Kitchen Essentials: Spoon Rests

The kitchen is the hardest working room in any home. As such, you won't generally find many purely decorative items on the shelves and countertops -- everything that occupies that valuable real estate should have a purpose. That does not, however, mean that your kitchen is doomed to be a strictly utilitarian space; it offers a variety of opportunities for showcasing your personality and design preferences. From your choices in kitchen shelving to the countertop organization essentials you select, there are plenty of ways to make the space your own. Spoon rests are just one of many kitchen items with an important, practical function but can also serve much like a piece of decor, adding color, pattern and texture to your countertop or stove.

Spoon Holders and More Functional Kitchen Decor

Spoon rests are essential kitchen tools that keep your space clean and ensure that your cooking tools don't overheat or contaminate whatever you have on the stove. With a spoon rest next to the stove, you can avoid scorched wooden spoons and sauce-splattered countertops. Most importantly, you won't have to worry about burning your fingers on metal spatulas left too long in a simmering pot. Spoon rests also act as a home base for your cooking utensils, making clean-up a much more manageable chore. Williams Sonoma has a wide selection of spoon holders, so whether you're looking for something sleek and contemporary or prefer a more organic look, you'll have no trouble finding something that's perfect for your kitchen. Read on for more about a few of the available options:

• MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Spoon Rest - Made of heavy-gauge steel with a hand-painted enamel finish, this striking spoon rest transforms an everyday essential into a piece of art. The black-and-white check pattern coordinates with the other pieces in the Royal Check line from MacKenzie-Childs.
• Hold Everything FSC® Lid and Ladle Rest - Exclusively available at Williams Sonoma, this uniquely versatile kitchen helper features a glazed ceramic spoon rest that sits atop an ash wood base, which also boasts a frame that allows your spoon or ladle to remain upright and provides a place to prop up a pot lid.
• Sicily Spoon Rest - This Italian-made spoon rest features a bold, colorful pattern inspired by handcrafted Italian pottery of the 14th century. Made of durable glazed stoneware, this rectangular spoon rest is generously sized and dishwasher-safe.
• Olivewood Spoon Rest - Olivewood is tightly grained and durable, making it a great choice for use in the kitchen. The rich, two-tone grain of the polished wood adds warmth and organic beauty to your countertops.

Wrap it Up

Spoon rests and other decorative kitchen essentials make thoughtful host and housewarming gifts. They also make lovely additions to more utilitarian gifts you may have selected from a loved one's wedding registry. Spoon holders, for example, are a natural choice for adding a personal touch to the gift of the cooking utensils for which the newlyweds registered. If you're looking for more beautiful and practical gifts for the home, you might consider a tiered fruit bowl, a set of colorful kitchen linens, or a ceramic soap and lotion caddy for the sink.