The quality of this ladder bookcase was beyond what I expected. The frame and shelves are very sturdy. The finish is a realistic looking wood grain. It is very dark brown, almost black. Assembly took 2 of us about 3 hours. There are an amazing number of parts, but they are all labeled and well organized, and the assembly instructions are clear and easy to follow. The interior of the drawers and the drawer slides are not very sturdy, so I wouldn't recommend placing anything heavy in them. Overall, I am very happy with this product and highly recommend it.