I have an Orca with all accessories but have been unable to break the bucket habit (actually, I use a stainless steel bowl). The dish pan that goes with the Orca is big and works really well but for me it's on the wrong side of the sink. I tried to use the grid in the sink as a dish rack, but I don't believe in wiping dry anything that will dry itself, so it didn't work for me. I had to get a new dishrack and drainboard for the counter. I think I need a 12 step program because no matter what I do, I can't change my old ways. If you promptly dry your dishes I think you'll like both the dishpan and grids. I found mine very reasonably priced on ebay.

For the powder room on the main level and the guest bathroom upstairs, there are vanities w/doors, so they're in there, within reach (I'd hope that that's where a guest would look!). For my master bath, I also have a vanity, so I installed a plastic paper towel holder on the inside of the door closest to the toilet. It will hold 2 extra rolls, and they are out of sight but easily reachable, because I can open the door while sitting. I have seen the tall clear glass vases filled with TP rolls, but that's too fragile for me. A similar look -- go to a pottery place (garden center) or HomeGoods-type place and try to find a tall clay/glazed pottery vase to put them in. That way they're close by the toilet but you don't see "TP" as soon as you enter the room. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- To AJSMama: How about a recessed drawer that tips OUT? Like the little drawers in front of the kitchen sink that tip out and hold sponges? Or kind of like an old-fashioned hamper/laundry chute.

We did one on the panel in front of the island prep sink. That one gets used mostly for the food processors (regular and mini) which we keep in the cabinet under the sink and occasionally for the immersion blender. Sometimes the waffle maker gets plugged in there - depending on what else is going on - sometimes it gets plugged into one of the other outlets. Our island is 8' long and 3' deep plus a 15" seating overhang. We put one at each edge under the seating overhang. Those get used for laptops and other chargers if someone wants to sit there with a device that needs power. They also sometimes get used for the hand mixer, an electric skillet or the food processor (when someone else is using the main prep location by the outlet on the front of the sink. We didn't want an outlet in the middle of the side of the island where it would be more conspicuous. The outlets under the overhang are mounted on pull out cabinets that open to the side of the island. We used shallow boxes to minimize the intrusion of the outlet into the cabinet. Our electrician was concerned about whether the outlets under the overhang would count for the code required outlets. We reasoned that the problem with outlets under an overhang is that they require too long a cord if they are in the middle where the cord has to go to the edge of the overhang and back but since these are near the side of the overhang, they don't require any significant extra cord length. He checked with our local code department and they agreed that the outlets could count. We used Lutron matte black outlets and natural cherry outlet covers to match our island. You can see the shallow box and the conduit to it in the top left of this cabinet. The thickness of the panel also helps keep it from intruding into the cabinet. Outlets on the back of the island:

I also believe in having a well run organized home--everything has it's place. I have lots of organizer compartments in my drawers to stash all the pencils, keys, extraneous clutter, etc. I just bought a set of pretty baskets for my DH's closet because I was tired of looking at the clutter in his shelves when his closet was open. I'm thinking of getting some smaller sized wicker containers for some cubbies I have in my message center. Or I could get some cardboard boxes and cover with fabric... next year sometime. Yet, are things always put back? With three kids and my DH, most certainly not. I also don't like wires showing yet my DH is a tech nut and we have lots of tech goodies which are in various stages of completion--due to many demands on his time--so in theory once the area gets finished, I'm going to hide all those wires. I am fast becoming a fan of wireless stuff, though. I just got a new keyboard and mouse last week for my computer and they are wireless. Love, love, love it!!! That and well placed grommits and putting outlets in cabinets wherever possible. We have an outlet in the masterbath hutch for the sonicare so no toothbrushes setting out, outlet and phone jack in cab. below for message center, plus outlet in office cabinet for the charging station for all the phones, cameras, and DH's misc. tech goodies.