Exactly what we thought we were getting when we ordered the bed. Yes it is laminated particle board, but every hole is pre-drilled so the chances of spoiling the integrity of the particle board is slim. Yes you have to remove the baseboard. So you save the piece(s) and trim them to fit the new area and re-install. Even behind the headboard to cover the "unsightly" unpainted area. There was no missing hardware, even a couple of spares. Takes two people about 4-5 hours to put together. I'm very handy around the house and I wouldn't like putting this together by myself. To awkward and cumbersome. The joints on the molding are spot on. All in all, a good looking piece of furniture.