Hmm, I am not "first owner" of anything too old. A French Press I've had since about 1980, is the oldest thing I suppose. As far as "previously owned" stuff, I use a slicer that my father-in-law used when he was a butcher shortly after WW2. It is about 18" long, slim flexible carbon steel, gets very sharp, I think of him when I take it out.

Very excited - now, should I pull the trigger on the SubZ 36 Over Under BI SS that was marked at $6800? I put a hold. Looks like retail is close to $9000. I just have no where to store it for 8 months but such a good deal. They are swapping the entire kitchen - said they do it every six months. I guess I have time to see what they swap before I have to install. M

While I currently have all utensils stashed in drawers, I have used various containers on my counters to hold them. Some things I've used are a pottery bean pot, an urn, a large pottery cachepot, an enamel coffee pot, a vintage/maybe antique enamel pot, and a large ceramic rumtopf. Any large container will work altho if it's not heavy it can tip and I've sometimes placed something heavy in the bottom to prevent that. Most of the items I've used are are family treasures, have been found at yard sales, or while traveling. Large containers are everywhere, what you use depends on your style and preference. I prefer old things or unique items and can find them easily. Some items I've used to decorate my kitchen counters are a small lamp, a small chalkboard on an easel, a pottery sign, a tray with condiments, a tray with pottery containers filled with dog and cat treats, a vintage 30's tin scale, cookie tin, and pie saver that belonged to my DM, a 3 tiered plate holder, apothecary jars filled with various things from time to time. I currently have a large clear glass lidded canister that's still empty as I haven't decided what to put in it.

Wow! Thanks to all of you who have responded so far to my request for hanging suggestions. There have so many good suggestions, and I am mulling over them to see just which ones will work in my kitchen. @mcmjilly, the grater lights are fascinating. The lighting has already been done in the kitchen, but I love the looks and may try to fashion one elsewhere in the house. @ellaf, yes, I have thought of the shaker peg racks, and there is actually a place about 20 miles away that does sell such things. But the website you mentioned actually has more variety in size of pegs so will be worth looking into. And thanks for the MS link. Lots of good ideas there. @becky sharp -- the rolling pins displays are great. I will try to incorporate something like that. None of my rolling pin collection has ever been displayed, and I would like to display a few at a time. (They used to be in my old Hoosier cabinet, but are now either in the drawer below my ovens or in the tray storage above. They fit great there, but obviously aren't displayed!) @paige16, @sjmitch, and @rosieo, thanks for your suggestions. Yes, I agree that like things should be grouped together in some fashion. I used to try to do something like that on my old pegboard, but when the things I actually used got hung up, my display got dis-organized. But I do agree it was too much and too cluttered, so some organization desperately needs to be done. The shadow box idea is good (don't remember whose idea that was) and we do have quite a bit of cherry left here by the GC from what was used for the molding and light rail, etc. Problem is that neither I or DH are very handy! @melissastar, thanks for all of the useful links. And, as to pie pans, I also have a collection of those but did not mention them as they are in the "baking" drawer below my wall ovens. And when I say "tins", I mean that literally as I got rid of all of the aluminum ones long ago, though I do still have a couple of glass ones that I use for lemon meringue pie. I also weeded out many of the old pie tins (such as those with no advertising on them) when I was trying to clear out the kitchen for the remodel. Nonetheless, there are still lots, as well as cake tins, etc., also in the drawer below the ovens. As to the links you gave me, there are lots of good ideas there and I have looked at them all. I do have a pot rack I bought years ago (and never used) that might work to display utensils, though I'm not sure where it might look right. The rolling pin hangers from Vermont look great and just might work to display a couple of the rolling pins. Thanks for all of the links. @priclypear, thanks for your suggestions. Yes, I agree things need to be grouped in some way, and I am going to try to do that. I have put some of the regularly used ones on the counter (but don't want to do too much of that) in old crocks -- one with wooden utensils, one with silicone, and a short one with the spatulas and wisks that my grandsons use when they cook with me. @florantha, yes, I did see your collections thread and actually responded to it. I do think that I collect things not just to "have" them, but also to use them. And I think things SHOULD be used. But I also agree that too much is not good, and I know I need to weed things out. I did do that, to some extent, when we took things out of the kitchen before the demolition. I did get rid of a lot, though it seems I still have a lot! And I do know I need to weed out some more. We've been in our house for over 44 years. Need I say more?? And @farmhousebound, all I can say is that your collection is fantastic! You also seem to have a wonderful kitchen in which to display all of your bounty. My kitchen, unfortunately, is not nearly so large and so I do not have as many options as you do. One thing I had to give up in the kitchen remodel, as there just doesn't seem to be a place for it, is the old Hoosier cabinet I had on the wall where my grandson's chair (on an antique Shaker chair no less) is now. That is where my now 10-year old and now 7-year old grandsons have done a lot of cooking (it has a pull out metal table) in the past few years. I am hoping the antique Shaker-style desk I am going to put on that wall will be a good cooking place as well. Thanks to all. I know I haven't been able to mention everyone, but I have appreciated everyone's suggestions, and would welcome any others anyone has to offer. I also would love any pictures that anyone has. Boxerpups, do you have any pictures in your wonderful collection that might help?