I thought that this piece was lovely. I didn't know what to expect and so my standards were set relatively low. However, when my boyfriend and I received it and put it together, it came out beautifully! Great quality, super sturdy/strong and holds a pretty unbelievable amount of books/games/knickknacks and the like. We're excited to begin using it. Also, the directions are very easy to follow in regard to building it. This will not turn into a 5 day project. :)