This is like DeJaVu, I just submitted my response to another poster regarding this topic. I will be repeating myself but here it is anyways. Satin Nickel to ME is maybe not "modern" but something that belongs in a "Sophisticated" kitchen. I feel it goes with Shiny countertops. ORB Hardware I think goes very well with soapstone/honed surface/wood. It mainly depends on the look of the kitchen. As a general rule IMO - ORB fits very well in Farmhouse/old house/vintage style kitchens, SN fits well in Transitional, Traditional, Polished-Sophisticated kictehns. Also, I think you can pull off a kitchen with ORB hardware and Satin Nickel/Chrome light fixtures but I am not sure about SN hardware and ORB light fixtures. Here are pics of some beautiful GWers kitchens that I saved. Kellyg's kitchen Lesmis kitchen Someone's super expensive model home-(countertops are concrete, dont look shiny but SN looks great doesnt it - maybe my theory is wrong :)) jpbrodie's kitchen- (If you are on the fence about ORB then this pic might push you towards ORB :)) But I am a newbie, there are much more experienced posters here that might have better insight for you. HTH

I have all natural wood doors (and windows) with 1980's antique brass finish hardware. When I recently replaced my french doors, I selected an aged brass that is halfway between what's everywhere else in the house and ORB. I really prefer the warmness of brass/bronze with wood. Here are some pics of satin nickel (not my home). The first one is very bright, the others are more muted, which I think looks better...so it might depend on the color of wood and the brightness of the hardware. [traditional entry design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-entryway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_741~s_2107) by dc metro kitchen and bath Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. [traditional entry design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-entryway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_741~s_2107) by dc metro kitchen and bath Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. I found quite a few pics with nickel finish hardware similar to this, where the hardware is very contemporary and chunky. I think it looks great, and probably better than a darker finish, but it's really all about the hardware. [contemporary entry design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-entryway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_741~s_2103) by san francisco general contractor Cardea Building Co. Hope this helps.

"brushed nickel in ... on one of these posts someone said that finish is plated" I've mentioned "plated". Almost all / options / colors / finishes / are plated. Underneath the plating is something solid. e.g. solid brass (hardware like handles) or a brass tube (the faucet body) or a strong plastic (the faucet's handspray). I used to find it confusing to read "all brass" and "chrome" in the same description. Not any more. Chrome is plated and always has been. For some people, it's considered such basic simple knowledge that it doesn't need to be stated. For some reason, it was not part of my general education and upbringing. So, I went digging for information and found that there was almost always a plated finish (on faucets and on hardware): chrome. brushed nickel, whatever other finish... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating "Types Decorative Decorative chrome is designed to be aesthetically pleasing and durable. Thicknesses range from 0.002 to 0.020 mil (0.00005 - 0.0005 mm), however they are usually between 0.005 and 0.010 mil (0.00013 and 0.00025 mm). The chromium plating is usually applied over bright nickel plating. Typical base materials include steel, aluminum, plastic, copper alloys, and zinc alloys.[2]" Most of the other finishes are by PVD method. Even stainless can be applied by PVD. The exception to this "finish plated onto something" is stainless hardware in general and stainless steel faucets that are stainless throughout (which are rare, and European). "Stainless" is a recipe with many ingredients; depending on the recipe it can end up looking any of an infinite number of shades: more nickel, more chrome, more silver, more white or more gray. Chrome also has color variations. It can be applied thin or thick. It can be applied on top of a layer of bright nickel plating. This changes the look. Look at chrome from a very high end manufacturer, and you will see beautiful color. -- I notice that the manufacturers of hardware and faucets almost never describe their chrome. -- some faucet manufacturers will lifetime warranty only chrome and one or two other finishes. sometimes they exempt the whole faucet from their lifetime warranty even though it's only the finish that has changed. (!). --

Is there a reason to buy the hardware before cabinets and counters are installed... then you can buy a sample of orb and nickel (... or, and chrome) hardware you like, and hold them up to your cabinets in your kitchen to select the finish you like best with your other choices? we spent a week or two at the very end of our remodel opening the drawers and doors from the edges (without handles/knobs/hardware), while we ordered samples, picked our final hardware from the samples, then waited for the whole kitchen hardware order to be delivered. It was not a big deal to use the kitchen with bare doors for that time...