They may have used small dowl rods or biscuits to join the chair. Which usually means a void/rebate is created and then a proud piece glued into the void. (Think male/female sockets etc). So you may be able to gently tap (rubber mallet, not metal hammer) to get the pieces apart. Use fabric or thick wadding or sponge to protect your timber when you whack it.

The chairs are a good match. Leather is probably best, great for kids' spills and accidents, but any fabric will do. Not sure on purple with green - those two colours together clash a bit for me. The green kitchen looks great, and I'm a fan of dark wood. The only thing throwing it off at the moment is the yellowish coloured walls. If they were repainted a soft white, this would make the green and the dark wood really pop, giving you a fresh and sophisticated, calm look which I think would work well. You could then upholster in a green to match the kitchen which would look appealing. Finish it off by some fresh white flowers as accents in the room to draw the eye and you've got a beautifully transformed space with a fabulous feature dining area :)

Is this where you are looking? http://www.houzz.com.au/user/sarsfieldbrooke Looks like they are in NZ - and you can use the Contact Me button to ask a question...

Hi Jennifer K, thanks for your comments. The photos you have posted are really lovely but not really suited to our environment and house, which I know is impossible to tell from one photo. We have built a modern farmhouse on 10 acres. That room looks out to beautiful green countryside and the river below. The dining room is a bit of a feature and is completely different to the rest of our relaxed lodgey style house but I don't want it to be too modern, if that makes sense. The photos have given me a few ideas so thank you so much for your help!