Hello. I'd like to stain my 8 year old china cabinet a darker color. Most of the piece is glass. It only has wood from top to bottom at all four corners and also in two strips in the center of the front.

The cabinet is stained in a matted manner, i.e., it is not shiny. I'd like to make the walnut color into a dark espresso color.

I guess I should sand it, clean it, and simply stain it in the darker color. Is that correct? Does water- or oil-based stain matter? How can I tell? Also ... if there are little rubber strips inside of each piece of glass, does that mean I can remove them when while I'm staining? Is remove them highly difficult? Has anyone else re-stained a china cabinet?

Thank you.
Betty