Butler is a stool and step ladder designed by Shane Schneck for HAY, born from the desire to create a versatile, multifunctional household item suited to the realities of modern urban living. The design provides two steps when used as a ladder, giving practical access to high shelves and storage in domestic settings where ceiling heights make such access regularly necessary. The larger lower step is dimensioned and proportioned to function as a side table, stool, or bedside bench when the ladder function is not required, giving the Butler a genuine dual-purpose utility that distinguishes it from purely decorative stools.

Crafted in solid oak with contemporary detailing, the Butler combines material warmth and natural character with the structural rigidity required for safe, confident step use. It comes pre-assembled and ready to use — a practical consideration for a piece whose primary utility value depends on immediate availability without assembly. The solid oak construction and considered proportions ensure the Butler reads as a designed object of material quality rather than a purely functional utility piece.

The Butler is well suited to residential kitchens, home offices, and bedroom settings where the combination of a practical step ladder and a multifunctional side surface is valued. Its solid oak construction and clean contemporary form also make it appropriate for boutique hospitality environments and any domestic setting where a piece of everyday design intelligence is preferred over single-purpose utilitarian objects.

HAY produces the Butler in solid oak to the construction standards consistent with its broader commitment to durable, well-crafted everyday furniture design.

Available as a 2D DWG drawing and 3D model.