Butcher block countertops have been around for ages and they are still far from being out of style or old fashioned. They can be combined with about any kitchen cabinet color and depending on how you integrate them into your kitchen remodel, they can fit perfectly within a modern kitchen design.
You can make butcher block countertops affordable by selecting a laminate or bamboo material, however, depending on the wood species you select for your kitchen design, wood countertops tend to cost much less per square foot/meter than some of the other often-used countertop materials like marble, granite, quartz, or stainless steel.
Butcher block countertops are sustainable, durable, and can be paired with a variety of different cabinet styles and colors, however, they do require maintenance. Wood countertops need to be sealed with mineral oil monthly to protect them against stains or small scratches.
Below, you can find a list of my favorite kitchen designs finished with a wood countertop ranging from farmhouse style, shaker style, or more modern versions.
A Swedish farmhouse kitchen with butcher block countertops
To resemble the original wood beams in the ceiling, this beautiful shaker kitchen in farmhouse style with light grey cabinets is finished with butcher block countertops, paired with a natural wood peg rail, a classic style wood kitchen island and a variety of different antique farmhouse style finds in wood.
The vintage cutting boards hanging on the peg rail add a unique touch and the large white porcelain farmhouse sink stands out against the warm wood tones in this kitchen renovation project.
Kitchen in the home of Jacob and Ellen Dixdotter, photographed by Andrea Papini for Nordiska Kök
Dark-stained wood countertops finish off a dark green kitchen
The combination of the beautiful herringbone hardwood flooring with the wooden dining table, and the stylish dark-stained butcher block counters adds a lot of warmth to this kitchen design with dark green kitchen cabinets.
The white tile backsplash is finished off with a small wood trim with the same wood oil stain as the countertop, making the white tiles stand out in a contrasting way. The brass hardware and the stainless steel appliances in this kitchen add a modern touch, which pairs nicely with the traditional elements in the kitchen cabinets and the white porcelain sink.
via Alvhem
A light wood countertop adds a natural touch to a classic sage green kitchen design
The sage-green kitchen cabinets in this stylish shaker kitchen are paired with black cabinet hardware, a gold faucet on top of a porcelain sink, and a light wood countertop that adds a soft warmth to the color palette.
The wood surface also comes back on the narrow kitchen island and I love the way the wood tone pairs with the soft sand wall color in this kitchen design.
Styled by Living Deco, photographed by Jonas Berg for Stadshem
A warm butcher block countertop stands out against modern light grey cabinets
The light grey kitchen cabinets with integrated handles have quite a minimal effect on the space, matching the color of the kitchen floor. To add a bit of warmth, the interior designer added a warm tone of butcher block countertops and let this color come back in the natural tone runner on the floor.
The visible grain on the countertop surface also provides the kitchen with a natural texture, which is missing in the laminate kitchen fronts.
via &Schufl
Light wood countertops and light hardwood floors in a navy kitchen
The contrast between the navy kitchen cabinets and the light-soaped hardwood flooring in this space is very powerful and is a true design feature of the kitchen. The floors are complemented with a light wood butcher block counter, finished off with a light grey wall color for a soft effect in the space.
The natural tone accessories and materials used to decorate the kitchen make the wood surfaces shine even better, while the stainless steel oven and range hood add a modern element to the setting.
Photographed by Philip Mccann for Picky Living in the home of Ola Lustig
A thin butcher block countertop for a polished effect in a minimal kitchen design with a kitchen island
This minimal white kitchen with a kitchen island has the most beautiful thin butcher block counter that is brought back in the wall shelving and the fronts for the upper cabinets. The undermount sink finishes the look off perfectly and the stainless steel handles on the doors add a sophisticated touch to the kitchen design.
via Reform CPH
A classic off-white kitchen finished with a warm wood countertop
This classic off-white kitchen is finished with beautiful warm wood butcher block counters that add a beautiful warmth to the setting. The wood tone on the counter also comes back in the elegant cabinet hardware and in the magnetic rail holding the extensive knife collection.
via Stadshem
A contrasting blue country-style kitchen with a light butcher block countertop
The copper pans, chopping boards, and farmhouse sink add a classic touch to this U-shaped kitchen design, which fits perfectly in the space. The navy blue kitchen cabinets pair nicely with the light wood butcher block counters, finished off with beautiful white tiles with black grout on the backsplash walls.
A minimal Japandi space with oak cabinets and an oak countertop
This beautiful light oak kitchen design is finished off with countertops in the same oak material for a tone-on-tone effect that is contrasted by the elegant limewash walls and the black appliances used in the kitchen.
Since the kitchen is completely constructed out of the same material, and the cabinet handles are integrated within the doors, the kitchen has a very calm and tranquil effect in the space.
Home of Frederik Werner, designer and partner at Norm Architects
Butcher block countertops to balance out a colorful kitchen space
This kitchen design pairs mustard yellow kitchen cabinets with blue laminate floors and pink walls for a unique and colorful effect that is balanced out by the use of a natural butcher block countertop that makes the brass hardware stand out.
Imagine a more textured countertop material like granite or quartz and the look could easily become too much, yet by selecting a wood countertop everything looks balanced.
via &Schufl
End grain butcher block counters paired with a black countertop material
In this beautiful kitchen with black cabinets, the different materials create an interesting visual effect in the space. While the main functional area including the stove and sink is finished with black countertops for a seamless pairing with the cabinet color, the two areas by the angled walls have an end grain butcher block countertop each.
End grain wood countertops arrange the end of wood planks in a beautiful pattern, which adds a beautiful texture to the surface.
via Historiska Hem
A butcher block countertop paired with a stainless steel countertop by the sink
Moisture stains around the kitchen sink are the most common and it’s recommended to always wipe down any spills on a wood countertop and to clean it with a bit of soapy water. In this elegant sage-green kitchen with a corner layout, butcher block countertops are paired with stainless steel countertops by the sink to avoid having to be extra careful with maintenance in this section.
Photographed by Adam Haglund, Styled by Helen Sturesson for Kulladal
A light palette shaker kitchen with a butcher block countertop as the focal point
The off-white kitchen cabinets with delicate gold hardware, paired with the white walls and the white-soaped hardwood flooring provide the kitchen design with a light base palette, from which the warm butcher block countertops stand out in an elegant way.
The copper pans and small ceramics in neutral colors make the warm tone of the countertop stand out even better and make it a true focal point in the kitchen design.
via Alvhem
White-stained oak butcher block countertops and flooring
While butcher block typically comes in warmer or darker wood stains, you can opt for a lighter look by picking out a white stain for a modern effect similar to a light quartz that fits perfectly within modern spaces.
In this beautiful kitchen, the interior designer picked out light-stained oak countertops, paired with dark blue kitchen cabinets with an integrated handle, a gold faucet, and three delicate pendant lights above the counter.
via &Schufl
