Something like this we have practically in every house here in Finland. I suppose it's the same in the rest of the Scandinavia too :)

Two things about this bother me:

1. The outlet and light switch built into the water-covered back splash. Looks like an accident waiting to happen.

2. Does the counter slope down on the edge?

thats it. I'm moving to scandinavia then. I am adding this to my list for my dream kitchen!

I'm pretty sure people in italy have things like this too.

That's actually a really good idea, but like birdablaze said, the outlet is an accident waiting to happen.

This is the way all dish drainers are made in Italy, where I live. With one important exception, however: Instead of having the dishes drip all over the counter, the cabinet is built directly over the sink so drips don't splash all over. I always wondered why something so practical and common never made it to the U.S.

To second this thought, if you put small, circular fans above the plates, almost like fans you have in a computer, that could help in the whole drying process while using minimal electricity.

"I always wondered why something so practical and common never made it to the U.S."

I suspect because so many of us here have dishwashers. It's a neat idea, but I don't hand wash much beyond the nice crystal and delicate items.

Wow. If this is the way Scandinavians dry their dishes, small wonder they have the time to have fun too. Envy. For the whole lifestyle my mind conjures.

I installed elfa shelving above my sink and use it as a drip-dry shelf. It runs along the counter, and when there's no more room above the sink, I place mugs etc. there, with a towel on the counter. It is a huge improvement over a counter dish rack -- more counters space. In the pictured example, there's a window above the sink, so an above-sink installation wouldn't work. Finally, as someone who's been living without a dishwasher for 15 years, I do not believe a fan is necessary.

Think I saw something similar mentioned in The Not-So-Big House (cited as a Finnish thing :)). At the time I put a note into my dream-house file. I also like the idea of dishes dripping right into the sink, except that would seem to preclude having a window over the sink, which I like even better. Maybe an extra-wide sink, with dishes on one side and the window on the other? :)

Great idea. I suppose you could install a pull-out drip tray to avoid the counter dripping mess - and the fan idea is great too. I am also going to file this away for dream kitchen ideas...

Interesting idea....but I would think it would be more efficient if the cabinet were lower to avoid splashing by all the draining water. And maybe a surface other than stainless that wouldn't show every single water spot.
Stainless steel and water spots.....not a good combination.

I like it in theory - except that it looks like the dishes will just spray water everywhere as they drip from so high up when it hits the counter. The counter and backsplash pictured is an absolute mess. I would worry about the floor too. I would probably just put a towel down underneath.

That water on the counter would bother me, still.

A good idea that needs some tweaking. And please turn off that faucet! :-)

I think those drops were staged lest someone think this is a regular cabinet. My plates, cups, etc., drip down, no drops on the back splash. They're for effect, like the running faucet.

I think I may actually hate everything about this. Isn't it a long reach for each plate to get it up to that cupboard? You'd need a bloody wetsuit to do the dishes from the look of this photo. I have an idea, why not take the dishes in the shower with you each morning and do them there?

What's wrong with just using a dish drying rack again?

I agree with thecabin. What a wet mess. If you had to reach that high to put the dishes in the rack wouldn't you have water running down your arm?

theres nothing wrong with using a dish drying rack, its just that some of us have small kitchens, and it takes up a lot of space.

i think this is great. i like homebodys idea of installing a drip tray (kind of like the crumb tray on toasters!) to avoid water all over the countertop and floor. removable so you can empty/clean it periodically.

They have these in Spain too. I just bought a small studio apartment with no dishwasher. I might install this in the future. Saves counter space.

This picture makes it look like you put dirty dishes in the cabinet and shoot water at them. And even if you accomplish to keep the cabinets dry otherwise, the general moisture in the air is not good the cabinets, as in the photo. Although I'm sure this is not standard practice.

LOL! I was grinning widely already before having read all the comments, and lo and behold, a Finn has contributed with the first reply - and exactly the way I would have too. I grew up with those thingies being Finnish myself, and have never gotten wet arms from doing the dishes either.

In newer cabinets there's usually a tray with a single hole in the middle of it, collecting all the drops to the middle of the sink. And of course the edges of the tray have been secured with silicone to prevent water from running underneath it to damage the cabinet itself.

