3. Reclaimed Wood With a Chopping Block
Builder: Nate Lange of Lange Custom Builders
Location: Archbold, Ohio
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters); 15 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision for this guesthouse kitchen was for it to feel welcoming and laid-back at their sheep and goat ranch,” builder Nate Lange says. “They wanted to use reclaimed materials as much as possible. Most of the reclaimed materials have sentimental value to the family, and they wanted to incorporate the materials into the guesthouse as a way to remember their many memories. They wanted the reclaimed lumber to feel reminiscent of the old days.”
Kitchen island. Reclaimed wood with a chopping block. “The materials used for the island are reclaimed cedar porch posts,” Lange says. “The black granite countertop with leather finish was chosen to complement the black structural brackets used to hold the timbers together in the home. The chopping block at the end of the island was removed from an old factory that had a steel press.”
Other special features. Custom inset cabinets with exposed hinges and painted in yellow (Midday, Sherwin-Williams) and warm green (Dried Thyme, Sherwin-Williams). The structural timbers and ceiling timbers are reclaimed fir and oak from a historical tobacco barn in Pennsylvania. The ceiling panels are pine with a custom polyurethane finish.
Builder tip. “Use what you already have as much as possible and know that memories can be just as valuable as great design,” Lange says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “When we were trying to move the chopping block into the kitchen, we realized it was very heavy,” Lange says. “We wondered, ‘What in the world did we get ourselves into?’ It ended up taking eight people to move it into the kitchen.”
Cabinets: Custom, Lange Custom Builders
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
If you like entertaining or eating everyday meals at a breakfast bar, then an island with more overhanging area and less cabinetry or storage underneath might be for you.
Think about how you imagine using the bar both every day and on special occasions. We’re realistic with many clients who have families in pointing out that children will often sit there and talk with parents, complete homework, use devices and eat (sometimes all at the same time) — I call this the “mission control” island breakfast bar.
Think about whether the sitting area needs to be closer to the fridge and pantry. This is another way of managing who is walking in and out of the kitchen, and who can be kept on the outside edges of the island — for safety as well as to avoid overcrowding in the kitchen.
Some people like to drop down part of the island to table height (around 29 inches) rather than the standard 36-inch-high countertop. This can work really well in some kitchens, but do be careful that you don’t inadvertently limit your storage and appliance options by having a really large table section on the island.