Shelf It!
Something modern is quickly becoming a classic, and it’s now commonly seen in spaces everywhere, namely floating shelves. Functional, options a plenty and varied in length, they are often quite a purposeful solution. Easy to find, quick to install and sturdy to use, this type of shelving works in almost any scenario. But why are they so easily pleasing to the eye?
WHY THESE SHELVES ARE ALWAYS IN
Floating shelves are wonderful because not only do they come in variety of textures and color tones, but also in a variety of lengths. Imagine a nice, clean, tall wall. Floating shelves serve as an immediate delineation and provide sharp contrasting color that works wonders to draw the eye up; they give a blank canvas such as that interest. Floating shelves are versatile and striking leaving behind a solid mark; such as a black line, or the softness of an aged wood. They can heighten architecture by spanning a corner, as we’ve done here, inciting the eye to really ‘see’ a space. They can also nicely age an area on a moment’s notice, or delineate something crisply, when you need a more contemporary touch instead. And while beauty should never trump function, according to this Turnstylist, bracket-less shelves, provide both something lovely to look at as well as function given the depths, lengths and thickness options available. Even as a shallow ledge, floating shelves stay out of the way, making art placement easy in a powder room, or book placement above a bar cart.
FLOATING SHELVES HAVE BEEN AROUND AWHILE
This is the thing about floating shelves – they are extremely versatile and easy to use as a demarcation. They have become a classic, precisely because of their staying power. And, in a way, the idea of them has been around for a long time if you think of the broadly ornate, functional molding used in the 1700s. Often then, we can recall similar ledges created from heavy French or Italianate baroque plaster trim, allowing a small vase to be set in a mesmerizing context
These days, floating shelves are direct in their purpose. And as a nod to their predecessor, don’t forget those with embellishment. A slight scallop or curve as we’ve designed in these custom shelves here, lends so nicely to a kitchen sink window. They brightly open up the view, making the window feel like a spot one would love to stay and linger.
USING THEM AS A DESIGN ELEMENT
Floating shelves gather cookbooks nicely and leave walls uncluttered when they are placed next to a range hood for example. They really show off tile work beautifully as we’ve done on this colorfully patterned client project of ours. These work fabulously as shelves (of course), however they can also stand on their own, pride of place, almost as artwork that fills the wall in a special way. Take these cube shelves (below); we layered them on top of upholstered walls to show off a varied collection of objects, while we punched up these other blue shelves by connecting them in color to the cabinets below. And if you need simplicity, the light blue shelves we’ve used here, keep things serene, but highly useful by not complicating a layer kitchen look. As you can see here (below), the shelves serve as a graceful support to several cookbooks, leaving the herringbone marble tile to shine and the kitchen to feel usable and fresh.
So consider floating shelves as a remarkably direct way to accomplish several things on a wall: function, ease of use and a very deliberate aesthetic to ensure you have left your space more workable and you have made mark. If you’re ready to take your home to a whole new level- shelves and all – contact us about our design services.
