Part of me wants to use these as the dish drainer:

Estetico Quotidiano Crate Box · More Info

a porcelain version of the plastic trays used for restaurant dish washers. But is that too impractical? It's pretty stupid to make yourself need to set dishes in the dish drainer carefully to avoid chipping the drainer.

I could use actual restaurant racks though.

I agree with Sophie once again. Good advice. Can you go with wood that is slotted for the plates to drip dry over the sink? Is this what you are thinking about?

British West Indies Residence · More Info

Thanks all! Sophie, what about if I make it like the second photo (Shawme Lake Residence)? Would that not work? If they were two floating shelves? Could there be two side panels that look like a box, but are not required for structural integrity? My walls are old shiplap, so it will go into wood at all points except right in front of the window, which is only 30 inches wide.

Sandra, yes, that could be good too. What sort of wood and finish do you think might stand up to that kind of use?

It would be for drying the dishes, to regain the counter space of a regular dish drainer.

Here are a few pics I found.

Also, there are plate rail kits that could be used to create a plate rail between two shelves - but you want them to be able to drip if they are going to dry and a material that won't be ruined by water.

A few more pictures:

I found this nice metal rack idea

or