A painted kitchen painted well will take a great deal of wear. Bear in mind that the high street typically spray paints and only a couple of coats which not enough. Really you need two under coats, cut back in between applications and then two or three top coats, cut back in between. You also need to ensure that the final coat is applied on site once the kitchen is fitted and caulked. It should look like cast sugar when it's finished, and done properly it cannot be beaten. We add gesso into our top coats too to thicken it up. Your other option is spray pigmented lacquer but it doesn't look good on classical mouldings, cockbeads etc. Poorly painted and prepared coats will chip more easily, and all painted surfaces will chip, in the same way that doors and architraves do.

Thanks for all the advice, unfortunately wall unit doors are too small. Worse of all is that 6 months ago we cleared out the garage and got rid of various side panels which may have worked. Oh well!!! doors are beech, back in late 1990s this was a very popular colour and my kitchen fitter is trying to see if he can find them. He did not think staining would work and I would hate the doors being a slightly different colour worse than the applicances showing. may consider the idea of different colour doors along the bottom

In that case I agree and go with a stained top but definitely paint the underneath. You could try a coloured wax which I think will be the best match for the table. There’s a few brands but this one has many good reviews: https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/fiddes-wax Just remember that with wax the more layers you apply the deeper the tone in colour but nicer sheen. Whichever way you do it the cabinet will need sanding first for best results. Good luck and keep us updated. Don’t hesitate if you have more questions, myself and other houzzers will likely chip in:-)

This is a remodel and renovate!