We love this firepit and have used it all summer!  It's more gray than the blue you see in the picture. As for assembly it was a pretty easy set up. The gated bars at the bottom don't fit securely on, so sometimes they'll fall off, but it hasn't been a huge deal. Spray the top with Rustoleum to prevent any rusting. Overall my boyfriend and I are very pleased with it! If you are wanting a great firepit for a good price, I definitely recommend this one. We're planning on using it the rest of fall!