I rarely use more than one spoon or ladle at a time when I'm cooking, so this spoon rest is perfect for me. If you're like my husband and need several utensils - even to stir soup - than you would be better off with the design that holds multiple items but takes up more space. The white dish lifts right out of the stand and is easy to wash (I wash it by hand, so I don't know about putting it in a dishwasher). It's really a great design - just wish I had bought it years ago.