Especially considering the price, this piece has completely surpassed our expectations. the wood is sold and heavy, no pressboard or shoddy veneers. there was some assembly, but everything fit together perfectly, and put together, it's rock solid and very weighty, no jiggly legs or wobbly frame. i feel like this piece is going to be with us for a long time.it accepted staining and painting with no problem. after pairing it with some stools, we now have the perfect casual dining area for our apartment's kitchen.