The stool is an aesthetically pleasing piece. It has been made by a sub-par manufacturer in China as some of the pieces are poorly finished. The assembly instructions that come with the product are insufficient and poor; the labeling of various parts that have to be put together is, at best, skimpy. I have assembled furniture for decades but had to turn this one over to a handyman for completion. Buyers who do not have endless hours to play around with the assembly should add $50 to the cost as they will need the help of a handyman.