Home Inspiration With Margot Guralnick
"They are helpful background pieces, not showstoppers," says designer Ilse Crawford of the collection of 30 pieces that her London studio has created for Ikea. The mandate was to use natural materials to produce "simple, useful forms that fit into everyday life." Take a look at the results—they make their debut at Ikea stores worldwide this August. We plan to be the first in line.
Photography via Ikea and Studioilse.
Above: The collection, which Ikea has dubbed Sinnerlig, ranges from settees and tables to tableware and lighting.
Above: Studioilse worked with cork, ceramics, glass, seagrass, and bamboo—"tactile materials that appeal to us because they feel as good as they look," says Crawford. She adds, "We worked with all aspects of the Ikea system: We developed the range together with the material, production, sustainability, design, and logistics experts, making sure at every step that no part of the process was compromised."
Above: A cork-topped trestle table and bench with steel legs and brass detailing.
Above: A woven indoor-outdoor settee with pillows in Crawford's signature muted palette. Studioilse unveiled the collection recently in the garden at Ett Hem, the Stockholm hotel that Crawford designed.
Above: The cork also comes in a dark brown. The bench is shown here with a glass and cork table light, companion glass vases, and a group of ceramic planters. The basket is made of seagrass and will be available in a variety of sizes designed to nest.
Above: Cork-topped stools will be offered in two versions.
Above: The collection is "supposed to work in a bathroom in Mumbai as well as a kitchen in northwest London; it has to fit into people's lives," Crawford told UK design magazine Dezeen.
Above: "We all need a number of lights that aren't supposed to be waving at you," says Crawford.
Above: Bamboo-lattice pendant lights.
Above: Handblown glass bottles with cork stoppers. "What's very interesting is the idea of working with a company that has a very smart system, a scientific system," Crawford told Dezeen. "It's been a fascinating project to create design for the many at the same level that you can achieve working for smaller companies."
Where Ilse Crawford goes, we follow. See more of her work in our posts:
For more Ikea designs (and favorite Ikea hacks), go to:
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DIY & Remodeling With Janet Hall
Warm and accommodating, butcher block is an affordable countertop material with a lot going for it. Maintain it regularly and your butcher block will reward you by aging gracefully. But without proper upkeep, it can dull and crack. Is it the right material for you and your kitchen? Read our butcher block counter primer to find out.
Above: A butcher block countertop in a British Standard Cupboard Kitchen by Plain English.
What is butcher block?
Butcher block is made from straight cuts of wood glued together into thick slabs that provide a particularly sturdy and stable work surface in a kitchen, whether as a cutting board, tabletop, or counter.
Above: John Boos Blended North American Hard Rock Maple Butcher Block with edge-grain construction and finger jointed random length boards.
Are there different types of butcher block?
There are three basic construction styles of butcher block: edge grain, flat grain, and end grain:
Edge grain is the one most commonly used for counters because it's strong, stable, and less expensive than the others. It's made by placing long boards on their sides and joining them so that their long narrow edges form the surface. The boards can be continuous lengths of wood with no joints, or random length boards that are finger-jointed (as shown above).
Flat grain butcher block is constructed from boards that are laid flat, their full widths forming a surface with a streamlined look. Susceptible to marks when used for chopping and cutting, flat grain is less suitable for working kitchen counters than the others.
End grain construction is made from small rectangular blocks arranged so that the ends (with growth rings showing) are visible on the surface. The strongest and most expensive type of butcher block, it's great for surfaces dedicated to cutting, because it camouflages knife marks and is gentle on blade edges (they slide into the grain rather than against it).
Above: San Francisco architect Mark Reilly used end-grain butcher block counters in a kitchen in a turn of the century house in Palo Alto. "The countertop was originally Formica, but the client wanted a material that didn't clink when glass or serving wares were placed on it," Reilly says. "After exploring several options, we decided on end-grain butcher block because of its warmth, soft feel, and vintage-inspired look." Photograph by Mark Reilly. N.B. See how the architect created an open kitchen in a Victorian house in Remodelista Best Design Professional Space Winner: Mark Reilly.
