I bought this writing desk (Nov. 22, 2013) because it was the perfect size and color for the room I was decorating despite reading the reviews, but please beware that all of the reviews are TRUE. First, it arrived in a beat-up box with styrofoam pieces coming out of the corners. There were fracture surface cracks in two places in the wood (luckily in spots you won't notice much). The color GRAY was more a LAVENDER purplegray. And it is cheaply constructed pine wood (made in China) with a slightly strange smell after first assembled. Therefore, with all its issues, it is overpriced -- however, I am still keeping it because it fits the space in my room perfectly. But buyer be aware -- it's rough around the edges and not high quality by any means.