The only thing gold in this desk are the drawer handles. See photo. The metal frame is a dreadful matte mustard yellow. The top itself has a wood grain finish that is noticeably textured, not a glossy smooth finish as it appears in the photos. The wood texture hardly fits with the modern aesthetic as advertised. As for the assembly, it is mind-boggling complex, even for an experienced DIY like myself. There are 24 unique pieces, and a mountain of various screws. I had to look over the pictorial instructions several times to get a gist of what to do. Had the manufacturer created at an assembly video and posted it on Wayfair or on their own website that would have been far more customer friendly. If you are looking for a modern white and true gold aesthetic, this desk is not it. The only reason I am unlikely to return it is because of the hassle factor of re-packaging it, and the shipping costs.