The Knife Rack

Can one rack keep chef’s knives sharp, stash the salt, and still look clean on the backsplash? Yes — a hidden grid of magnets grips blades along a powder-coated beige face while a slim walnut ledge and single hook handle the rest. Ilan Rubin of ilanilan distills three countertop essentials into one understated wall panel, letting solid American walnut frame the quiet utility of powder-coated steel. The magnets sit just beneath the surface, so blades snap flat and stay protected from edge dings. A 1-inch-deep shelf keeps finishing salt, pepper, or that bottle of chili crisp within arm’s reach, and the brass-tipped hook swings out for a potholder or favorite ladle. Walnut’s warm grain softens the hardware’s matte beige, and a keyhole backplate makes mounting as simple as two screws. Install the Knife Rack above a prep zone, beside the stove, or by an outdoor grill station; it clears counter space, puts every tool in sight, and wipes clean with a damp cloth at the end of service.