February 2020 - Slave to DIY

We are in the middle of a super exciting project! My sister purchased a fixer upper for our mother’s forever home and I get to design her kitchen! The thing is, my mom watches way too much HGTV and is a perpetual renovator (I come by it honestly), so I know she will be bummed if it doesn’t look like a designer kitchen. So, no pressure, right?

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full disclosure at the end of the post.

One of the reasons I’m designing it is that I’ve done kitchens before and have done a lot of research on it (read: obsessively planning our current kitchen reno)… plus, I’m generally good at bargain hunting and finding cost efficient ways to do things.

Any kind of high end countertops are a MAJOR expense in the kitchen planning process and I need to find ways to make it cost less. So, the first thing I’m looking at is alternatives to solid surface. Guess what I super, duper love? Butcher block.

Here’s a quick look at some of my favorite blogger kitchens and their awesome butcher block:

Butcher Block Countertops, via Remodelista — Remodelista.com, From: Remodeling 101- All About Butcher Block Countertops

Via sincerelymariedesigns.com our butcher block counter top review - one year later — Sincerelymariedesigns.com: Our Butcher Block Counter Top Review – One Year Later

Via beckiowens.com Best of Pinterest BECKI OWENS — Beckiowens.com, Best of Pinterest : Becki Owens

domesticimperfection.com My Butcher Block Countertops, Two Years Later — Domesticimperfection.com

The first place to ALWAYS look is for places that carry off-the-shelf sizes. Producers offer standard sizes to consumers much more cheaply than semi custom or custom sizes. The best way to save yourself money is to find inexpensive products and sizes that will work and plan the design around that. I found a few places that have reasonable offerings. I looked for four foot lengths for purposes of comparison, but several stores only had longer lengths.

*Please note that prices are current in February 2020 and are subject to change.

Lowes Home Improvement

The Baltic Butcher Block, Natural Straight Butcher Block Birch Kitchen Countertop: 4 feet long (48 inches), About 25 inches deep, and 1.75 inches thick. Baltic burch. Unfinished. $119.98.

Lowe's Butcher Block — Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse: Butcher Block

The Home Depot

Hardwood Reflections Butcher Block Countertop in Unfinished Birch: 4 feet 2 inches long (50 inches), 25 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Birch. Unfinished. $109.00.

IKEA

Karlby Countertop, Oak, Veneer: Veneer thickness : 1/8 inch, 6 feet 2 inches long (74 inches), 25 5/8 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Oak veneer, foil, and particleboard. $149.

Overstock

Forever Joint Hard Maple Butcher Block Top: 4 feet 2 inches long (50 inches), 26 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Maple. $252.89.

Forever Joint Hard Maple 26 x 50 Butcher Block Top 2 — Overstock, Maple Butcher Block

Lumber Liquidators

Williamsburg Butcher Block Company, Maple Butcher Block Countertop: 12 feet long (144 inches), 25 inches deep, 1.5 inches thick. Maple. Unfinished. $399.99.

Obviously, what size the sections are that you are working with are important. I will let you know what we decide and definitely show you the finished product!

Have you used butcher block from any of these stores? Have you found them in precut sizes elsewhere? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Thanks for hanging out with us in DIY land and check out more great DIY and design inspiration over on our blog.

Cheers!

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We have a family tradition where Rainman takes each child on a cool trip after high school graduation. I have very fond memories of my graduation trip with my dad, so I feel like it’s important and something special they’ll always remember. So, last summer, he took a trip with our most recent graduate to Ireland. I sent them with strict instructions on taking lots of pictures of them, and of course, stone walls, stone houses, pubs, landscapes, castles, etc. I may have planned this trip so I could live vicariously, but that’s a story for another time.

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I want to share with you the amazing collection of stone walls they brought back. I was really impressed and feel like I need to step up my garden wall game!

Mashup Monday: Inspired Stone Walls in Ireland

I hate to think of the germs here, but still kind of a must to kiss the Blarney Stone.

There’s a story behind this one: They had an afternoon free on the trip and my son said there was another stone formation he’d like to go see. Now, it’s already fairly squirrely on the narrow, winding roads in the country, but apparently, getting to this location was particularly sporty. Upon arrival and after they had parked (and deposited their fees at the booth on the honor system) they walked up the trail to find they were interrupting some kind of ceremony. Not wanting to be rude, they snapped a quick photo and left. As they were mapping out the next destination in the car, my son said, “there they are.”

Then, a minute later, my husband asked, “where’d they go?”

To which my son responded, “they just disappeared.” He didn’t mean they ACTUALLY disappeared (like something out of Outlander), he just meant they had walked behind the building and he couldn’t see them anymore. Nonetheless, Rainman lit out of there on two wheels.

And, by the way, I don’t think I realized how big Irish Wolfhounds are. And yes, they’re called Irish Wolfhounds even in Ireland.

This one I had flashbacks to The Princess Bride:

Can you think of a place in your garden you could incorporate a stone wall?

Check out more great content on our blog!

Cheers!

*Legal stuff:

I am honest about my experiences with different products and write because I enjoy it. I do however, have the opportunity to earn money for my writing, also.

Slavetodiy.com is also a VigLink affiliate advertiser which works similarly.

Month: February 2020

Mashup Monday 12: Where To Find The Best Deals On Butcher Block Countertops

Mashup Monday 11: Inspired Stone Walls in Ireland