Make it distinctly yours

Design options.

Wood species, construction, thickness, finish, edge, texture, and useful details—explained one decision at a time.

Get Help With Selections ↗︎

Character-grade walnut plank countertop along an island with a farmhouse sink and woven counter stools

Walnut · Plank construction

01 · Wood species

Begin with color, grain, and character.

Natural wood varies from board to board. Choose a family you love, then use a physical sample to confirm the finish direction.

Walnut plank-style wood countertop sample — Walnut, plank construction

02 · Construction styles

Two ways to build the surface. Two very different looks.

Wide-plank face-grain countertop construction

Decorative & expressive

Plank style

Full-length boards, generally two to six inches wide, are laminated side by side. The broad faces display more grain movement and create a furniture-like surface.

Strong visual grain
Efficient use of material
Best with a professional sealer rather than mineral oil

Linear & hardworking

Edge grain

Narrower strips are turned on edge and laminated together. The tighter grain structure creates the familiar butcher-block rhythm and supports greater thicknesses.

Excellent working surface
Available in substantial thicknesses
More labor and material than plank style

Breadboard ends

Add a cross-grain board at the end of a plank or edge-grain top for a distinctive furniture detail.

Corner of a wire-brushed oak countertop showing the cross-grain breadboard end and its seam

03 · Size & thickness

Give the top the scale the room needs.

Long & wide

Island tops can often reach 12 feet or more without a seam. Final possibilities depend on species, board availability, access, and shipping.

Solid thickness

Plank-style thickness depends on available lumber. Edge-grain tops can be fabricated much thicker for a substantial profile.

04 · Finish levels

Choose how far we take the fabrication.

Most complete

Fully finished

Fabricated to the approved shape, sanded, colored if specified, sealed, and ready to install.

Hands-on savings

DIY

Cut to final shape—including all cutouts, holes, etc. They are machine sanded to 150 grit. You complete the final sanding and finishing.

For equipped shops

Premium slabs

Standard-size, machine-sanded blanks intended for field or shop shaping.

05 · Sealer options

Match protection and maintenance to how the top will be used.

System Best fit Look & care

Rubio Monocoat Working kitchens, including sink areas Natural feel, water resistant, and easy to repair; periodic re-oiling

Conversion varnish Decorative counters, tables, bars, and commercial surfaces Furniture-like protection with strong water and stain resistance

Butcher block wax Cutting surfaces and butcher blocks Food-safe, natural feel, and regular wipe-on maintenance

Custom color

Rubio is available in color options. Traditional custom stains can be matched to a supplied control sample and protected with conversion varnish.

06 · Edge profiles

Finish the silhouette from quiet to expressive.

Simple edges

Eased, roundover, bevel, cove, and beaded roundover profiles keep the emphasis on the wood.

Standard ogee

Traditional Ogee, Alpine, Monaco, and London add a more tailored architectural detail.

$$$

Premium profiles

Torino, Nagra, Rustic, Stepped Double Radius, Arno, and French Baroque create a stronger furniture presence.

View the complete edge profile sheet ↗︎

07 · In-counter options

Build useful details directly into the surface.

Functional detail fabricated into a custom wood countertop

Drain channels

Route channels near a sink or prep area to manage water on a working surface.

Trivet rods

Removable stainless-steel rods hold hot cookware above the wood and lift out for cleaning.

08 · Surface treatments

Add history you can see and feel.

Distressing

Available across the wood selection, distressing adds worn edges, marks, and variation—from subtle age to heavier character.

Hand scraped texture

A textured surface creates old-world movement and tactile depth while remaining practical to clean when paired with the right finish.

Close-up of a hand scraped, distressed oak countertop surface

Your next step

Let’s make the selections feel simple.

Bring your dimensions, drawings, inspiration, or just the look you want. We’ll help you combine the right species, construction, finish, and details.

15 minutes · Phone call · Free

Countertop Selection Call

Get experienced guidance before you commit to the details.

No pressure. Just useful guidance.