Kitchen Countertop Built-In Cutting Board Design

Use this kitchen organization idea to add a high-end touch for a low-end cost with this counter top built-in cutting board design.

If you are replacing your counter top in the near future or are building new, then consider adding a cutting board – wood or stone – into your countertop.

This easy step-by-step requires a little planning and minimal effort to design a built-in cutting board that can be customized to your style, is easily removable, and adds a high-end touch for a low-end cost to your kitchen design.

Kitchen Countertop Built-In Cutting Board Design

Why a built-in cutting board?

When designing the kitchen in our French Country cottage fixer-upper I wanted to try several different design elements that I am considering incorporating into our home when we build.

Some of these elements include quartz counter tops, a dish rack, a built-in coffee bar, and a farmhouse sink to name a few. One of these trial designs also included a built-in cutting board.

But why a built-in cutting board?

For one thing, we eat a ton of fresh food. I use my cutting board daily, which means it stays out on my counter top all of the time.

I do not put my cutting board away, therefore, it gets daily attention which means I am constantly trying to get it back to where it is centered in my work corner when I am done (#OCDproblems).

Also, when I am cutting I like the idea of it being anchored and not sliding around.

The key to the built-in cutting board, however, is also being able to remove as needed for cleaning. Let’s explore this built-in cutting board design

Kitchen Countertop Built-In Cutting Board Design

Determine the dimensions.

Determining the right dimensions can be done in several ways.

I used the huge cutting board I already had from Williams and Sonoma (similar one here) and gave those dimensions to the counter top fabricator. Another way to go is getting a custom butcher block piece cut to size.

Either way, buy your own or have one made, but you need to let your fabricator know exactly the right size so they can cut it out of the counter top prior to installation.

It will be a cutout just as your sink is. Your fabricator will typically ask to keep the cutting board to make the cut precise.

Here you can see the cutout in the counter top.

I have mine in the prep zone right above the lazy susan. (Read all about how to design your kitchen around 4 work zones here!) That board running vertically was already on the cabinet itself.

Here you can see the board from below. This was already part of the corner cabinet.

Kitchen Countertop Built-In Cutting Board Design

Verify it fits!

The first thing you want to do before your installers leave is to make sure the cutting board fits!

Love it!

How to Design a Built-In Cutting Board

Create a 2×4 platform.

The next step is cutting a 2×4 so that it is just barely able to be tapped in with a hammer.

It should be tight on either side, but just barely so! Anchor it with a screw.

If you do not already have a board attached to your cabinet as I had, then simply use mounting braces on the inside of your cabinet walls and create a cross out of 2x4s.

This will be the platform for your cutting board.

Kitchen Countertop Built-In Cutting Board Design

Add handles.

The last thing is to add handles to your board. I used these vintage bron ze cabinet pulls. This way it is easy to remove your cutting board to wash it etc.