I found this comment on overstock: This piece is exactly the color (rich and dark), length, height and beauty I was hoping for! After reading some reviews about the staining, I took a cloth to the bench before placing it in the intended spot. Some staining did come off, and it has a funky odor, but that will go away with time. The reed top is sturdy enough for me to sit on, but it might be too fragile for anyone over 175 pounds. I've purchased quite a few things from Overstock, and this is probably in the top three as far as smart purchases goes.