It is  exactly what I expected pertaining to functionality.  The size is excellent and I really have a few empty spaces.  It gives the room/space between the knives and I was able to put all of my steak knives in the block.  I gave 4 stars not 5 because of the color.  It is not brown at all, it is beige or tan and the picture displays a varied brownish color.   There are no variations and I hope that I can stain it so it would be darker.  Overall, it is pretty but not what I prefer.