I love this bed! It's super cute and I love that you can adjust the height of the headboard. So if you like tall mattress / box spring combo, you won't completely cover it with the addition of pillows. With the 12 slats and my mattress type, I am able to go without a box spring (which I prefer). The slats are spaced approx. 6-7 in apart. 
I had a friend help with assembly and it took about an hour to complete. Instructions were easy to follow. Something I didn't realize or think about when purchasing this bed, my cats went straight to the headboard upholstery for a scratching post.. Sigh... Not a fault of the bed just an FYI for those with cats.