[Found items of mine: hand-carved bowl]
I love wood. I love its warmth and smoothness, its variations in color and grain, its functionality. I love its surprising beauty in various forms. And so, as I mentioned in my last post, the beautiful wood butcher block on my newly-acquired (via Craigslist) kitchen island got my mental gears turning.
Photo: Crate and Barrel
Hmmm, I thought. “I’ve been wanting to put up shelves beneath the kitchen window. What if I make them out of butcher block, just for the fun of it?” So I asked my hubby, who regularly drives past IKEA, to pick up a Lagan countertop for me. Simple enough.
But my online search to learn about Lagan countertops opened up a Pandora’s box of ideas. What if instead of just making shelves, we changed out the whole countertop with this great butcher block?
Thus begins the “SOMETHING BORROWED” section of this series — a handful of favorite kitchen pics I found online with their butcher block countertops. It didn’t take long to learn that I love the wood/white cabinet combination. (Click on a photo to link to the website where it originated.)
[Photo: Canadian House and Home]
Above: Rustic table, open cabinet fronts, farm sink — all made so welcoming by the lovely countertop.
Above: I appreciate the simplicity of this small, cheery space.
Above: I think the darker wood is gorgeous, although I don’t know that I’d do it in my own kitchen. This countertop also has my absolute favorite finish on the wood — she used Waterlox over a stain.
[Photo: Better Homes and Gardens]
Above: I especially like the island painted in a contrasting color. I don’t like the blackboards and the ruffles are too sweet for me, but the TULIPS redeem those small faults.
Above: This is from a great blog about renovating a Vancouver apartment. Fun and interesting!
[Photo: Architectural Digest Online]
Above: I just want to stand at this window and finish arranging those flowers from the garden. Wait! I can do this at my OWN house! Soon on my own butcher block counter!
[Photo: Buckboard Hill Interiors]
Above: This kitchen beckons, “Come away for the weekend!”
[Photo: via Pinterest via google.com; unable to locate original]
Above: I like the use of one main color to balance out the white. (If anyone knows the origin of this photo, please let me know.)
[Photo: The Old Painted Cottage]
Above: Every time I see this, I want to whip up some cinnamon rolls and call the family down for breakfast.
Turns out I sent my hubby back to IKEA for two more Lagan countertops (an incredible deal at $59 for 8′). I figured I could come back to the shelves-under-the-window idea. But now I had my sights on bigger things…