mistydatn,
The wood used in most walnut cabinets is dried using a steam kiln. They do this because the outer part (sapwood) of a walnut tree is a white color while the inner part (heartwood) of a walnut tree is a brownish color. When they steam the wood during the drying process the white part of the board tends to get less white and the brown part gets lighter making the boards more uniform in color and hence more useable boards per tree. If you dye and stain these boards you can get them dark. If the wood in the cabinets came from a non steam kiln the boards will be much darker. However the white part of the board will be considered a defect and will be omitted. I know this is probably confusing but keep this in mind while looking at pictures of walnut. If the wood was steamed a natural oil finish will not look the same as wood that was not steamed.

My cabs are about two years old, natural walnut, not stained. Not sure what (if any) finish was used on them. They have not lightened noticeably to my eye - still what I would call medium to almost dark brown. Walnut lightens, but I don't think it will ever be "light brown". These pics are also almost two years old.

Thanks Cabinetsbyalan! I guess that is why there is such a big difference in all the "natural" walnut I see online. We got an incredible deal on walnut timber that we had stacked ourselves and allowed to air dry for a few months then dryed in a solar kiln the rest of the way. It has now been planed and they are in the process of building my cabinets. Our cabinet maker said it is the most beautiful walnut he has ever had the pleasure of working with. It is very dark...he strongly suggests not staining it and just putting poly or clear coat or something over it. That sounds great but I don't want a few years from now for it to be too light. I can't find any before and after photos that show just how much lightening anyone is talking about....Is it barely noticeable or quite a bit lighter?
Thanks for the help!
Sochi your walnut kitchen is beautiful! Thanks for the pictures! That is great to know that it hasn't lightened much if any over the past 2 years. Your floors are just beautiful too!
I am on a farm with a very modest budget and the house is a ranch style house, so I am leaning more toward the traditional style.... but your kitchen sure is lovely:)

Ours is natural walnut with just a clear coat. No change in color over the last 11 months since install. So far, we're still in love with the kitchen. (And with a 2.5 y/o, the cabinets are holding up really well -- he's banged just about every lower cabinet and not a ding to be seen!)

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Kitchen

I just have to say these are two beautiful examples of walnut!

I love sochi's kitchen with all the art on the walls. And those cabinets are wonderful with that light and dark striping.

And Zacsdaddy's kitchen is beautiful too.

It is nice to see them both again.

Here's more than You will ever want to know about mine. We finished the doors ourselves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vsalz's kitchen

zacsdaddy, I ran across your pictures a couple months ago and have them saved as inspiration for my own remodel. If I knew where you lived, I would sneak down your chimney Grinch-style and leave with all your cabinets. (jk, don't call the fbi on me). As it is, I guess I will have to buy my own. I have a sample door from Scherr's - walnut with clear coat, shaker style - just lying around being gorgeous telling me I need to get my layout planned already so I can buy some cabinets.

(sorry for the tangent misty).

Thanks so much Zacsdad and Vsalz! Both very beautiful kitchens! I appreciate you all taking the time to show me your kitchens! Walnut is such a pretty wood:)