is this butcher block top too busy? see pic

15 years ago

Came across this great shop today and love this butcher block top BUT is it too busy and sometimes simple is more (meaning go with plain jane wood).

http://www.wisconsincommonmarket.com/vendorlogos/340_wcm_kitchentable_view3.jpg

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Comments (5)

User
15 years ago
Oh that is a beauty. We have a local man that makes tops like that and I have been meaning to get one some day. As to busy it would depend on what else you have going on in the kitchen. Is this top going to be the focal point? On an island or part of a countertop? How much day to day use? Lots of questions to answer. But it sure is pretty . c
palimpsest
15 years ago
I think it depends on how you are going to use it. If the cabinetry was subdued and this was the focal point, for example, it could be great.
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I have an thick end-grain square butcherblock that sits next to the sink and is the non-meat cutting/chopping worksurface we use on an almost daily basis. It gets wiped off several times and then gets a more vigorous cleaning at the end. I have another thinner board I use for cutting meat that is easier to scrub clean in the sink. When I first got the block I drenched it in pure tung oil thinned with citrus solvent. Let it soak in. Put more on. Repeat, repeat. Let it dry until it didn't smell. What happens over time is that the center area where I work the most starts to look "dry" like untreated wood. There's enough tung oil in it that I don't worry about it drying out or splitting but aesthetically it looks like a well-used block. Maybe twice a year I apply a coat of thinned tung oil over the whole thing to keep it sealed. I much prefer the soaked-in protection that the tung oil gives than the surface protection that frequently-applied mineral oil does. So to me there are two considerations: how well sealed is it to protect it from splitting and how does it look. The tung oil will give the best long-term protection but if you use it it will look used. If you want it to look "wet", then mineral oil and/or wax will give that look on the surface.
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Buehl
15 years ago
I don't think I'd like a kitchen full of it, but it would be a nice touch as a counter for a small island or other small area. The rest of the counters, though, probably should be "plain" so as not to detract from or fight with it.
dreamywhite
Original Author
15 years ago
There will be white beadboard cabinets with white silestone countertops and white cabinets for the island. The island is 4' x 7.5' and will be the countertop for the island/table. Originally I wanted the striped looking hickory with a medium stain but now I'm wondering about this new beauty. I love the dark features running through it.
rmkitchen
15 years ago
{{!gwi}}

I agree -- it's stunning! I've an almost all-white kitchen (cabs / countertop / backsplash) so I know that whatever is different is really going to catch the eye. I am neither encouraging nor discouraging; how about this, I'm asking: in your mind's eye, when you see your kitchen can (or do) you see this on your island? How does it make you feel?

It sounds as if you want a statement-making countertop (the striped hickory) anyway -- or am I misunderstanding? Thinking of your kitchen, I don't think it'll be too busy. If you'd been planning on a really subtle island top I might say yeah, could be too busy. But not if you were already envisioning the striped hickory.

You've a great eye -- thanks for sharing the picture with us!

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is this butcher block top too busy? see pic

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palimpsest

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dreamywhite
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is this butcher block top too busy? see pic

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palimpsest

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dreamywhiteOriginal Author

rmkitchen

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dreamywhite
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