Archetype Espresso 2 Ledge
2.5
5
19
19
Don't Buy This!
This is a great looking ledge that's horrible to mount. You'll wreck your drywall in the attempt to mount it flush to the surface.
November 26, 2011
Good in theory, design is terrible
I loved the way this ledge looked but the design to hang it is terrible. No matter what we did, we could not get them to lie flush to the wall. Most floating shelf designs have something you first mount to the wall and then slide the shelf into. These did not. After spending several hours attempting to get it right we ended up buying brackets so they were at least level. I would never buy these again.
October 15, 2011
NEVER AGAIN
I recently had my living room painted and could not wai tto install these photo ledges! Big Mistake. My friend and I took 2 hours trying to get them on right and then it ripped the plaster and new paint off the wall. I will be returning these to crate and barrel and suggest to anyone buying these to think twice before you actually buy them. Or hire a professional to install them. Thank god my painter came back over to fix the wall, he asked if I wanted him to install them and I told him no because I was just too frustrated after working with it for hours.
June 16, 2011
Poorly constructed
Although they looked good when finally installed, the drywall hardware included in the kit was terrible, we ended up using our own...leaving extra holes in our walls...and some of the veneer started peeling away with the extra handling required to install the shelves.
July 10, 2010
Disappointed
Normally I love the quality of Crate & Barrel products, but this was not the case with the 2' and 3' shelves I bought. After struggles to get the shelves hung on the wall, they did not hang properly and instead were pulling away from the wall. The dry walls screws included also broke when trying to use them. We just returned the shelves this weekend.
April 19, 2010
Terrible Terrible Installation
I bought this a year ago and am still having trouble with it even though it was professionally installed. The handyman went crazy trying to fix this...the ledge protrudes at an angle and when I try to align the screws and the ledge...the wood starts breaking...there are so many dents in the ledge already..the wall is ruined too :( Would not recommend, they look great but whats the point if you can't get them to display properly...disappointed!
March 16, 2010
Do not buy
I am watching my husband try to install them as I write this review! He has probably spent 5 hours already and he's only on the third ledge. Hardware is AWFUL, and it's not good for your temper!! DO NOT BUY! We would return, but we would be left with big holes in our wall...so make sure you have lots of patience if you want these to not stay in the box!!
February 19, 2010
Horrible installation
Too hard to install and hardware provided were awful. Took 3 hours to install 2 ledges.
January 31, 2010
Wall anchors are a pain!!
This product is a pain to install and I have yet to finish because screwing in the wall anchors is VERY DIFFICULT!! I am sure they will look great once they are up, if I ever get them up!!!!! Whoever says they are soooo easy to install are crazy.
December 29, 2009
Great look, but we had a difficult time installing them because the hardware that came with it didn't work in our walls. I think this is an uncommon problem thought.
July 4, 2009
cool shelf
I loved the picture of these shelves online so much I recreated the look in my living room. This shelf is perfect for me to put small vases of fresh flowers and a few display items on. It looks great with our dark leather couch.
June 28, 2009
Tricky installation
The ledge looks really good and is very reasonable priced. But installing it was very difficult for me bec. my walls are very hard and the surface is not smooth. I followed the instructions as best as I could but ended up damaging the ledge by the time I was done. I tested the sturdiness of my installation by applying pressure on the ledge but ended up knocking the ledge off, because it wasn't done right, causing quite a bit of damage to it - surface scratches and gouges, part of the veneer on the underside came off and had to be glued back on. The ledge is held up by 2 screws only - if the screw sticks out too little, the hardware won't catch it; if it sticks out too much, the ledge tilts at a slight angle from the wall (which bothers OCD people like me.) Anyway, it took a while for me to get it just right. and I really like it despite my issues. But if you're not handy, it's best to get someone to help you to avoid damaging your ledge like I did mine.
June 18, 2009
Patience
I love the color and the way these ledges look, but the installation is very difficult. The wall anchors are HORRIBLE. I had to go to my local hardware store and purchase new ones. Every single one of the anchors provided broke as I tried to screw them into the wall. They look great once installed, but make sure you arm yourself with patience when you're ready to install them.
June 9, 2009
Stable Shelf
I admit, my husband did install this as well as the 3 other ledges we bought at C&B, but he did not have any problems with the installation. It is a nice shelf that holds a picture and a decorative plate.
June 8, 2009
Terrible hardware
Loved the look of these shelves but the way they mount to the wall is so bad and the hardware given is terrible quality. We were not able to find something better to use so we had to return them. My husband is a general contractor and knows everything about tools so it was not him.
I love C&B but did not like this product - would recommend C&B not carry this product.
June 7, 2009
Fabulous Shelf
We bought this shelf to match our vanity in our bathroom. I picked it out and and brought it home thinking my husband would have to get all the tools and levels out to put it on the wall. It was sooooo easy to mount on the wall. It came w/ exactly what was need to mount. It also came w/ a layout that you tape to the wall so that you know how it will look. Great product!!!!
May 27, 2009
great addition
I did have my husband install it because I'm not terribly handy, but he put it up within a half an hour. It adds a nice, clean line and character to our living room. Holds a vase, picture frames and decorative rattan spheres. I'd recommend getting help installing it if you aren't good with a hammer and nail, but otherwise this is a very nice addition to any room.
May 27, 2009
A bit complicated - but worth it
I have two of these large shelves in our bedroom. I too had trouble with the mounting hardware provided and ended up purchasing bigger drywall hangers. I also made sure that at least one of my screws was directly in a stud. With the new hardware, and using the stud, assembly wasn't too terribly hard. Just a bit more tricky than I had imagined. Now that they are up, they are great, and can hold quite a bit of weight. The espresso finish is very nice and matches other C&B espresso colors great.
May 27, 2009
Installation is a nightmare
After several attempts using the inferior quality hardware provided to install this ledge, I visited my local hardware store. They recommended a heavier wall anchor. However, the screws that fit the heavier wall anchor don't fit into the hanging bracket on the ledge. After numerous attempts over several hours, I still have not achieved success installing this ledge. I do NOT recommend this item.
May 14, 2009
