The dark taupe is more of a gray color, which is what I wanted.  It does show as more of a gray in the photo as well, so I took a chance and was very pleased with the result.  However, if you want a taupe that is more brown, then this is not the one for you.  Putting the item together was a little tricky, but manageable.  The table is very lightweight and easily moved if the dog bumps into it, which is something to keep in mind if you want to put a pricey vase on display.