I'm designing a pie safe to use in our kitchen. My wife found one she likes the looks of that has solid sides. I'm trying to figure out how this will work in solid wood - I'm used to ply.

First, linkage: http://www.shakersprings.com/jelly_cabinet.html# or http://www.finish-it.com/furniture/d...LY_CABINET.jpg

First, picture details. In the first one, am I right in thinking it's a solid side piece, and the edge grain is effectively being hidden around trim (or next to the door)? Does that approach work well, or is it better to go with solid corner pieces (out of 8/4, say) and edge-glue the solid side panel inside the corners?

Second, expansion. A solid side will expand whereas a panel side will not. However, if the sides, top, and bottom are all glued together, won't they expand at the same rate and so everything will cancel out? Same with the shelves inside, actually. So will expansion just not be a problem with a solid-side design? The back will be, so I was going to make it out of ship-lapped boards.

Thanks!