anyone refurbished furniture?

[steppemum]

I have 2 pieces of furniture that I am upcylcing.
I have painted quite afew things before, and generally I am pretty good and painting and decorating, but I have never done this before, and I am after advice. I've watched lots of youtube videos but most use US products and I'm struggling to work out what the equivalent is here.

piece 1.
small sideboard. post war. Covered in dark shiny varnish. I am sanding the varnish off and it is a lovely honey colour wood underneath.
It is a bit of a labour of love (was my Granny's) and I won't use any chemicals as the inside of the cupboard smells like my Granny's house!

My question - once I have finished sanding, what can I use to bring out the lovely colour, but not have a shiny varnish finish? I really don't want to use varnish, but am I being influenced by the horrible dark brown I've just sanded off?!

piece 2.
piano. Classic upright pub/school piano. Again dark brown shiny varnish.
I want to paint it. I am going to do some detail/contrast on the decorative panels on the front. I would like paint finish which is not a solid matt finish. I like th eones where you can see the grain of the wood through a colour finish. Probably greywash finish.
I have seen lots of this around, but no idea how you do it.
2 questions

1. how much of the varnish has to be sanded off. Do I have to go right back to bare wood? Is there something easy that I can use to strip it? (no labour of love here, quick and easy is needed)
2. what is the paint/stain that I need to use to get that washed look? Do I need to seal varnish over the top?

Thank you!

Piece 1, I've done the same with a chest of drawers from my gran :)

To strip I used a combination or paint remover gel, a heat gun (beVERY careful not to scorch the wood!) and sanding with an electric sander (again, you need to be very careful not to go too far). It's definitely a labour of love!

I used a neutral wax to finish it which involves a bit of elbow grease but leaves a nice sheen.

Piece 2, I'd guess you need a wood wash to retain the grain but you'd have to remove the shiny varnish first I think. The product you buy should tell you if it needs sealing with varnish.

I remove the varnish then paint with linseed oil everyday until the wood refuses to absorb anymore, wait a few days then wax every day for about a week. It looks fantastic on old wooden furniture, although the wax can chip, water damages the finish.

thank you.

I have sanded the sideboard. I used an electric sander and hand sanding. It looks lovely, very different, all honey coloured raw wood. Took hours, but it is nearly finished. All the varnishis off, just need to resand with finer sandpaper.

I think I am going to wax it. I am hesitating because the wax is damaged by water, and we use it for drinks and drink bottles when we use the dining table. I am wondering about matt varnish, which looks very similar. I do feel reluctant to use varnish though!

The paino, I realise that I was never going to have the time or patience to sand/strip back to bare wood, and I can't move it out of the dining room, so it needs something that I can do in short time in there. I thought about chalk paint, but that need overcoating with wax.

So I am going to paint it. Just sand the varnish enough for paint to stick. I think I will need to use primer on top of the varnish, and then straight forward wood paint in a matt finish.

I have been experimenting on a removable panel, and it looks great.
It is quite shock though, old dark shiny varnish to pale grey with highlights!
Piano may get left until end of the summer though.
My garden is calling!

Don't forget to please update with pics people!

😁well, it may be a long time between this stage and finishing!

Before and after pics should be mandatory!