8 Gorgeous Kitchens With Reclaimed or Recycled Worktops
Try something different on your kitchen counter with these environmentally friendly materials
Amanda Pollard
6 February 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Whether you’re hoping to add character to your cookspace or want to furnish your home sustainably, there are some interesting options for kitchen worktops out there. Take a look at these schemes, which either feature reclaimed timber or recycled materials on the work surfaces.
Go back to school
There’s a good chance you wouldn’t have paid attention to the wood in your school science lab. Iroko is the traditional choice for those workbenches, as it’s extremely durable. So it makes sense to use the same material in a kitchen.
It’s possible to reclaim old science benches from schools that have been refurbished or shut down. In this kitchen designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, for instance, the island is topped with a second-hand iroko laboratory work surface. It’s been sanded and varnished, so it looks as good as new – and its position surrounding the sink is ideal.
There’s a good chance you wouldn’t have paid attention to the wood in your school science lab. Iroko is the traditional choice for those workbenches, as it’s extremely durable. So it makes sense to use the same material in a kitchen.
It’s possible to reclaim old science benches from schools that have been refurbished or shut down. In this kitchen designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, for instance, the island is topped with a second-hand iroko laboratory work surface. It’s been sanded and varnished, so it looks as good as new – and its position surrounding the sink is ideal.
Here, too, Ana Foster-Adams Interior Design has used reclaimed school counters for the worktops. The rich colour of the iroko contrasts with the white cabinets, and the slight irregularities in the wood add depth and character to the space.
Choose strong and stable
For a sturdy surface, hunt online and in reclamation yards for an antique butcher’s block. They’re available as part of a piece of furniture, or as just the table top.
In this kitchen designed by Mowlem & Co, a large, reclaimed butcher’s block has been fitted at one end of the island. It can be used as both a chopping board and a breakfast bar. The surface here is flat, but look out for uneven tabletops that have been well used and give an even more authentic look to your room.
For a sturdy surface, hunt online and in reclamation yards for an antique butcher’s block. They’re available as part of a piece of furniture, or as just the table top.
In this kitchen designed by Mowlem & Co, a large, reclaimed butcher’s block has been fitted at one end of the island. It can be used as both a chopping board and a breakfast bar. The surface here is flat, but look out for uneven tabletops that have been well used and give an even more authentic look to your room.
Make it a classic
The worktop on this kitchen island, designed by Albert’s House, is made from reclaimed oak. Older oak can be a better choice than new wood, because hardwoods were traditionally grown for longer than the oak that’s produced nowadays, making them stronger and more durable.
Oak’s tone and grain tends to get richer with age, so a reclaimed worktop has more depth to it than a new one. The surface works perfectly in this Edwardian kitchen, and gives warmth and character to the space.
Planning a new cookspace? Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
The worktop on this kitchen island, designed by Albert’s House, is made from reclaimed oak. Older oak can be a better choice than new wood, because hardwoods were traditionally grown for longer than the oak that’s produced nowadays, making them stronger and more durable.
Oak’s tone and grain tends to get richer with age, so a reclaimed worktop has more depth to it than a new one. The surface works perfectly in this Edwardian kitchen, and gives warmth and character to the space.
Planning a new cookspace? Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
Raise your glass
A worktop material that’s becoming more and more popular is recycled glass. A few companies are producing surfaces from crushed bottles, jars and other glasses fused together to form a beautifully patterned surface. You can find worktops made from 100% recycled glass, or ones that are mixed with other materials, such as quartz.
Here, NSI Design has complemented the bronze-panelled cabinets with white, speckled glass worktops. Floor-level LED lights add an extra dimension to the room, but try fitting under-cabinet ones to cast a shimmer over the crushed glass pigments on the worktops.
A worktop material that’s becoming more and more popular is recycled glass. A few companies are producing surfaces from crushed bottles, jars and other glasses fused together to form a beautifully patterned surface. You can find worktops made from 100% recycled glass, or ones that are mixed with other materials, such as quartz.
