Our entry door is three panel, stained, with an archtop. Our interior passage doors are the same three panel, but flat top and painted. Our French doors are divided light, flat top, painted. The rear entry door is plain with divided light top half, painted. The door to the garage had to be fireproof, and is just a slab, painted. All have similar 'bulk'. All are at least three feet wide and over seven feet tall. All have the same 4" casings. Door hardware on entry and passage doors is Baldwin 'Edinburgh' levers. The Pella French doors came with suitable levers. The variety 'mingles' well, but doesn't *match*. AFAIK, for instance, no one has picked up on the fact that our front elevation has simulated true divided light windows, while the rest of the house's windows and French doors have between-the-glass battens.

No the outside fixtures absolutely do Not have to match the door hardware.

Welcome to GW! With all of the decisions that you're making as you build your house, I hope you find lots of answers and helpful advice here. From what you've described, I think a nickel finish would look classic and beautiful. (I'll admit some bias because I have a Georgian colonial with white trim & door with nickel hardware!) I'd be concerned about ORB retaining its finish when exposed to the elements. I know people talk about it being a "living finish" that changes over time, at least in the interior hardware and faucets. Hopefully someone who has ORB exterior hardware will chime in with their experience. Good luck!

So you have an answer in Rocky Mountain. I understand the O.C. D. thing, but honestly an adult would have to hang around the front door all day, touching and theen perhaps licking those fingers to be remotely affected. Even children have to have fairly constant exposure or ingest lead dust, or chew at sills or moldings.......or toys containing lead. Virtually everything made on this planet, has a prop warning for California, and if everyone who ever grew up with lead in the house were compromised, I'd have to question the number of 99 year old folks living in luxury senior facilities...........some lucky residents still golfing or playing bridge. : ) Buy what makes you feel good. Just know that lead does not pass through skin. I assume you wash your hands before you eat, and in this day and age, I can't imagine who would not