Thanks for the insight. The chairs we have now are wood and no one has complained -- maybe that is just what we are used to. The new table would pretty much be used for eating family meals and nothing else. I don't care for the tie-on chair cushions either.

The chairs I am looking to purchase have an off-white/invory colored microfiber type upholstry that is said to be very stain resistant. I think I am most worried about cat fur and having to remove it constantly if one of our cats desides that is their favorite place to lay -- they rarely lay on the chairs now, but they are like a magnet to new things in the house, so I just won't know until I get it in the house.. I guess I could always make some kind of cover to put on them when we're not using them and then remove it (and the fur) when we're going to use it.

Sarah........