darker color than photo. a true Espresso color. Assembly was a little challenge. there are 2 sets of L brackets.. but what they don't tell you they are slightly different. 6 are true right angle, and the other 6 are more like a 50 degree angle. so I assembled 3/4 of it and found I had mixed up the brackets and had to redo the entire thing. the one side is a right angle but the side with the scratching fabric, is angled so needs the 6 50 degree angle brackets on that side. Once I put them on the right side, it went together fine. it just took me 3 times as long as it should have.