The Kitchen Countertop Material That HGTV's Erin Napier Is Obsessed With

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When it comes to picking the right materials for a kitchen renovation, the decision is about more than just aesthetics. Whether you're looking at flooring, cabinets, or countertops, you want to pick finishes you can maintain easily. One countertop material that HGTV's Erin Napier seems to love is butcher block. The co-host of "Home Town" and the spin-off "Home Town Takeover" has praised the attributes of the material numerous times over the years. In a March 2025 post on her Instagram account, the designer shared a kitchen remodel with a stylish butcher block made of oak by Scotsman Co. "Did you know we're seeing a big return of butcher block countertops?" she wrote. Butcher block — like other wooden countertops — comes in various colors depending on the wood it's made of. Which should you choose?

It appears that Erin Napier is partial to cherry, as indicated in an October 2025 blog on her and husband Ben Napier's website, Laurel Mercantile. Wood countertops in general add warmth and timelessness to a kitchen — the natural timber aesthetic seems to never go out of style. Cherry heartwood, in particular, has a rich red hue that only gets more dramatic over time. (The sapwood, which is pale yellow, is less abundant and not as highly favored.) The timber is versatile, working with both light and dark finishes, so it makes sense that it would be an experienced designer's top pick. American cherry trees (Prunus serotina) grow quickly for a hardwood species and can be replaced often, making the timber a sustainable choice, too.

Cherry wood butcher block countertops may be a favorite of HGTV designer Erin Napier, but there are a few things to consider before choosing this material for your own kitchen. Cherry is a hard, durable timber. That also means it can come with a high price tag, bumping up the total cost of a home renovation project. While cherry wood butcher block countertops range in price depending on quality, finish, and grain, they're somewhat affordable at Home Depot. Expect to pay from $259 for the 4-foot-long by 25-inch-deep by 1½-inch-tall Unfinished Square-Edge Cherry Butcher Block Countertop to $464.47 for the 6-foot-long by 36-inch-deep countertop in the same style. If you're on the fence about whether Home Depot butcher block countertops are worth buying, head to a specialist timber manufacturer. They can customize a countertop to fit your specific needs.

Another major downside of butcher block countertops you should consider — whether they're made of cherry or other timbers — is the heavy maintenance they require. In order to keep your countertop looking good, you need to clean up spills as soon as they happen. You also need to wipe down the surface every time it's used. Butcher block countertops need to be sanitized and oiled once a month, roughly, and deep-cleaned and conditioned seasonally. Without this level of care, your big investment in cherry wood won't pay off — it will look lackluster instead of warm and inviting. All in all, you need to weigh the cost and maintenance of cherry butcher block countertops against their longevity, sustainability, and the beauty they bring to your kitchen.