The rattan lacing is very slightly darker than the wayfair pictures. I referred to customer posted pictures before purchasing. With that being said, it's a beautiful piece of furniture. The padding isn't exactly hard but, it's sufficient. If you think of it as a dining chair your expectations would be accurate. I do not use it that way however, I bought it as an accent chair that I don't expect people to sit in often (I live alone). Overall, I bought it knowing what I was buying and it is an amazing chair!