I don't have a n y appliances on my counter....none....not even one!!!! I am blessed enough to have a pantry. The pantry has a shelf where I have the microwave and toaster oven. On the opposite wall I have a counter where I have the coffee pot and then I have a short maybe 2' wide 2 shelf bookcase kinda unit where I keep my cookbooks and the toaster. I don't know if you are familiar with the Pfaltzgraff dishes but about 35 yrs ago I started collecting the Village set. I have the canister set, flatware stand, cookie jar, soap dish, mug rack, salt and pepper shaker, and salt box on the counters. Sometimes I put the spoon holder and utensil crock on the stove island but that's pretty much all I have on the counters.