How to Make a House-Shaped Cutting Board

Treat the chef on your list to butcher block done better. A nice thick chunk makes a hard-wearing prep surface, and a few strokes of a jigsaw transform it into a unique conversation piece.

To build a This Old House logo-shaped cutting board 12 inches wide by 14 inches high get one 1½-inch hardwood butcher block cut 14 inches square.

Other downloadable cutting board templates shapes include a Georgian House Template here, and a Row House Template here.

Step 1: Download the Template

Using a restickable glue stick, adhere the template to the butcher block.

Step 2: Make Large Cuts

With a straightedge and a pen or pencil, extend the lines on the template to the edge of your block to create guides for your jigsaw. Using a jigsaw fitted with an aggressive-tooth blade, cut out the form, stopping short at the corners.

Pro Tip: Tom Silva, This Old House general contractor, advises staying about a quarter of an inch away from your marked line when making jigsaw cuts: “We only want to rough cut it with the jigsaw and we’re gonna fine tune it later.” You can always remove more material, but you can’t add it back.

When cutting with a jigsaw, hold the saw firmly and let it do the work. As Tommy Silva explains on This Old House, “So many people wanna force it. If it feels like it’s going too hard, you may wanna change your setting to a higher number and you’ll notice a difference in the cut.” It’s also critical not to push or pull the saw off its natural path — doing so can bend the blade and skew the cut to the left or right.

Step 3: Trim the Corners

Finish cutting out the corners with a fine-tooth pull saw.

Step 4: Apply Conditioner

Season the board with butcher-block conditioner. Apply three to four coats to finish.

Tools