Love the contemporary style of the bed.   It is not cream.  Cream means there are yellow undertones.  Our walls are a butter color so you can see that it is more gray.  However, it works out with our white accessories.    The mattress sits on the frame, not in it.   It was fairly easy for us to assemble in less than one hour.  My husband read the directions and I followed them.  He had to help adjust the last piece.   This will be used in our second guest room and I feel it is sturdy enough to last a very long time.