Depends. I asked for them to not install our hardware (and to not charge us for it... that was during the contract part.) I wanted hardware they didn't have, and I wanted to make sure they were installed exactly where I wanted. DH drilled and installed. Our finish wasn't ruined.... Any little imperfections in the drilling would be covered by the hardware, anyway. It sounds like you've already paid for them to install hardware....... so either eat that cost and install yourself after..... or get really good at imagining!

I recently (as in this week!) was asking myself the same exact question - a quick look at all my kitchen magazines convinced me that the satin nickel faucet/stainless sink/ ORB hardware combo is done all the time. I think it's a great look. The faucet will pick up on the sink, your Wolf range, and any other stainless appliances you may have. Like you I have creamy cabinets with glaze( with a cherry island) , Wolf SS range, paneled fridge and SS undermount sinks. My granite is in the medium brown tones - New Venetian Gold. I'm doing ORB hardware on both perimeter and island, satin nickel faucets and stainless undermount sinks. Lighting will probably have ORB or similar trim. I've also seen ORB faucets matched up to ORB hardware , including mixed with stainless sinks (one like that right on the cover of one of a recent kitchen magazine) - those can be just gorgeous , too. To me, some faucets styles look better in the ORB than others - just personal preference. In addition to kitchen magazines, you might also want to check out the finished kitchen blog on this site - look at categories and then creamy colored kitchens or ORB. If you want a satin nickel faucet though, I think you'll be reassured by what you see.

My color scheme is almost identical. I am also getting the Gilmore pulls and the Starlight Chrome Bridgeford faucet. I am not sure which pulls to get, but am considering the oil-rubbed bronze, just to avoid the challenge of 'matching' everything. I agree that I am sticking with the chrome for the faucet (I think it looks the most classic) and the other details will work themselves out. I don't think the faucet will be close enough to the pulls to make the difference in finish that obvious, plus, it sounds like you don't really want to make the switch : ) I also like the suggestion herbflavor made re: the crystal knobs.

This is a cross post in Design Dilemmas but I'm not getting any feedback there. :( Maybe someone here can help me. I'm almost done a new build at the beach and have a small problem. I didn't realize that the architect specified ORB hardware for the back sliding doors. Now they're in but there is no other ORB in the house. The lighting fixtures in the rest of the house and interior door hardware are unlaquered or antique brass and I was planning on doing the kitchen pendants in antique brass as well. The faucets and cabinet hardware are polished nickel. I don't like having this random third metal thrown into the mix but the handles are really, really nice. I could 1) make the pendants ORB, 2) change the door handles to white (I don't like Andersen's antique brass) or 3) change the pendants to antique nickel. The floors are gray stained white oak and the peninsula overhang will be edge grain walnut. All of the window hardware is white. (Please ignore what look like flaws in the design...the second sink is more of a bar sink, not really a prep sink. Also the sliding door opening from the wrong side and a few of the bad light positions are being addressed). Thanks for whatever advice you can offer. I'm incapable of making decisions at this point.