This was our finishing touch on a custom built-in dining nook we just had built. This bench fits perfectly at the table, and its simple style goes well with the custom nook-- not too country and not too modern. It feels sturdy to sit on. It's solid wood and the seat is wide enough I feel comfortable having our young, fidgety children sit on it as their regular seat at the table. The color is SLIGHTLY off-white in color (not a bright white), and has more of a matte finish than many of the other benches we saw (not high gloss).