I think it would be great and I wouldn't paint the auction shelf. maybe strip it down to a more natural color. good luck

softpunk - I defer to your judgment entirely because everything else I've seen has looked so good, but I don't see anything 'Plain English-y' about that shelf and would suggest not using it in the kitchen. If you like the idea of a shelf there, select one with cleaner lines. Any progress pictures you'd care to share?!

"Would you use 2 different shelf brackets in one space?" No, but I'm not a huge fan of brackets to begin with.

Is that little square table with the wood top what you are calling a sideboard? If so, consider foregoing shelves there altogether. They would be of very little use, if only because they will be very little.

Instead, consider using your purchased shelf where you have it - just above the light switch - and mount floating shelves above it painted to disappear into your wall color. This combination will more than make up for your "lost" shelving and will highlight the shelf you love.

White is the right finish for your new shelf, if you choose to use it, but you have the opportunity to highlight the carving in your wall color, or in a pale grey.

I've decided not to use the carved auction shelf here. I'll find somewhere else in the house. It fits, and I like it, but it's not really right for what I'm going for.

Eam, I don't like floating shelves though! They're too modern for the simple country kitchen I'm trying to create. I do think I'll do 1 shelf to the left of the sink, but it will be deeper than the carved shelf is. And the table thing I'm referring to as a sideboard is 26" and that's plenty wide to be useful to me. I'm probably going to do just 2 shelves though, because I'm short. And I think I'll use the curved brackets.

I'll post its photos of the sideboard/pantry extension when it's done! It's just a way to reuse the drawer that was previously part of the (useless to me) desk the previous owners installed, plus it lengthens the pantry wall without the added expense of having more cabinets built. This is all DIY. It isn't perfect but we do feel good about it all so far. :)

i know this is an acient post, but i am thinking of using the same grey vancouver island marble as you did ? Curious to know how it is holding up. My slab looks very much like yours. I am on the island and love the locally sourced idea. but aware of the issues of marble etching. curious your experience