I think the bamboo is going to be much more attractive than any of the alternatives. While I have read your post several times, I am really not sure why you are not putting more in the dishwasher....

Because I need the pots everyday and I cannot fill up the dishwasher in a day. I get all the residue off the plates before I put them in the dishwasher, then I run the dishwasher once a week to thoroughly clean them. Also I have invested in "pretty plates" and special mugs and have not bought any extras, so I am very careful with those and do not want to put those into the dishwasher. But mostly I am washing stainless pots and pans. I make two meals a day for health reasons and I enjoy plating them - forces you to eat a vegetable and treat yourself well.

Why not a dishrack you can fold up or collapse and put away after towel-drying the dishes? Or even after air drying them. When in the rack, you see the pretty dishes, not the rack.

I do have a dishrack that is out all the time. But it is only about 6" wide and suspends over the edges, down in to the sink. It's hard to see when there's nothing in it, and even when there is, it's not up on top. Saves me counterspace, and I still have the use of the sink. I can't tell you where to find one, though: got mine at a rummage sale. Best 50 cents I ever spent on the kitchen lol!

I don't fill up the dishwasher often either, so I just use the dishwasher racks as drying area for hand-washed items. You can put dirty dishes in certain areas of machine, and leave other areas open for drying until you need to run it.

Try the Kitchenaid dish racks. They come in colors or SS/black.

I don't use a dish rack just the over the sink roll up mat for a few things but I typed in Google - beautiful dish rack - and quite a bit come up under all and images.

Not long ago there was a discussion about configuring a cabinet to use as a drying rack. Apparently it is common in Europe and generally designed for smaller kitchens where space is a premium. But since you do a lot of hand-washing, it might be worth considering. Waterproof Drip-Dry Cabinet

Hmmm, like the OP, I hand wash some things most days. The coffee carafe and filter holder for example. I actually find hot soapy water to be soothing and enjoy washing dishes unless I am tired. I still use my dw for flatware, place settings, and every day glasses. But pots and pans, cookie sheets, knives, and my favorite coffee cup get washed by hand. I use a mat to lay my dishes on to dry, so no rack.

I don't really understand the reluctance to use the dishwasher. Even if you run it daily less than full it will use less water than you would use hand washing a bunch of dishes. The fear of breaking dishes in the dishwasher doesn't make sense to me. I grew up without a dishwasher in our home and we broke a fair number of dishes and glasses over the years when someone would drop a slippery item or accidentally crack something on the side of the sink. I've had a dishwasher consistently for the last 10 years I haven't had a single dish or glass break in the dishwasher.

I do hand wash a few things and I just lay them on a drying mat or hand dry them and put the right away.

No help here with the nice dish rack. Sorry. But I will also suggest running the dishwasher even though it isn't full. Funny thing is, during this reno I am having to wash my good wine glasses by hand and am so afraid I'm going to break one! I never give it a second thought when putting anything fragile in the dishwasher.

Thanks everyone. Right now I'm leaning toward the fold up stainless rack from ikea and I would try to find a nice rectangular plastic tray to fit under it, maybe in black. Ikea and container store have stainless utensil holders that may work with it.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

There was a thread not long ago, something like "what do you put in your dishwasher". I can't find it. I washed a good bit by hand and didn't fill/run my dishwasher everyday. After reading that thread, I put so much more in the dishwasher than ever before and run it every night. It's so great!

The roll up mat Jancy recommended is awesome. I use it for the few things I hand wash.

Jane, I'm facing the same dilemma. I've got a good dishwasher but some things just don't clean well in a DW, some items get damaged/etched by DW detergent, and others just don't fit in my DW. Handwashing some items is a daily necessity. I'm also lazy and prefer to let my dishes sit to drip/air dry rather than wiping them so my rack stays out all day.

My current rack is ugly white plastic but it can hold A LOT. It will be hard to find something that will function as well as it does. Please update us when you make a final decision! I need ideas too! :)

Since you're looking at IKEA, I wonder if you might like the Grundtal rack? I have one, but just use it as a plate rack without the drip tray.

You get all of the residue off the plates before putting them into the dishwasher? That's the mistake, you must put dirty dishes into the dishwasher and then the soap can act on the dishes, otherwise nothing gets clean. You should also put the pots and the pans in the dishwasher and then you run the dishwasher every night. The only thing you cannot put in is aluminum and anything that is marked that it should not go into the dishwasher. I recommend that you read up on proper dishwasher use as you are really making a lot more work for yourself.

The roll up over the sink rack is simply fabulous, provided that the bulk of your dishes are being done in the dishwasher. It does not hold plates.

I second the rec for the silicone roll up ones that someone posted above. The reviews on amazon are exceptionally high, and i was skeptical, but it really is that great. It is not so much "cute" as it is entirely non-noticeable.

I found it! I bought it! umbra came through again!

The dish rack on the left did not come with a utensil holder or drain board. However bed bath & beyond had the bamboo utensil holder on the right for $7 - it clips onto the side of the dish rack and looks good, like it belongs there, even though it's not umbra. I'll try it for awhile and see how it goes. Hoping the bamboo parts dry so quickly that they don't go bad.

I'll use a cloth dish drying mat underneath. My old drainer got hard water spots, so it might be better to use a washable mat.

It looks cute empty. I hope it will work ok. I did a few tests.

I love this forum! Just ordered a roll up over the sink drying rack like lily posted from amazon. Didn't know I needed one til I read this thread ;)

i ordered the roll up mat as well. it got good reviews on Amazon and with prime shipping I don't have to wait too long.

I have the roll up one. So nice to hide it away in a small space.

I did the same-bought the roll-up over the sink..:) Thanks to this thread..

It arrived just several days ago.

Everybody in my family thinks it's the neatest idea ever.