I am glad this got asked and looking forward to the answers!! Weedyacres, my guess is that the "drying" towel is hung over the towel bar spread out, while the dry towel is neatly folded in thirds lengthwise and then hung over the bar. In our new bath I am having the same frustration. I want it always to look neat. But, if you fold your wet towel up nicely, it's not going to dry, of course. The wet ones, hung on the bar, also take up like 20", so you can't hang two towels, or a towel and hand towel, on a 24" towel bar, like they're seemingly intended for. neatly folded towel on towel bar. Obviously a dry towel! Here are two neatly folded towels on a bar. When one is wet, what do you do with it? Unfolded, it takes up the whole bar, so where would the other one go??? There HAS to be an answer to this I am missing....

Eric, I just leave the bath towels on the warmer all the time. It would be a bit of a hassle remembering to move them back and forth. Smaller hand towels and the bath mat hang on other towel bars or rings. I have the Runtal automatic controller. It allows you to program different on and off cycles for each day of the week, multiple on and off cycles per day, and to control the temperature setting. Since I'm a creature of habit, the week days are all programmed the same, but at the weekend, the warmer comes on later and goes off later, as I tend to get moving later on those days. If my schedule deviates from normal, I can easily override the programming. The warmers in my guest rooms are programmed to be on in the mornings and again in the evenings, but off during the middle of the day. When I don't have guests, I simply set the temperature to "0", and they don't come on at all. The controllers are hidden away in cupboards or closets, where they're out of sight, but easily accessible, so their appearance wasn't a consideration. If you choose to go with a Lutron timer, be sure it's one rated for a heating appliance, and be aware that it probably won't provide as much flexibility or allow you to control the temperature level. I usually don't operate my warmers at their highest setting, and I appreciate being able to lower the settings on them during the warmer seasons. I've been totally happy with Runtal and recommend them.

Not sure what counter top material my parents are using yet, but the idea is to take the leftover and add small legs to it (probably 4"-6" tall). This will sit someplace on the counter or on the island and will hopefully blend in. My father is a foot taller than my mother and this will be used to "raise the counter top" to a height that is better suited for him. It should be able to be moved to whereever he wants to prep - either island or next to the stove. It won't need to be huge - just plenty big for a full size cutting board.

Paper Towels: On a vertical stand next to my sink. I like having them handy. It is an inexpensive one from Target. In the past, I had them hanging under the upper cabinets. After we remodeled, I needed a new solution. I didn't think the countertop one would be stable, but it is and I really like it. I enjoying being able to grab the whole roll and take it to another room if I need to. Wet dish towels: I have a Rev-a-shelf hanging rod thing on the inside of one of my cabinet doors under the sink. I only use it occasionally though. Usually I have a dishtowel folded in half laying/hanging right on the counter where I stand at the sink. I use it for drying my hands, fruit, dishes, etc. throughout the day. It dries quickly. I have a dish drainer on one side of my double sink, so anything I hand wash usually just dries in there. If I've entertained and have extra hand washing with more dishes on a towel on the counter, then those go on the racks under the sink until they dry. Sometimes if I have one that is really wet and yucky, I just throw it on the tile floor in my laundry room (closet). It is the only tile I have in the whole house (I like to take advantage of it.) :) Cutting boards: In a vertically divided cabinet in one of my lowers. Plastic bags: I donate them to a food bank, so I throw them in the trunk of my car until I see my friend who takes them for me. :)