Searched back through a lot of threads on finishing cherry and trying to get/keep the ambered color. I have an interior of a cabinet (doored) that appears to have no finish on it - about 80 square feet of surface.

Many of the threads recommend the thinnest coat of dewaxed shellac (sprayed) possible followed by a sprayed topcoat of water-borne poly. I'd like to get an ambered finish that's reasonably durable. Given any option available, I'd probably spray with GF Endurovar. But spraying is not an option in this case. Is there a brush on shellac followed by a brush on water-borne poly/varnish that has worked well for you folks?