I love the lightness of my Bertoia counter stools...visually unobtrusive, yet still substantial. And soooo comfortable.

I'm confused about sofa request....keeping, buying, adding or all of these?

Love, love, love the island...good custom .metal work is my favorite ....makes me think of one of my favorite stools posted here. I know with toddlers you need to "weight" stools to not easily tip.

This applies to stools shown here...

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I think the stager did a fabulous job in this house. It's gorgeous. I would replicate it.

The sofas you're looking at look good.

The tolix stools look great, but you could go even more industrial with the toledo stools from Restoration Hardware:

Anything by Wegner...


...or Cherner...


...would look great in the dining area. Happy houzzing in your new beautiful space!

Don't buy a sofa w/ loose pillows. You will always be fluffing them up to look good. Hated mine!!

I think we need to clear a few things up here! Lets start with the bar stools shown in the staged photo. They have no padding on them and are brutal to sit on. Same goes for the Cherner stools, but at least you'll be sitting in something fashionable. As for the whole chemical free thing, anything TOTALLY produced here in the USA (including the foam) will be perfectly safe for ya! As for the fabric, that's up to you. Ask what the content is, where it comes from, and how it's loomed. Oh, and ya, I agree with her^^^. Good luck!

Marc, you might want to read this:

"RESEARCHERS this summer purchased 42 children’s chairs, sofas and other furniture from major retailers and tested them for toxic flame retardants that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, diminished I.Q.’s and other problems.

In a study released a few days ago, the Center for Environmental Health reported the results: the toxins were found in all but four of the products tested..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/opinion/sunday/kristof-danger-lurks-in-that-mickey-mouse-couch.html

I'd go contemporary square rattan to tie in with the light shade.. It looks fab by the way.

Perhaps this . .

@Kelli Richards Designs. Thanks for the recommendations. See additional photos of what the sofa is facing - essentially a wall.

@sieglerdesign - to be clear, I am in buying mode; I actually own no furniture other than a bed and a couple of card tables; all the photos are when my apartment was listed and was staged; currently it is mostly empty along with some boxes

@groveraxle - thanks for the suggestions. love the stool. I think the distressed black version might be better (would match the island) although the antiqued green looks great BUT the metals would contrast as would the wood (bent plywood vs a lighter butcher block in the island and white oak floors); Any thoughts on if contrast is good or bad? Also, would you put a small runner underneath the stools to protect the floors?

In terms of the couch, the other thing I was thinking was sectional to make it more comfortable. Any opinions?

In terms of sustainability and why certain brands appeal to me, I would suggest you check the new HBO documentary "Toxic Flame Up" which is about how and why most furniture contains very harmful chemicals (hint: chemical and cigarette lobbyists). Here is a good article:
"A New Documentary Reveals Why Sitting on the Couch Really Can Kill You"
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/11/24/toxic_hot_seat_a_new_hbo_documentary_on_the_dangerous_chemicals_in_foam.html

I have to say, I love groveraxle's choice of stool! It is industrial but still has a lot of warmth. I would go with the lighter one, as the dark one will blend in too much with the steel on the island. Yes, contrast is a very good thing!
About the sectional, I think it would also be a good option and very comfy. You have a lot of space to work with so you could also add a lounge chair in the corner facing the sectional. I am thinking a Womb chair would be nice...I guess you could buy your own fabric that has no flame retardants and have it finished with that...but I don't know a lot about that. I imagine it must be difficult to find furniture that adheres to those principals.
I really like how the stager styled the place with a mid century modern tone. I think you should try to emulate that as it adds a lot of warmth and gives it a "natural" feeling.

OK, newtofurniture, here's the thing: your space is totally open so you need to make all your decisions together rather than picking up something here and something there.

My suggestion is to start with the art. You could use at least two big canvases, one each for the living and dining areas. Let that inform the color palette for your rug and accessories.

The sofas you're looking at will go with anything, so they're totally safe. Choose a dining table and chairs, then coordinate your counter stools with them. They shouldn't match, but should be similar in style.

Have a plan before you start so you don't end up with a total mismatch. Until then, a few folding lawn chairs will be useful. LOL

Check out these green sofas: http://www.rcgreen.org/sectionals.php

Jessegee - where did you find the bar chair ?

Go with the stager look. Bar stools with a back more comfortable. RestorationHardware is the best. Go a rustic industrial look. I love the teal area rug in room. That's a keeper. Staggers usually don't do window covers. And they are important. I would use a simple roman shade in kitchen. Maybe warm up wall color. Some nice grays by Benjamin Moore. You could ck out. Get samples put on your wall. Never buy a color without testing in your light. Beautiful home. Keep it simple and contemporary. Using dark gray solid on sofa, and gray mix with a color on chairs. This is a big one size room. Define areas with nice big rugs. Color is your friend. Use it in art.

I would also go a stainless mosaic backsplash for some interest in kitchen area.

Something bigger and lower (36") over dining table. Over island a pop of color with pendants.

More important than furn, to be chemical free. Is. Baby clothing. In the USA. It is a law to have fire retardants in children sleep wear. It's hard to get around it. Rad labels , is the best advice I can give you. I agree we have too much in our environment, and should be treated with caution.

Don't get too caught up on things you read or see on TV or Internet. Most people never experience and harm. There are a few that have reactions. But, I would say, that at your age, you have been exposed to many bad and good chemicals in your life. Just opening windows for a few hours a day. Is just as effective as anything in ridding yr home of dangerous fumes. Don't let fear rule your life. You have made it this far. All is well. By the way no runner under bar stools. More of a problem. And never looks good. Floors are strong. They can take it. That's what they do.

I like rectangle dining table. But I would go wood. Maybe reclaimed, and keep the look rustic industrial. No benches, not comfortable for eating. Leather chairs is a good choice for kids.

As an FYI, the flame retardent think is going to get better for all of us in 2014 due to regulatory changes in California and the new law TB117-2013. If you are in the market for upholstered furniture, I would strongly recommend you wait until next year.

Here is a good ink to what is happening:
http://goo.gl/SZoBWo

I have decided to go either with a dark grey room & board couch:
http://goo.gl/1ykWDV

or a custom VIOSKI couch:
http://goo.gl/YDc0y6

Depending on who can get it to me first in the the new TB117-2013 model.

Scandinavian design also has a nice couch but the TB117-2013 version won't be available until March:
http://goo.gl/vhnx6A