Do a Google search for: "Paper towel holders - what do you have" and then click the "cached" link. The original message has dropped off but I just found a cached version when I did a google search...I don't know how long it will be around, so I'd do it right away... There are a lot of ideas in the thread.

Do you mean the roll that's in use, or the extra rolls you have for refills?

i am going to put mount a holder under the cabinet over the sink like i have now. it limits my faucet choices (the height is the constraint), but i'd rather have the counter space!

In my plan above my prep sink (on a wall) I will hide a roll behind a decorative front wood panel. Hopefully I can reach behind the wood panel and pull out a sheet.The roll will be on a spring thingy like the toilet paper. Dont know how well it will work but thought I would try it.

Looking for ideas on the roll that is in use, In general I am not in favor of things sitting on the counter.

I was never a fan of the sitting on the counter holders, but didn't want to drill holes in the underside of my new cabs. Besides, with the U/C lighting there, didn't know if paper towels and hot light bulbs would be a good combo! I'd hoped to store the roll in use under the sink, but realized we use way too many paper towels and the roll would end up on the counter most of the time anyway.

We got the OXO brushed SS paper towel holder that has the spring arm to hold the roll (it sits on the counter, and I have it turned so the spring arm is toward the back). It's not too bad looking (not much of it shows with a full roll loaded on it), and the base is mostly SS (underside is black plastic), so when the roll of paper towels is partly used up, all you see is SS. It cost somewhere in the $20's, and if you get it at BB&B, you can use one of the ever-popular coupons for the purchase!

Looking for ideas on the roll that is in use, In general I am not in favor of things sitting on the counter.

That's what a countertop is for ... to make life in the kitchen easy. Make your kitchen work for you! Don't worry about picture perfect scenarios. They only exist in kitchens where people don't cook.

I 2nd natal - Funny just read a thread on the decorating forum re: how people feel the need to hide TV's and "we all know you have them"
I'm not a fan of too much on the counters either - but in the kitchen I choose function over form when it comes to paper towels - I really don't want to struggle or touch things w/wet or yucky hands
We have a simple marble type (like the simple human) sits to the right of the sink

Thank you for the suggestions. I do want the paper towels available. I will mull over the very helpful comments.

My aversion to things on the countertop has more to do with more to clean when things spill or grease splatters, then the look. And in our current kitchen our very limited counterspace (a 2' section and a 30" section) seems to always be half-consumed with "things."

I was also not in favor of trying to mesh UC lighting with a paper towel holder mounted under a cabinet. So there were two choices: mount one INSIDE a cabinet (no thanks) or have a countertop model. Considering how often we grab paper towels, on the counter is the best option for us.

There are several counter top models available. I asked my dad to make one for us (along with a banana tree). He was very flattered that we asked, as he loves creating things from wood that are useful to people.

DonnaR/CA

I have always loved my grandmotherÂs paper towel "holder". My grandfather made it for her many years ago. The wall cabinet next to the sink (one of them) has a slit cut in the bottom of it-running parallel with the wall. The paper towels are on a roll inside the cabinet (not sure but there must be some mechanism or something holding the towels- maybe a dowel fastened at each side of the cabinet). One sheet is threaded through the slit and voilaÂ.one sheet at a time dispensing through the bottom of the cabinet. You never see a thing-we just all know to reach up and grab one-but when you tear off a towel just a bit of the next one hangs out-not enough to really see if you are standing around in the kitchen. Hope my description made sense. I would do it but I have so few wall cabs-I canÂt spare a shelf.

fightingoverfinishes - What a cool idea! If my kitchen wasn't already done, I can see running with that idea and perhaps building some sort of extension down from under an upper cab flush with the backsplash, so as not to impinge in upper cab storage.

MaryT

My old cabinets had an arched front over the stove and I was able to hide the paper towels behind the arch, up in the corner.

In another house, we did something similar to Fighting's grandmother's towel holder. We ended up with a wall cab that was 6" shorter than the others. DH added 6" sides and a front to the bottom of the cabinet and mounted the paper towel holder up inside, completely hidden from view. A long door front mounted to the side and a 5" drawer slab on the front helped to give it a finished look and hid the fact that we had made a goof when ordering the cabinets.

I currently have two on the countertops-- when I need a paper towel, I don't want to have to run accross the room to get it.

I totally get wanting to keep the counters clutter free, and I hope to simplify at the new house, but I've also seen counters so empty they looked like a wasteland. If there's nothing at all on a counter, it feels like a rental house waiting for a tenant.