In my arsenal of design "weapons" is a piece so versatile, so affordable that hardly a space goes by where I don't try to use one. This piece is the ceramic garden stool. It's just the right size -- 
Antique Garden Stoolabout 18 to 20 inches tall and widths from 12 to 20 inches -- to suit a whole host of design situations. I use it as a resting place for a drink or book when a chair sits too far from a coffee table or end table. I've used it as a nightstand in a teen girl's bedroom (my client's daughter wanted her room to feel like a lounge so instead of a nightstand, I proposed a silver ceramic stool). It is equally suited for a bathroom next to a tub or a patio next to a Lutyens-style garden bench. Its origins go back to China in the first millennium and early examples were typically made of stone, ceramic or wood, but modern interpretations are cast in resin with finishes that add drama and dazzle to any interior or exterior space. What's great about this piece is that invariably you can find it in a material or finish to suit any decor. Here are just a few of many, with some variations on the traditional drum shape. Do you have a favorite you don't see here? Do tell.
Wisteria Chinese Garden Stool Pottery Barn Metal Drum Table
Oly Studio Twilite Table Barbara Barry Quarry Accent Table
Anthropologie Honami Ceramic Stool Oly Studio Meri Side Table
