A step stool is a useful helper to have around the apartment, especially if you have high ceilings that allow you to go upward more than outward with your storage. Our kitchen, for instance, would be useless without one. And while step stools can be purely utilitarian pieces, here are three that can be appreciated for form as well as function: More

One of the best bargains at IKEA is the solidly built Bekvam step stool. It's particularly practical for households with young children and it's most definitely a workhorse in our kitchen for washing hands (aka water play), watching mommy cook, and putting on our shoes. We love the solid wood construction and butcher block look but we've thinking about punching it up a bit. Jump below for some photos and ideas... More

It's not just a step stool--Amy Butler's retro fabric is covering up something... More

Brooklyn-based designer Paul Loebach recently sent us his updated portfolio of designs that debuted at last month's Milan Salon Satellite. Our personal favorite, Step Stools is made up of three perfectly nested foot stools with turned legs... More

Not sure how we lived without a step-stool several years ago (okay, we balanced precariously on chairs to reach stuff), the step stool is a must-have for all homes. A small, collapsible one reigns on top, as it can be folded up and put tightly away even if you don't have a big ol' storage closet. Target has some good options... More

From yesterday's House Tour: Giulia's 'Fantasy Girl' Formula, here's the Cosco Chair with Step Stool as seen in Guilia's kitchen. This one's in a soft, buttery yellow, but you'll also see them in white, black, red... More

Getting into the spots where you haven't been in a while - that's a big part of spring cleaning. The corners and edges of our rooms need a little attention. The upper cabinets are a no-mans-land. Who knows what lurks on the upper shelves of our closets?

Now if you have a solid step stool or ladder, great.
If you are precariously balancing to reach things, you may want to consider the kik-step, a design classic.
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Everyone needs a step stool on occasion. We're always considering getting one so we can access those topshelf books we're always leaping or reaching for. And although the Lilipad Studio Step Stools are marketed for children, there's a lovely adult sophistication about these stools that anyone could appreciate and use. More