We're having 3 types of countertop material in our kitchen, too, so I understand. Our island will have a wood top that we're making. I don't plan to cut on ours either. Sorry, no pictures yet...And I really am very sorry, because I thought it would be finished and I'd be using my kitchen by now! No such luck.

Have you looked in the Finished Kitchens blog for kitchens with wood countertop? Click on 'Categories,' and choose 'countertops', then look for the wood choices.

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog

Here you go, I think you've seen mine before anyway. I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine. I ordered it from Grothouse Lumber in PA and they shipped it to me in just under 2 weeks. It's walnut, face grain, with a Marine Finish - so it's safe to eat off of but not to be used for cutting, which like you, I had no intention of doing anyway. everytime I walk by I touch it. Tonight I accidentally (eek) left a beer on it for a while (a good half hour) and there was absolutely no mark whatsoever. none. Not that I'd make a habit of it but I was surprised.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grothouse Lumber

I have three different surfaces in my kitchen and love it. My BB island came from Grothouse Lumber like buffettgirl's and I couldn't be happier.

Here's my island - Brazilian cherry, end grain with oil finish, I cut/chop on mine - after 4 or so months of doing so it still looks like new.

{{!gwi}}

We have 3 surfaces in our kitchen - maple butcher block from John Boos (via oldworldbutcherblock) on the vast majority, then a raised bar of mahogany (made by our contractor) and dakota mahogany on the perimeter. Butcherblock is 1.5" rock maple

A picture:

We cut on the island (the raised bar is in the process of being varnished by DH) and it looks great. I keep it oiled and love that I don't have to flip about people helping me cut. I do use cutting boards for meat.

HTH!

We have soapstone on our perimeter but have a free standing butcherblock island. We bought it locally on sale several years ago. We love it. I started cutting and chopping on it the day we got it and the "wear" just seems to make it look better and better.

We have teak on the cooking and sink area, marble on the coffee bar area, soapstone on the landing by the ovens and the baking center, and butcher block on the island. The island came from a restaurant supply on-line and was a great bargain. We love it, it is 2" thick. Caroline

We have mahogany on the island and love it. We went to a local furniture builder and had them make it for us. The island top is 33" x 118" x 2". It is made from three 10' long pieces of mahogany. If we were doing it over we would definitely go with mahogany again.

We got a 12' length of cherry butcherblock from Lumber Liquidators for about $330 which we will use to top an end table, a faux end table (disguise for big ventilation box) and our petfood hutch. DH cut and routed an ogee edge on the piece for the petfood hutch then I sanded it and gave it a preliminary oiling and it turned out great! Before purchasing I researched A LOT online and LL were half the price of their closest competitors. One caution, though: 12' of butcherblock is REALLY HEAVY!!!!

We have a 25 year old "kitchen island bar" from Boos and it's great -- all hard maple. I've seen lots of their butcher blocks through the years, and they always look very good. The wood always looks uniform. I'm very picky and don't like when boards aren't chosen carefully and you get gray ones with whiter ones mixed with yellower ones. Theirs always look like the best quality you can get. We haven't chopped directly on it, but we have otherwise abused it by not keeping it oiled. So it is a little blotchy and olive oil-stained from all these years. But if we'd treated it carefully, it'd look as good as the day we bought it.

We are still in the process of putting our kitchen together, but have decided on granite for the main countertops and a butcher block top for the island. I too am in the process of figuring out where to get the island top from. I spoke to Grothouse (after learning of them here on Gardenweb) and would feel very comfortable ordering from them. I also spoke to a company out of Texas called Living Elements. They sent me two samples, one edge grain and one end grain, both out of Mesquite (which apparently has a very similar profile as Brazilian Cherry and also looks very similar). The samples are gorgeous... If I went with Living Elements I will save about $1000 over going with Grothouse. Grothouse seems like a safer bet given how much everyone here on GW love them, but there is the budget to think of .... I am still undecided.

Has anyone ever heard of Living Elements out of Texas?

Saw this table this morning and thought I would share the link. It is beautiful! Wish I could fit it in my kitchen!

Here is a link that might be useful: Butcher Block table from Napa Style

Rhome10 - could you please share the details of the wood top you are making? Such as the wood species and how you plan on doing it? We've wondered about making our own, as well, but aren't sure how to go about it. TIA!

pupwhipped, mine is 1 3/4" thick.

Our island has a maple butcherblock. And yes, we cut on it. Roll out pizza dough. Put grocery bags down. Entertain ... with lots of red wine stains left behind. And it just ages nicely without looking "worn".

Can't tell you much about where to get it as our gc ordered it.

The picture was taken before the last oiling. It looks slightly<.> darker now.
{{!gwi}}

it's not an island, but I got my 32" deep wood welded lyptus butcherblock counter through Chefdepot (made by Michigan Maple block).

http://www.chefdepot.net/butcherblock.htm
http://www.mapleblock.com/main/butcher-block-countertops-11/

{{!gwi}}

Quietlife 3, we cut down 3 large Douglas fir trees before we started building our house, and had them milled to use as interior trim, etc. in the house. Since it's there and already paid for (basically free, at this point), that's what we'll use for the island counter. I was going to do an edge-grain butcher block, taking some of the 5/4 x 4" stock, up on edge, and glue them all together with Tite Bond II or III...Can't remember which right now. That would have made a bb slab the size of the island and nearly 3 1/2" thick.

Running short on time and material we came up with Plan B. Since I'm not going to cut on it, and the face grain has a little more interest, we put down an underlayment...Actually 3 layers of 3/4" MDF, because I still want the countertop to appear to be 3+" thick. We'll take strips of the fir, glue the edges together, face up, then edge them with a piece that's 1" x 3 1/2" (5/4 x 4" stock). So it will be like a shallow box, upside down...Like a wooden slipcover over the MDF. I'll finish it with Waterlox. I hope this makes sense.

Yes, Rhome, it makes sense to me. Thank you for answering!

mammadaddapaige, I don't know anything about that Living Elements place, but I sure like the look of their large end grain pieces...think that is what it was called. Looks like it has swirls in it or something. Interesting. Thanks, also, to everyone else for your pictures. Some gorgeous wood out there for sure!

Hi, I bought the larger 30 x 30 Boos block and love it. I didnt have room for anything bigger. It took me over two months to get it after order as I had the legs cut down and locking wheels put on. It has been very handy for me, dishes can be loaded from dish washer, put on top and wheeled around to their locations. Next party I plan on putting goodies on it and wheeling it into the game room. I could even use it as an extra buffet in the dining room. I really wanted something larger but did not have room. However, I think this block not only gets a lot of compliments but has many purposes. Here it a picture of a smaller one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Boos AB meat block