I recently added a simple floating steel notice bar to our entry hallway as a place to tack notes, keep lunch menus and even hang our keys.  It's an easy project with lots of potential and once you’ve gathered the materials, it should take only about 10 minutes to complete. Lee Valley sells the magnet cups (along with some beautiful, and hard to resist, tools...) Varying the thickness of the spacers (or washers) will change how far the bar appears to float off of the wall surface - I set mine at 1/2".

Materials:

• Wallboard Anchors/Screw Anchors (to receive screw)

• 2” x 36” mild steel bar stock, 3/16” thick

• Rare earth cup magnets / washers (1” diameter works well)

*Before beginning, a word of caution. Rare earth magnets are strong enough to rearrange data on hard drives and magnetic stripes on credit cards...so use care when playing with them.

Instructions:

1. Mark your wall surface at the mounting locations for the magnet cups. I spaced the mounts about 3" in from each end of the bar and 4' above the floor.

2. Drill the holes in the wall surface and insert your anchor to receive the screws.

3. Place the spacer as shown in the photo against the wall and the magnet cup on top of that with the cup facing outward.

4. Carefully insert the magnet into the cup being sure to keep it straight. It may leap out of your hands into the cup, it's that strong.

5. Repeat for additional spacers/cups.

6. Attach the bar, using your level to shift it into place.

That's all there is to it.  I personally like the raw steel look, but the steel could be painted or oxidized for a more finished look.  I purchased additional rare earth magnets along with my spacer/cup sets as I find them to hold just about anything (i.e. multiple layers of paper) to the steel.  I've also used these cups recessed in door panels to hold pocket doors closed and they make versatile hangers for many different items around the house (kitchen knives, hidden hangers for pictures, if you use steel angle in lieu of the bar you have a small shelf too...etc.) Good luck and cheers...!