Do you need a shelf or just think a shelf would look good?? With your heringbone subway tile pattern, very interesting actually, you've really ruled yourself out of putting in a shelf and not interupting the tiles to such a degree that it would most definitely detract rather than enhance the wall, so I agree with myperfectadvice, leave it as it is, as it's a beautiful design and kitchen from the little I can see and the pendant light is stunning. BUT, If you are desperate for a shelf and your kitchen is black/white then I'd go metal and 50mm thick and if you have timber doors and or floors, then I'd go timber for sure, again 50mm thick. I can't see the cupboard doors but I can see a timber knife block on display, so I'm guessing you have timber??? Good luck. Cheers, Barbara

Hi Jeanie, What about getting a carpenter to do draws so that you can achieve better access to things way in the back. Perhaps even Ikea bedroom closet packs where you can fit it inside the existing pantry, obviously you need to remove the shelves and perhaps freshen up with a paint if necessary and you can add just draws?? Not sure about weight issues as the bedroom packs are designed for clothes but I think the system is pretty sturdy. Good luck. Cheers, Barbara

The above counter cabinet doors are MDF 2 pack poly with metal mesh inserts and the floor to ceiling cupboard are MDF 2 pack poly with v grooves. Does that make sense?!

disappointing that your landlord is not more responsible and more difficult if you're at work and your partner is not well: if there's no legal agreement about who owns what and you've been told to "deal with it" disposing of anything that you can't use or is not obviously valuable...it's not safe to raise the washing machine without a specialised washing machine stand and it will be more comfortable left on the floor to use the top of the machine as work space... try the simplest cheapest options and keep only the essentials on a shallow lower shelf and hopefully the top shelf may have room for some of the culled boxes from the bedroom...check out the various shelf options in the on line Bunnings etc catalogues ..unfortunately the paint can't go in the bin so make sure the lid is secure and with the help of some hefty friends carefully enclose the paint can in plastic garbage bags (in case of spills), load it in the boot of the car (supported by something to keep it upright) and take it to the nearest recycling garbage tip...hopefully the worst that will happen is the owner will need it replaced if/when she wants to do more painting.. if you need an oven it could be worth finding out the cost of a repair but it could also be no more costly to consider buying your own convection microwave and use the old cleaned out unworking oven for storage of some of the stuff out of those boxes...for the rotting kitchen bench there's a product called "builders bog" that can fill in all sorts of horrible problems and then (carefully covering all the other surfaces use a cheap can of (red?) spray paint to at least make the bench look a bit better and, one box at a time you can take control of the situation, best of luck to you