Very pleased with the sturdiness of the stools. Was a bit apprehensive as to how they would look with my décor, but everyone who sees them agrees that they look great. Was a bit concerned by instructions included that advised not to wipe them down with a wet rag? The ability to easily clean them was a large part of their appeal for me. I assumed I could keep them clean by wiping them down with a wet rag. : ) I wonder if the manufacturer worries about the paint treatment...? They do have an attractive gold antique paint application. Any thoughts? But stools as a whole are great. I anticipate they will last a very long time.