Update after almost 1 year:  The hinges that hold the bench seats open have pulled out of the "wood" and broken off.  The seat now slams shut if one isn't very careful. 
The completely unnecessary cracks in between the planks on the table are impossible to keep clean and just fill with crumbs and debris.  The sides of the planks are also warping and chipping.  This set really fits my dining room perfectly but there are so many design flaws and cheap materials that I would NOT recommend this product to anyone.