Rough hewn is terrific and sets it apart from a hundred other wooden mantels. I would have been happy with any of the stains- we chose dark chocolate. Solid build, easy install, very secure on the wall. There are knots in the wood every so often (read: craters), so just be aware. You can see a couple in my close up.

The box really had no padding when it was shipped and I am surprised it wasn't ruined. There was a 2-3 inch crack on one edge, but is not noticeable, so I won't worry about it for the time being. It also had a heavy stain smell.