The shelf itself is very nice and fit my needs perfectly. Pine isnt exactly high end wood, but with the dark stain, it looks nice and is sturdy. Contrary to other reviews, it was very easy to put together. I did it by myself and it took about 20 minutes. It is quite large, so ensure the measurements fit your needs. The big issue I had, though, is the smell. The smell is real and it is VERY strong. Im debating returning it, but for now, its going to sit in my garage to see if the vapors will dissipate over the next 3 weeks. I would not recommend anyone buying it for this reason. The Mfg needs to come up with a better process for the varnish process as this is not ready for customer delivery as is. 2 stars because I like the look and construction, but the smell kills any appreciation of it.