Ikea has wooden countertops.

Ikea & LumberLiqidators are the cheapest sources that I know of. Both are butcherblock style.

(Home Depot Expo has exotic woods, not mentioned on linked thread.)

Wide variation in price depending on: thickness, style--BB or plank, edge grain or end grain BB, species of wood. Expect to pay very dearly for a plank style walnut top, in excess of what most granites would cost.

Lookie here:

Here is a link that might be useful: Wood Countertop Sources

Wow, this is almost exactly what I posted about a week ago. Try a search (I am not good at linking threads). Anyway, I am wondering all the same things. Our islands are even about the same size! I got several replies....

I had a black walnut island top (with a sort-of ogee edge) in my last house. Our carpenter (who built our kitchen) fabricated the wood island top.

He cut us an amazing deal on the countertop, and it was STILL double the cost of granite. Had we paid full retail for that countertop, it likely would have been 3 times the cost of granite.

Black walnut is NOT cheap, and wood counters need special attention when making to keep them from warping, splitting, etc.

Expect the quotes to be higher than you expect!

If I remember correctly, my island was about 5 or 6 feet by 3.5 feet. I know we paid $1400 for the island top, and that was mostly material. Our carpenter (friend) made almost nothing labor-wise, and did it as a favor for us.

There was a similar topic on the forum just a few days ago.
Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Similar Topic Recent Thread

http://www.hardwood-lumber.com/butcherblock.html

Great prices on Walnut

Renofan, your counter is gorgeous. This is what I wanted. The one estimate I got was near $6,000!!!!!! Ugh. I have now decided just to get granite (Costa Esmerelda), but seeing your island makes me think twice :)

I almost bought from John Boos (I'll try to attach a link) who is popular in my area, but then found a nearby craftsman who built me my cherry top. I could afford a nicer island top this way, with no sap wood(my preference).If you can find a local craftsman who could build for you, here is a site that could help him/her find any species of wood needed-www.woodfinder.com. This site is a yellow pages for wood suppliers nation wide(it won't help finding a counter/island top). Grothouse has beautiful butcher block but it was beyond my budget constraints.

Here is a link that might be useful: John Boos- for various species/sizes butcher block

Dreamsalive, I just responded to your email but will post online too. Our antique pine was ordered through a local lumber yard. It's 2 1/4" thick. Boards are 5" to 10" wide - most are 8-10", only one 5" piece. I don't know the cost as it was in with the cabinetry. I believe my GC priced priced it for the next house he did and was quoted about $100 psf. This was three years ago.

My island is finished with Good Stuff for Wood purchased online (at link below). The link also has Black Walnut available. I don't know about their prices but have seen others post they ordered from them in the past.

Good luck with your project.

Allison

Here is a link that might be useful: Bally Block/Michigan Maple Block Company