I like style #3 (modernist) and #2 the best. I'd choose #3 just because your appliance & faucet are chrome and the handles are chrome/nickel with some darkness etched in them to tie into the ORB lighting.
It may depend if you want your handles to blend or stand out also. You could buy a few you like and use sticky tack to put them on the cabinets and see what they look like, then return the ones your decide against. Just my thoughts : )
HTH

I also like #3 the best than 2. I think your faucets and hardware need to match more than the chandelier. I think you have a fun sense of style.

Melinda

Oh Cate! I am so excited you are at this point -- yours is a kitchen (whole space, actually) I am really looking forward to seeing.

I'm torn about the hardware. Because of your hood and other more "modern" decorating touches (like those fabulous shades in the dining room) throughout your great room I am leaning toward #3.

However, I understand you are trying to bring your chandelier in and so for that, I would think #2.

And now for a caveat, I think it is better / wiser to keep the theme of your kitchen whole (the chrome / stainless finishes) and let the dining room be its own space rather than trying to bring shades of the dining room (chandelier) into the kitchen, where I think it could be a bit disruptive. (because of the competing finishes in the kitchen: chrome, stainless, something to mimic the iron ...) This is why you painted your magnificent arch Iron Frost and not the Butternut color -- it blended in too much with your cabinetry, didn't let the arch stand proud. But too many finishes might just be too many, if you know what I mean.

Never having been in your home I guess I'd just like to see all the hardware in the kitchen in the same silvery tones (chrome, stainless, nickel, etc.), and let the dining room do its own thing.

I hope this makes sense -- my head is foggy. I think whatever icky thing you and your children had a few weeks ago has made its way west; now my youngest and I have something super-snotty. Kleenex! Are you all better?
-Brooke

I love #3 for me, but it isn't about me this time, is it? I think that #2 would bring your two worlds of style together with a little bit of both going on.

I am leaning towards #3. But I love #1. I don't think you need to pull in the color of the chandelier. I think it is a nice electic mix. It doesn't clash at all.

Have you considered the modern in black?

What color is that picture frame? If its metal like it looks in the picture it would be a really great effect to tie that in.

Of the choices you listed my pick would be the ORB of the Modern craftsman hands down - it very nicely has old AND new look to it. California craftsman is definately a no go :)

You guys are just terrific. Thank you for the feedback! Here's what we were thinking:

#1: [1 maybe, 1 no] - This was what we had been planning to get, but I started to think it was too heavy for the space. My mother pointed out that the pokey ends would be at eye level for our children; and I know that, in other people's kitchens with pokey-ended-pulls, I tend to get bruises on my hips and thighs from running into them. I also tend to get my pants pockets or aprons snagged on them. I thought maybe I'd get used to it; but DH just admitted that he's had that happen, too.

#2: 6 yes, counting my mother :) - I think this would be a good transition from contemporary to country. (Is the chandelier country?) On that one, too, my mother had a good point: the use of positive and negative space on the pulls works well with the lines of the cabinets.

Brooke, I hear what you're saying about letting the dining room and kitchen stand alone. I'm a bit nervous about that, as there really is no transition point between them on the walls; and the kitchen literally is just 3-4 steps from the dining room table. I'm really going to think about it tonight and tomorrow. (So sorry you and your youngest are sick. We had about 3 really rough days, then a week of that snottiness. You're having a rough month health-wise! Hope you feel better soon.)

#3: 6 yes - Wow! Everyone likes this one.

I need to get a better look at this one in black. I'm not sure if the etched lines would disappear or not. The picture that I think you see might be the mirror (aka faux window :P) in the dining room. It has a dark wood frame, in the neighborhood of walnut.

Kitchenkelly, Brooke, Melinda, and Saskatchewan_girl, I hear you that the appliances are more important than the chandelier. I also think you have a good point about the dark lines in the handles tying into the chandelier.

Saskat, I originally wanted hardware that really stood out - fused glass - but it wasn't in our budget. Since then, I've looked for something unique with a little pizzazz but not so much that it's all you can see. I'm trying to temper my tendency to go over the top on colors and patterns and actually get a unified style! Thank you for the idea to use sticky tack, too. Honestly, I'm a little nervous about my follow-through on returning the handles I don't use; and I want my GC to install the handles while I've got him on-site.

Ack. DD crying. Will check back in. I really appreciate it!

