Hi all:
Just had to jump in here.
I am a great person to look at what happened many years ago. These modern finishes look good for a while but I enjoy the natural aging look of hand finished timber taking on the character of natural aging-- just look at any historic home or tavern, that has its interior exposed timber work left to accept its many exposures to cooking, meals, washing, smoking, you name it, and people fall right in love with it, it becomes a finish all its own, one that can not be duplicated commercially.
barn boards are another example, both interior and exterior each with its own character, I have seen 28" vertical sawn wide pine boards on the side walls of granaries that had that mellow look even after nearly 200 years of dust, bugs, flies, moisture-in fact they were so nice that they disappeared from the barn, and probably became a display in someone's home.
I enthusiastically say no modern finish, leave the surfaces alone, and let them aquire the tones from your lifestyle, that you will no doubt surround them with, they will become part of you.
This type of age finishing can be compared to a hand made handle aged with the sweat, and oils from the palms of your hands.
NH