Wooden kitchen doors or something else?

[Tobuyornot99]

Was just about to hit 'send' on my DIY Kitchens Norton order, and a friend has filled me with horror stories about how real wooden doors warp, can't take harsh cleaning products, and are not great for a busy family kitchen I.e. Not toddler proof.

She is having a wood effect MDF type kitchen installed which admittedly looks more lovely than I thought wood effect would. Could be that she just swallowed the sales pitch, but they seem to be bomb proof and hardwearing, not to mention cheaper.

Can you give me your experiences of having wood, or not, and if you're happy with your choice?
This kitchen redesign is becoming all consuming and I'm just so confused

I've got a solid wood kitchen. It's not a kitchen/diner or kitchen/living room - it's a room of it's own with no "through traffic" IYSWIM? And DC are now adults.

Pros

• the cupboard shelves NEVER buckle or warp like MDF can do inside the units
• it is super solid and will never need to be replaced
• it does look lovely (albeit traditional rather than contemporary)

Cons

• it does need a bit of upkeep. I wipe it over and treat with Danish oil from time to time
• after about 15 years in situ, I had a chap in to strip it back to the bare wood, re wax and re oil as it was looking a bit tired
• it will take a good scrub with Jif or similar BUT you will need to wax or oil it afterwards

So it's definitely higher maintenance than an MDF kitchen. I think it's worth it (love my kitchen) but I can see how it would be a bit of an arse ache in a very busy, lived in kitchen

Hope this helps! Good Luck

I have solid wood doors and mdf shelves/cases on our cupboards. My parents put the kitchen in about 20 years ago and it’s still going strong. We’ve never done a thing with the doors re oiling/waxing, neither did my parents, and the units are incredibly sturdy. In fact I’m about to have them painted as they’re in too good condition to ditch.

Thanks Greencard, that's exactly the sort of feedback I was hoping for!

Mines a kitchen diner, and goes through to utility and downstairs loo, and garden is off diner, so realistically it's got to be able to take a battering. Perhaps I ought to get MDF and look to replace the doors in 10 years when the kids are less minging and I have more time and energy to look after things properly.

Bloody hell Sew that sounds great, exactly what I didn't want, conflicting opinions

if you get MDF, avoid vinyl wrap. It peels like a ginge at Benidorm.

(no offence intended!)

Laminate doors (flat slab) are the most durable you can get.

I have wood, but it does age (especially if you don't have a powerful extractor and it gets grease film)

Thanks Piglet John, nice comparison, I like it.
I've ordered 5 different doors as samples, might leave them with dc for an hour and see what survives!

Our wooden kitchen came from MFI and lasted over 20 years. The cupboards eventually looked their age but the doors had only mellowed. No way would I have MDT doors over wood. All we ever did to the doors was clean them with furniture polish and wiped off grease marks with washing up liquid. The doors were lacquered so that helped protect them. If you like it go for it.