This bookcase looked just like the picture! Went together easily, looks simple and has very clean lines. The ladder-like sides do mean that the bookcase does not sit flat to your wall. This means your floors have to be perfectly level or, you'll need some very small shims under a leg or two. I painted small shim pieces to match our wood floor, can't tell they're there. After a couple of months we had to go back and tighten all the screws again as it was feeling a little unstable. Needless to say, my heavy items are on the bottom two shelves. All that said, this piece is perfect for what we needed....a taller piece to visually balance an awkwardly placed closet door. It is a display piece, not something I'd jam full of stuff if I were short of storage.