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.

Did u actually pick the colour from a colour card and agreed on that with the kitchen company? If so, have u still got the colour card? If so, put the card up against you cupboards in the (daytime) and then again in the (evening), when not a lot of light is reflecting. Paint always looks different on walls etc than they do on the colour card. It depends on the lighting in the room. The colour of the walls or floor throw off reflections, so can actually make the colour seem different. 1/.. If this is what's happened, your stuck with the colour.Your just looking at a bland kitchen and only the paint colour is in your face. So stands out alone. But honestly, wait till all the kitchen is finished and furnished ect, as you will find the colour won't affect you as much. 2/.. If it's not the colour you chose, and you can prove it, you can either get them to give u a big discount or have them re do it. It's that simple. I'm sure you'll find that once all is completed, it will be fine.

Hi there Sharon, Yes, I decided to go a Grey Pebble in Dulux (Half). It is a warm, soft white.......although I haven't seen it on the walls yet as the painter is only coming tom!! Fingers crossed I chose the right colour!!! I will keep you posted.......if I remember lol I also choose to get the ceiling painted in Grey Pebble but in Quarter??? OMG, scary to say the least!!!!

Thanks interiorispirations. Sävedal fronts in the metod range. I did it very slowly but I think the demo took about four big days (the floor was four layers of lino, each glued on top of the last...steam was my friend) two days to build and install the cabinetry, two days to fit the plumbing and electrical, and a day to tile the splashback. Spent $4k at IKEA, all cabinets, sink, tap, benchtop, in cupboard and under bench lighting, internal drawers, corner carousel etc. $5k at Harvey Norman for appliances. $400 for splashback tiles.