This is true to color. It's espresso. It's suppose to be dark. Pretty easy to put together. The features are awesome. Lots of options for heat or not. High flame or low. It is very nice. The only thing is the front that looks like stone. Of course it is not.but looks real enough. But you can see some of the nail marks when they put it in. Just get a furniture pen and Mark over them. Looks perfect!!!