The waterfall all over the place in the photo is just ridiculous; I've never seen anyone, not even sloppier people, wash like that.

To birdablaze- the counter looks like it slopes down in the middle to drain into the sink. As for the outlet, that bothered me too as soon as I saw the picture!

We have a similar system in our tiny Ukrainian kitchen, but it's just a metal dishrack set into an ordinary cabinet right above the sink. There's a plastic rimmed tray that slides in and covers the entire floor of the cabinet. It's no more trouble to empty than cleaning a regular dishrack and there's really no other room for one within reach of the sink. Works fine, no drips everywhere, and I'm surprised I don't get too much water on my arms (you don't want to wash dishes without pushing up your sleeves anyway). The only caveat: it's really dry here. I'm not sure it would work back home in humid Alabama.

I think I hate this. The water on the counter would drive me wild, as would the water spots left behind when it eventually evaporated. Also, the shape of the counter so the water runs into the sink... I would not want to work on that counter, ever.

@Sanhayhs: I KNOW I hate this.

I'll pass.

there is something available in bombay too - a place for glass, plates, cups, saucers, spoons - and you can keep it right above the sink.

I have been planning to install a drip-into-the-sink drainer since I bought my house last year. I have a window above my sink, however, so it's been more challenging. I've come up with a prototype drainer that is bolted into the ceiling (it resembles a ceiling-mount pot rack) and is able to be pulled down its chains and locked in place at any height. When not in use, it can be pushed up toward the ceiling, out of the way of the window. I made it slightly smaller than my sink, so no worries about drips on the counter top or floor. I'm American, but I grew up without a dishwasher and with a Danish mother who is all about MacGyver-ing her own solutions. Happy Holidays!

Cardboardbox, here in Norway drip-dry cabinets aren't common at all anymore. I don't even know if any kitchen companies make them anymore. However they were very popular in the 50s and 60s. Years ago I rented an apartment with an original early 60s kitchen and I LOVED the drip-dry cabinet. The stain-less steel counter top beneath it had ridges/grooves that lead the water into the sink so we never got any water on the floor. The kitchen was rather similar to this one: http://media.aftenposten.no/archive/00559/_BM04kjkkken3105_jp_559457a.jpg
(the picture is from Norsk Folkemuseum (The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History)
Unfortunately someone had painted it pink sometimes during the 80s.

great idea! i'm off the dishwasher too!!

As the owner of a small kitchen, I am loving this concept of a drip-dry cabinet. However, it seems that the execution in the photo is actually wasting space rather than saving it. There is quite a bit of counter space that is dedicated solely to collecting/directing the dripping water. As others have mentioned before, it would be far to frustrating to use that sloped surface for a cutting board or other prep. Dripping directly into the sink seems more practical.

This wouldn't meet electrical codes in the US. Where would one place their utensils? large bowls etc?

I don't love how is being used in the picture, but I am in love with how it was installed in the picture Solvi posted. OMG I want that kitchen!!! Thanks for sharing it.

we do routered-in grooves in our counter and a dishtowel.

see: http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2008/05/31/7_different_design_ideas_when_planning_your_kitchen_sink_area.html

dry your dishes and reclaim your counterspace. better yet, get your significant other to help, maybe have an after dinner conversation, enjoy a glass of wine...

I wish this was more common in the us like it seems to be in europe. such a great small space solution.

ah, yes it would meet electrical codes in the US and no, its not dangerous. if you actually looked at the photo before transposing your prejudices, you would have noticed that the outlet is in fact GFI. how many of you have outlets above a bathroom vanity? quite a few i would guess.

Interesting concept but I would hate to have that much stainless to clean water spots off of! With all the calcium and lime in our water here (in southern California), I find it difficult to keep just my stainless sink looking pretty.

i've been studying these awhile now, and i'm pretty sure the Fine Homebuilding one is just an Ikea hack. Looks like this Lamplig trivet up top,
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30111087
and this Grundtal draining rack under
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70146749

here's another pic of the real deal, over a sink
http://www.flickr.com/photos/southof290/3838474467/

HCVMama here's a nice window one
http://www.small-projects.com/p24.html

A question for the Finns, is there really a Bauhaus store where they sell these cheap as closet shelves? like this post i found, (the last entry)
http://www.finlandforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25603&start=0
and if so, WHY is no one buying these and reselling them on ebay or etsy :(

I have this in Israel too, and it's common here, but ours is above our sink-- a placement that makes much more sense! This one would lead calcium spots on the aluminum as the water evaporates (a problem I have with my sink faucet, but I wipe it daily... thank you Flylady :)

"1. The outlet and light switch built into the water-covered back splash. Looks like an accident waiting to happen."

