Butcher Block Makes the Cut for Holiday Kitchen Prep
Countertops and cutting boards will likely take a beating over the holidays. These butcher blocks have the chops to perform under pressure
If you're going to have butcher block countertops in the kitchen, you should use them plenty and let them show their age, says architect Eric Rauser, who loves seeing the history of a family and a kitchen through butcher block countertops. "Homes from the '50s have these great butcher block islands, and they were used for cutting and prepping meat and poultry — they weren't made for show kitchens but for daily wear and tear," he says.
Whether you have separate cutting boards for produce and meats or you do all of your prep work on one butcher block countertop, take a look at how different kitchens integrate — and show off — these hardworking surfaces.
More ways with wood counters in kitchens and baths
Whether you have separate cutting boards for produce and meats or you do all of your prep work on one butcher block countertop, take a look at how different kitchens integrate — and show off — these hardworking surfaces.
More ways with wood counters in kitchens and baths
This Z-shaped cutting board adds a warm, organic touch to this sleek kitchen. The front ridge keeps the board in place, and the back keeps the knife steady while cutting; the raised back also lets you sweep chopped food into a pan or bowl in one fell swoop.
Here's a great depiction of the holy trinity of kitchen station workflow: first a deep apron sink, then a built-in butcher block countertop, then a stovetop. You can wash, prep, cut and cook in a smooth flow.
"If you are using your countertops plenty, it should show its age; that's the beauty of having these butcher block surfaces," says Eric Rauser, the designer of this farmhouse kitchen.
Tip: Rauser recommends religiously cleaning butcher block surfaces with nontoxic cleaning oil after use. "We use a salad bowl oil that's mixed with a citrus oil, which is the drying agent," he says.
"If you are using your countertops plenty, it should show its age; that's the beauty of having these butcher block surfaces," says Eric Rauser, the designer of this farmhouse kitchen.
Tip: Rauser recommends religiously cleaning butcher block surfaces with nontoxic cleaning oil after use. "We use a salad bowl oil that's mixed with a citrus oil, which is the drying agent," he says.
Kitchen designer Robin Amorello says that thick butcher block countertops, like this one in a contemporary loft kitchen, should be used for what they're intended: rolling pie dough, chopping and cutting vegetables and other ingredients, and other daily tasks.
"Kitchens need functioning work surfaces," she says. If you really want to keep your surface from getting completely worn, she recommends keeping a portable cutting board handy.
"Kitchens need functioning work surfaces," she says. If you really want to keep your surface from getting completely worn, she recommends keeping a portable cutting board handy.
The dark wood in its modern kitchen ups the cozy, warm appeal of this Craftsman teahouse. Wenge island countertops and a matching wenge sliding cutting board extend the prep and work surface without sacrificing style.
This 4-inch-thick end-grain maple countertop cozies up next to the sink and lets two people work and prep side by side with ease — a bonus during the holiday season.
Tip: End-grain butcher block countertops are made of the hardest grain of the wood, making them perfect for cutting and chopping.
Tip: End-grain butcher block countertops are made of the hardest grain of the wood, making them perfect for cutting and chopping.
At first glance these two kitchen islands appear identical. But a closer look reveals different sizes and functions. The butcher block top next to the stone island countertop shows the identity of the foreground island — it's the prep island. (The background island is the breakfast bar.)
Kitchen designer Mikal Otten points out that the two islands relate nicely to each other and yet are not too matchy, with each having a specific purpose. He says, "I think this makes a more sophisticated and layered design."
Kitchen designer Mikal Otten points out that the two islands relate nicely to each other and yet are not too matchy, with each having a specific purpose. He says, "I think this makes a more sophisticated and layered design."
Tip: If you have limited space, hang cutting boards on the wall and turn them into functional art. Bonus: They're an arm's length away when you need them.
Integrated sink cutting boards flank the sink of this cabin's kitchen, making cleaning, chopping and prepping ingredients a breeze.
Save space in a studio by eliminating the need for a portable cutting board; integrate the boards into the design. Here, a studio owner (and designer) flanked the oven with a pair of butcher block countertops, carving out prep areas and maximizing his small kitchen space.
Any holiday kitchen workstation would benefit from this mobile cart. Topped with a butcher block, the cart can be wheeled around the kitchen and then pushed back into place, flush to the wall.
Tip: Consider a built-in drawer for the cart to organize frequently used knives.
Tip: Consider a built-in drawer for the cart to organize frequently used knives.
Designer Jenn Clapp's kitchen island doubles as her family's cutting-board prep station and holiday strategy center. "If we have a free afternoon in the winter, you can bet we're planning a dinner here that takes three hours and three glasses of wine to finish cooking," says Clapp.
More:
Make your own scrap-wood cutting board
Why wood works for kitchen counters
More:
Make your own scrap-wood cutting board
Why wood works for kitchen counters