Built-in cabinet/ mantel wood selection

[Irvingj76]

I am in the design phase of cabinets, bookshelves and mantel around my fireplace. The cabinets, booksheves and mantel will be painted white with shaker style doors. What wood should I use?

[JR]

If you're painting it then poplar would be a good choice. Or any hardwood you can find at a good price.

JR

[Bill in Buena Park]

For painting, you could likely use a good paint-grade plywood for all but the face frames and edges, and as JR suggests, use the poplar for edges and face frames. If by shaker doors you mean frame & panel, with a flat panel, again you could use poplar for the frame and a thinner paint-grade plywood for the panel.

[footprintsinconc]

how about mdf for the carcass, shelves and doors (poplar rails and styles and 1/4" mdf centers) and then you can add poplar for face frame and edging any where needed.

mdf is excellent for painting and you wont have to worry about grain direction and its cheaper than most of the stuff out there and is most stable.