Color is true to the ad. Assembly, while not a party, went well and was simple and straightforward. Unit is solid. It can hold many heavy books without sagging. It really is solid wood, even the back panels which are thin plywood and finished on both sides. Frankly the only reason I downgraded a "star" was the packaging. Don't get me wrong, it fully protected the product but there was SO MUCH polystyrene. I get it. Polystyrene is cheap and it works but honestly, I'd have paid a little more to have been able to recycle all the packaging.