My rating of this TV stand is not related to its style or appearance - it looks exactly as I'd expected it to based on the photos and I'm very happy with my selection.
However, the item arrived damaged in two spots: the top front corner is slightly dented in, and one of the shelves has a corner of it almost completely broken off. Because the exterior dent is minor, and the break is located on the shelf and not on a visible part, I'll be keeping this piece. It was disappointing to have it arrive this way though.
The directions are helpful and thorough if you follow them carefully (pay close attention to the diagrams). I had an issue similar to other reviewers that the pre-drilled holes weren't exactly to size and I had to enlarge them myself. Nothing major, but it did delay my set up time.