This is such a great table, the finish is a little distressed which in my opinion adds to the charm of the item. It makes the item look vintage and not brand new. Though some may not like it. The assembly was really easy and the picture instructions were easy to follow. It took me like half an hour to assemble the entire table, and I am not a "do it yourselfer". I highly recommend this table, it's a great value for the price.