I fell in love with this walnut end grain cutting board after seeing it on Giada's old show. It's not a permanent countertop but perhaps you can email them on the durability of walnut? You're right, the colour of walnut is unmatchable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ozark

zaron and reno-fan have walnut counters - go to the finished kitchens blog to find them. maybe they have an email on their "my page" space and you can contact them directly.

We have a small walnut cutting board from Ozark. Love it! Use it almost daily and have had no problems with it at all. Every now and then we wipe it down with oil. I've been thinking of getting this for our island top and it would be a working island as well. Wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

We also have another (not sure what kind) light wood cutting board on the range that hasn't weathered as well. Totally functional just see a lot more on the lighter wood.

Ozarks are beautiful.. not sure if they make countertops style. I think I am going to use boardsmith... has great reviews. I am going to check out the two on FKB.. thank you

Check out John Boos Company. They do Walnut.

http://www.johnboos.com/

Direct link to the walnut butcher block:
http://www.johnboos.com/residential/model.cfm?CatNo=03&PageNum=0037&GroupCode=0010&dispimage=/STOREFRONT/IMAGES/BLENDEDWALNUTTOP.JPG&title1=Blended%20Walnut%20Butcher%20Block

Yes, we just put in a walnut butcher block top on our island. We have been actively using it since just before Christmas. Like you, we want our butcherblock to be a real working surface. We cut everything except meat on it constantly. So far it is no worse for the wear, which has really surprised me. Every few weeks, I rub some food safe oil into it. That's it, no other special treatment. We love the look of the dark wood, and have been very happy with it.

I think there are a few more pictures of the island under the thread I started when we finished it all -just search under bestyears.

Good luck!

Thanks! I am trying to decide on John Boos or Boardsmith for the walnut
Bestyears, where did you get yours?
thanks

Just to follow up - Ozark will make any size you need. We just submitted info for quote for our island top.

One other company that you may want to consider is Craft-Art, in Atlanta. Our iroko island surface from C-A was installed last week and I am very impressed with the workmanship. They ship all over the US (we are in Minnesota.) C-A does make end grain walnut counters and will also do end grain wenge/walnut checkerboard counters, which I think look fabulous.

Here is a link that might be useful: Craft-Art link

Thank you I will check out all these sources..
Boardsmith can make me a matching knife block... for my counter.. :)

Sadly Ozark West is no longer doing custom orders.