Thanks all for the replies.
Don, you are right - I am looking for a finish - not a stain. I think naturally aged and colored wood is beautiful as well, and all the wood on the exterior will remain as such. For the wood on the interior, I think I am going to proceed with a homemade finish of 1:1 paint thinner to boiled linseed oil. Aesthetics aside, I will be using plaster next to the timbers, and the stain will help prevent splotchiness forming on the timbers when plaster goes astray and finds itself (temporarily) on the timbers.
Thanks again you all.
Dan
