So I want to state that this item was not perfect. There is a slight gap between the board that goes across and where it attaches. There are a few shallow dents in the wood that appear to have been there before it was stained which rules out possible poor packaging or handling. The finish is just a little uneven in some spots where it looks like the swipe of a rag wasnt gone over again. Things like that. But this table is beautiful and sturdy which is exactly what i was expecting..i was not expecting perfect. It is a rich dark brown/black with some lighter grains showing through, and it's very heavy duty and took me about 20 minutes to put together by myself. Directions we're simple and everything was labeled well. Also, this table came to me within 4 days of ordering it. Very proud of this purchase!