The idea is not entirely new; the first pioneer women in America used more simple constructions than these racks that can easily be hung from the ceiling beams of a wood cabin. Racks like the ones presented here are still ubiquitous in North American kitchens, while Europeans tend to prefer storing in cupboards (a practice that, due to tight spaces, does not lead to very practical stacking).

The form of our racks reflects the typical American idea of keeping the workspace in the kitchen as open as possible. We found the racks in Vermont; a handicraft business in Dorset produces them. For almost 70 years, the craftspeople have made use of wood from the region’s abundantly growing sugar maple trees for furniture and helpful kitchen utensils.

This model is for installation on the ceiling, either over a kitchen island or above a free-standing workspace. We offer extension hooks for hanging the rack at various levels (4 pieces with a length of 21 cm are included with each ceiling hanging rack). The wooden parts are made out of resilient, massive maplewood and have been oiled to extend the lifespan of the shelves. Frame and grating are made of chromed steel (or stainless steel). The various hooks included with each shelf accommodate cookware and utensils with perforated handles, while all utensils with simple hook handles find their place on the sides of the frames. Besides, you can use the hooks to dry green herbs fresh from the garden; in this way, you have them available near the stove.