I joke with my friends that this desk came in 3,000 pieces and honestly I may not be far off.  While it did take a lot of patience and time to put it together myself, it is a really solid desk that looks much more expensive than it actually is.  When all was said and done, I'm really glad I got it.  It's beautiful and functional and people think I spent a lot more on it than I actually did.  Great purchase.