Gingham was originally an Indonesian striped fabric imported into Europe by the Dutch. Eventually the mills of Manchester changed the stripes into the famous plaid pattern we all associate with picnic tablecloths and old-time summer dresses. Ken Goodwin recreates this plaid in a stunning end grain cutting board made from three different colors of wood. Imagine how perfectly it fits a country kitchen or other traditional décor—but it's a distinctive touch in a modern kitchen as well.

Ken Goodwin: "I originally chose Mahogany to go with the Maple and Walnut, but after oiling the board the Mahogany was too dark. (The colors in an end grain board are always darker than the same wood in edge grain because the end fibers soak up more oil.) Cherry turned out to be the perfect solution."