We are planning on kitchen renovation. We are opening up the wall between kitchen and dinning room. However we'd like to have some visually symbolic separation between these two rooms. First we were going to run a soft fit across the ceiling. Then I was thinking instead of soft fit, a long running shelf hanging from the ceiling. It's open front to back so that visually more transparent and we can put some decorative stuff in it as well.

I want this to be visually simple and transparent with natural wood finish. the design I have it in mind is a a 1' wide and 12' long wooden board (one solid piece or slats?) as one seamless bottom of the shelf and some dividers(1' high) to connect to the ceiling at every 2-3')

My question is what is the easiest way to mount these to the ceiling? The joist is running parallel to the run of this shelf. At both ends of this shelf will be walls so I can use some support from the wall at each end. I guess I'll have to mount the dividers to the ceiling first and attach the shelf bottom underneath it. Is there any hardware that is suitable for this kind of situation? Obviously if i use hardware, I want it to be as hidden as possible of course.

Thanks, in advance.

 

Your idea of a hanging soffit/shelf is interesting. However, be aware a 1x12x12' will be unstable and will warp and twist if left to it's own doing. You will need to build the unit and figure a way to attach it to the ceiling in order to reduce warping. Building a "box" 12' long x 11 1/2" wide (nominal width of a 12" board), with a top and bottom coupled with your dividers will make it solid and will give you something to attach it to the ceiling with. Parallel joisting may present a problem, but can be overcome from the attic.