I'd vote for chrome to match your faucets.

The Martha Stewart cabinet line at Home Depot has some beefy corbel options that might look great. She's got several paint color options, but you wouldn't be able to match exactly. I can't find a good pic on the internet of the options, but I got a book/brochure at HD that had all of the options. Here's one pic from a blog that I found by googling (It also gives you an idea of what your own painted corbels would look like):

Here is a link that might be useful: MS corbel pic

Some reasonable brackets and corbels at Osbourne wood products. A bracket doesn't have to be the full depth of the shelf. Generally, 2/3-3/4 of the shelf depth is enough.

You could use the sagulator for the size of your shelves and your estimated loads. I always bump up my estimated load a good bit if I think that there's any chance it could be used to hold 5 gallon pickle jars or something heavy. The Sagulator starts at 30 lbs per foot or books like Shakespeare or the Oxford dictionary. That jar of pickles is a bit more than 40 pounds. It will tell you how often you need supports and whether you need to stiffen the shelf.

As a reminder, you can use a router bit put an edge on the shelves or any support boards. It dresses it up just a little bit. Even if its just a round over bit it yields a more finished and softer appearance.

Here is a link that might be useful: One from osborne - they have others.

Judydel, I would get decorative wood brackets and paint them as well as your shelves the same color as you cabinets. It will give you some nice contrast against your beadboard. What a beautiful sink and wall of cupboards. What is you paint color?

I can't help you on the brackets, but absolutely love your kitchen Please post MORE pics! It's great!

While I purchased decorative brackets for my shelves, I debated a long time on painting them the same as the wall, same as the shelving, or as I ended up doing, the same as my trim/cabinet. Here are a couple of pics for you to get an idea--hope they help.

pudgybaby thanks for that photo! That set up is similar to mine and it really helps seeing the decorative corbels in that pic. I love it! I wonder how long the shelf is? You can see the whole shelf if you scroll down and I think it looks about as long as mine, a bit over 4 feet.

bmorepanic thanks for the info on load and support. The shelves will hold quart sized antique canning jars filled with grains, dry beans, rice, etc. I don't plan on putting super heavy stuff up there but it's a consideration.

oldhouse1 I agree on having them the same color as the cabinets. I bought the shelves through the cabinet company so they are already the color of the cabinets (BM Cloud White). The walls are Martha Steward Milk Pail diluted at the paint store to a 33% formula. But to be honest, I also have Ellen Kennon Gustavian Grey and the color is almost identical.

farmhousegirl thanks for the compliment : ) I recently posted photos under the thread called "Kitchen Works Well!"

Farmhousebound I love your kitchen! And your antique touches are just marvelous! What is that chrome unit hung on the left side? I've never seen one of those? Are those drawers that slide open?

Thanks for all your help, everyone!

judydel - sorry for not responding earlier - thanks for the compliments! The chrome unit on the left side is an aluminum dispenser for paper towels, wax paper, and tin foil--probably from the 40s or 50s that I picked up on e-bay (you can probably tell I'm a "collector" LOL).

Judydel,

Something like these would look so nice in your space. (Centered across the middle, of course!)

Your sink and cabinetry are beautiful....do you have more pics posted somewhere?

The corbels are beautiful, but where do I find nice shelves? I have room for a 4-6" deep shelf. Stainless steel? Wood? Shelves that can be purchased with coordinating corbels would be great too. Appreciate any direction or advice!