I think the table is solid wood. It's definitely not laminate, and It doesn't seem like veneer. Hounds: I think it's an old, very worn painted finish. Lazygardens: planning to do chalk paint, I think. All white, but distressed. The chairs too, and I think I'm going to cover the rush seats. The pedastal and the underside of the table. It has 6 chairs, a leaf, and a pad. I thought $75 was good for just the table (in the condition that its in, pretty good), leaf, and pad. If I'm not sold on the chairs I'm going to keep looking for ladder back or something similar. I even thought about keeping two original chairs and mixing with 4 very simple chairs to break it up some.

Yes, I do think the rug gripper pad may be better. I have the shelf liner on there right now. Thanks, Linda and Nicole. That would be a quick fix - if not, I will need to do the rings and clips. Les, I did switch the cushions - Chemocurl had suggested that above as well. I just did it - and the stripes are about 3/8" off -- not much - but it would be noticable. I don't know if the cushion is too large or not. When I postioned both cushions right now, they felt about the same going in. It is just so strange - as the reclining one is no problem. The store was not much help. I would love to get an answer - I looked on the company website and there is no address, but I am sure I can get it from my store if I want. The chairs were made in Indiana or Illinois - can't remember. We purchased a sofa as well and that is just fine (same manufacturer). Thanks again for all of your help.

I'm not a kitty person either but I'm wondering could she have had a small stroke? I'd ask the vet if that's a possible explanation. I have a friend whose dog had a stroke. The dog was paralyzed on his left side. Not all strokes paralyze, of course, but this one did. The vet wanted to put the dog down and my friend, who took his dog to work with him every day wouldn't hear of it. He took him home and fed him bee pollen and put aloe vera juice in his water (both have to be started out with very small doses gradually built up) and the dog completely healed. That amazed the vet. Maybe not pertinent, but I thought I'd throw this in.

Yes, there is one sure way to avoid puddling of leather, and that is to never use the sofa. Sorry, couldn't resist, as I get asked this question several times a week. I sell a lot of leather furniture and can tell you this about puddling: 1) Know the leather you are buying. There is cowhide, and there is steerhide, and it runs in grades. Cowhide (female) will always stretch more and is less desirable for that reason, so it costs less to the manufacturers. Steerhide (male) is less prone to stretch. Companies like Hancock and Moore will only use A Grade Steerhide, and it makes a difference. The problem you will run into is 99% of all furniture salespeople will go blank if you ask them this question and will never have heard of this. 2) Yes, you can can extra full backs and extra firm seats which will cut down on puddling. However, you have to find a balance between firm/full and comfort levels as their are many density levels of foam you can request from the better makers. As you increase that firmness and fullness, your comfort level declines. I have had customers so concerned with puddling that they make their sofa into something that is almost as stiff as a wooden park bench and its miserable to sit in. Then - they get to buy all new cores for seats and backs for about $ 900 to get then softer. I recommend most customers go one step up in firmness/fullness, but not more than that unless they are over 300 lb. Choose wisely 3) Any cushion with down is going to puddle more and have a more relaxed look to it. The Marshall Unit Spring Cores will not help. 4) When the piece ages get new seat and back cores for it. That can really helps a lot. There are various replacement policies in place from most the makers - ask. For example Hancock and Moore does free back and seat cores to the original owner, not even a shipping charge. Bradington Young does seats only as replacements but you pay the shipping (Backs are full replacement price). Duane Collie