Simple Solution: A New Kitchen Towel Hook

Last week, Faith asked where you hang your kitchen towels. The answers ranged from "over the edge of the sink" to "on the oven handle," typical places I've hung my towels, too. But inspired by the post—and a fancy hook I hadn't found a use for yet—I hung a hook the other day. Seems like a pretty small thing, right? Let me tell you, it has made a huge difference.

I used to hang my dish towels over the oven handle. When I cooked, I stuck one in my waistband for easy access (not an apron girl, here). But I had a permanent path of water droplets from the sink to the oven from walking across the kitchen with wet hands, searching for a towel. And when I had more than two towels in use (which was often), I ended up with a stack of damp ones by the sink.

My hook was a gift. It's a hefty, iron fleur de lis, the symbol of New Orleans, where I briefly lived. It's pretty, and yet I could never bring myself to hang it. It was too pretty to be hidden in a closet, but it wasn't quite big enough for coats in an entryway.

Last week, after reading Faith's post, I got out my tool box and screwed the hook into the kitchen wall, directly across from the sink. And I know it sounds silly, but it is honestly one of the most efficient, useful things I've done in my kitchen in years.

My towels are within arm's reach of the sink. They dry fast, hanging on that hook by the window. They aren't taking up space on my countertop. And they just look really cool hanging on a fancy hook rather than over the oven door. Also, I frequently hang more than one towel on the hook; it's strong enough.

If you're looking to give your kitchen towels a new home, I'd encourage you to buy a pretty, special hook that you love. It's wall adornment and kitchen organization in one, and you'll smile every time you see it.

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)

Comments (4)

I have a similar hook like this that houses my apron. For the towels, I installed a bathroom towel rack under the window just to the right of the sink. my kitchen is long and narrow, and the window and towel rack are at the very end, so the pretty towels I collect in France are on display, and very, very useful when I use the sink.

I love that idea! There are definitely times I see cool hooks when I'm out shopping but don't buy them since I can't convince myself I will actually use them. I should start looking more closely now for hooks that will work in my kitchen.

I bought these same hooks at Francesca's in Fort Worth a few years ago. I installed them by my front door to hold dog leashes, scarves and handbags. Have been looking for them ever since to stock up on some more for gifts and such but have sadly been unable to locate them.

The fleur-de-lis is not exactly "the symbol of New Orleans". It's a symbol usually associated with France (historically with the French monarchy) and used by many former French settlements.