Butcher Block Countertop of Bolivian Rosewood

This week we are featuring this jaw dropping butcher block countertop designed by Donna Venegas of Venegas and Company. Donna has a keen eye for incorporating wood countertops in her designs, and does so in a uniquely unexpected manner. The craftsmanship combined with the enthusiasm, talent and experience of her Boston based Kitchen Design Team makes for a stunning final result.

For this project, Donna chose cabinetry by Premier Custom Built, a Grothouse Bolivian Rosewood Butcher block Countertop and under cabinet lighting by Hafele. The hammered sink provides a sleek contrast to the warm wood, and the dark chocolate cabinetry compliments the rich tones found in the butcherblock. The butcher block is classic end grain construction and is the best surface for direct chopping as it is kindest to knife blades. It is coated with food grade mineral oil that is FDA approved for consumption. The Bolivian Rosewood Butcherblock is not your typical butcherblock wood, and offers elegance not typically associated with butcherblocks.

Bolivian Rosewood, also called Morado is grown in: Bolivia, Brazil. It is beautiful with black striping on top of a dark brown and red background. Bolivian Rosewood offers a wide range of colors from medium to light browns and almost black brown and purple tones, there is repeated black striping. Rosewood lightens over time from the dark brown tones to lighter gold/tan tones. It is suitable for residential and commercial applications.

Bolivian Rosewood is not to be confused with Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). Brazilian Rosewood is threatened by habitat loss, since most of its habitat has been converted to farmland. Due to its endangered status, it was protected on November 6 1992 and illegal to trade.

Bolivian Rosewood Butcherblock Countertops often reveal Medullary rays a common characteristic found in woods. Medullary rays refer to radial sheets or ribbons extending vertically through the tree across and perpendicular to the growth rings. Also called pith rays or wood rays, these formations of primarily parenchyma cells allow the radial transmission of sap. At a glance, they often appear to be a crack in the wood, but are a natural occurrence that permits proper tree growth. See the photo below. The arrows point to the rays.

Bolivian Rosewood Butcherblocks can be custom designed to fit your application. To see other examples of butcherblock countertops, view our photo gallery Butcherblock Photos