Those with Craft-Art walnut butcher blocks- please help!

14 years ago

I received my Craft-Art island top today. What I ordered was the walnut edge grain, and love the beautiful movement that walnut has. I chose to not get the rustic look since my island cabinets have a distressed look and thought the rustic was too knotty.

This is what arrived:

I called the company to let them know I thought they may have sent me a rustic top. The customer service person I spoke with said they will look at the photos I've sent them and if it's not within their parameters for black walnut they will ship out another one.

Anyone have any idea what the parameters of black walnut may be? I think it looks rustic, and the knots that are present are all in the same area. I don't mind some knots, and actually expected them, just not so big and black. These don't look quite right, yet both ends of the top are fine. It certainly doesn't look like any of the tops I've seen on their website that aren't rustic.

If you have a walnut wood top from Craft-Art, could you share photos? This is the last piece of my kitchen puzzle, and I certainly want it to be right. If I'm being too picky or just plain nuts, please let me know!

TIA

Featured Answer

alexisls

14 years ago

For what it's worth, I also ordered the walnut edge grain (non-rustic) from Craft Art and yours definitely looks more grainy/knotty than mine. The counters are really beautiful when they're finished - I love mine. I hope it works out for you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

CEFreeman
14 years ago
No, you're not too picky.

You can insist on something that looks more like the picture. It's too rustic for you -- and me.

Believe me. When I was in travel, a woman sued Thomas Cook travel because a brochure didn't show a dead fish on the beach. She won.

Extreme, I understand, but if you don't like it now you won't like it ever.
Capegirl05
14 years ago
I am sure you looked at both sides and are showing the best side? Our block had a few noticeable knots on one side, so we flipped it over and liked the other side much better. Someone here said that the top would come shipped and labled which side was top and bottom, but ours did not. One side was rougher, so we assumed that it was the bottom. Ours does have a lot has a lot of graining and some dark patches but the top is smooth...there are no pits or knots with holes, etc.
I agree...if you aren't happy, you need to send it back. Craft-Arts' customer service was for us/is top-notch, so you should be able to work it out.
Hth...capegirl
Related Professionals
Torrington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lawrence Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Flint Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Newark Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · San Diego Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Savannah Kitchen Remodelers · Tyler Kitchen Remodelers · Charlottesville Kitchen Remodelers · Carbondale Custom Countertops · Topeka Custom Countertops · Middlesboro Custom Countertops · Wilmington Custom Countertops · Charleston Custom Countertops · Salinas Custom Countertops · Missoula Custom Countertops
oldhousegal
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks capegirl for your response. Yes, it is smooth on the side that I've shown and has a huge 1/3" wide x 15" long gap on the back side, so am assuming that is the back! It was not labelled as such. Interestingly, the back has only a couple of knots that aren't as prominent, but they aren't filled either and have good sized gaps in them.

The top is smooth and actually quite beautiful. It just looks rustic to me, and all my friends think it's rustic looking too. ARGH! The final piece and I just wanted it to be like the picture on the website!

And yes, so far Craft-Art has had good customer service. I'm still emailing photos, so keep your fingers crossed......
jillandmatt
14 years ago
Oldhousegal, We ordered a regular black walnut (not rustic)from Craft Art. Your top definitely looks like it has quite a bit more grain and knots than ours. One option for would be to stain it darker. This made a lot of the grain and knots on our blend more because it eliminated the contrasting colors of the darker grain and knots. Hope that makes sense.. Also, on our top after we stained it dark you don't notice the strips of wood as much because they blend together more...
Here are some pics before and after staining. We started out with a lighter stain and then switched to a darker one:
User
14 years ago
send em Jill's pics and tell them this is what you though you were ordering.

Too many knots and ray flecks in yours for a "select" top.
clg7067
14 years ago
That sure looks rustic to me! Far too many knots.
oldhousegal
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone for your replies, especially the photos of Jillandmatt's. After seeing yours, I can see that the one they sent me truly is the rustic one. If only I could get the company to see that..... they haven't been extremely responsive thus far. Of course they want photos of everything, and with a torn tendon, I can't lift or move the darn thing to get the photos they want. I thought they had better customer service, based on what I saw here. Perhaps I'm catching them at a bad time?

So much for finishing the kitchen by Thanksgiving....... Maybe I'll shoot for New Years!