I had read some of the negative reviews which mentioned receiving damaged pieces and was a little nervous that I might have a similar experience. As insurance, I used my phone to record the entire unpacking process to document any damage and show how everything was packed in case I needed to repack it for return. I needn't have worried. Everything in the box was in perfect condition.
I had the package delivered into my garage and unpacked it there. As I unpacked it, I carried each piece from the garage to my bedroom where it was to be assembled. All were unblemished. I compared the parts present against the list in the instruction booklet and all pieces were present and accounted for. Just in case, the manufacturer includes a package of extra fasteners, etc. in case any were missing or defective. I didn't have to open that package as I had everything I needed.
All in all the instructions were clear and pretty straightforward. The only time I had trouble orienting a part was the magnetic door stops — one of the first parts attached. Common sense told me I should mount them with the bare magnet pointing outward but, to me, the drawing in the instructions appeared to show it pointing inward. I decided to follow what I thought the directions were telling me to do — that was a mistake. When I mounted the doors (one of the last steps) it became clear the bare magnet needed to face outward, toward the door. It was pretty simple to switch its orientation.
Almost everything is fastened together with Phillips-head screws of various sizes. I had some difficulty finding screwdrivers to fit — all except the very smallest Craftsman-type screwdriver I had was too large. I used a Phillips-head screwdriver from a set of precision (miniature) screwdrivers I use when working on my computer. I had to be very careful — I didn't strip any heads but I came close a couple of times. Particle board can be surprisingly hard to screw into. I had to be careful with the smaller screws to make sure they went in straight. They sometimes wanted to tip to one side or another.
The holes for the shelf supports for the glass shelf were rather tight. I could put one in with my bare hands but the other three required some gentle tapping with a hammer. Not a big deal but I dread to think about removing them if I want the glass shelf at a different height.
Full disclosure… I'm 74 years old and arthritic and don't have the stamina I once had. Working alone it took me a span of 2 days to complete the assembly of the cabinet. When my body told me we were done for the day I listened to it! Someone younger or with an assistant could do it much quicker — probably within a 2-3 hour period. If you read the directions carefully and take your time, you should be able to successfully assemble this cabinet.
The results are worth it. It looks like a much more expensive piece of furniture than it is. It's sturdy and attractive and I expect to get years of service from it. It blends well with the Danish Modern bedroom furniture I've had for years.
So far I'm delighted
I had read some of the negative reviews which mentioned receiving damaged pieces and was a little nervous that I might have a similar experience. As insurance, I used my phone to record the entire unpacking process to document any damage and show how everything was packed in case I needed to repack it for return. I needn't have worried. Everything in the box was in perfect condition. I had the package delivered into my garage and unpacked it there. As I unpacked it, I carried each piece from the garage to my bedroom where it was to be assembled. All were unblemished. I compared the parts present against the list in the instruction booklet and all pieces were present and accounted for. Just in case, the manufacturer includes a package of extra fasteners, etc. in case any were missing or defective. I didn't have to open that package as I had everything I needed. All in all the instructions were clear and pretty straightforward. The only time I had trouble orienting a part was the magnetic door stops — one of the first parts attached. Common sense told me I should mount them with the bare magnet pointing outward but, to me, the drawing in the instructions appeared to show it pointing inward. I decided to follow what I thought the directions were telling me to do — that was a mistake. When I mounted the doors (one of the last steps) it became clear the bare magnet needed to face outward, toward the door. It was pretty simple to switch its orientation. Almost everything is fastened together with Phillips-head screws of various sizes. I had some difficulty finding screwdrivers to fit — all except the very smallest Craftsman-type screwdriver I had was too large. I used a Phillips-head screwdriver from a set of precision (miniature) screwdrivers I use when working on my computer. I had to be very careful — I didn't strip any heads but I came close a couple of times. Particle board can be surprisingly hard to screw into. I had to be careful with the smaller screws to make sure they went in straight. They sometimes wanted to tip to one side or another. The holes for the shelf supports for the glass shelf were rather tight. I could put one in with my bare hands but the other three required some gentle tapping with a hammer. Not a big deal but I dread to think about removing them if I want the glass shelf at a different height. Full disclosure… I'm 74 years old and arthritic and don't have the stamina I once had. Working alone it took me a span of 2 days to complete the assembly of the cabinet. When my body told me we were done for the day I listened to it! Someone younger or with an assistant could do it much quicker — probably within a 2-3 hour period. If you read the directions carefully and take your time, you should be able to successfully assemble this cabinet. The results are worth it. It looks like a much more expensive piece of furniture than it is. It's sturdy and attractive and I expect to get years of service from it. It blends well with the Danish Modern bedroom furniture I've had for years.