To go back to the original post, why not MFC for the kitchen cabinets? Apart from edge-banding it's pre-finished and easier to keep clean and more durable than paint.
Basically, although it's great for things like Garage/Workshop cabinets, and eminently practical, it screams 'man made board' to me - and SWMBO - with that slightly glossy finish. If I were going that route, I'd just buy flatpack from ikea or wherever - we have a reasonable quantity of antiques/silver etc, so the effect needs to be (for us) a little less 'manufactured'.
Thanks for the alternative however - I'm not trying to be dismissive - it just ain't the sort of decor that will get further than the mud room in our place...