We had professional help in this area as I had the same concerns. We now have lots of different finishes throughout the house. All of our door knobs and hinges are the same ORB but the lighting fixtures and faucets are different in every room. We have ORB, darker venetian bronze, copper, black and stainless. Each room has it's own personality and none of our lighting fixtures are repeated in another room. As nhkat stated, builder grade homes often use the same matching items throughout so if you want to make your home custom, pick what appeals to you and you will be amazed how well it looks.

Hey Jenny, That's exciting that you're getting to the stage of picking out finishes! It is kind of scary, though. One thing that helps is to physically walk through the house in order to figure out which areas you can see at the same time. Sometimes it will surprise you! In my house, I'm having oil-rubbed bronze door hardware throughout (stained doors and trim) and chrome bath/kitchen hardware. Most of my light fixtures are antique/vintage, so they are all over the map. Some people like for every finish in the house to match, and some like to mix them. Personally, I think a house where all the finishes coordinate too well just screams "brand new house," especially if they are all in the trendy finish du jour. To me, the only thing that matters is to match the finishes that are the same type of item in the same room. Like, I would prefer to have all one finish on the faucets in a particular bathroom, but they wouldn't have to match the door hardware in that room or the faucets in another room, etc. Finishes are one of those things that can drive you crazy, but very few people will ever notice them once the house is done.

@historian, 'up till 11pm' pfft, that's nothing! I've regularly done a 2am obsessing about various 'bits'. . But he's, on the mix of finishes and metals etc, I've done it. Stages sink, kohler vinnata tap in polished chrome and antique pewter knobs. Stainless steel fridge and freezer ( inox finish so hope less fingerprints) . I'm almost all done decision wise. Cabinets being delivered this week, fitter coming on Monday morning. Granite firm coming up from London and I live in Somerset to template for our marble. ( hence the forum name!) they are about three hours away not far for the USA but in little UK, that's the width of the island in driving time! ( chalon kitchen in last house and they organised the granite and used this company and they did an amazing job) have my tap, sink etc all waiting here. Crossing everything that the company can get back Before Christmas to install the marble. Otherwise it'll be a Christmas with no sink and plywood counters from the template! i really like your handles love the antique pewter finish!

I'd go with chrome, since you already have the towel holder in chrome, in addition to your plumbing fixtures. I have mostly chrome in my bathroom (plumbing fixtures, light, towel rings, etc.), with satin nickel door knob and floor register. My vanity knobs are glass. I fretted and fussed about too matchy vs. unmatched. In the end, it all looks good together. It's just nothing to worry about.