Butcher Block Kitchen Island
Buy the best butcher block kitchen island selected and recommended by interior designers. By Emily Hilton.
A butcher block kitchen island is a functional and versatile device to expand functionality in a basic kitchen or make a house party much more fun. From hanging wine racks to extra shelves and removable wheels, there’s little these islands can’t do for you. Check out these ten kitchen islands with butcher blocks that come in various sizes, shapes, and styles to fit any kitchen space and decor.
Butcher Block Kitchen Island
Buying Guide
Emily Hilton
Interior Design Expert
Emily is a young, talented designer, whose professional interests gravitate towards kitchen and dining spaces. She prides herself on her attention to detail, obsession with functionality, and appreciation for craftsmanship.
You might think that a kitchen island with butcher block complements a farmhouse-style interior decor perfectly, but this feature can also fit with many other home design types.
If you have an industrial-style kitchen, invest in an island with an unfinished, live-edge wooden counter and sparse metallic legs or shelves on the unit’s underside. Those searching for a more contemporary decor could opt for a model with a hardwood maple butcher block with slightly curved edges.
Fans of traditional-style interior design should invest in a kitchen island with a walnut or cherry hardwood butcher block and ornate, decorative finishes, such as antique drawer hardware. If you prefer the understated and refined Scandi-style, look for a model with a light, birch wood construction and integrated, functional storage units.
With its thick pine butcher block and its wooden, heavy-duty cabinets, the quintessential kitchen island fits neatly with both a farmhouse or rustic interior aesthetic. However, if you’re looking for something more modern, try finding a model that combines a sleek metallic structure with a sanded down oak countertop.
A kitchen island with butcher block is a stylish and functional element for your kitchen. With the built-in butcher block, you don’t have to deal with finding and cleaning a cutting board. Instead, you simply prep your food right on the island. While the size of your island with a butcher block depends on your kitchen, the minimum recommendation is roughly 3’ by 5’.
There are additional measurements to consider for your butcher block island. Leave a minimum of 42” from the face of the island to the front of the wall or cabinet, or 60” if you’ll have seating near the island. Your island’s height should match the height of your countertop, and the overhang of your island with seating should be about 15”. Finally, a butcher block island with a built-in sink requires a slightly larger minimum size to accommodate the addition.
A kitchen island with butcher block should serve as a continuation of your current kitchen counter space, with intuitive tools and working spaces to really maximize your kitchen space. The butcher-block on top should be hard and, preferably, self-healing or end-grain to maximize durability. There should be at least one row of shelves or large, deep drawers to leverage under-counter storage. Well-oiled caster wheels should be underneath the butcher block, with solid, reliable brakes.
Also, check out your kitchen and think of the usual activities you perform. There are kitchen islands and butcher blocks that come with higher-tech features, such as sinks, knife blocks, or pan racks. We’d also look for some built-in countertop storage, to help you corral your kitchen tools.