straight face anymore either.

sorry, mpagmom - didn't mean to paint you with the wrong-colored or wrongly-deserved brush.

What's done is done though. You may be serious, but I tell you, I can't read it that way ... and anyway, you collapsed ;)

I guess we have at least three 12-year-olds in the bunch. I've never been accused of being mature. Thanks for all the laughs.

Linelle, your kitchen is so cute and will look great with any stool (and that was serious).

mpagmom, my kitchen takes "cute" as a great compliment. Seriously. :) Although I should have moved the empty Bushmill's bottle before taking that photo.