I want, nay I need a kitchen step stool. Do you remember these?
My maternal grandmother had a shiny red one in her kitchen. My paternal Granny had a charming yellow one in her kitchen. My mother had a stylish turquoise one hidden in her pantry. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted one of my own.
There is something magical about being a small child and having the tall kitchen step stool brought out so that you can sit eye-to-eye with the adults at the dining room table. Everyone knows it is your chair, the special seat of honor that only comes out of the kitchen for you.
With the step stool you had access to forbidden fruits. It was the elevator to that high shelf where you were not permitted to venture. It allowed you surreptitious peeps into the world of the tall and their hidden treasures. With a kitchen step stool, no cookie jar was safe, no birthday gift was hidden.
The step stool was a vehicle to adventure. Perched high on it’s backward facing seat, you could drive the mightiest steam engine, trailing younger siblings on regular chairs behind you like so much freight. It was a racecar, a thoroughbred, Jacob’s Ladder or a mighty throne.
This morning as I was perched on a kitchen chair and rummaged in vain for something on the top shelf, it occured to me that I need a little ladder for the kitchen. I briefly considered a sleek, lightweight folding ladder that I could tuck neatly away in the mudroom. Then my path became clear. I realized that nothing-nothing at all would do but a crisp white kitchen step seat like the one pictured above. Because really? If you are going to use it to reach, why not reach for the stars?
For more thoughts on Vintage Thingies Thursdays, please visit Confessions of an Apron Queen.
24 responses so far ↓
1
jenny
// Oct 22, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Great stool! I would love a red one!
jennys last blog post..Vintage Decals
2
marian
// Oct 23, 2008 at 2:29 am
My mum had an orange topped one…verry retro
marians last blog post..Vintage Thingies Thursdays…
3
coloradolady
// Oct 23, 2008 at 3:48 am
Nice one. We have a yellow one that belonged to my husbands family…Red would be great to have. I love vintage red things.
coloradoladys last blog post..Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Red Hair Doll
4
daysgoby
// Oct 23, 2008 at 7:20 am
Oh, that brings back so many memories! Funny how inanimate objects can bring back so many memories of people and places….
daysgobys last blog post..the stove stays
5
Ree
// Oct 23, 2008 at 7:36 am
Loved those. Pinched my fingers in them trying to sneak them out more than once!
Rees last blog post..Travel Day
6
ellen b
// Oct 23, 2008 at 8:49 am
What a delightful post! I really enjoyed reading it. I hope you find one of these great step stools that I remember so well to add to your kitchen!
ellen bs last blog post..ABC’s of the Word ~ A Holy Nation (and I don’t mean the U.S.A.)
7
Leslie
// Oct 23, 2008 at 8:57 am
that is cool….although I don’t know where I would put one but I’d like it in blue please!
Leslies last blog post..Birthday Celebration
8
Faith
// Oct 23, 2008 at 9:08 am
I enjoyed reading your post today. You have a wonderful way with words. I hope you find your step stool.
9
Little Birdie's Nest
// Oct 23, 2008 at 9:53 am
Cool retro piece. If you find one, it’s definitely a keeper!
Little Birdie’s Nests last blog post..Vintage Thingies Thursday: Found It!
10
witchypoo
// Oct 23, 2008 at 10:13 am
We had a white one. Loved it.
witchypoos last blog post..Weiner
11
Judi
// Oct 23, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I have the modified version, but you are so right this one is much better. I came across you as an ecard, but I’m adding you onto my blog roll so I can revisit your site often.
Judis last blog post..Thursday Thirteen 12th Edition
12
Grace
// Oct 23, 2008 at 2:28 pm
My mom has a red one! It’s so cute, and handy, too.
Graces last blog post..Go read Wild Surmise
13
Kimba
// Oct 23, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I love this! I have wanted one of these forever. Target had a nice version for a while but I didn’t get it. Then I saw a classic on craigslist and it was gone before I could get it. Bugger.
Kimbas last blog post..More Free Goodies!
14
kellie
// Oct 23, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Man…I had one of these in green and GAVE IT AWAY…what the heck was I thinking? So regretting that. LOL!
kellies last blog post..Vintage Thingies Thursday — Vintage Sewing Patterns
15
Sadge
// Oct 23, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I have one, that belonged to Aries’ Grandma. It used to be faded and worn-away red. I cleaned it up and painted it a lovely cream color, and found new black rubber feet that would fit. The non-slip mats on the steps are a bit paint-spotted and ragged. I love it! It lives in my kitchen and I use it all the time to get things out of the top cupboards and as extra seating at the counter.
Sadges last blog post..My Pepper Pantry
16
Dawn
// Oct 23, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Oh, I do so hope that you get one–thanks for the memories, the justification for a want/need and a great story to boot! I have a paint dripped one at work but it doesn’t have a back. I well remember sitting on one of these at my Great Grandma’s house!
Dawns last blog post..Vintage Dress Patterns–Vintage Thingy Thursday!
17
waterrose
// Oct 24, 2008 at 8:30 pm
We had a yellow one. And, I don’t know what happened to it! Hmmmm. You should take a poll of what colors people had. Now I want one again and you know as much as I go thrifting…I never see them.
waterroses last blog post..When a Roadrunner Visits…
18
Jewelgirl
// Oct 24, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Your right EVERY BODY had this kitchen step
stool…. the cupboards were too high and a lot
of ladies were petite. We had a yellow one!
Jewelgirls last blog post..MESMERIZING SPOOKY DO
19
Jennifer H
// Oct 26, 2008 at 2:14 am
Ours was blue…I wish I had one now.
This was a lovely piece of writing.
Jennifer Hs last blog post..Turning pages
20
Janet
// Oct 27, 2008 at 10:25 am
My grandmother had a red one that I used to sit on and help her make fudge cake. She let it go when she downsized and I didn’t know about it, or I would have gotten it! I want another one.
Janets last blog post..The Queen Reads
21
Ken
// Nov 26, 2008 at 3:01 pm
That’s made by Cosco circa 1960, and you can buy one kind of like it, still made by the same company, instead of the steps rotating out from under the seat, the seat lifts up and you can stand on it. It’s actually sturdier than the type with moving steps. And you can get them in red, white, and yellow.
22
Janis
// Jul 24, 2009 at 12:21 am
I LOVE those Cosco Stools! My parents had one which they got rid of in a move. I am hoping to find a turquoise one!
23
liza
// Feb 2, 2010 at 1:52 am
I have been wanting the same one. I did a google search and found several on ebay, even brand new. I also found that Target hase them but only in black or white. You could recover them or post for an item wanted on Craig’s List. I ordered the brand new red one on ebay and cant wait for it to get here. Good luck
24
Rich
// Feb 8, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Hi,
I have the red step stool, round red step stool and thew serving cart along with it.
Also several other things to go with the red kitchen from my 90 year old Mother-in-Law.
90 pc Jadeite Fire-King dinnerware set, Hooiser, Radios and etc.
Leave a Comment