John, did you apply a clear poly finish? I have cherry cabinets in my kitchen and cherry will eventually develop a darker finish over time when a clear top coat is used. No need for colored stain. Cherry and maple are probably my favorite choices for hardwood, remember the 80's when EVERYTHING was made of oak and stained golden?
HH
I have found a nice way to get a pretty durable finish that looks hand rubbed, vs. the plastic look of water based poly or the "too-perfect" look of sprayed on lacquer.
What I do is to initially apply one coat of wiping poly with a cotton rag. Let it dry for at least 4-5 hours, more if really humid. Sand lightly, then apply a coat of oil-modified poly- using one of those things they make for doing trim work with paint. They are basically a plastic wand, with a replaceable head. The head is made up of tons of short poly fibers attached to a sponge. It really makes putting down a nice, smooth coat of the oil-modified poly simple. I let that dry for at least 3-4 hours, sand lightly and apply another coat of the wiping poly. That gives me a nice satin look. If I want more luster (more of a semi-gloss), I apply one more coat of wipe on poly.
I love cherry, it is by far my most favorite wood to work with. It smells nice when working and also works very nicely, you just have to be careful of dull tools burning it. I also consider staining cherry a cardinal sin, but that is just me- to each their own. I love the natural darkening that takes place as the wood ages too.
That's funny! I do remember the days when everything was make of oak and stained golden. Or worse yet, the particle board with the oak vinyl laminate stuck to it! Perhaps that is part of the reason I love cherry so much, as it is different from what the standard was when I was growing up. Plus oak is a PITA to top coat!
-John