Any carpenter types in?

[General Mannerheim]

Got this old bureau to restore as a bit of a project for the mrs & I
I'm kinda thinking it would be best to just strip back to the most natural wood finish we can then treated with maybe a wax or oil clear stain, something with a Matt finish.... but the other option would be to go for a painted shabby chic look, but I've rarely seen this done when it doesn't look like a botched carol smilie job!
Any tips or advice on where the hell to start?

[Bruce Rioja]

Gerrit ont' bommy.

[TANGODANCER]

Please, please don't paint that bureau General. Okay, it's reproduction of an old style item, but it's probably, from the look of it, oak. Here's something that might help....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOnkh_axC9o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Montreal Wanderer]

Please, please don't paint that bureau General. Okay, it's reproduction of an old style item, but it's probably, from the look of it, oak. Here's something that might help....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOnkh_axC9o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I agree - don't paint it!

[General Mannerheim]

Thanks. I don't want to paint it tbh. But I don't want that dark, French polished look either.
Natural oak with non glossy shine if poss

[Hoboh]

I hope you realise a job like that takes time but can be very worthwhile.
Just don't start it and leave it, research first, good luck be sure to show us the 'after' look.

[Worthy4England]

[General Mannerheim]

So I watched a few YouTube clips and mashed a few of the ideas together.

Leathered it in paint stripper, scraped it down, washed it with bleach, sanded it in 3 grit stages, -mother wash then finished with ronseal clear matt furniture wax. Also gave the inside 3 coats of gloss and paper lined the drawers... quite happy with it tbh.

[Hoboh]

Big improvement, well done.