I hate number three...if you're shooting to stay away from modern...that isn't going to do it. It's too hard in form against the style (I don't care about color) of the chandelier.

I'd choose number one, but you do have a point about the points LOL (This coming from a girl with a moose head pull with antlers..)

The only thing about number two I don't adore (they're the best choice given your issues with number one) are the holes in the handle. Think of peanut butter and jelly and little hands...and cleaning out those holes.

Mind you...this is coming from someone with a squirrel with a fluffy tail knob...so what do I know??? :oP (And a 2 year old and one hopefully on the way soon...if the adoption interviews go well).

I should re-think the pig head knobs shouldn't I????? :oP

Just to keep it interesting (none of them are really my taste in case you were wondering) I like #1.

I vote for #1 as well but I kinda like the craftsman copper / pewter look finish.

I like #1 best of these three, not crazy about #3. But, could you post pics closer up of your fixture, cuz on my monitor it looks like the burnished bronze finish of #1 goes best with what I see of your chandelier. It also is the only one that has 4" between posts- I like lots of room for my hands- have you tried them in person to see how they feel?

I like #2 best because of it's clunky personality and clean ends w/ nothing to snag on clothing.

I don't like the idea of having to clean it but there are generally only two or three pulls, usually near the stove, that tend to get gunked up so keeping them looking good wouldn't be a huge chore.

'[It's] too hard in form against the style (I don't care about color) of the chandelier' - Good point, Igloochic! How in the world do your legs not look polka-dotted with that moose-head pull? And I've got to see the squirrel knob. It sounds outrageous!

(Do you have a thread somewhere on the adoption proceedings? I think this is the first time I've heard about it. Good luck, congratulations, and you sure can keep a lot of balls in the air!)

Interesting to hear more votes for #1 now and some no votes on #3. Last night, DH and I were leaning towards #2; but you know how a fresh day can change these decisions. Re: the cleaning of those holes - yes, it makes me nervous, but I can get the kids to do some of it with q-tips. Up to a point.

Raehelen, I attached a link to the chandelier (got it for a much better price than that, in my defense!). Good point about hands fitting in the pulls. I need 3' but didn't check DH. That style does also come in 6'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chandelier

.... I am sitting here chanting "ORB TWO ORB TWO - GOOOOOO ORB TWO!!"... although very quitely since my DW is asleep upstairs

#2 !!

Laurie

Personally I like #1, they do look a bit dangerous, in your situation now that I've seen a closeup of the chandy I go with #2. If you are trying to avoid a modern look #3 is out.
You might like the hardware in the link below. They also come in pewter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bungalow knobs

Cate1337
I liked all your choices...you've probably made your decision by now. I'm actually hijacking this thread to see if you have any of your countertops in yet. I saw in another thread that you were planning to use Basalt Slate, just wondering if you stayed with that decision and if you had any photos! Thanks
-amy

Apologies for the long absence. *sigh* Our desktop crashed, and I may have a bit as well. :)

We're still waffling. I'm glad I didn't order anything months ago. The space is mysteriously getting more and more contemporary. Two weeks ago, DH and I wanted Option #2. This week, it's #3. The cabinets turned out so sleek!

Definitely, though, I'm thinking pewter or brushed nickel or chrome to go with the appliances and faucet. I think those of you who said it'd be too much going on are right. That poor chandelier is just going to have to stand alone. I bet I'll get used to it with time.

Mysterymachine, your post makes me laugh every time I read it! I should give your vote extra influence, with that amazing kitchen you turned out.

(Okay, now I feel I need a disclaimer; bc everyone's kitchen is amazing!)

Laurie, thanks for the vote!

Flowerchild, thanks for the link. Those pulls would be great with the chandelier but a bit heavy with the other kitchen elements.

Ok, a couple of OT thoughts. First, now that I'm fully recognizing my split-personality decorating style, I really get how some of you have done this several times. Second.... rats, I need more coffee. Completely forgot. Maybe something about how organic this process has been even though I thought I had a set plan long ago.

Amy, np with your question. Thanks for bumping this back up, though I missed it Sunday. (I wanted to respond to the last three posters but hesitate about dragging my issues back up after so long!) We are still getting the Basalt Slate, sometime in the next couple of weeks. Templating is this Friday. Hopefully the counters won't take too long. I know most laminates are in stock, and we got really lucky with the engineered quartz. Our installer happened to have our choice in stock, available, and in the right size! Woo hoo!