It's kind of interesting that I get numerous emails every week asking about my Butcher Block Countertops. Mostly what people want to know is how I feel about them now that we've been in our house almost two years.
I decided I should take pictures and write an update post! (You can read my original post here.)
I love my counter tops more than I ever thought I would. Especially once I have quit stressing that I was going to ruin them!
The biggest thing I love about them is how forgiving they are. I've gotten a couple scratches and one really deep gouge. All I had to do was sand it out and re-oil.
The dark Tung Oil was such a perfect choice for the finish and I'm so happy that I went that route. They took on such a nice rich color from the dark Tung Oil and since it is an all natural product and food safe I've never had to worry about it.
I've only oiled again twice since installing the counter tops. And both times I used regular Tung Oil instead of the dark. I didn't feel the need to darken them any more so the regular was what I chose. I also ordered that from Real Milk Paint, as I have discovered that their Tung Oil is the best on the market. I've made the mistake of purchasing Tung Oil from Lowes and from a local hardware store and it was absolutely not the same.
I have oiled around my faucet and sink more frequently as I want to be sure that it repels water. A lot of readers have asked if I have any water damage around that area. I have absolutely none, and I'm not that careful either. I always wipe it dry when I'm finished in the kitchen, but I don't worry about it while I'm cooking or prepping food. The oil causes the water to bead up so nicely that it doesn't worry me at all.
The next most common question is if I would do things differently if I had it to do over again. The answer is absolutely not. I think the butcher block is timeless and beautiful. I also think it adds a very warm glow to my kitchen and fits the farmhouse style perfectly.
I think my counter tops are one of my most favorite things in our house!
Hi Dori, first of all, I love the window frame with the quilt, so pretty! Seeing your fridge with pictures of family really makes your farmhouse kitchen feel like a "real" home. Your butcher block counters are beautiful like your kitchen, full of warmth and retro. Kathleen in Az
ReplyDeleteThe countertops are gorgeous, along with your kitchen & everything else I've seen!!
ReplyDeleteI simply love everything about your delightful farmhouse! 💜 some day I want to visit & see it all in person 😆
ReplyDeleteGorgeous countertops! Your posts and links sparked a lot of conversation here at my house! =D
ReplyDeleteHi Dorie! After reading your initial post a while back, along with a couple of other bloggers reviews of the butcher block countertops, we had them installed into 1906 farmhouse. It will be a year in May. I love them too!! I agree they are very forgiving and look great! I really like your kitchen! Love the Gerber Daisies in the enamel pots, so cute! Thanks for sharing another update.
ReplyDeletelove your kitchen, love your house! always enjoy tours and pictures, a true farmhouse lovers vision!!
ReplyDeleteHI there, Dori; The pots with the Gerber Daisies on your countertops really add the farmhouse touch to your kitchen! And the quilt in the window frame is beautiful. Love your wooden countertops and wish I had them in our kitchen.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Emily
I love your counter tops. My husband made me an island fifteen years ago with a butcher top. It is still beautiful and I use it all the time for food preparation. It fit in our new (old fixer upper) kitchen, so when we moved last year we brought it with us. I'm wanting new counter tops this summer, but I'm afraid we have spent too much already fixing up the house that I might have to go with Formica, but butcher block would be my number one choice if I had the money. It keeps it's beauty for years :) Yours is gorgeous and twenty years from now you are going to feel the same way about it :)
ReplyDeleteHi Dori,
ReplyDeleteI was one of those emailers about a year and a half ago. Our countertops have been in for just over a year now, Ikea wood using the same dark tung oil finish that you recommended. We will re-oil them when the weather gets warm enough to open the windows but they have held up perfectly for this past year. At first we were careful to wipe up any spills immediately, so afraid we would ruin the wood. But we soon realized that the tung oil did a fabulous job of protecting the wood. We are so happy with our countertops and the products you recommended! Thank you for blogging about this and being so gracious in your replies to requests for information. :>)
I love your butcher block counters. We are in the process of preparing to build a small house and move out of our big house, allowing our kids to raise their family in it. I'm wanting to make smart decisions that don't cause more work as we get old together in our new little house. I've always loved the butcher block....even if it's just in one area of the kitchen. Thanks for sharing your tips about the Tung Oil.
ReplyDelete~Jody
Everything about your kitchen says "country". It's so cheerful and I especially like that it's filled with light.
ReplyDeleteEsther
It's beautiful! Love your kitchen!
ReplyDeleteVery nice Dori! Where did you find the enamel pots for your flowers? They look so great on your counters. Also wondering if you made the framed quilt on display above the cabinets. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe enamel pots are what my Granny used for her nighttime toilet. She just called it "using the pot." They didn't use the outhouse at night. And as she grew older, she just "used the pot." She sold her Tennessee farmhouse in the late 80's & moved in with one of her children. I see these used for all sorts of things and it makes me laugh!
DeleteWhat is the thickness of your countertops? Ikea only has 1-1/8" solid birch available now (and very limited) but yours look thicker. I tried the link you posted in your original post but it no longer is a good link. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat paint color are your cabinets? How many treatments of of dark tung oil did you do before switching to the regular tung oil? I love your kitchen! Its the inspiration for my own kitchen remodel!
ReplyDeleteLiz, my cabinet paint color is Simply White by Benjamin Moore. I did a few treatments of the dark tung oil and now when I oil again I just use the regular tung oil.
DeleteThank you for writing - I do love my kitchen!
Love, love, love the color you achieved with the dark tung oil. What type of wood is the butcher block? I have a poplar, ready made but unfinished butcher block I'm going to use for my kitchen island. I really want that deep, rich color but not sure I can get the poplar to cooperate! Any advice? Thanks! Dawn
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! We just installed IKEA oak countertips and used the tung oil/citrus solvent to treat them. One question, do you still dilute the tung oil with the solvent when you re-oil, or use it straight? And do you sand them?
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila. I do not sand them (unless I have a scar or scratch that I need to remove before oiling). I have done both - with the solvent and without. I do prefer it with the solvent because I feel it carries the oil into the wood better. Hope this helps!
DeleteDoes the tung oil harden over time to the point that you can put paper products on the counter and they don't wick out the oil and get stained? I used mineral oil after sanding my tops and three months later I still have an oily film on the surface that stains porous materials that are set on it.
ReplyDeleteI have not had any problems like you are mentioning. The Tung Oil soaks in completely and what doesn't soak in I buff off. There is no oily film.
DeleteHi Dori! Your farmhouse kitchen is beautiful. I'm wondering though, do you end up having to scrub the beadboard backsplash (above the range especially) often? We're about to dive in to a kitchen remodel and while I prefer the look of beadboard above any of the expensive lovely tiles, I'm worried about there being constant splatters of red sauce and grease and other such yuckiness above my range and sink. Do you mind sharing what paint you used on the beadboard? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! I wipe down the headboard every couple days and that is all I've had to do. I did paint it with a semi gloss and that seems to make it easier to clean up. When I've had red splatters (enchilada sauce splattered once!) I sprayed some clorox cleaner and it came right up! :-) The paint I used was Benjamin Moore Simply White in semi gloss! Good luck!
DeleteBy reading it looks like you didn't put anything over top of the counters...? But yet they are shiny!? We did Ikea butcher block and did the same oil/solvent mixture you did but ours are more dry looking...!
ReplyDeleteYour countertops look great! We used the same dark tung oil and solvent mixture for our butcher block and it did not turn out as pretty as yours. Your countertops seems to have a shine to them while ours is a very matte finish. How did you make yours glossy?
ReplyDelete