I really like this piece! It's definitely different in design. I like the metal with the glass, it fits my home décor overall very well. I like that it's different, tired of the same 20 or so pieces everyone is using in some way or another. Blah. It's definitely brown, not black, but I knew that going in so I'm fine with it. I have a table in my hallway that I wanted something to cover entire top of, didn't want a ton of pieces. This worked well! I popped some eucalyptus and olive leaf branches in and done. Good buy. - J's wife.