TOP ROW
1. Walnut cutting board by Gray Works Design, $48
2. Cutting board made of reclaimed wood by Peg & Awl, $100
3. End grain 3D-effect cutting board by Laura Tyler, $130
4. Pennsylvania state cutting board (other states available) by AHeirloom, $40
5. Reclaimed natural edge cutting board by Triple 7 Recycled, $20
BOTTOM ROW
6. Solid walnut cutting board by Dominik Woods, $79
7. 8-bit Mario end grain cutting board by Prairie Oak Studios, $110
8. Texas-size mesquite cutting board by James Robinson, $145
9. Baguette cutting board by Gray Works Design, $80
10. Eucalyptus and turquoise cutting board by Granddar, $45
(Images: as linked)
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Now these are what I call a nice use of wood! Especially 1, 3, 6 and 9.
Check out the gorgeous handmade cutting boards etc. at http://gastboards.com/index.html. Amazing and unique craftsmanship. I got one as a wedding gift and use it daily! Still looks as beautiful as the day we got it!
I'll put in a plug for GreenRiverWoods on etsy - Matt made me a gorgeous end grain hickory cutting board exactly to my specifications:
www.etsy.com/shop/GreenRiverWoods
Meh. I'd rather have an end-grain board that is friendly to my knives than a board that just looks pretty.
To be honest, the flexible plastic cutting mats are probably the best blend of utility, knife friendliness, and compactness. You could have a dozen or so of them in the same volume of space that one wood cutting board requires. They are dishwasher safe, and because they are flexible, you can almost always find a place for them. The material is soft enough that my Forschner/Victorinox steel and Shun knives are not dulled by the board. But perhaps the biggest selling point of the flexible mats is that after I chop something, I can carry the board to the stove, curl it up, and pour the stuff in. They also work very nicely for adding stuff to the stand mixer, etc. The only downside is that the material is almost too soft- really hard pressure (ie: chopping callebaut chocolate bars into chips) can puncture the mats.
Of course, thin plastic doesn't look nearly as sexy as end-grain wood...
I'm spoiled rotten because my husband is a fine furniture maker. I'll suggest a cutting board size or shape that would work, and he'll make it! I've got a small one for garlic and shallots, a large pretty one for bread, and mid-sized ones for larger veg. Plus a few that are too beautiful for cutting on - to serve food. All different kinds of woods and finishes. Bliss!
My dad is a wood worker so I have always had more cutting boards than can fit in the house. Every time he would work up a new design I would get another board. He take lousy pictures but makes beautiful boards.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaulsSpecialties
Okay, here's another one you might like - bamboo cutting board made on solar power - plus the label has seeds in it. Plant the label and grow an herb garden! Take about environmentally friendly.
http://www.amazon.com/SolarMill-Bamboo-Cutting-Board-Garden/dp/B006SMN0U6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337285627&sr=8-1
Claire - your husband's work is really great. We could use some cabinets, but you are too far away.