Last week I delivered a freestanding butchers table to a customer in Bath. It had a 3" thick solid laminated Ash top and solid Ash shelves with an 'Osmo- raw' finish to keep the Ash looking untreated, it can tend to go slightly yellow with other oiled finishes. The tulipwood frame was handpainted in 'Farrow & Ball - Purbeck stone - Modern Eggshell Finish'. The modern eggshell finish was originally developed for flooring so its a really hardwearing paint ideal for heavily used furniture.
I think the piece achieves the contemporary/shaker look the clients were looking for and adds some warmth to an unloved corner of an otherwise highly contemporary kitchen.