First of all, I don't write many reviews, not that I don't appreciate them, but I just rarely make time for them as when I do, I really put a lot of thought into it and usually takes a lot of time. However, I needed to write this review to express how impressed I am with this product. I also want to make it known that I am a discerning shopper and work for a very high end furniture manufacturer.
I needed something for my bedroom and didn't want it to break the bank. I actually started out looking for simple bookcase but I stumbled upon this in my search. The design resembled a very expensive piece of furniture sold by the company I work for. Naturally, I clicked on it to check it out. The pictures show decent quality and it was the size I needed. I read the reviews and they were decent also. I couldn't believe the price at $150.00. I decided to pull the plug and order it and I'm so glad I did.
I wasn't sure what to expect but I was immediately impressed by the manner and quality of the packaging. Everything arrived perfect and the exact hardware came with it, also packaged well and easy to sort out. The different parts were actually separated in different compartments in plastic and labeled with letters. The wood components themselves were also marked clearly with numbers so there were no mistaking the different parts (although 5 & 6 were a bit confusing). But the best part was that the instructions were VERY clear and easy to follow with accompanying illustrations to describe how they go together. Every part was present and accounted for and there was NO damage to any of it.
Now, I am a 53 y/o single woman who happens to be very handy. I love putting things together and have had many bouts with IKEA furniture where I just wanted to kick the damn thing. I took my time and set all the parts out for easy access. I followed the instructions and worked with care and attention. It came together beautifully. There was the part where I missed a step and had to disassemble part of it to put in the missing piece, but that wasn't too difficult and took only a few minutes.
A few words of advice if you buy this and want to ensure proper assembly the first time. Make sure you put the back panel in with the wood side facing the front. I had it backwards (DUH )and had to disassemble part of it to turn it around. But again, not a big deal. Follow the instructions step by step and don't skip steps. Whoever wrote the instructions sequenced the steps perfectly for a logical assembly. I also used a powered drill which helped speed it up a bit.
Now this is not an heirloom quality piece of furniture and I didn't expect it to be. But the veneer is nice and overall quality is excellent for a product at this price. It actually looks more expensive than it is and does the job I need it to do. Now, I don't know how this will hold up to a houseful of active children, because it's particle board covered with wood veneer. It is very light, which I like so I can move it if needed. I have a lot of very high quality furniture and cannot even budge them and sometimes that can be very frustrating.
I highly recommend this product for it's overall quality and value. It works great as a table piece in our home.
