I was really unsure about these, but they were the closest thing that I could find to what we were looking for without spending a small fortune. I read the reviews and since one of the main complaints seemed to be with the crossbars coming loose, I invested 10 in a container of wood glue. When assembling the stools, I used wood glue at all of the joints before putting the crossbars into them. After several months of daily use, I am happy to report that we have had no issues. They are beautiful! The cushioning is firm, not plush. They are great quality for the price!