what's the right choice of wood.

The type of wood that is cheaper depends on where you live. If you live in say Florida you may find a cheap source of Cypress for example. Your best bet is to try googling lumber yards in your area, then compare prices. Here is a good link for basic wood descriptions and locations…
http://www.osbornewood.com/woodtypes.cfm

My friend the cabinet maker uses birch plywood and poplar. Both are very stable and paintable.

Ok cool. I wanted to hear poplar. It’s readily available and less expensive here in SC. Thank you for the reply. John

I like poplar. Its pretty strong and the grain seems relatively tight. After a wash coat of de-waxed shellac, it also stains ok.

Another vote for Poplar. The kitchen I did earlier this year had poplar face frames that were painted. The only thing I’ll say is that the end grain just sucked in the paint, so on those uppers, seal the end grain on your stiles first and you shouldn’t have any issues.

Poplar is great if its available, easy on tools and paintable.

Thanks all. That’s just what I wanted to hear. Appreciate it. John

Silver maple (soft maple).

Poplars decent, but very soft and warps easily.Also mills fuzzy.I like soft maple for high quality painted cabinetry.

Here in the Midwest poplar is definitely the wood of choice for painted projects

I like alder myself, not a fan of poplar, except for marquetry and then only if it’s green (color). It’s too soft and fuzzy for me.

Most project I have seen use poplar. I am guilty of the same.
A couple of times I used ash just because it was cheaper at then.

Ash is definitely more solid wood but poplar machine much better.

It depends on what you are building. For flat panels that will be painted I think MDF is a good choice. Cheap, flat, doesn’t require sanding and takes a paint finish better than just about anything else I can think of. For wood, I suggest you use a close grained wood that is not too expensive. I agree with Shipwright that alder could be a good choice because it works very nicely and planes/sands to a buttery smooth surface. It carves nicely too. A great wood that is way underused in my opinion.

poplar would be my first choice, takes paint well and is dense enough to help with stability price is fair also

I agree with the alder but I haven’t used poplar. It is stable, works well, looks great with a clear coat and takes paint really well….and around here (B.C, Canada) it is relatively inexpensive

It all comes down to what is available in your area at a good price.

Poplar is a excellent choice we use it a the time it takes paint very well & with some light sanding between coats it looks like glass. Good luck with your project

Popular or Tulip tree?
Here on the east coast folks call the wood from a Tulip tree “poplar”.Not to be confused with Yellow poplar.
Tulip tree is a “soft wood” and not recognized by NKBA and other industry standards as a suitable wood for commercial cabinetry.
I use it when I have to, but never in a kitchen or a bath.Lower quality situations where high durability is not necessary.