Oops, Sandy, sorry, that was probably my multi-tasking brain not working when I read your post! Yes, my island was custom made along w/ all the other cabinets in the kitchen. To be totally honest, I found a picture of a Boos island that I liked and copied it - look on their website for ideas - you'll love some of them. I added a drawer to mine along w/ the slatted shelves that were on the *inspiration* island and it's the most useful drawer in my whole kitchen!! mahlgold - I forgot you were in my neck of the woods. I didn't get anyone in particular when I worked w/ them - I would call, talk w/ someone regarding whatever questions I had (even got so detailed as the ingredients in their finishes since my son has nut allergies and there was to be a nut-oil product used in the process) and EVERYONE that I talked to/worked with (from the templater to the installers) were incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and nice to deal with - I'm sure they'll do well by you! Have fun on your marble hunt....I still love mine today as I did the day it was installed and it's had LOTS of use and abuse!

I have my main sink on my plank, maple wood island and I've had no issues. I have an under mount, farm sink which was sealed with silicon between the sink and where it mets the wood. The wood was treated with Watco Butch Block Oil and Finish which I done once since they counters were installed. I do use Butcher Block mineral oil conditioner on it every few weeks, when the water stops beading on top of the wood, I know it's time for another application. I actually prefer the mineral oil to the Watco product which can leave streaky marks on the wood if you don't apply it just right. I apply more of the oil around the sink and under the lip and I'm careful to wipe around the sink after I use it. I do have four children who have friends over all the time, so glasses get sat on the wood and the sink gets used by people who aren't as careful and I've gotten some water marks on it, but they have all come up rather easily with a bit of mineral oil or furniture polish. I wipe it down after I clean the kitchen with either Method or Pledge furniture polish. When we are cooking the wood island is our main prep area and it can get covered with water and other liquids, I don't rush to clean it up until I'm ready to clean. The first few weeks of owning the wood was stressful, but now I've lightened up and we use it frequently for parties. I do put out coasters but they aren't always used. The worst thing that has happened to the wood are a few little ding marks from opening bottles or cans. I really like the wood, and if I were to do another kitchen, I would go with it again.

i have had nothing but issues with this product! i have had the company i purchased the product from come out, months with no answers, finally got a company rep out to review the product in my house....still no answers back from the manufacturer! my house humidity is around 32%-37% totally within canadian home builder standards, not to mention the product is sold as 100% water proof?? how is that possible when they are concerned about humidity that has been proven by the rep not to exceed industry specs??

Cathedral-type grain patterns are common in plain-sawn lumber, and they're especially pronounced with oak. Keep in mind that even if you get quarter-sawn or rift-sawn, there is a lot of variation from piece to piece (just as there is difference in growth rates and patterns from tree to tree). As mentioned above, an entire door that is rift-sawn or quarter-sawn is usually veneer or glued-up pieces of several initial pieces. In the photo you posted in your comment, it looks like about three different initial pieces were glued together (side by side) to make that wide center panel. This is common practice, it still qualifies as solid wood, and that piece appears to be the result of a cabinetmaker who carefully matched the pieces.