Give Your Stoveside Essentials a Pretty Place to Live

Cooking is, to me, a fundamentally joyful act—but it’s made all the more enjoyable when your kitchen is lined with items that are as beautiful as they are useful. While the product tester in me will usually argue for prioritizing performance over aesthetics when it comes to cookware, tools, and appliances, the organizational items that dot your countertop provide more leeway for making design-minded choices.

Now, do you need a rowboat-shaped salt cellar for your Maldon salt or a marbled concrete lazy Susan for your oils and condiments? No. But why shouldn’t our kitchen counters be as worthy of decor as the rest of our homes?

Consider this your sign to inject a little personality into your kitchen setup—to do some counterscaping, if you will. To help you get started, I’ve curated a list of display-worthy trays, spoon rests, utensil holders, and the like that will keep your kitchen tidy while ensuring your tools and pantry essentials stay within arm’s reach at all times. There’s a little something for everyone here, whether your vibe leans sleek and minimalist or farmhouse chic.

Spoon rests

If you’ve been precariously balancing your dirty cooking spoons atop various kitchen items—or worse, letting them rest directly on the counter—it’s time to get a spoon rest. If you often reach for two utensils when cooking a meal (say, a spoon and a pair of tongs), I’d recommend trying the Nest Spoon Rest from Holcomb, which features two pieces that can be stacked or used separately depending on your needs. For something more funky and futuristic, Alessi’s polished steel spoon holder delivers an ideal blend of form and function.

Lazy Susans

Do you, like me, like to keep a motley crew of oils and vinegars on your counter? Give them a home with a rotating tray, which will make your collection less chaotic and more accessible. Go for something elegant and practical or spring for a statement-worthy option that can do double duty as a centerpiece on your next dinner party table.

Trays

Corral your sprawling assortment of salt dishes, small tools, and mise en place bowls with a stoveside tray. Sure, you could use a plain quarter-sheet pan, but why not get a bit more creative? Colorful Cambro trays are just as affordable (and dishwasher-safe!). Or perhaps a sleek black marble number is more your speed?

Salt cellars and bowls

Speaking of salt dishes, your options here are endless. Protect your precious flakes from dust and oil splatters with a covered dish or live life on the edge and opt for a small uncovered vessel with big personality. The choice is yours, but either way, I’d recommend going for a set or two different bowls to house both regular kosher and flaky finishing salt.

Utensil holders

If you’re still using the holder that came with the plastic cooking utensil set you bought in college, you’re due for an upgrade. These crocks are so pretty that they can double as flower vases at your next soiree.