
This bench does NOT have a manufacturing defect, as the previous reviewer stated. Its crafstmanship and durability are excellent, and it's very easy to put together.
I ordered this bench directly from Target in May 2007, and I absolutely love it.It doesn't have much of a "distressed" look; all the paint is still intact and the lines are clean.Each cushion -- there are three separate ones, as opposed to one giant one -- has a zippered twill slipcover, which makes cleaning easy.Other reviewers on Target's website have mentioned the "flimsiness" of the cushions, and although they are made of extremely lightweight foam, I don't have a problem with them.I imagine if you had very active or rambunctious children (or pets), you might have a harder time keeping the cushions on the bench.
The baskets arrive flat and simply have to be opened and folded to assemble.The entire bench took me about an hour to put together at a leisurely pace.You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver for assembly; all the other "tools" are included, including wooden dowels and glue.I also used a hammer to lightly tap some of the dowels in.
The legs flare outwards, adding a slight Asian element to what would otherwise be a classical European piece of furniture.The wood used in this bench is solid and thick, except for the backing piece, which is a long rectangle of plyboard stained the same color as the rest of the wood. But no one ever sees or comes in contact with that piece anyway, so it doesn't matter. The bench is very sturdy: I sit on it (and pile heavy stuff on top of it) all the time.
I actually keep the bench at the foot of my queen-size bed.It looks fantastic and was far less expensive than the Pottery Barn lookalikes.
A few stray pieces of straw come off the baskets in the first few months, and I imagine if you threw them around or were rough with them, they might come apart.They're not the sturdiest baskets ever made, but they serve their purpose for me.If you store anything particularly heavy in the baskets, though, you may want to attach a few small pieces of felt to the underside so that they don't scratch the wood base.
I really love this bench, and I highly recommend it for its looks, durability, and functionality!
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Entryway Bench with 3 Baskets/Cushions - BlackProduct Description: Some assembly required.
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