No, you don't have to match your sink faucet. Being that it's very sparkly in chrome, you could do something less shiny on the cabinets to make it sparkle more. You might also look for hardware that has just a touch of chrome/shiny detail to it. Maybe a lighter warm finish that would pick up on the browns but contrast the faucet some to highlight it. Antique or brushed brass?

This post was edited by snookums2 on Fri, Aug 30, 13 at 16:12

Personally, when selecting hardware and fixtures, I like to stay in the same color "family" - i.e., all silver/black or all gold/brown.

So....

Silver: pewter, nickel, iron, chrome, stainless steel, black, white
Gold: brass, gold, bronze, yellow, brown

(My satin nickel faucets look silver, not yellow - I think some people here have said their nickel looks a bit yellow???)

With your cabinet and counter colors, you could go with either the silver or gold family.

In my kitchen, I have a "silver" mix: satin/brushed nickel faucets & soap dispensers, antique iron hardware, pewter pendants. I also have some black accessories and some stainless steel accessories on my counters. (My cabinets are cherry with black counters.)

[I'm not a fan of brass/gold, so I did not use it in my kitchen - but, that's a personal preference. Many people like brass/gold/yellow.]

I have ORB pulls and pendants but SS faucet, sink, and appliances. sayde has shiny chrome faucet and antique brass latches and pulls on the cabs. In both our kitchens, the cab hardware works with the cab finish, and the faucet is related to the sink. I don't think your pulls have to be shiny if the faucet is chrome.

To choose my cab hardware, I bought samples of various finishes and styles from local big box, held them up to my door sample, then returned them. Or bring the door sample to big box, get some knobs, and then go over to Plumbing and hold up the door and knob near a chrome faucet. If you can't visualize these things well - as I can't - actually holding them up really helps. You might be surprised at what you like.

Thanks! I will use the "big box / hold up samples" strategy.