The most effective way to make floating shelves is to create a torsion box with a pocket in the back edge. A ledger strip is then attached solidly to the framing in the wall (3 inch #12 screws at every stud). The pocket in the back of the torsion box slides over the ledger and enough fasteners are added through the top and bottom of the box into the ledger to secure the shelf. There are metal brackets that appear on the market from time to time that faster to the wall and have a metal post sticking out that enters a pocket on the back of the shelf. The tend to have problems with securing the metal brackets to the wall solidly enough. Hollw wall anchors will not work for thses shelves. The shelf creates a large withdrawal load on the fasteners and will pull anchors right through the wall. You might be OK for a small shelf with light loads, but not books or heavy items. Rebar would be fine as a support, but it would need to be driven into a hole in the studs or glued in using epoxy to fill ang gaps (while making sure it stays level).

Cool inspiration! I would actually bring the two floating shelves closer together. I know the inspiration has the shelves a bit wider than the sideboard, but I feel like you have a balance issue with yours spread out so much wider than the furniture underneath. I would remove your "live laugh wine" sign, bring the right hand floating "c" in closer to the center and possibly even lower? I'm wondering what it would look like if they looked like one continuous "s" shelf? Ceiling might not be high enough to do that... You may need to play with it. Then you could prop your "live laugh" sign on the top right hand of the "c" if you want to use it.

You gave me a great idea to install a cabinet all the way down to the granite on the right. As I am staring at my kitchen back wall, the longer length of backsplash tile on the right didn't help with symmetry. May ditch the open shelving and return back to your suggestion of even uppers flanking the windows. Now I can return to sleeping at night. Thanks Sophie for your great suggestion.

does any place else in the room have shiplap? shiplap tends to be more of a country style look. (see above pic w/the glass doors) I mean, I don't see your kitchen as being overly mcm. Looks like gray shaker cabs? or are they white? in any case, mcm doesn't really come into play here this is mcm these last two are similar to your stove wall w/an off-set window. In fact, this set up is exactly like yours. look at the one wall w/no cabs and the vent like you want. I like the larger window too. Seems to me like you have adequate storage. is that one upper cabinet going to make or break it for you?? How wide is the island? can you put storage on the overhang side? where's the micro? what are those tall cabinets on the left side?