Pretty kitchen!

I buy my dish and hand soap partially for the aesthetics of the bottles haha, but decanting into clear or ceramic bottles like @stiley's done definitely steps it up a notch.

A wooden bristle brush with a little dish to put it in is on my shopping list once my current sponge brush kicks the bucket.

Clustering like items together on a tray or board is a good way to keep things looking neat and intentional. Gloves, scour pads, drying racks etc are all stored under the sink when not in use.

Add a vase of cut flowers or some potted plants. Maybe some herbs on the window sill!

Some inspo:

Tennessee Tudor Kitchen · More Info

Don't leave soap bottles on natural stone or engineered stone countertops please. Your "bulletproof" countertop is no match for soap trapped under the bottle. It might not be so bad if the bottle were set somewhere differently each time, but we're creatures of habit.

If you're not getting a soap dispenser, get a sink with a faucet deck please.

I think your kitchen is more suitable and look beautiful with glass stuff even in white or dark color.

The only thing I keep out is a Simplehuman rechargeable sensor hand soap dispenser on the faucet deck: https://www.simplehuman.com/products/rechargeable-sensor-pump-9-fl-oz Mine is an older model, but I love the hands free operation-just put my hand under the spout so nothing to press or cross contaminate.

I keep a sponge and a brush in the dishwasher and just pull them out to use and return to the dishwasher (those and the dishes are washed on a sanitize mode). Dish soap, wire mesh pad for cast iron, and a nylon pan scraper for enameled cast iron are kept in an organizer in the cabinet below the sink.

Thanks all! I'm having the darnedest time finding something that would go in my kitchen that would accommodate my sponge, long handled brush, dish soap, and foaming hand soap. Love the look of a tray and decanting my soaps. I also need something to keep my cute dish towels in (I have about 5 that I leave out in a basket which is too big for the towels and I don't like to store my dish towels in a drawer or cupboard).

My sink is in island. When we recently had the island cut down from a 2 level with 42” high bar to a full counter height island, I had to get used to things around the sink being on view. I don’t favor clutter but do want my most used items handy, I liked my dish & hand soap clear bottles but was concerned the holder they sat in with its ball feet would scratch my new quartz. I repurposed my Fiesta Ware cream/ sugar holder plate that I never used for my soap bottles it keeps them corralled & adds a spot of color plus the round shape insets in plate are perfect fit for bottles! Paper towels handy in holder & Fiesta Ware trivets I use for serving hot dishes at counter are also handy & a bit of color. I do have Fiesta Ware items on perimeter counters too. My dish towel hangs from dishwasher handle to left of sink. Dish scrubber inside dishwasher & easy to grab. Dishrag sits on the grid at bottom of sink.

My suggestion for your dish towels is to shop your kitchen cabinets for a suitable sized item you don’t use often to roll them up & stick them in. A bowl, or server or cracker tin etc. Something that’s pretty to display. When you need it, it’s there to use,

J

Cute!

I keep nothing out on the counter by the sink other than a neatly folded hand towel. . Hand soap is dispensed from a built-in, and I have a small silicone bottle filled with dish soap that sets unobtrusively in the corner of the sink; sponge rests on the grid in the sink.

Seems like lots of you keep a grid in the sink? Was thinking of getting a ceramic sponge holder for the tray...but perhaps a grid will be better? We have a black silgranit Blanco sink.

I have a grid because I have a stainless steel sink & grid is made to fit the bottom with a hole for drain. My impression is most stainless sinks offer grids as accessory & it’s to protect bottom from scratches. It is useful for draining things too. Your sink doesn’t need the same scratch care. What tray are you referring to? Is that a built in part of your sink?

@KW PNW Z8 I was thinking about buying a silicone/marble/ceramic tray to place the soap bottles on.

Ok - that makes sense! A decorative tray to set on countertop. I wouldn’t buy a grid for a sponge - as I noted, you don’t need one to protect your sink surface. If it were me, I’d stash the sponge in the dishwasher. You know, I’m sure, of the recommendations to clean sponge in dishwasher every time you run it.

@tlynn1960 so smart to keep your brush and sponge in the dishwasher! I would never have thought of that.

I keep my sponge in a basket that is suctioned to the inside front of my sink so it’s not visible unless you’re right at the sink. The other things I need are dish soap, a scrub brush, a drain strainer, and the brush I use for straws. I bought a small tray at Home Goods in the bathroom decor section and they all sit on there. To Jospeh Corlett’s point, I didn’t want the tray right on the counter for fear it would leave a stain, so I put felt stickers on the bottom of the tray, and I wipe under there every day. Also, I find the key to making sure your soap doesn’t get all over everything is to place your sponge right under the soap nozzle, dispense, then use the sponge to wipe the end of the nozzle. It’s an easy habit to get into and eliminates all soap drips.

I’ve enjoyed this post - it’s great to see all the ideas. Thanks for starting the discussion!