Butcher Block Makeover

I’m back with a new DIY!!

These are probably some of my favorite posts to share because I absolutely love home decorating & updating. I was sharing on my insta story that I’m pretty much an insane picky psycho when it comes to furniture & decorating. I just….have a very specific vision I dream up in my head, and then it could take me months to find the exact pieces/items I have dreamed up. (Not to mention I change my mind about a hundred times along the way) Am I the only one?? Lol. So when it gets to the point that I’m finally sharing an update or DIY project, I’m VERY excited because it means my psycho creative process is finally complete! But hey..I honestly think decorating & procuring pieces you absolutely love over time is the way to go, instead of buying a ton of stuff just to fill up space.

Speaking of a lot of time..I’ve been staring at the butcher block countertop in our kitchen, wanting desperately to stain it darker, for the 2 years since we’ve moved into our house. And that day finally came!! And it was SO simple! The best part is, it made a HUGE difference. It not only warmed up the space, but it really made this little section of our (little) kitchen really pop. My next focus is to really decorate the whole  corner around this counter, but that will be for another post 😉

Just look at this before & after!

Before: (well, after sanding. Was too excited & forgot to snap a legit before pic)

And after!

See? Such a difference. We also replaced our current bar stools with these ones and they also totally changed up the vibe of this little kitchen nook.

 

What you’ll need:

Electric sander (I used this one – you can sand it by hand, but this baby saves a lot of time & is totally worth it for the price tag)

Sandpaper/sanding block (to get into the little creases – I used this & this)

Wood stain (I used a mix of this shade & this shade)

Wood Finish (I used this one)

 

How to do it:

1. Wipe down countertop to make sure it’s clean before sanding
2. Go ahead and sand with electric sander, going along the grain. Sand until natural wood is exposed & any finish on the wood is gone
3. Remove any excess sanding dust (the electric sander I used did pick up most of it)
4. Using a rag, apply stain according to directions (I used 1 coat Miniwax Provincial & 2 coats Miniwax Espresso to get my desired color)
5. Once the stain is completely dry, apply wood finish according to directions (I did a total of 3 coats to make sure the counter is good & protected)

  

Note about wood finish/sealant:

I have no plans to ever use the butcher block as an actual cutting board (unlike our lovely previous owners…the stain really soaked into the leftover knife marks, but I guess it adds character, right?) so I did not use a food-grade wood stain. If you do plan to have food come in contact with your wood countertops, you definitely wouldn’t want to use the finish I did. This one is food safe after it cures, and could be a good option if you want to go that route.

This really was an easy project – I accomplished it in under 24 hours. The brunt of the project (sanding, staining, and 1st coat of finish) took me just a couple hours one weeknight. I then did the following 2 coats of wood finish the next day. Easy peasy!

I love the way the color turned out, and it’s crazy what a darker wood stain with a cooler tone can do to transform the space. Also, the top coats left a nice satin finish which I also really love. Once this little nook is finally fully decorated..this might just be my new favorite spot in our house!

If you’re looking for some more fun DIY projects to sink your teeth into, check out my DIY Floating Shelves, DIY Farmhouse Coffee Table, or the biggest doozy of them all – My Kitchen Cabinet Makeover!

 

xx Becca