This kitchen island originally had a laminate counter top with a large, bulky shelf on top. It just didn't work, in fact it isolated the kitchen from the rest of the open floor plan. So we removed the whole thing and replaced it with a reclaimed maple butcher block counter top and a shelf made … from a single plank of beautiful cherry. The shelf is attached to the counter top with stainless steel standoffs. The dovetail key is not just for aesthetics (although it does add a nice touch), but is actually preventing the laminations of the butcher block from separating in a place where the butcher block had seen some major stress in it's former life.

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