If you are staining/finishing the doors, veneered doors have to be re-finished carefully. Once the finish is stripped, the veneer has to be carefully sanded so that you dont cut into the laminated layer beneath. Veneers are a series of laminated plys similar to ply wood w/ the last layer being the desired species. veneered doors can pull lose at the veneer, but is rare i would think. It all comes down to the quality and reputation of the door mfgr. Warpage on solid wood doors shouldn't be an issue if sealed/finished properly, but can happen, again, i would think it would be pretty rare for interior. As far as sound control, no advise there.

I have an over 20 year old set of bookcases that are a combination of veneered ply and solid oak. Lightly stained & oil finished. There isn't really any difference between the colors of the ply & solid wood. The only color difference was discovered when I unloaded & moved them this week...where portions of the bookcases had been exposed to light vs those covered with books. And, a veneered ply panel in a solid wood frame is just as strong, and probably stronger than a solid wood panel. Details of the construction are why. The solid wood panel must float in the frame. It can not be glued; elsewise, seasonal variations would cause the panel to split. Conversely, a plywood panel is glued into the frame which makes for a much more rigid assembly and helps to conteract the tendency of the solid members from twisting, warping... And, one reason to choose a veneer ply center panel in factory (low-mid range) cabinetry is to avoid (some of) the tiger stripe effect of blind people doing the grain 'matching' & glue-ups of solid center panels. With a sheet good product like ply, you're more likely to get a more consistent looking product which is esp. important with light stained, &/or no stain clear finishes. Adding that I'm a wood snob, too. I Hate particle board, and, to a lesser extent, MDF. MDF does have some virtues. Particle board has None, other than to say it does burn really hot when chucked into the wood stove...which is something that is not adviseable because of all the crap that gasses out of it.

Veneer would probably be OK if doors aren't going to get super heavy use. Most kitchen cabinets are veneer. Mine are raised panel veneer & 40 yrs old so main problem is with heavy use you might end up with holes in veneer from pulling on the knobs to open the doors.(hubby made cabinets) If your kids roughhouse & doors are raised panel(hollow in center) then they could kick a hole in the doors if they are low. Solid doors would just dent in.

Don't discount soapstone or marble countertops simply based on the question of durability. The steps and baths of an ancient roman amphitheater (Arena di Verona) have been in place roughly 2000 years and considering that timeframe and hard use, look pretty good. Similarly, soapstone counters and sinks far outlast their originally users. My grandmother's cottage had both and was built in the early 1900's. My mother's generation, mine, my children and now my grandchildren have tried in vain to destroy that place through innumerable cookouts, sleepovers, card parties and wedding parties. All to no avail. Marble and soapstone certainly have their qualities that make them not a first choice for everyone, but durability is not a factor. Yes, soapstone will chip when whacked by an cast iron pan - but so does granite and wood will dent under the same duress. Both will 'wear' under use but for many of us, that is much of their desirability. If you like that look, nothing else will do. Six kids will not destroy soapstone - my six haven't :). Good luck, Doc