This product is well constructed.   Time consuming to build but worth it.  I feel the pieces should be marked better.  Some of them had no ID tags on them but managed by process of elimination to figure it out.   It is definitely more butter cream than white.  Some of the pieces were even more grey.  Perhaps thats why they call it distressed. I am in the process of Chalk painting and waxing it to coordinate with my dining table and give it a bit more paint covereage.  I did not plan on this when I purchased it.  Its more like unfinished wood than a whitewash!  I would certainly reccomend it for the quality of the build and plan to keep it around for many years!