Floating shelves for kitchen - am I being too optimistic?

[Trills]

My kitchen and living room are open-plan and I like the LOOK of floating shelves more than shelves with brackets.

Shelves like [http://www.diy.com/departments/white-gloss-floating-shelf-l802mm-d237mm/1162383_BQ.prd this one]] say that they can hold 25 kilos, which would be well above what I'd actually put on them.

But am I being too optimistic? Are floating shelves really only for a decorative photoframe and candle or two? Will it bend and fall and cause havoc?

I've used Ikea 'Lack' shelves which are the same construction as these in lots of places in previous houses and they really are solid. Great for holding lots of books.

Interested in this post. We can't find any long enough.

You've put BOOKS on floating shelves?

Books are the heaviest things ever.

Like this one?

Hello Monday people - any words of wisdom to impart?

No wisdom on Monday.

I guess it depends on how solid the wall is behind and the method of installation. A good builder/carpenter will be able to advise.

I personally would not take the risk. Stacks of plates would be quite heavy. Would not want to put a plate away thinking the shelf is going to crash down, But we use -abuse our kitchen a lot.

In terms of aesthetics, are you quite minimalist in the kitchen. I would have thought that unless you can keep your cooking utensils, plates, cups, spices etc in anal lines or you have very little stuff in your kitchen, it would looks cluttered and messy. I am thinking of my pots and tupperware drawer. I guess that is why floating shelves are not popular in the kitchen. It is only if you have the odd potted plant, cookbook or photo to display that it looks good?

I've used the IKEA LACK shelves previously (not in kitchen though) and had quite heavy items on them. If you see what the fitting is like - its really quite solid and large, there isn't much chance that they'll bend but you need to get someone properly qualified to advise whether your walls will take the weight (and us MNetters obviously can't see your walls).

Aside from that, they look very nice if you can keep them tidy and be prepared to deal with the dust which will accumulate over time!

I've used the Ikea ones three times (three different properties) with heavy items on and have never noticed any bowing and they certainly haven't fallen down. The first time I had 3 of the longest length ones filled with books & CDs in my flat. I then had one long one in the kitchen with cups, glasses, juicer etc on. More recently DS had 3 of the shorter ones in his room, some of which were filled with books. I haven't seen the fixings of the B&Q ones but the metal frame fixes into wall in numerous places so as long as you are using long screws and it's a solid wall it should be absolutely fine.

Don't know if this will help but this is the fixing of the Ikea one. It's only a small shelf but it is fixed with 10 screws (been decorating so currently only holding on with 2 screws).

Thanks for the picture! :)

I am not a very minimalist person, but my stuff is mostly already in drawers and cupboards - it'll only be things that I WANT to have out (e.g. nice jars of grains, spice, etc) that will be out on display.

This link looks good

I've absolutely loads of pans on my Lack shelves. Big pans, cast iron pans and glass jars full of pulses.

This lack shelf says max load 5-15 kilos depending on your wall.

I've checked the instructions online and the innards look like Tattie's picture above.