I bought the Martha Stewart 7-piece outdoor dining set because the photos looked like a magazine spread. The teak-look frame, the slatted table, the whole vibe. First week, I'm sitting outside, coffee in hand, thinking I nailed it. Then my neighbor—who's heavier than me—sits down and can barely get his legs under the table. The armrests hit the table's apron. He had to angle his chair. I ignored the armrest clearance when I ordered. That was the mistake.
Here's the thing: the set includes six chairs and a 63-inch table. The chairs look standard, but the armrests are low and stick out wide. If your table has a thick apron—which this one does—the armrests collide with the table base. You need at least 4 inches of clearance between the armrest tip and the table's underside. I didn't measure. I measured the overall width of the chair (22 inches) and the table (63 inches) but not the armrest-to-table gap. Rookie error.
What to do instead: measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the table apron, then measure from the floor to the top of the armrest. If the armrest sits higher than the apron, you're fine. If it's lower, you'll be sliding chairs sideways to get in. I ended up swapping two chairs with a different set I had—not ideal. The Outdoor Wood Dining Table: First-Week Setup and the One Decision That Decides Everything article covers the same issue from the table side.
Also, the material: the set is claimed to be weather-resistant, but the cushions (if you get the cushioned version) fade within eight weeks of full sun. I didn't buy cushions; I used the plain aluminum frame. The frame itself is holding up okay after a month, but the powder coating on the arms is already showing micro-scratches from everyday use. Not rust, but I can see it becoming a problem next spring.
Assembly was two hours with a second person. The instructions are vague about which screws go where—you'll guess. The tabletop has a slight warp in the middle section, not visible unless you put a level on it. I left it because returning a 7-piece set would be a nightmare. Boxes are heavy; the delivery guy dropped one on my porch and dinged the table edge. Check the cardboard before you sign.
If I could redo it, I'd measure the armrest clearance and also check the seat height. The chairs are 17.5 inches at the seat, which is standard, but with the armrests, your hips get pushed forward. I'm 5'10", and my knees hit the underside of the table. Cello Dining Chair: The Seat Height That Made Me Return the First Set covers seat height mistakes in detail.
The quality is fine for the price—around $700–800 for the set. Not a bargain, not a ripoff. But the armrest clearance is the dealbreaker. If you have a big table apron or a bulky table base, skip the armrest chairs. Get armless ones. Or go with a different config. The Retro Dining Chairs Set of 4: What $200 vs $800 Actually Buys article shows you what a little more money gets you in terms of chair design.
In the end, the one factor that decides this buy is the gap between the armrest and the table. Measure it before you order. If you can't find the spec, email the seller. Don't be like me, stuck with chairs that don't fit properly.
More guides in Dining Chairs.