Here, NSI Design has complemented the bronze-panelled cabinets with white, speckled glass worktops. Floor-level LED lights add an extra dimension to the room, but try fitting under-cabinet ones to cast a shimmer over the crushed glass pigments on the worktops.
Floor it
A lot of work was needed to create this counter surface, but designer Stephen Nash of ALL & NXTHING didn’t let that put him off using reclaimed parquet flooring on his island.
The challenge when using old parquet floorboards is that they were often laid on top of a bitumen surface, which is hard to remove. Stephen and his joiner spent hours cleaning it all off and laying each board neatly on the unit top. The work, however, was worth it, as the unique surface provides a stunning feature in the kitchen.
Do you eat in the kitchen more often since your renovation? Let us know in this quick poll.
A lot of work was needed to create this counter surface, but designer Stephen Nash of ALL & NXTHING didn’t let that put him off using reclaimed parquet flooring on his island.
The challenge when using old parquet floorboards is that they were often laid on top of a bitumen surface, which is hard to remove. Stephen and his joiner spent hours cleaning it all off and laying each board neatly on the unit top. The work, however, was worth it, as the unique surface provides a stunning feature in the kitchen.
Do you eat in the kitchen more often since your renovation? Let us know in this quick poll.
Ask a builder
For a countertop timber that’s easy to source, try reclaimed scaffold planks. You can find these at timber yards and online, and they’re available as three different types – new, new seconds and used.
New seconds are those boards that didn’t quite meet the standard specifications, so are a good choice if you want a cleaner look. Used boards will have a more weathered appearance, so are ideal if you’re after a vintage aesthetic.
Here, the knotted edges of the scaffold planks add interest to the worktops, and the matching farmhouse-style table gives the whole space a cohesive look.
For a countertop timber that’s easy to source, try reclaimed scaffold planks. You can find these at timber yards and online, and they’re available as three different types – new, new seconds and used.
New seconds are those boards that didn’t quite meet the standard specifications, so are a good choice if you want a cleaner look. Used boards will have a more weathered appearance, so are ideal if you’re after a vintage aesthetic.
Here, the knotted edges of the scaffold planks add interest to the worktops, and the matching farmhouse-style table gives the whole space a cohesive look.
Turn the page
You might assume a paper surface would get soggy, but in fact recycled paper can make a durable, practical worktop. Rolls of resin-coated paper are stacked and pressed under heat and pressure to bond them together. They’re then slowly cooled to make a solid surface that’s beautifully mottled and leathery.
The island and set of base units opposite are covered with a recycled paper worktop in this room designed by Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens. The durable surface also features on the shelves in the butcher’s block to give a balanced look to the various materials in the space.
Tell us…
Have you used an interesting reclaimed or recycled material for your kitchen worktops? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
You might assume a paper surface would get soggy, but in fact recycled paper can make a durable, practical worktop. Rolls of resin-coated paper are stacked and pressed under heat and pressure to bond them together. They’re then slowly cooled to make a solid surface that’s beautifully mottled and leathery.
The island and set of base units opposite are covered with a recycled paper worktop in this room designed by Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens. The durable surface also features on the shelves in the butcher’s block to give a balanced look to the various materials in the space.
Tell us…
Have you used an interesting reclaimed or recycled material for your kitchen worktops? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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In my main kitchen I have used quartz and pine for worktops and dining table, but the island unit called for something more 'living'. I looked around a local oak furniture maker's store and found a huge slab of oak that he'd had from first opening but never used dye to the long shakes and splits in it. It was just what I wanted, and he put it together as a large slab for me. I finished it if. with blue resin to match light fittings and stools. I'm sure that oak would have ended up never being used.
In our studio apartment kitchen I reused wood I'd taken from my old gazebo and fashioned it into a breakfast bar/table, applying my own paint treatments.
Recycling fir the home is so satisfying.
Way to go Ken. Looks great!
How utterly ridiculous! The comment about a used butcher's block being used as a table and it being even better if it's uneven. A really well used butcher's block will be SERIOUSLY uneven and totally impossible to use as a table-top unless of course you want your glass of wine to topple over and your plates to wobble an awful lot whilst you're trying to cut that steak/shovel those peas. Utterly stupid!