In small kitchens, often the best way to make more room is to go up! High shelves, tall cabinets — they are common storage solutions in small spaces. But then you need a way to reach up there, and unless you have the luxury of a sliding ladder, you probably need a step stool. But where to store a stool in said tiny kitchen? Enter this ultra, ultra slim stool.
These ultraslim stools from Williams-Sonoma are incredibly slim — less than 2 inches deep when closed. That means they can slide between the fridge and cabinet, or in the back of a coat closet. They are also lightweight, yet they support up to 220 pounds. The reviews at Williams-Sonoma are uniformly positive; one customer calls it, "exceptionally stable," even though it is so small and lightweight.
The only drawback to these stools is the price. At over $100 a pop they are not cheap. But if you have a very small kitchen with a large amount of storage over your head, it might be a worthwhile investment.
• Find them: Ultraslim Aluminum Step Stools, $119.95 and $139.95 at Williams-Sonoma
Do you have one of these? How do you like it?
Related: Good Product: Folding Step Stool
(Images: Williams-Sonoma)
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Straw Mat from The ...
10 No-Fail Decor Tricks & Tips for Small Spaces
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
These are handsome, but I have a slim stool called the Skinny Minny that I got from Target for much cheaper. It folds up flat, and I keep it in the kitchen cabinet. I also have one in our bedroom closet.
It's pretty terrible from a safety standpoint, but even though I own a great step ladder, I tend to just grab a sturdy chair and use that. No need to pull it out of the closet or unfold it.
Someday when I have a kitchen of my own I think I'm definitely going to design a kitchen that has a little slim hiding place for a step ladder so it's more easy, instant access.
Although now that I've seen it the sliding ladder that tucks away is very tempting too!
My parents bought this when they redid their kitchen a few years back. They added lots of new high storage and my mom needed some kind of step stool. They love it. I love it. My parents are getting older and sturdiness is something that they worry about. It's a really sturdy ladder. If it weren't for the price, I'd own a few myself.
Hey, @Kaete, we're putting the finishing touches on our kitchen re-do, and did exactly that. We added to-the-ceiling cabinets and we built in a tiny nook for the obligatory step ladder (I'm 5'4", my husband is 5'7"). I think this splurge ladder might fit the bill.
Something like this:
That didn't work...
Something like this:
Safety 1st 3 Step Steel Ladder
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_005W095087110001P
is much safer, much cheaper, and folds up just as slim.
I bought this last year October. First time I used it, the top joint fell off and I slid down. Just got some bruises but still wasn't happy about the product, specially when I spent so much money on it. I contacted williams-sonoma and also wrote a review on their website, but I got an email about a week after saying that my review didn't meet their review guide line which I didn't understand because my review was perfectly fine within their guide line.
2 weeks ago I wrote a review again on their website and of course they sent me the same email again and deleted my review.
The best part was I got an email from their customer service few days ago, saying that they want to give me a replacement if I send my broken one back. Who keeps broken one for over a year?
DO NOT BUY THIS! YOU WILL FALL AND BREAK YOUR BONE EVENTUALLY.