Above L: End-grain butcher block. Above R: Flat-grain butcher block. Photographs via DeVos Wordworking.
What types of wood are used for butcher block?
Butcher block can be made from nearly any wood. Maple is one of the best and most popular for butcher block counters because it's hard and has a clear grain. Cherry and red oak offer rich color. Butcher block can also be crafted from bamboo (it works best with end-grain construction) and sustainably farmed exotics such as wenge and zebrawood.
Above: Flat-grain butcher block tops an island in a Seattle kitchen designed by Roy McMakin.
Does butcher block need to be sealed?
For kitchen counter applications, it's important to use unsealed, oil-finished wood. Sealed countertops are not meant to be used as food-prep work surfaces—they're not food or knife friendly. Mark Squire of Quality Kitchen Cabinets in San Francisco explains: "Using sealed wood defeats the purpose of butcher block, because it covers up the natural warm surface with plastic." Sealed butcher block does offer shine and can work well as a work desk or bar top in a kitchen that doesn't involve food. (And when needed for food prep, pair it with a cutting board.) Note that unsealed butcher block is not recommended immediately around a sink: Over time it will likely discolor and rot.
Above: A long butcher block countertop and shelves warm up a kitchen by LA designers Alexandra and Eliot Angle. See more of the room at Steal This Look: Aqua Vitae Kitchen.
How do you best maintain butcher block?
At a minimum, butcher block countertops require oiling every six months to keep the wood protected. Different woods come with different finishing oil recommendations and it's best to follow the instructions of your installer. Depending on level of use, butcher block may also require more frequent oiling and conditioning to prevent the wood from cracking and looking dull. N.B.: Avoid using cooking oil to treat butcher block; it can damage the wood. Note that because butcher block is soft, it mars more than other materials—leading some people to use it for certain surfaces only, such as work islands. Just before oiling, you can lightly remove scratches, burns, and other surface damages with fine sandpaper, and your countertop will look like new.
Above: Christine wanted a warm material for her open kitchen, so she selected edge-grain countertops of solid oak treated with several coats of Danish oil for a hardwearing finish. For the full story, see Rehab Diary: Sleuthing for Space in My Kitchen. Photography by Kristin Perers for Remodelista.
Can butcher block be used as a cutting surface?
Yes, unsealed butcher block works well as a large stationary work surface and has been used this way for centuries (after all, it comes by its name honestly). That said, it's not as easy to clean a butcher block counter as it is a movable cutting board, which explains why many owners use cutting boards on top of butcher block. And, as mentioned, cutting on butcher block over time leaves marks and scratches—character defining to some, best avoided to others.
Above: In this kitchen by New York designer Robert Stilin, an edge-grain butcher block is used as the countertop on the island while white Carrara marble is used for the work surfaces by the sink.
What does butcher block cost?
Prices vary depending on the type of wood, the grain construction, and the thickness. In general, custom-made quality butcher block countertops range from $75 to $150 per square foot. In other words, good butcher block is more expensive than mid-range granite, but less expensive than top-of-the-line natural stone.
The good news is that several manufacturers offer off-the-shelf butcher block work tops in standard counter-depth sizes with variable lengths. If your setup allows, this is the affordable way to go. And the DIY-inclined can cut butcher block slabs to fit around appliances, corners, and other obstacles—not something you can pull off on your own with stone.
Above: In her cabin kitchen, Sarah Samuel of Smitten Studio installed Ikea's affordable edge-grain, oiled-beech Numerar Wood Countertop. Ikea now offers a similar Hammarp Beach Countertop, which comes in precut lengths.
Butcher Block Recap
Pros:
- Butcher block counters add warmth and natural coloring.
