Bamboogle Interiors Brazil Collection Modern Entry Bench in Rich Honey Caramel Finish

We ordered this not once, not twice, but three times! The packaging is totally insufficient. There was no styrofoam or cardboard corner protection whatsoever. The first one we got the bag of bolts, camlocks, and screws broke open. The parts were distributed througout the box and had scratched and dented the top of the table. We returned it and they sent another. Same exact thing happened again, except this one also had been dropped or crunched and so one of the edges of the table was damaged too. Third time was not exactly a charm, but good enough. The bag of parts was only partially ripped open and so there were only three very small dents in the table and no major scratches. Assembly is fairly straightforward and takes 30mins or so. The table itself is gorgeous, the bamboo textures are very unique and match our oak stairs nicely. The table also seems rugged and steady. The price is unbeatable. The manufacturer just needs to package these things much better for the beating they take during shipping.

I have purchased several sets of end tables (I use them as night tables) that came in the form of kits that required assembly because furniture kits are cheaper to buy and ship than pre-assembled furniture. Unfortunately, even though I've spent as much as $200 each for these do-it-yourself furniture kits, the finished product looks like what it is: cheap.As a result, every 2 years or so, I give the tables away and get another pair. I always tell myself: "No more kits; just get two good pieces, price be damned, and you'll have them forever." But the end tables I looked at in the $500-$1000 range, while nice, just didn't look like they were going to be worth shelling out that kind of dough.Then I came across these bamboo end tables. I knew that bamboo, with a grain every bit as beautiful as oak, teak, or walnut, was comparatively inexpensive because bamboo is plentiful. I love the design of these tables. They are strongly reminiscent of Jens Rissom end tables with "floating" tops, which were icons of 1950s high-end Danish modern design. It's a remarkably adaptable design. It works equally well with a modern, contemporary, or more traditional decor, such as country French.In addition, this table is solid wood; it isn't wood veneer over particle board. Since I have light oak furniture in my bedroom, and the honey bamboo table seemed to blend in well with my decor, I ordered two. I ordered them with some misgivings because these were again tables made from kits. I braced myself for disappointment.Mirable dictu, these tables, fully assembled, look very much like a pair of tables I looked at going for $500 each, only these are actually nicer. The tables have the solidity of a table assembled by the manufacturer. The quality of the workmanship is superb. The parts of the table--legs, side panels, top--fit perfectly against each other so that seams are flush, not "pretty flush," flush. In most cases, screws aren't screwed into the actual wood. They are screwed into brass sleeves, which eliminates misdrilled holes so common with kit furniture. It also means you can twist the screws in by hand. I used a flathead and a Philips screwdriver very briefly. But most assembly can simply be done by hand. Took me about 20 minutes per table.The instructions could have been a little clearer, but assembling this table isn't rocket science. I'm not especially skilled at assembling furniture from kits, and I did it without a problem. A word of warning, though: there are 16 bushings that are inserted into predrilled holes in a particular way. If you inadvertently put one in backward, you will not be able to get it out, and, as a result, you will not be able to assemble the table. The instructions are clear about how these bushings should be inserted. Take care that you don't make a mistake. It's irreversible.But wait till you see the result: these end tables are gorgeous! At 20 inches square, they're a great size, and the rich grain of the honey bamboo wood pairs beautifully with my light oak bed frame, dresser, and media center. Unless you get down on your hands and knees and look underneath, where you can see some of the hardware that holds the tables together, they are indistinguishable from fine furniture not made from a kit.I paid $160 or so each for these end tables. They look like $500 tables. Except that in the $500 price range, I didn't come across any tables this nice. I predict that in 2 years, I'll like them just as much as I do right now.

This is our second BAMBOOGLE furniture piece. Earlier this year, we also ordered from AMAZON.com the BAMBOOGLE Console Table - we were so pleased with the look, we decided to to go with the bamboo interior decorating theme for the living room, and thus ordered the BAMBOOGLE coffee table. Now with these two BAMBOOGLE pieces, a few other bamboo accessories such as tissue boxes and coasters, and complementing light olive green sectional and contemporary floor rug - dare I say, our living room looks 'fabulous.'Note, BAMBOOGLE furniture is not anything like the rickety rattan type furniture - BAMBOOGLE pieces have a very refined presentation that seems to be versatile for a diverse range of interior decorating themes.The table was very easy to assemble - it uses a system of cam locks and screws, everything pre-drilled. It took about 10 minutes to assemble.Shipping Problems-RESOLVED:It was actually more of a packaging problem - the furniture pieces were being sent to customers in their original box from the manufacturer, and consequently the furniture was arriving damaged.Previously having worked in the shipping industry, I know there are many types of boxes - when you go to your local big box and purchase a TV for example, the thin original manufacturer box it's in is intended for bulk container shipping(i.e. on palettes, wrapped in cellophane) - this thin container box is not intended to withstand being individually 'thrown' into planes and then 'dropped' onto trucks by the shipping carriers. Especially if it weighs 75 POUNDS, such as the BAMBOOGLE Coffee Table.When I received my first BAMBOOGLE Coffee Table, this was exactly what happened - the original manufacturer's box was badly damaged, and lost all its rigidity or ability to protect the product inside. Most of the small table components were undamaged- however some of the legs were dented, and the table top's edges crushed. I contacted both AMAZON.com and BAMBOOGLE.To my surprise, BAMGOOGLE was genuinely concerned with the situation and my bad customer experience. They immediately took action, and worked with AMAZON.com to send a better packed coffee table, which I received in perfect condition. Because of what happened, BAMBOOGLE products from AMAZON.com are sent in overpack, i.e. the original manufacturer box is placed into a thicker overpack box.Note, BAMBOOGLE really worked hard and fully investigated what happened - i.e. the type of box used for shipping; and the received box's damage and furniture damage - they were genuinely concerned with what went wrong, so that they could correct it, and get it right for the customer! I sincerely appreciate the time and effort they took to take care of me the customer(seemingly rarer for companies to do these days), and thus I am writing this 'customer review' of what turned out to be an 'excellent customer experience'-thank you BAMBOOGLE!

Upon assembling the table I was very disappointed to discover a crack running the entire length of the top sheet of the table. It looks bad and will surely be impossible to keep clean.

Table arrived on time, color is wonderful and i have a matching sofa table from the same manufacturer in the same color. Was so disappointed to unpack it and find two dark grey and white markings in the middle of the table top, it completely spoils the style and makes the table look grubby. If the imperfection was in a less noticeable place i would keep it to avoid the hassle of returning it.

The bamboo is quite nice, as others have said. The color is a warm honey brown. Fairly easy to put together. For me, it doesn't work very well in a small living room - it's a bit clunky - kind of like a piano bench. In a spacious living room, could work great.