apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Vintage ashtrays are super cheap (since most people no longer feel socially obligated to set them out for guests anymore), and they can be quite stylish when re-purposed to hold keys, coins, or whatever.

Couroc of California made trays for several decades out of a black plastic-type material with inlaid designs. The inlays were mostly woods and metals, though they may have used stone a bit, too. A lot of them are kind of hokey designs but they did a lot of fun ones, too. There are always a lot on ebay. The (boring) commemorative trays go for cheap. The ones by better designers can go for $50 or more but they're worth it---the inlays are beautifully done and lovely to look at.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=couroc &_sacat=See-All-Categories

I'm looking for 2 trays now: one for my keys/changes/mail for when I just get inside my apartment and other for some toiletries to set on the sink.

So, I was excited to see this post. Sadly, I don't find any of the suggestions even remotely attractive. :(

Here are two very cute old school lunch trays:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5538116&section_id=6360137

I do the same. Trays on the kitchen floor: one to hold all the animal bowls, and another to catch the drips from the (large) water bowl from which the animals drink. Another, by the back door to hold my garden shoes and another, by the front door, to hold a pair of slip-on shoes for outside. If you don't have anything on hand, or have trays that are too good for the floor, you can get a variety of 99 cent trays at the 99 cent store. Low bowls can also work.

Clutter on a tray is still clutter. I like small ones for keys, but I don't want to display all the flotsam and jetsam of my pockets.

Here are a couple of vintage blue Melmac plates with sections: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32746707

and a nice bronze tray from another shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=33484173