I would have your bench top supplier cut a thin batten of timber in the same 40mm thickness, and fix this as a front to a white melamine shelf. For a couple of reasons. Melamine is easiest to keep clean, whereas a varnish or oiled timber will require constant maintenance and resealing if it is used often, it will discolour and even with the sealant it does not like moisture, being natural, all timbers expand and contract in temp changes. Melamine is stable, and won't be seen from the viewpoint, and the timber front will make it look more substantial. Secondly, this thickness will be necessary to avoid shelf deflection, where lengths over 900mm will commonly sag under weight. Reinforcing your shelf with timber battens will avoid this, and the timber edge strip again hides it. If all this seems a little too hard, just invest in solid timber shelves of around 40mm, but have the tops laminated.

I'am thinking that I might have this around the wrong way but it can be reversed. My thoughts for your holiday accommodation in beautiful popular Marysville, You will have accommodation for, two couples. ?singles and two families with two plus kids. If I'am going away as two couples or families would want the QB rooms to offer the same fit out, ie: both with ensuite, which I would do as wet rooms, I don't want to flip a coin seeing that I'am paying 50%! The kids Bunk room could sleep 8 or 7 with a cupboard under one of the bunks, the kids will have a ball sharing, windows would be long narrow ones. The living dining kitchen has heaps of seating/ or naps with using built in seating along two walls The verandah, needed sit down to remove skis which can double as storage, these would reflect the indoor window seats, Banquette seating

A few inspiration photos for you , use led strip lighting to highlight for a dramatic effect , a corner unit could look great, to the floor or sofa height.

Not sure I'd be in a hurry to create a home where you open the front door onto a dining table and chairs. I'd say it's very likely that that little partitiion wall is holding up the roofspan and it may be costly to remove. If you look at the floorplan you can see the walls run vertical right through the centre of the house. I wonder what is not working about this layout? Even with the wall removed you will still have to turn left or right when you enter the house anyway. Just removing storage won't change that. I would be more inclined to remove the ugly storage and replace it with something more attractive that works for you in the space. Like a cloak and shoes closet or similar. Turn that entry into an attractive mudroom. Then it is no longer just wasted space with annoying blank walls near the door. But a proper entry with a useful purpose. Then the irritation of it will go away. People are always quick to decide they need to remove walls in a home when in fact that may not be the real problem at all.