Scootermom - in answer to your question, I use the Bounty "Select-a-Size" paper towels, which I like because sometimes you only need 1/2 towel, or maybe 1-1/2 towels, so I like the versatility. As I noted in my post above, I have the Perfect Tear towel holder (linked above to BB&B). The Perfect Tear holder works equally well for the Select-a-Size or the whole-size rolls. Korney19 - LOL! I'll link a pic of the Famous Dave's PTholder. Fun in the restaurant, but I wouldn't have one in my kitchen which I spent so much time and money to look beautiful! Here is a link that might be useful: Famous Dave's Restaurant PTholder

Where will you be placing it? It's approx a foot deep, so it will take up about half the depth of a standard counter...it would look really nice in a corner, though. Instead of just measuring it out, try finding or making a box with the same dimensions and putting it on the counter...it should give you an idea of how the "mass" of it will fit/look. 16"H x 16"W x 11.5"D

My upgrade will be a change from a vertical holder that sits on the counter to a horizontal one hanging off the backsplash. My family carpenter is building what I want, but it's based off something like this - combining the towel holder with a little spice shelf. The idea is to not only get the paper towels off the counter but also the food scale, my vitamins, the salt pig, and a couple of other little things that tend to "live" on the counter right now. Probably not the ultra-classy special thing you're looking for, but it's enough of an upgrade to make me happy. :)

You can, but you have to use oil based paint, and it smells horrible, and is difficult to use. I would just replace it with updated finishes. A tile person can remove those and patch in new tile around it if that is what you're concerned about. We did that recently, and we were able to match our 30 yr old tile.