I would think not. I would hope not. Mine doesn't, and to tell the truth, I didn't even think about it.

Sabjimata mixed glass and metal in her kitchen, looks fab (of what she's posted so far . . . . . ahem, hint)

Light fixtures especially do not need to match the hardware finishes.

Kitchens and baths often have different finishes.

What about antique brass? The darkness would be ORB-like yet there would be hints of brass showing.
What about glass knobs and pulls? No metal, means no worrying about clashing.
I'd mix the silvers and blacks more so than the brass. I guess the next best choice is the ORB.....

I don't think they have to match. ORB actually wears over time with the metal peaking through (my front door handle looks beautiful, dark with bronze highlights where the oil is wearing.) But I put some ORB hardware in my kitchen from RH and will see if it actually wears. Others just like the black look & I imagine that some hardware manufacturers have tried to make the the oil permanent (kind of like the lacquered polished nickle I mistakenly bought that unfortunately will not antique with age, but it is still lovely :)

I have also grown to appreciate the antique brass that Dianalo mentions. It really warm and has nice depth but is not as traditional as the polished brass.

LOL RJR....just about to, ahem, take pics!

Of course, I would say does not have to match, but considering the OP is *very* concerned about this...it could be one of those idosynchratic (sp?) things that will drive you nuts!

ORB sounds like a very tasteful choice and like it will match without matching. Have fun!

I was told that it's more important to match the style of the fixtures than to match the metal finishes. In other words, traditional and contemporary fixtures in the same metal in the same home may be more discordant than traditional fixtures in differing metals would be.

I have a gorgeous silvery metal oil lamp (a decorative not functional heirloom) in the same room where I also have black wrought iron, ORB, and old brass (actually an old candlestick made into a lamp). To my eye, it looks coordinated because they all have an aged, traditional look and feel. We have contemporary touches (mostly in our art work) so perhaps the room falls somewhat in the eclectic realm and maybe that's why it all works. At any rate, I think the room would be less interesting if all the metals were the same.

I meant to add my plea to sabjimata to hurry up and post finished kitchen pics. You've teased us enough! LOL

I'm having the same issues the OP is, my dining room has antique brass chandelier and hardware. I'm opening the kitchen to the dining room and will have satin nickle hardware on the white cabinets. I will be replacing the kitchen light and don't know what finish to put there. Any suggestions?

Thanks for all the help...still not sure what I'm doing. Katsmah, please let me know what you're doing. Hubby thinks I'm overthinking this whole thing! Just want the house to have a "flow". Nothing else is silver or nickel, but it IS my favorite on the white cabinets. I'll post pictures when it's finished...I'm sure either way, I'll love it!

We are just finishing a whole house renovation and we have flat black door hardware with almond porcelain knobs, chrome in the baths, ORB light fixtures, ORB bin and bar pulls in the kitchen, flat black porcelain knobs in the kitchen and a brass Herbeau tap, brass potfiller and a stainless and brass range. I agree with the person who says its because everything is traditional that it works together. Our house, with the exception of the baths, is very open so you definitely get to see a bit of every type of metal when you are on the grocery store side of the house. Our house was built in 1887 as a commercial property, so I just figured that different metals would read as evolved. The only rooms that are really modern are our obviously new laundry room (with a huge stainless apron front sink and commercial type pre rinse faucet) and our upstairs bath in the loft (all slick and chrome in a spa style with a water blue glass tile floor).

Our house hardware is largely unlacquered brass (Georgian Colonial circa 1915). My wife is an interior designer. We just gutted and redid the kitchen and butlers panty and used polished nickel hardware with the white cabinets, beadboard ceiling and wood (quarter sawn oak) floors. The light fixtures are a pewter finish. The transition from the main part of the house to the pantry/kitchen looks great. No worries.

This is the path to madness, suzy.

No, your entire house does not have to match. In fact, it's much better if it does not.

It's a new house, right? In just a few years, some of the knobs are going to fail, or you'll change some doors or cabinets.

Then you will find that no matter how carefully you have planned and chosen, your "traditional" "timeless" finishes and styles have all been discontinued and you are forced to choose knobs that do not match. It happens to everyone.

Even if you are clever and buy 6 dozen spares, you cannot plan for the different kind of knob or latch for the different kind of door that will be popular in 10 years.

So I think it's better to just plan for some variation from the start, so when there is some inevitable variation from room to room over time, it will not be so jarring.

Older houses were also made with different materials and finishes. It was common to have expensive woods -- oak, mahogany etc. -- and finer carving on the ground floors where you entertained guests, and simpler materials on upper floors where the family lived.

Enjoy your house!

Oh, Growlery, you are so right! I keep telling myself that in the whole scheme of things, this is so unimportant, but at my age, I know this will probably be my last new kitchen, and I want it to be right! I also know it's impossible to keep up with trends in the entire house. No, this is an older house, but we have already remodelled the rest...kitchen was last. Always wanted the white inset cabinets, but didn't really think about the hardware and lights until now. I know it will be fine, and I'll love it. Hey, thanks for making me feel better. I just have to chill, and it'll all be fine...

Suzy -

I have the same problem...my house is traditional colonial, all the current hardware is brass. (Doors, lights, etc.)Plus my decorating style when I did the living room, next to the kitchen, has definite golden undertones.My new cabinets are white traditional raised panel. I've flipped back and forth on lights and hardware and so forth, driving myself crazy. Do I match the brass? And coordinate with the living room? Or go more current with polished nickel and coordinate the style? Ay yi yi.

My current thought is to use hardware that is "pearl nickel" or "#15 Satin Pearl" (Hickory Hardware & Anne at Home, respectively).The slight pearl hint on the hardware looks rather silver-gilt like, and magically picks up the golden tones in the adjacent room. You do need to get a sample, though, it looks different in real life than on the computer monitor. The tricky part is that there aren't that many manufacturers with the finish, and each one names it differently. You can find lights that have the silver gilt gold finish as well. (named differently by every manufacturer!)

Just a thought, hope it helps!