Colin, Look forward to hearing your report on the Stages when they're built and making music. I know your anxiety re: the wife as I am going ahead and building Theater 4's and have not really brached the subject of size with my Sig Other. I just hope the sonics blow her away. And anyway they are intended to replace two pairs of speakers that are currently dominating one whole wall of our family room so the total floor area is actually less with the Pi's. At least that is going to be my rationalization. As far as veneering goes it really is not too hard. Just have enough to do the job and then some .Trim each piece an inch or so over size in all directions. When applying the contact cement try to get it evenly spread and you may need to put two coats on the cabinets if you find one coat soaks in too much. Also, be sure you get adequate cement on the very edges of the cabinet. That is where the veneer is most apt to de-laminate with time and it is easiest to spread the cement too thin. Use the solvent based contact cement as opposed to the latex/water based cement. It is MUCH better though you'll have to have ventilation- it's pretty stinky. Wayne I think recommended Bostick Sray contact adhesive but I've never used it. Try an experimental piece on scrap wood to get a feel for how much cement and what the drying times are like. and be really careful in positioning the veneer after the cement is applied because once the smallest section of cement touches the other surface it is virtually impossible to remove without damaging the veneer.
Good luck!
Garland