If you prefer a more utilitarian kitchen, then plywood, or a mix of the two, is great too.īe carful, runing this grain in a horizontal manner will give you a very very different look. If you think the enjoyment is worth the cost, then solid wood is a great choice. You'll get a lot more options with solid wood, but you'll pay for it. Solid wood usually allows for some very flexible door and drawer positioning and other features that you typically might not get with plywood. My advice would be to visit a showroom to see the difference in cabinet design. Various edge treatments can be applied to plywood to hide the layered edge and this can make a plywood panel look very, very similar to a flat piece of solid wood. However, if you want to apply elaborate edge details or carving to panels, then solid wood is by far the better choice. This is why solid wood is often used on framing while plywood is utilized for flat panels, where it is less prone to damage and has less seasonal movement.

Solid wood is more expensive, requires more time in color and grain matching, is usually lighter in weight and chips and scratches don't show up as conspicuously. Disadvantages are when it chips (usually at the edges) then the layers underneath are very visible, it can chip out more with sawing, and you usually don't have as much selection when trying to do elaborate grain and feature matching.

It also holds screws better in some circumstances, is less prone to warping and checking, is usually a little heavier and more uniform in color and grain and has less seasonal movement. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The veneer referenced by smartin above I take to mean is the outside layer on a plywood panel. Veneer has been used in fine cabinetry for centuries without any detraction from stains, color changes and varnishes. Marla, I must disagree with some of your points and add to others.

Paintable veeer panel