I searched all over the web and in store for a small kitchen island that looked well built and this is the best one I could find. It was easy to assemble, and the medium-stained wood looks chic against the brushed metal underparts. It is slightly edgy without being too industrial looking, and it works great in our transitional-style kitchen. I could nit pick over the joints looking a little cheap but it looks much more expensive than it cost, so that wouldn't be fair.