Which MDF finish?

I realise that this question may be a common one, but I am a newbie so please bear with me.

I am just about to get started on a new kitchen and will be making the doors out of MDF. What is the best type of paint to use for the doors, and what preparation work should I do?

The look of the kitchen will be 'Country Kitchen' not distressed, and also hard wearing. My wife says that cream will be the preferred colour.

And while we are at it, the worktop will be made of laminated Ash. What would be a good finish for this?

Thanks in advance.
Ray Smith.

Now theres a place I have not been to for 35 years ex Queen Street Freuchie .

One of my joinery mates takes his mdf doors to the panel beaters and has them sprayed in his oven . Gets a great finish that is baked onto the mdf.

re Jimsnote, YES best finish you'll ever get may cost something [ie'slab?'] but with baked undercoating & top you will look GRAND

Thanks for the reply guys.

Since I do not know of any panel beaters and also cos it sounds expensive, I am going to try an alternative. I can imagine this would create a great finish though.

I have heard of raw MDF kitchens being simply painted with emulsion and finished with hard wearing varnish. Since my kitchen is going to have the rustic look, this may be fine.

Cheers,
Ray.

Just as a wee follow up on the finished job.

I finally painted the doors with an extra hard emulsion. On testing its hardness by scratching and scuffing, I found that the paint did not chip but it did leave wierd black marks (I guess it was something to do with what the hardening substance was) since the paint was a light ivory colour it did not look good at all.

I finally tried a water based matt varnish and the problem was solved. Dirty marks just wipe off.

I think I have finally cracked it after a lot of experimentation.

This is of course only any good for the country kitchen look.

Cheers,
Raymond