That would weigh quite abit for a shelf so its support would, as you know have to be quite substantial. Is it situated between two walls by any chance. You could probably span a bar (stainless steel) maybe or something equally as decorative, from wall to wall (like a lintel in effect). Other than that, i guess a standard (gallows bracket) design fixed directly to the wall would have to be the answer ? Good luck =]

I voted for vertical bars only. I like that look. It frames the view nicely. I just hope they’ll be just a little bit straighter than the ones in the photo... 😂

If you just want a prep surface and overhang for stools with some open storage then a wooden topped kitchen or dining table, raised up with something like newel posts or similar to work bench height with a shelf inserted between is very effective. If you require a deeper overhang (I believe overhangs larger than 15cm might need bracketing and the tabletop secured well to prevent tipping) then you could place an additional work top over it. You could paint the feet, legs and shelf to match your perimeter units or as an accent colour. Maybe a little on the rustic side but I have seen it with a back gloss kitchen with pine top and cream legs and shelf and it looks good, warming up the black.

I think vertical for a mid century look but horizontal would also look nice and run the same way as the upstand and shelves. it looks to be a non-rectified tile btw (?) so edges won’t be that crisp which also means a slightly wider grout line as the tiles won’t be identical in size. If you go for horizontal I’d just have the shelf slightly higher so 8 x tiles plus a minimum of 3mm grout allowing for tile size variation. Given the variation in size I’m not sure I’d opt for a dark grout?