Thanks for the responses and ideas. I guess I'd better go to BB&B and check out some of the options. Those silicon pot holders and the leather/suede ones look interesting and promising. I do have mitts, but unless I'm wrestling with a turkey or something big in the oven, I usually don't like to take the time to put on mitts just to move a pot off the stove, or take a hot dish from the microwave. I guess I'm concerned about my ugly ones, because the habit is also to throw one down on the counter or table and also use the potholder as a trivet, too. While I do have proper trivets, for just the quick meals around the house, it seems like an necessary bother. I did pick up some interesting magnetic trivets at IKEA recently, which seem like a good idea. Since I have induction, they will stick to bottom of all my pans. However, they are only trivets as they are too stiff to use as a potholder. I also like the idea of having a container out that can be used to hold them. Any other ideas? Pictures? Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea magnetic trivets

We do not have a proper laundry room either (oh how I wish we did!), but i do have the planning desk in the kitchen like Treasuretheday, where we stash the 'not too unattractive', large food bin. Also the water bowl. We have two large Boxers and I agree with Outsideplaying... it helps to elevate the bowls for large dogs. I purchased a feeding station from Amazon, it looked like wood, but was not. After a few months, with water slopping down inside it started to smell, so out it went! Then I was on the hunt for tall metal or wrought iron stands, but boy are they expensive, and hard to find! I took a friends advice and bought metal plant stands, at Garden Ridge. They are just the right height, and the base for the flower pot is just the right diameter to fit a glass mixing bowl. They don't look bad in the kitchen, and after the dogs eat, I scoot the stands under the desk behind their big water bowl. The plant stands was a great idea, and really inexpensive.

Very interesting responses! Mags438 I was totally laughing about your dog, that is a new one to me, a bread loving dog haha. Cindy Noll, does the SS drawer help your breads stay fresher? These comments have given me some good ideas. I find we will have tortillas, hoagie rolls, sandwich bread, take and bake breads, etc. and it looks so cluttered on the counter. Texas Gem my daughter has stopped eating sandwiches which creates the problem of what to give her for lunch. Hummus and pita, cheese and crackers, lunchmeat rolls, leftovers (if at home) or school hot lunch! I probably could give her mac and cheese, chili or spaghetti in a thermos, but most of my stuff is packed up still from out move (awaiting renovation). Sometimes she'll still take a peanut butter and honey sandwich. :)

I used this Paper Towel Holder in my kitchen.It is fixed on the wall quickly and conveniently, in the kit there are dowels (for 6mm.) and screws, as well as plates with double-sided tape. Cuts off the foil and film easily, the main thing is not to confuse the cutters! (they are different!) With paper and foil no problem, but food film pull out is not convenient, maybe it depends on its thickness, Now it is the thinnest. I'll try to find it stronger