So, what you seem to be saying is that if the center panel is flat, then veneer should be fine? Our Omega Dynasty II door (Anson) will have full 1/4" furniture-grade veneer center panels. From what I can tell, the rest of the door is solid wood. Is 1/4" a decent "thickness" for veneer? Our wood is cherry stained in mandarin orange w/coffee glaze. It was mentioned that sometimes the stain doesn't "take" the same on veneer as on solid wood...does anyone have any first-hand experience if this is true of the cherry woods? [I know, it's probably tough making this call w/o seeing it...but maybe someone out there has seen Omega's Dynasty II veneers and can speak from experience...here's hoping!] I'm also wondering now if the drawer fronts will also have the veneer panel--but I don't know b/c their site also says: (B) Solid Dovetailed Drawers Drawer fronts are solid hardwood (MDF if opaque) and are attached to a 5/8" hardwood drawer box with dovetailed joints on all four corners. All drawers are sealed and top coated for a fine furniture look. There's no distinction made b/w Omega custom & Dynasty...so, it sounds like the center panel in the drawer fronts ARE sold wood, no veneer center panel. Does anyone know this for certain? (My KD is out of town this week so I cannot ask her.) As a matter of fact, the only difference I could find b/w Omega Dynasty/Dynasty II is the veneer center panel on doors...everything else seems the same. I hope this is true! I plan to replace the Anson doors with Artesia doors when we save up money again...it's one of the "scrimps" I made (I tried to "scrimp" on things I can replace or do later.) TIA if you can help!

MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard Medium density fiberboard, or MDF, is a composite wood product similar to particleboard. It's made out of wood waste fibers glued together with resin, heat, and pressure. MDF is appropriate for many applications, from cabinetry to moulding, because it is smooth, uniform, and won't warp. MDF has many advantages over plank wood, particleboard, or high density fiberboard. It's very smooth because the wood fibers used in its manufacture are uniform and fine. This makes it have low "tear out," which means that when sawed, the end has a smooth cut instead of a jagged edge. This also means that a coat of primer and a couple of coats of paint take well, leaving an attractive, finished surface unlike other composite wood products. MDF also has a mild reaction to moisture, meaning it won't warp or swell in high-humidity applications like a bathroom cabinet. here are some old links http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/wood/msg0422465719842.html?7 http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg052132034578.html?16 http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg11121915306.html

As the person formerly known as Cancork, I'll answer as best as I can. The two layers is a variation on a theme. What it does is reduce the amount of ADHESIVE used in manufacturing. They are still using a multiple direction underlayer....without adding extra layers. They core is made up of wood that is laid side by side in different directions. Kind of like a basket weave or like parquet floor blocks. The grains are running in different directions yet only one layer has been used. Less glue = better VOC profile. The UV cured urethane finish is a "ho-hum" type of finish. Nothing exciting. Just an average finish. The 6mm thick hardwood wear layer is where the money is! The urethane finish + 6mm wear layer means this floor is GUARANTEED to be "refinished" at least twice...maybe even three times. So....they have reduced costs by using a single layer of wood for the core. They have reduced costs by using less adhesive to make the floor. They have reduced costs by using a rather "regular" UV urethane finish. They have ADDED value by working with a THICK wear layer. And all the VALUE is in the wear layer! So....save, save, save so that you can add VALUE with the expensive 6mm wear layer. It is definitely a product I would take a strong look at if I were to work with an engineered hardwood. That being said, the urethane finish isn't going to give the scratch resistance that many people demand. It isn't that type of finish. It is going to scratch....because that is what it is designed to do. I don't care about scratches....I used to sell/live with cork. Cork scratches like the dickens. But I DON'T CARE! That's me. You are you. Only you can decide where to put your emphasis. Personally, this looks to have a great presentation....because the MONEY is in the 6mm wear layer! That's worth it's weight in gold! That is your "money shot".

MDF is the preferred material for painted cabinets. Solid wood moves around too much, unless you have perfect in home humidity control. Then your coatings crack.