The bed rails say cherry (as ordered) but are decidedly mahogany or darker with a red tint if you hold it in the light just right. I have pictures. The instructions were garbage. There are very tiny illustrations only. The addition of the rails to the head and footboard by way out attachment blocks looks incredibly disheveled and like a mishmash of boards put together instead of a matching set. I'll not buy this brand of crib in the future- in fact I don't see me buying an all in one bed type in the future--too many holes visible from previous arrangements of the bed.