Winsome Mona Stool, 24", Antique Walnut

Pro’s• Very Sturdy• Includes Assembly Tools and Instructions• Looks Great with Cherry Wood and Wood Floor (See Picture)Cons• Takes About 25 Minutes To AssembleSummary:These stools are very nice. They look expensive, feel expensive, and are very sturdy. The only challenge is the assembly process. After I figured out the assembly method, the other 2 assembled pretty easy. It does require some strength to assemble, but the kit includes a really cool plastic handle that makes the process more comfortable. I recommend not placing the pegs into the screw holes so that they can be tightened later. You can’t tell they belong there unless you are specifically looking for the holes. I will definitely buy these again if ever needed, but I think that will not happen as they are showing no signs of fail after 4 months on constant daily use.

I read most of the reviews before purchasing and i was torn. I needed something inexpensive, but wasn't wanting disposable! I decided to try them and i'm glad i did. I did assemble them with glue since so many of the complaints were about them getting loose. They are not getting much use from really heavy people as no one sitting on them is over 175lbs, but my kids are super active, and they have withstood months of being jumped around on and knocked over, etc.The top is really cushioned and the seat is wide enough to sit on comfortably. We have them interspersed at our island with backed stools and people always choose these. I haven't had to tighten them yet, so the glue may be the difference between a good and bad experience? Who knows.I thought they were easy to assemble, but i assemble items often and do a lot of diy stuff. Much like anything from ikea, if you've ever tried something of theirs. I think the first one took the longest, but no more than about 30 mins and the rest were cake.I would definitely get them again, especially at this price. I have seen similar quality for far more money. They look nice when assembled and are sturdy enough for us. When we finish our bar in the basement, i will more than likely purchase more of the same. Worth the cost, for sure.

Update: After using this a couple times a week for a couple months it has become wobbly. The the screws are coming loose and require tightening.I bought this for my son to use while playing his double bass. The padding seems good for this purpose. Assembly instructions were easy to follow but the screws were very difficult to get in and tighten by hand. If you are confident with a hand drill this won't be a problem but there were times when I wasn't sure I was even getting the screw straight in the pre-dilled hole and I didn't want to risk splitting the wood with my drill. My hands were sore the next day from holding so tight to the rails while trying to screw them in. One rail still has a bit of a separation but I can't get the screw in further and some of the wooden screw covers pop out so you'll have to glue them. I don't want to glue them in case the screws need tightening at some point. Overall though, it feels sturdy and like it will hold up well and works for our purpose.

I bought this stool a couple of years ago, and still feel very good about my purchase. I had some problems with the screws loosening a few times over the course of a few weeks, but I put some Permatex on the threads and tightened them down without any further issues. The seat is well padded and comfortable to sit on, and the wood used is good quality hard wood that should last for years and years. My daughter likes it and borrows it often, my granddaughter plays with it every time she comes in my room, and I use it in the bathroom as a dressing stool. I would like if this stool was a little cheaper in price, but I have to admit that compared to other options being sold across the market, this is a quality product and well worth the price. I do recommend this stool.

6-MONTH UPDATE (1-STAR): Now that I've used this stool every day for just over six months, I'm sad to say I can't recommend this product. After daily tightening of the screws to keep the stool stable, I resorted to drilling holes and using long bolts with lock nuts. This only helped for a few days before it started wobbling again, albeit less than before. Last night a rung broke completely. Save yourself some aggravation and bypass this crappy stool (ha!).3-MONTH UPDATE (3 STARS): This stool is the perfect size for my needs, but unfortunately the screws holding it together constantly back out. As I use it every single day, I have to tighten them just about every other day. On a whim, I tried gluing the pieces together before tightening the screws, but as expected, it didn't work. My next step will be to drill holes and thru-bolt them with lock nuts. Also, one of the button tops popped off recently. So not the best quality.ORIGINAL REVIEW (5 STARS):This is the perfect height to allow me to rest when I'm working at my standing desk. Color and finish are nicer than I expected, and the unstained wood grain highly resembles farmed mahogany (very light in color, but the stain is very dark). Easy to put together -- everything you need is included. The padding is even more comfy than anticipated (though I wouldn't want to sit on it all day long).

I purchased this stool for my indoor cat to sit at the window & watch the birds. She loves it! It was a bit difficult putting the screws in under the seat, but turned out very nice.