I'm posting on the general subject of using a fridge before kitchen remodel starts, and not on the specifics of this model. I bought an LG when Best Buy had a particularly good sale and began using it as soon as it was delivered, even though the remodel didn't start for 5 weeks. I had them just plug it in without ice/water hookups as a temporary measure, and keep the plastic film that protects the stainless finish. I'm using the little trays to make ice as a temporary measure. I absolutely loathed my 1980s fridge and was very anxious to have it hauled away. My electricity bill dropped 20%! I already love the fridge and it's one oasis of calm in the chaos of a kitchen remodel! It's been moved around a bit during the remodel, and once it was accidentally plugged into a non-working outlet (no disaster though). So using the fridge before the remodel is doable, especially if you're willing to live without the ice/water features.

I thought Homesurplus in NJ was pretty good. I didn't get wrecked by Sandy thankfully, but am doing a home reno. Handles were between $16 and $22. They have a few locations or you can have it delivered. I got 4 prehung pine doors, two bathroom vanities with granite/marble tops including back and sidesplashes, sinks, door hardware, and I think a few other things for about $1600. The only thing I was displeased with is that the doors did not take stain evenly in certain areas. It looked like some kind of oil had been flecked onto them. Sanding those areas down and restaining them fixed it, though. Here is a link that might be useful: Home Surplus door hardware

Aura is good paint, and your painters are obviously familiar with it to have quoted you a job in it. I'd be very hesitant to use a paint that's twice as expensive that your painters haven't used before. While professionals are "professional", new products do have a learning curve, and having your kitchen be their lab experiment wouldn't be a good idea. It'd also be quite a bit more costly because of the added materials expense, as well as the added labor to be working with more expensive materials. It might almost double your quote. The only way to know the answer to that question would be to ask your painters. If they've already purchased the paint, I'm sure they'd expect reimbursement for that as well as the additional cost of the paint and additional labor markup, so if you do want to change, hurry up and ask them about it so they can maybe do some testing with the paint you want before they get to your house.

Yeah, I think many of us learned growing up that ACME stuff just blows you up. ;) Sorry for the levity Stacy, I know how difficult it is dealing with a situation like this, fortunately you were able to extricate yourself from it and get decent doors.