I certainly don't think they have to match. Homes are evolving, it doesn't have to look like you bought everything at the same time. I don't even think the lights finishes have to exactly match, but it's just easier for non-decorators to choose what goes with something, when everything matches. Most decorators mix it up a bit. Choose things you love.

Our kitchen is still only in my mind, but I know for certain our metals will not match.

My appliances and pulls are similar to yours and my light fixtures are ORB, as is my faucet.

I like the way it looks and I'm sure yours will also look nice.

Nope. Our kitchen right now has stainless appliances, brushed nickel hardware, and dark bronze light fixtures (well, one is red enamel and bronze). I tend to prefer a mix of metals as I think it makes a space look more personal.

My selections are similar to what bowbat has. We have stainless appliances, nickel hardware, and oil rubbed bronze fixtures.

Mine match, but I don't think it's a thing you absolutely need to do. I've seen oil rubbed bronze matched with stainless very well. Especially when appliances don't come in many color options.

Nope, it is more interesting to mix it up. Don't be afraid! We recently built and my husband was sure everything should match. I convinced him to let me do mixed hardware - ORB handles, chrome facuets, and copper pendant lights. Now he loves it. It gives the space more of a designer feel and less builder grade.

Ours is not all going to match. There will be two pendant lights over an island which are glass, but with the "oil-rubbed bronze" metal. The sink faucet is chrome, and it's looking as though cabinet hardware is going to be brushed nickel, though I have yet to pull the absolute final trigger on that.

I am so sorry for not coming back earlier to thank you for your responses. It helped a lot though I now have a bigger pool of fixtures to choose from! Lighting has been the hardest thing to pick so far :-) Thanks!

I like a mix. Our old house had ORB cabinet hardware, stainless plumbing and glass with polished nickel fixtures. It looked great together and was one of the reasons that the new owners (our new friends) loved the kitchen.

This remodel will have PN, BN, and stainless. We're tying two rooms together and the FR has BN hardware where the kitchen will have PN with stainless appliances.

gothaml, I look forward to seeing your lighting! I'm betting it's going to look wonderful.

Ours will not, kinda. So we're going with a graphite (blackish charoalish) hardware, we have stainless door handles throughout the house, and our lighting we're trying for will be black. We have ss appliances too, and a brushed nickel/stainless faucet.

I'm "matchy matchy" so all finishes in my entire house match (brushed nickel)!

Mine match, but I have no issue with mixing finishes. Take the option that you love the most.