When it comes to butcher block island ideas, I am definitely of the opinion that bigger is always better. My favorite part of a kitchen is its ability to bring family and friends together to gather around while meals are being prepped. For this reason it is so important to me, that my kitchen island designs are large enough to allow for a decent amount of additional seating as well as a lot of usable counter space. This modern kitchen that we just finished up is a great example of how chic an island can look, even while it is extremely functional. The diy wood countertops that our contractor made for the dining area was by far my favorite touch and really adds an element of surprise to the piece.

I have been trying to find butcher block island ideas that don't make my kitchen look too country style, but rather elegant and rustic like this beautiful home. I really love how a small butcher block island in the center of the room like they have here elevates the look of the space and is actually very usable as well. I picture having happy hour with friends gathered around the island with a lovely fruit and cheese spread laid out on the butcher block. My neighbor told me that they added one after they found plans for kitchen island ideas diy that you could actually install yourself if you are handy. I like to think that we know our way around some tools, so I really want to attempt to recreate this exact look.

Butcher block island ideas are a fantastic idea for any DIYer that is trying to install countertops on a budget. You could easily imitate the same look of the butcher block countertop shown in the photos of this lovely kitchen by purchasing wood or even a full countertop plank at your local lumbar yard or speciality wood store. All you have to do is treat the wood countertop with several layers of varnish to protect it and then be careful with maintenance after that (don't use harsh cleansers). It is an awesome way to upgrade your small kitchen island ideas without breaking the bank and I, personally, love the style. Just remember to treat it as you do any of your wooden cutting boards and don't use soap -- lemon juice is actually the best way to clean these surfaces.

My best friend keeps telling me to look into butcher block island ideas as a way to add a bit more prep area to our kitchen as well as a fun rustic motif. I have always been a sucker for a large kitchen island, but the size of our home (mainly our living areas) just won't accommodate that. I am fine with installing a smaller unit, I just want it to be worth it both in terms of style as well as functionality. I have pretty much settled on adding a butcher block island to accomplish both of these goals, but I am a bit unsure as to the best wood for countertops. I am sure that I could buy a pre-fabricated unit from Wayfair or Overstock but, if possible, my husband and I would love to make it ourselves as a fun and romantic project together.

When it comes to grappling with whether or not to add butcher block island ideas to your kitchen design, I always tell my clients to just go for it because it really does add that extra special feature to the space that makes it look different than every other house on the block. People are loving adding kitchen island ideas to their kitchen, so they are becoming less and less of a luxury feature like they used to be. Thats why I encourage people to experiment with different finishes and countertop options like butcher block so that their home can stand out from the rest. The best wood for butcher block is something thick and durable, that is naturally beautiful without a lot of knots or divots in it. You want it to be smooth to the touch and unmarred by natural markings.