When I ordered my cabinets they were sold as zebrawood. They were delivered and they are a laminate. So much for wood cabinets. Donna

Hi Jackie! Try posting your question on the Home Decorating forum.

I'm not sure why you've found it so difficult to find lines that carry painted cabinets??? I can't think of a manufacturer of cabinets that DOESN'T offer them? Where I work we sell all Masterbrand cabinets. Diamond (sold other places as Schrok or Kemper), Decora, Kitchencraft. They all have plenty of painted options. Even our entry level line - Aristokraft - offers paint as of last month. Kraftmaid sells painted cabinets. Showplace Wood. The list goes on and on...

My Mom has the original builder's kitchen in her condo and it's a minimum of 20 years old. Melamine over 5\8 (might even be 1\2 inch) particleboard. Hinges are going but they have not come loose from the cabinets or doors (which are also melamine - maybe over MDF but I doubt it). I've attached a link to the ANSI ratings for particleboard so you can look at the properties of the various types. Usually Commercial or Industrial grade is used in quality cabinet construction (either M-S or M-2). Ask the cabinet maker or manufacturer what they are using. Of course the method of assembly is as important, staples, plastic corners, full valances, tongue and groove, doweled and glued, full backs or thinner hardbacks with hanging rails, cross valance between gables behind the toe kick, just legs, wood face frames - some of these are preferable to others. Are your edges at least colour matched to the door? I can't say for veneers but what is the veneer being mounted on? 3\4 MDF would be my guess if they are solid. This good a number of high end companies now offer their painted finishes on solid MDF doors - no cracking like on 5 piece mortise and tenon doors. That's what I picked up I'm sure some of the KD's no more for sure. Here is a link that might be useful: ANSI guidelines for particleboard standards