MDF.

Maple is fine for cabinets, I think what you are referring to is a faux antique finish, or a different sheen. More than likely you want a Matte sheen.

I felt the same way with sple doors. Then I realized that it was the raised panel that bothered me - it looked like it came oot if a mold - same with glazes. When I hit a sple of a Shaker four with a plain matte sheen,all was well. I used Shiloh cabinets and 4 years later could not be happier.

I know what you mean. The factory finish on new cabinets is almost plastic-looking. It’s also almost impossible to touch up. Check out DeVol Kitchens, their cabinets are beautiful. I think it’s the finish, not the wood used that will create the look you want. If you are having custom cabinets built you may want to have them brush painted. The problem is that you have to find an exceptional painter who knows what you want and can achieve the look.

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/the-warwickshire-barn-shaker-kitchen-by-devol-farmhouse-kitchen-phvw-vp~15829772

CrownPoint offers a hand finished milk paint but with a catalyzed sealer top coat for durability.

https://www.crown-point.com/?page_id=6996

About 95% of your concern sounds like coatings rather than wood.

Products today are simply a little more plasticky looking. Generally, as coatings get a little more durable they get a lot more plasticky. There are ways to achieve solid durability while minimizing the plastic look. The easiest being adapting color coats and protecting with lower sheen topcoats.

Another option is to brush on the color coat with a thicker product. This will leave the classic brushmarks in the paint.

You could also pick woods with grains known to show through such as oaks, and use a clear sealer rather than pigmented sealer.

There are many ways a good coatings person can achieve a good durable finish like you are asking for on most any wood. The problem will be finding that good coatings person. Cabinetmaking, even custom cabinetmaking, is a production type activity. You may find people who have incredible knowledge of coatings, but you may also find great cabinetmakers with little knowledge of coatings.

You are not alone! some looked at me like I was crazy when I said I was going to finish our island myself not to save money but because I wanted a handcrafted old world look. And on this forum those that advocate for MDF will never understand that it looks too perfect and why that’s a bad thing. As others have said above, it’s a finish issue rather than a substrate issue.

You may want a brushed finish better off choosing a local cabinetmaker. I am sure your architect or interior designer can point you in the right direction. This all comes at a premium price.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-update-befitting-an-1880s-federal-style-house-stsetivw-vs~123693857

I've always preferred hand-painted cabinets, brushmarks and all. Maple isn't the problem!

See if you can get quotes for factory-painted (sprayed on, finished with one of a variety of durable lacquers) versus hand painted (could be painted in situ).

@wilson853: Thanks for mentioning us! Our milk paint finish (we use Genuine Old Fashioned Milk paint) is very popular for exactly the reasons others have mentioned above. And if someone is looking for the ultimate in depth and character, we can apply a first coat of one color, and a second coat in a different color, and then burnish appropriately. To better illustrate what we mean, here's an image of our Classic door with Slate milk paint over Pitch Black milk paint, burnished. Note how the undercoat just peeks through on edges and a hint through some of the flat area. And yes, the wood is maple!

I did a solid oak, unfinished oak which we hand painted with brushes on site after installation. I wanted to see the grain and the brushstrokes. Part of our kitchen has painted maple and it does have an plastic look. MDF would drive me crazy though most people choose that for painted finishes. As far as chips, expansion issues, or cracking on the new cabinets, we haven’t had any issues after 3+ years.

This is a pic of the painted oak (please ignore the old fridge) in the first pic and the painted maple in the sink picture. You can see the difference in the grain.
Hope this helps!

Your comments are all so helpful. Thanks everyone!