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.

petapea Thank you so much for the comments and research... I have thought long and hard about this .. for days! You know what I agree with you.. Shelving without any bits and bobs on it, above a window looks great, but I have visited a few homes with shelving (without windows) that is actually lived in and not a display home and it does look busy, and cluttered. I have decided to go a polytec black wenge, full height cabinets to the ceiling, sophisticated , warm, and clean. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. There I have jumped over to the dark side.

Sharon, I think they both look great. Trust your instincts. I personally would not be put off buying a house, because I didn't like range hood. I really like the sound of all the choices you have chosen for the kitchen.

The number of lights would depend on size, but maybe something like this? Although with the fan gone, you could get away with something a bit more ornate...