skip to main content

Hang a towel rack on cabinet?

2 years ago

I have this awesome vintage brass koi fish towel rack that I originally was going to hang on the end of my island. But it won’t fit. The best place for it is on the side of my tall cabinet next to the sink and coffee maker. Do I dare put holes in my brand new custom cabinets?? 😬😬😬 I don’t think I can bring myself to do it. Anyone have any creative solutions on how to accomplish this without damaging the side of the cabinet?

Featured Answer

Aglitter

2 years ago

Hanging wet towels in the vicinity of my previous cabinetry is the main thing that led to severe moisture damage to my cabinetry finish and ultimately forced a remodel. Keep wet towels away from cabinetry at all costs.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

HU-187528210
2 years ago
Please don’t put holes in your brand new cabs !! 🤭

Lol
Take a pic of the whole space, maybe we can brainstorm another less risky spot.
Otherwise I’d probably prefer to put it up temporarily

Maybe heavy duty Velcro

Or double sided tape

I know it sounds unlikely but I’d give it a try before poking holes...
Julie B.
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
You could mount it on some kind of decorative wooden piece and then attach that to the cabinet with command strips.
Related Discussions
mounting towel racks on mirrors and/or hard wall tiles?
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks Palimpsest for your explanation, sorry to take so long to get back to reply. Your first two paragraphs make sense, and others (builder, bathstore personnel) have agreed it's not a good idea to drill other things into the mirror. We were going to try to choose an alternate lighting fixture for this guest bathroom, but they had already glued the backplate on to the mirror, so we'll live with this one. But at a later date, if we ever did want to change, will that be "impossible" without risking breaking the mirror to remove the backplate? By your last paragraph, do you mean that if we put up a train rack (or whatever... say smaller towel rack or toiletry holder) that required drilling, that we just have to know where the pipes/whatnot are behind the wall before accidentally drilling into them? These tiles, being "very hard", apparently went through a lot of drill bits for whatever they did need to drill for. And presumably a train/towel rack should be mounted to stud underneath too, for extra stability? Actually, at some point I think we'll want to have a grab bar installed... so same points would apply, with extra of figuring out best angle/height to suit most users (being guest bathroom with potentially some heavier and/or older visitors) and ideally also esthetics. Eventually we'll aim to have grab bar(s) for master ensuite too, so whatever we learn will be useful there too.
...See More
In-Cabinet Installation of Towel Warming Rack?
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks - I have been contacting, but just wondering if anyone here has been able to do this successfully and safely.
...See More
What side is the best side to hand a towel rack or hooks?
Q
Comments (10)
Beautiful room!! I put the large size brushed nickel (fake, they are really plastic) Command hooks on the end of the wall like the one between your shower and tub. They hang nicely and could be reached from either shower or tub. I would hesitate to do a train rack at the end of the tub where you will be standing up. Potential head banger. The Command hooks don't leave marks on the wall, so you can try it out. I put heavy damp towels back on mine and they've never failed to hold. If you like the placement, you can get fancier ones if you want to screw them into the wall.
...See More
narrow open cabinet to hang damp dish towels
Q
Comments (16)
growlery, thanks for the many possible sources. I looked at a few that have beautiful designs. If I found one I'd like, it would be on my list for our next holiday in England. (It will be quite a while until we can afford to go.) The short rod would be for a dish rag. One towel rod doesn't seem like enough. I have a towel bar at the end of the island that has dish towel, hand towel, cooking towel and dish rag. southernstitcher, dirtymartini-browsing GW is dangerous :) Inside an open cabinet is a good compromise for me. Towels at the end of the island are always sliding off the towel bar and onto the floor, or the dog brushes against them. I asked the KD about mounting the towel bar on something that slides out a bit so it is easier to reach. She's thinking. If not a towel bar, hooks could be mounted on the slide out. No doubt cheaper than the vintage towel bar. Maybe that one should go in the bakery.
...See More
Sharon Fullen
2 years ago
Look for construction adhesive tape at Home Depot. There are grades of adhesion that out perform Command strips, etc.
kculbers
2 years ago
I agree, do not put holes in you cabinets. Find a place on a wall nearby to hang it. The towel rack is lovely.
daisychain Zn3b
2 years ago
Hang with velcro command strips first and once you see if you really want to keep it there, screw it in. I think you will need to add blocking of some sort inside the cabinet for the screws to bite into. It looks like a fairly heavy piece and I think it will likely pull the screws out of the cab without the blocking. The command velcro likely won't hold long term.
ShadyWillowFarm
2 years ago
I’m not sure I understand how the rack will go on the side of a cabinet from your picture. I would put it in the bathroom on the main floor. It’s on the large size for the kitchen, and forcing something to fit where it doesn’t really have a good, useful place isn’t a good idea.
darbuka
2 years ago
Are those soapstone counters? They’re gorgeous! They look a lot like my Belvedere soapstone, installed by M. Teixeira.

As for the towel bar…to my eye, it would be more appropriate in a bathroom.
louislinus
Original Author
2 years ago
@darbuka - Yes they are soapstone. My place called them Fantasy Soapstone. Have also seen them called Fantasia. They look very similar to yours. Some of my veining is blue and green. Are yours the same?
louislinus
Original Author
2 years ago
I looked it up and apparently Fantasia and Belvedere are different.
darbuka
2 years ago
Yes, Fantasia and Belvedere are different varieties…though they both have blue/green veining. Belvedere is one of the hardest soapstone varieties…Almost 6 years old, no scratches.

What did you decide to do with the towel rack?
louislinus
Original Author
2 years ago
Yes I think mine’s only a 2 hardness. Nothing with the rack yet.

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Where to Hang Towels in the Bathroom

By Jess McBride

It might seem like a simple thing, but finding the right spot for your bathroom towels can make a big difference

HOUSEKEEPING Kitchen Fix: Where to Hang the Dish Towels

By Becky Harris

Keep these hardworking cloths handy and dry. And even find room to show off the ones that no one is allowed to use!

KITCHEN CABINETS How High Should You Hang Your Upper Kitchen Cabinets?

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Don’t let industry norms box you in. Here are some reasons why you might want more space above your countertops

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: 20 Towel Racks to Better Your Bath

By Bicultural Mama

Sleek to quirky to rustic, these towel racks are anything but ho-hum

BATHROOM DESIGN Your Bath: Hotel-Style Towel Racks

By Debbie Snider

Get the Great Look of an Upscale Hotel's Wall-Mounted Towel Shelf

ORGANIZING Rack 'Em Up: The Convenience of Racks All Around the House

BATHROOM DESIGN Bath Details: Clever Ways to Stash Your Towels

By Bryan Anthony

A repurposed boat oar, a magazine rack and a row of spigots are some of the ingenious designs for keeping towels handy

KITCHEN DESIGN Hang 'Em or Hide 'Em: 10 Stylish Ways to Store Pots and Pans

By Jennifer Ott Design

Keep cookware neat and at the ready with racks, drawers and creative storage solutions

LAUNDRY ROOMS The Hardworking Laundry: Make Room for Hanging the Wash

By Laura Gaskill

Pullout and folding drying racks, and clothing rods of all lengths, come to the rescue when space is tight

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Details: Out-of-Sight Paper Towel Holder

By Mary Jo Bowling

See how some homeowners are clearing the counter of clutter while keeping this necessity close at hand

Sponsored

More Discussions

Recommendations to reduce risk of Dekton / sintered stone chipping

8

Kitchen Undermount Sink

14

coffee maker on quartz??

2

Durability of Dekton long term

1

Support for seam over DW

12