You might have noticed that the outlet is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) outlet?
If there's a short, the outlet automatically trips the circuit and shuts off the electricity.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/question117.htm

Interesting concept I will admit and living in an apartment with a smallish kitchen, I can see this being a good thing.

If I were doing this, I'd have made the cabinet a bit lower, although I'm certain how the picture was composed is making the cabinet higher than it may be in actuality.

Secondly, I'd have made the counter level, but with channels in it to allow the water to run into the sink so one can put a chopping board on it and use it if need be, plus, even as it is now, a great place to put the scrap bowl while cooking.

I did notice the GFCI outlet and switch, it's definitely code, and national too. All newer construction has to have them, and that is I think buildings built within the past 15-20 years while most older buildings still do not have them in many parts of the country unless retrofitted.

Grew up with variation of this (under the sink) in Eastern Europe: hate it - it's a mess

now have been living the the US & SF Bay Area paticularly for 10 years, I still don't use a dishwasher/drier (have it but hate it too); after having tested every dish drainer avalable, this is the best http://www.unicahome.com/c771/dish-racks-and-washtubs.html - dish doctor by marc newson for magis - practical, geneous design, beautiful

We put something similar in in our last kitchen. The current kitchen has a window and we can't do the same. Ours had a drip tray and was directly above the sink so we didn't have to worry about the counter. I loved it, it was easier than loading and unloading a dishwasher.

"You might have noticed that the outlet is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) outlet?
If there's a short, the outlet automatically trips the circuit and shuts off the electricity."

But you do not use GFI receptacles where it is guaranteed to get water in it. You use GFI receptacles if there is a possibility of accidentally spilling water on it. This set-up guarantees water contact, so the breaker would be tripping everyday (which would be really annoying to reset it all the time). Its not meant for that. If there is a high probability of water contact you use a waterproof receptacle which has covers on it (like you see outdoors).

Basically a GFI receptacle is for accidents or a fail safe. A weather-proof receptacle would be more appropriate for this application.

Besides, that light switch is definitely not made to be in contact with water.

MESSY!!!!!!!!!

I rented a house in Italy with one of these but it was over the sink. I found it very practical.

Couldn't even imagine life without these cabinets above my kitchen sink. No mess, no fuss, my utensils have their own holed vessel in there. None of washed dishes are so wet that there would be huge amount of dripping. One wipe of kitchen cloth after washing everything is quite enough to remove "mess".

I like storing my plates in that position.

I have a Ikea Gruntal rack over my sink. Works like a charm, everything drips right into the sink, no mess.

All that water in the picture must have been staged--what were they doing, throwing water balloons?

We have a similar thing in our not-updated-since-the-nineteen-forties rental kitchen (UK). We have no cupboards deep enough to fit our plates in so they are stored standing up on a shelf in a wire rack with a drip tray underneath. We have a dishwasher so don't really need the 'drying' aspect of it, but we have nowhere else to store the plates at the moment.

RebeccaCT: Woo! Grundtal FTW! I have two installed one over the other. They are over a dishrack since the sink faces a window. Still, built in cabinetry would be even better.

I love the idea of a dish drying cabinet over the sink and am putting one in my new kitchen, but it was HARD to find a supplier in the US. Here are two Canadian companies (with US distribution) that manufacture the stainless steel racks--the innards--used in dish drying cabinets.
Richelieu Hardware http://www.richelieu.com
Quinko-tek http://www.quinkotek.com

I dont think the kitchen owner is careless with the water prayer. It looks to me that the counter/sink is textured. There is a small amount of puddling but I think that most of the 'mess' is actually water droplets. Alternatively it could just be to show how waterproof this solution is.