I'm also posting this over on Kitchens, but I need to buy a pair of corbels to support a breakfast bar. The breakfast bar is just shy of 60" long. It is a 26" postform laminate bar top that is 26" deep:

15" overhang (corbels!)

5.5" support wall, plaster/gypsum over huge old 3.75"x3.75" studs

5.5" overhang on kitchen side

I have 7" max from underside of counter to the chair rail that is below, so I'm looking for a pair of 6-7" corbels. Is there anything else that I should be aware of? Do I need them to be of a particular depth, say 4" or 8", to support my counter? Is there a guideline on this available? Can I put the counter in temporarily without supports, until I can buy the right ones, or will it be unsafe/unstable?

I'm content with buying simple ones to paint white if need be, as beautiful ones like the one below are more than I can pay right now. But I do want to buy whatever is needed for safety.

Thanks for any help!

Lindsay

Here is a link that might be useful: Beautiful handcarved corbels on eBay