Hi Lola! Depends in part on what specie/color of wood you used..... That looks like pine so you could probably use a clear oil like Messmer's UV+ and accomplish the same thing. It will darken the wood a little bit and bring out/maintain the natural colors. If you have any boards left over, to get a very specific color, have the person who will be applying it for you create a couple samples and test it on small swatches until you find the one you're looking for. Best of luck and let it know how it works out! https://www.soluslumber.com/shop/supplies/deck-seals-oils-finish/

We are building our home. We have very high catherdral ceilings in our "great room" which is our kitchen/dining/living. Our plan was to have wood flooring, grey walls, white tongue and groove ceiling and white kitchen cabinets. BUT now that we have started putting up the tongue and groove everyone is saying do not paint, just clear coat it. What to do? I personally feel like it will be too much wood with the ceiling and the floor. And secondly i have no clue what wood color the floor should be or what color to paint walls??

Thank you for all the feedback. It is really helpful. We really don't plan on going anywhere, which makes me think that I need to choose what will make us most happy for living her another 20 years. I suppose we can take the paint off down the road if it just isn't working out. The contractor wants to get the ceiling painted first before floors and cabinets just because it is easier for them. But we can tell them we want to go slow. I have my heart set on the wood floors and we found something that all 7 of us (hubby and 5 daughters) all like. They are all really wanting to try the painted ceilings too. The girls are ready for a house change (teenagers) and so I think we might just go for it. I found these photos from another log house remodel that look like what we are aiming for. The sink we have now is an 1920's farmhouse that I found at a flea market. I love the look but it is really stained beyond what we can afford to repair. We've been "test driving" it to see if we want to invest in the special sink base we would need. But it hasn't been very comfortable to use... stains easily, small drain, dishes chip easily even with a grid in the bottom. So we are going to put in a new farmhouse sink and keep this one for a work sink elsewhere.

If your ceiling can be broken up into lengths less than 8 feet, there are plywood panels in simulated beaded patterns. A lot faster than pieces. Shiplap has exposed nail heads, whereas tongue and groove has hidden fasteners. Otherwise it's whatever look you like.