This is what I was looking for in my French inspired eat-in kitchen. The table and chairs arrived un-assembled but it didn't take too long for my husband to put everything together. There is a leaf in the table that can be tucked away when not in use. Honestly, the fact that I didn't have to store the leaf in a closet was appealing when I was deciding which set to purchase. However, the downside is that there must be a place beneath the table where the leaf goes if it boasts a self-storing open. What I never considered was just how the self-storing function would happen. Needless to say I have bumped my knees a few times. It's not a deal breaker but just something to keep in mind when deciding which table & chairs set to purchase. Otherwise, the table top and sitting area on the chair are a deeper brown which perfectly matched my grandmother's pie safe which is kept in the same room. All in all - I would purchase again. And it has held up well with my messy kids.