I started working on the chairs this afternoon. DH and I have decided on one coat of stain (Shaker Maple color) and multiple coats of polyurethane. Here is a "before and after" picture - actually, one chair stained (not urethaned yet) and one chair still unfinished. If I had known the stained one would almost disappear against our cabinets, I would have tried to put it up against a lighter-colored background.