If it was based on looks alone, I would give this chair 5 stars. They are actually better looking in person.  Yes, the seat is very hard/stiff to begin with, but I climb in the chair and used my knees to soften the foam seat.  The chair has a suede feel. I do believe that as the stool is used it will get softer. This stool should have been made with rounded edges to the base under the seat. Also, these are pretty big chairs. I have a 10x5 island, and my intentions were to put 4 on the front of the island and 2 on the side, but they were too big. Wanted to love them and keep them, but they just took up too much real estate at my counter. At their widest point they measure 24 3/4 inches.