A real wood butcher block top would look a LOT better. It's not only the grout lines, although that's a biggie. It would just look, well, "college dorm apartment", without the inexpensiveness of it. You can be creative on a budget, but sometimes thinking outside the box needs to stay outside the box if you want a certain look. If you're doing the tiling, it might end up being as expensive as a nice Boos butcher block. (A lot more than Ikea) If you have to pay to have it tiled, granite slab would be cheaper. You could even do a simple stained plywood top with real wood edging for a fraction of the tile and have a nice looking counter until your budget recovered to get the one you really want.

I've seen #1 in person and quite liked it. I would never purchase flooring without first being able to see it in person and also in the space. I don't live in the same state as the home so I am doing everything remotely until I get there. I have also been in touch with a local flooring company. This isn't a rush decision, I'm just starting and putting together ideas. I appreciate everyone's advice.

I found a porcelain wood like tile for floor that I like. Then I saw someone used it in a shower... so that has me intrigued. Also of note I plan to half tile the walls in the small 5x8 basement bathroom. My questions are 1. If I used in the shower, I would need something else for my floor?? and/or half the walls ? 2. I want to tile the entire shower including ceiling... I’m afraid the heavy 6x36 porcelain will fall in my head? Or I could just use colored subway tile for the shower and half up the walls and use the porcelain for the floor like originally planned. The porcelain is called pier white wood plank porcelain (floor and decor) and the subway tile is La Belle Air Polished tile with a hint of blue

Any suggestions for a non sanded grout that would make this look more seamless I guess more like wood I have floor and decor near me Lowe’s and Home Depot