Correct, we can build cabinet doors from any of the listed materials, including walnut and rift white oak. I’ve seen some customers order cabinets in walnut or white oak and then paint over them. While this is a bit of a waste for walnut—since it’s an expensive material and painting covers its natural beauty—it’s ultimately their choice.

Painting over white oak will result in a heavy grain showing through the paint. This was popular for a time, as it created an interesting effect, especially with white or red oak combined with a dark paint or stain.

To answer your question—yes, you can certainly mix and match different wood types with paint or stain. The PAINT GRADE wood types listed are simply our recommended options for painting. My preferred paint-grade wood is PAINT GRADE MAPLE. It’s the heaviest and hardest option, with an even and smooth grain pattern. It resists dents and dings, making it a great choice if you have kids who might be rough on the kitchen.

Alder is the most affordable material we offer. It’s good for painting but softer than maple, meaning it will dent and ding more easily. Otherwise, once painted, I can’t tell the difference between alder and maple unless I pick them up—maple is noticeably heavier.

Both would be about the same in regards to slight joint cracking over time. The alder might be a bit more flexible, so it could hold up slightly better.