This bookcase looks just like the picture. I am using it to hold cookbooks and knick knacks in my kitchen/dining room and it hold up well. My cookbooks are able to stand up in the shelves (though it is close). I put a legal pad on it though and that needs to go in sideways. The metal is very substantial (if a little rough) but the wood is like heavy plywood with a "wood laminate" on top. This makes wood shelves look a bit cheap, but it suits my needs. I would not test the loading too much on the shelves though since the wood versus metal vertical support is not equal and may result in tipping.