I gave this as a gift and just put it together last night. Didn't take too long, didn't make too many mistakes--I wish the parts were marked to make it easier--but that is the way with most cat trees I have purchased that need assembly. Color is regular beige--looked a little richer online, but it matches the other cat trees. Really cute and lots of places for lots of cats to sit--and they did. Very well made--gave it to a rescue so LOTS of cats can fit on it.