Butcher block countertops…6 + year later
When we remodeled our kitchen in 2010, we were on a tight budget. I knew at the time I didn’t want laminate, and stone was out of the question, so we decided on butcher block countertops. This picture is from around 2013. It’s so funny to see how yellow the paint was (BM Linen White) compared to how bright and white it is now.
In 2010,a 7 foot piece of butcher block from Ikea was $179.00, we needed two, so it was really affordable. We even had some left over we made cutting boards out of. At the time, it was a brand new thing, so my cabinet contractor gave me raised eyebrows and shook is head a bit, when we brought in the boxes of Oak countertops from Ikea.
So my kitchen has changed quite a bit, but I still have the same old butcher block countertops and you are probably wondering, after getting a lot of heavy use, how they are holding up.
So here’s the honest truth.
They are holding up better than I thought, put aren’t problem free. Though I don’t cut directly on them at all, and I have a marble stone next to the stove so I can put hot plan directly down, they need regular sealing and do stain.
It’s been 6 years and the area around the sink is getting a little gacky. I couldn’t afford a farmhouse sink at the time,
they were brand new then, and more than we could afford, so we bought a regular sink with a lip. Because of the water that tends to sit back there,it’s stained darker, and sometimes I have to bleach it a bit.
I have also found a few areas that if they haven’t been sealed recently, and something wet on the bottom has set for a really long time, it will leave light water rings.
All I need to do is give them a light sanding and reseal and they’ll fine(We also left a jar of beets on the counter once that left a red ring. We were luckily able to sand it out.). There are also a few scratches that will sand out as well. Luckily they are nothing deep. A deep scratch would be hard to cover. Though part of these countertops is loving the character. These are a lot like marble that if you love a perfect countertop, these aren’t for you.
Overall, I think they have held up really well to water and daily abuse. If you don’t want laminate, they are a good budget option, but they do need some care.I seal them about twice a year, and this spring, I am going to give them a good sanding to remove surface stains,and reseal them again.
Butcher blocks countertops are good option for a farmhouse look. I think if it was in budget though, I would prefer a stone -based countertop because I do so much cooking,I do know most of those aren’t maintenance-free as well, but, I would love to be able to put hot pans wherever I want.
You can see our original kitchen remodel here.
Your kitchen really inspired me when we did a low-budget ($3000) redo of ours a few years ago. Mine is tiny and we used Ikea cabinets. I wanted their butcher block counters but they were going through a shortage and I was on a tight schedule so I went with laminate, and it looks fine, but the butcher block is still my preference. I’d like Quartz best but that’s not happening. I do have the Ikea Domsjo sink and it’s very pretty.
I installed butcher block counters around my stove island in our old house. I used them every day as actual butcher block-cutting on them- wiped them down with bleach after each use, wiped them down with mineral oil about once a month to keep them sealed and LOVED them. Plan on doing the same thing when we remodel the kitchen in this house. Yes, they are filled with knife and cutting marks but we used them for when they are designed for. I did sand out stains on occasion but they are very durable and not fussy at all.
I think that is a great option for an island, and to be able to actually use it as well!
Did you use a stain on your counter top or just leave them natural and seal them with shalack or varnish?
I actually use the sealer that Ikea sells for them.It’s a non-toxic sealer that is food safe.
I had my cabinets spray painted years ago and now they need to be painted again. When you repainted how did you do it? I am lost!
Hi Jen,
I’ve been a long time follower of your blog. I have always LOVED your kitchen. In fact your butcher block counters inspired me to do the same in my own kitchen! We’ve had the Ikea counter tops for 4 years now and still love them! Thanks for sharing all your great projects. I think the cabinet refresh looks great!
Beautiful job. Beautiful kitchen. I love it!
Hi Jen!
Just found your blog! LOVE YOUR KITCHEN!!!
We have been trying to come up with a plan for ours. How much space is between sink and island and island and hutch? And does it work for you?
Again, beautiful work!
Thank you!Our kitchen is about 11 feet wide. There is about 2.5 feet on each side of the island either way. I wish it was 3 feet, and I would love room for the island to be a bit bigger. I hope that helps! Planning a kitchen is fun!