The Gorgeous Kitchen Trend Hilary Duff and Drew Barrymore Both Have (It’s So Functional!)
I’m kind of obsessed with butcher block countertops — and, as it turns out, I have fairly good taste. While scrolling through TikTok recently, I came across one similar feature in the kitchens of Drew Barrymore and Hilary Duff that made me sit up and take notice. It was — you guessed it! — a butcher block countertop.
I love that the material is equal parts chic, stylish, and functional. Butcher block countertops instantly give your kitchen added space to prepare meals without ever needing to pull out a cutting board! In the case of Drew Barrymore’s kitchen, it’s on top of a modular kitchen island (cue my instant heart eyes as she moves it around her kitchen, transforming it from an extra table to storage for extra dishes and wine glasses galore). Luckily it’s actually in her Beautiful by Drew line, so excuse me while I immediately add this butcher block island to my cart.
Beautiful Wheeled Kitchen Cart with 2 lower shelves by Drew Barrymore
How to Take Care of Butcher Block Countertops
But with most kitchen trends or additions, there’s more to do than simply install these countertops and walk away. Butcher block countertops come with specific cleaning and oiling instructions that will help them to last longer — and look better. Here are a few ways to make sure your butcher block countertop look just like new for years to come, according to experts.
Fix small cracks.
Repair small cracks in your butcher block with food-safe wood or glue filler. Fill a syringe with wood glue, apply along the cracks, let it dry, and then sand down until it’s just filling the crack. Voilà!
Rejuvenate it with oil.
Butcher block countertops looking a little dingey? Luckily, you can apply food-safe oils like mineral or walnut oil to bring back its luster and sheen.
Remove stains.
So, you had a dinner party and spilled red wine all over your butcher block countertop. Oops! With a little salt and lemon juice, you can scrub the stains out and have your counters looking like new in no time.
I’ve actually long been a fan of butcher block countertops. In my 20s, I lived in a teeny apartment in New York, and the kitchen was 5 feet by 5 feet. (I used to joke that I could just lie down and that was the size of the kitchen, as I’m only 4’11”!) In any case, this tiny square of a kitchen had no countertops or drawers. I created my own shelves and counters with a baker’s rack from The Container Store that had a butcher block countertop! I guess I was ahead of the trend.
Even though I live in an apartment where I’m not allowed to make changes to the kitchen counters, I’m thinking of getting some butcher blocks for my countertops, anyway. (Shhh — don’t tell my landlord!). If you’re like me and can’t stop dreaming of adding them to your kitchen, here are 20 of the most gorgeous kitchens with butcher block countertops that’ll convince you to make the splurge.