- It's a soft material that's easy on glassware and dishes: No clatter when you put down a stack of plates.
- Wood mixes well with many other countertop materials, especially marble.
- If maintained properly, it's a long lasting and durable choice.
- Unlike laminate or solid-surface counters, wood countertops are repairable: Nicks and burns can be lightly sanded and the surface re-oiled.
- It develops a lovely patina over time.
- Wood has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Cons:
- Wood counters are not heat or stain resistant. Hot pans can't be set down on the counter without a pad or trivet.
- Wood can swell and shrink in conditions of extreme dryness or humidity, which may cause cracking.
- Excessive wetness makes the wood susceptible to rot and discoloration.
- It develops a patina over time (a detail that also falls in the Pro category; it's a matter of taste).
- Butcher block requires some maintenance.
Above: Italian kitchen designers Schiffini use end-grain butcher block at the end of a kitchen island.
Researching new countertops? Read 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Kitchen Countertops. And for more on the subject, see the following Remodeling 101 posts:
This post is an update. It originally ran on November 19, 2013, as part of our
Crowd Control issue.
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Architecture & Interiors With Jane Potrykus
As founder and editor of Cereal, a magazine devoted to travel and style, Rosa Park has the enviable task of flying around the world, visiting and researching cities to share with her readers. Park, a lifelong traveler and magazine lover with a background in fashion and beauty marketing, launched Cereal in 2012 with her partner, creative director Rich Stapleton, who has an engineering background. The magazine's look strongly reflects the couple's keenly honed personal style; Park and Stapleton personally visit every location before deciding how the story should unfold in Cereal.
Even the most inveterate explorers need a place to relax and recharge, however. Park recently moved from Bristol, England, to a flat in Bath close to The Royal Crescent. (Cereal's offices are just a short train ride away in Bristol.) It's here that, between expeditions, she's made a home that feels very much like the pages of the magazine brought to life.
Photography by Rich Stapleton.
Above: A view of Bath's iconic architecture (of Bath stone) looking down the street from Park's flat toward the Royal Crescent.
Above: Park's gray-painted front door.
Above: In the living room, Park adheres to a black, gray, and white palette. The pair of Oslo Chairs by Muuto are her favorite pieces—they're surprisingly comfortable, she says. The light is a George Nelson Saucer Pendant. In lieu of shades, the windows have shutters. Considering your own? See Remodeling 101: Interior Shutters.
Above: Park's meticulously displayed collection of coffee table books includes monographs on the work of Agnes Martin and Fan Ho, and Phaidon's book about concrete in design.
Above: A photo by Stapleton (inspired by Hiroshi Sugimoto) rests on the mantel. Stapleton is responsible for much of the photography in Cereal, as well as the magazine's design.
Above: The Anglepoise Lamp—a UK classic (and Remodelista favorite) was invented in Bath. Read about the history of the design in the Remodelista book, where Megan Wilson describes it as "a lamp that maintains great poise at rakish angles."
Above: The gray and white kitchen overlooks a golf course; Park says the light is especially memorable at sunrise. She looks forward to long breakfasts on weekends.
Above L: In a high/low corner, a Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair draped with an Icelandic sheepskin is paired with an Ikea Ranarp reading lamp (Park first spotted the light on Instagram). Above R: Park arranges her favorite ceramics, cookbooks, and kitchen items, all in a muted palette, on her bookshelves.
Above: The bedroom is a soothing mix of calm neutrals.
Above L: Office items are smartly stored in Desktop Boxes by Danish company Hay. Above R: Park's minimalist workspace contains little more than the essentials: desk, chair, lamp (another Anglepoise), and laptop.
Above L: A bamboo bath tray. Above R: A Skagerak bamboo floor mat from Denmark, purchased at a shop in Bath—to source your own, see 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Bath Mats.
Go to Cereal to order the latest issue and follow them on Instagram here: @cerealmag.
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