What do you keep on your kitchen counters? - Page 2

[CelticMomma]

toaster oven
dish rack
bread corner
sponge holder
paper towel holder
stand up mixer
fruit bowl
mail and other junk (it's the bad part of our house)
spoon holder
food processor
salt cellar
trivet
rack with frequently used spices, oils and cooking wines

[teacup]

Going Goodwill/retro helps with our lack of counter space. I got one of those wooden paper towel holders (SO won't give 'em up, so there you go) that you can mount underneath a cabinet. I also got a mail holder that is long...it's hard to describe. It has three slots, one under the other, kind of staircased. Anyway, it holds coupons, keys, and misc. I use our beautiful, big colandar to hold the cloth napkins, and put it on the breakfast table.

On the counters:
microwave
toaster
knife block* (though we could do the magnetic strip and save some space)
food processor*
compost pail
flower pot (holds large utensils like spatulas)
soap/lotion combo
coffee pot

*These things are stuffed into corners, waaay back, where we can't reach. It would be wasted space anyway. Whoever designed our kitchen needs a poke in the eye.

I recall reading somewhere (Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, maybe?) that you shouldn't have a Misc file or folder. Everything should have its own spot. Otherwise, Misc becomes a catchall and you get lazy. I find that's true for me. She also suggests sorting your mail as soon as you bring it in the door: Tear up and toss any junk (or throw it in the recycle bin on your way in), stack the bills in the appropriate spot, and file anything else.

ETA: I have been considering getting some of those cheeseball sticky lights that you press to turn on. Know what I'm talking about? They're an As Seen on TV item, I think. That could free up some counter space for you. Anyone know if they work (well)?

[DebraBaker]

A wooden bowl of fruit, a knife block, a crock of utensils, a coffee maker, a toaster, salt, pepper mill, a bowl of sugar, a bottle of olive oil, and a bottle of red wine It isn't as cluttered as it sounds.

Debra Baker

[serenetabbie]

We have a big kitchen with the least amount of counter space the 1973 contractors could manage. It's truely an amazing design feat.

On one side of the stove we have a 7 inch counter. That holds the utensil crock, salt and pepper. On the left of the sink we have the toaster, knife block, sugar bowl and coffee machine, behind all that is the big butcher block cutting board. That stuff pretty much takes up every inch of space there, but it's where the outlet is. On the right is a basket of fruit, the dog's treat jar, and DH's tobacco junk in a tin. There is one other counter on the other side of the kitchen in a weird built in hutch sort of thing... on that is the microwave, phone books and phone (the second of three outlets in the kitchen is there, the third being behind the 'fridge). On top of the microwave is the "inbox". While I wish I could be rid of the basket "inbox", before we had it things got piled up aside of the microwave or the crock near the stove (bad, bad idea to have paper on a 7 inch counter top near the stove)... this looks much neater.

[EviesMom]

Originally Posted by teacup

I have been considering getting some of those cheeseball sticky lights that you press to turn on. Know what I'm talking about? They're an As Seen on TV item, I think. That could free up some counter space for you. Anyone know if they work (well)?

They eat batteries like crazy in my experience. We put a couple over dd's changing table (when she was young enough to be changed on a table instead of while standing... running... leaping) and they literally needed new batteries every other day. It's not like we left 'em on for long periods of time either. :

[SeekingSimplicity]

I try to keep my home as minimalist as possible. I have currently have:

Microwave
Fruit bowl
Dish soap container

[serenetabbie]

We have lights (installed by previous home owners) that you can buy at Lowe's or Home Depot under the cabinets. We only use the one over the sink (as there are not enough outlets for the others and all of our junk). They are white with a small flourecent tube in them, and run about $10.

[azurite]

can you put up shelves

I have a shelf above my stove w/ my romantopf (a terracotta baking thing I use for rice/roasts chix etc) my oil (b/c I use it at the stove all the time) salt in a pretty dish for pinching, an egg timer, a pottery canester that lost it's lid for all my wood spoons, spatulas etc, my oven lit/hot pads are on top of romantopf (i love it- get one), a jar of coffee beans (b'c have 10 inch counterf space by stove that allows for grinder etc and we use tea pot for coffee) and even a crystal!! The shelf is 3 or less feet long but has all I need pretty much for that space and it looks really cool (most importantly!)

also those 2-3 tiered wire baskets are great for avocados, garlic, onions etc.

Can put one by the window for ripening and one elsewhere. Microwaves take up so much space we don't use one- well, other reasons too but... really by the time you delegate room for the swinging door etc...ugh