Counter stools can help to optimise a kitchen space by accommodating multiple people, a design commentator has said.Audrey Tempelsman of Sfgate.com said that stools could be used where kitchen sink areas and food preparation spaces become congested with people trying to help out.Counter stools may be just the ticket. They keep everyone in the kitchen but break up the traffic jam by the sink and stove, she said.Ms Tempelsman added that a range of stool designs were available, making them attractive kitchen features. She noted that in one design a walnut seat had been combined with steel tubing to provide a pleasing contrast between hard steel and natural wood.Backsplashes were also recently described as practical yet stylish additions to kitchen sink areas. Kitchen expert Clay Lyon told Northjersey.com that the wipeable surface above the countertop and sink could offer visual appeal through a range of designs, as well as protecting the wall from splashed liquids.