I love my pulls (Top Knobs Somerset Arendal). I had spent quite a bit of time looking at pulls at my KD's store. I had picked something else I kinda liked, but was sort of meh. Put in my order. On my way out of the store, a kitchen display caught my eye. I saw the pull I wanted! Turned around and changed my order. I think most people know it when they see it. While I haven't been completely thrilled with all my kitchen decisions, I've always liked my pulls.

Good luck. I think this is one of the most fun decisions.

Bean
We are still deciding on color and style - I do know that I want 5 inch pulls which is larger than standard.
3 inch center to center is standard and the largest number of choices.
I felt the 5 inch looked better and feels better to handle (my hands are larger than average) and a compromise to handle all drawers.
I also knew that I did not want knobs (too easy to catch your clothing) and also did not want "European"style straight pulls with extended bars for the same reason - one friend put them in and her husband is forever catching his pockets on the pulls.
There are a couple of posts out there on sizes - you can go all one size or a variety of sizes. Rule of thirds - surf and you will see other options.
I am down to Baldwin Brass (good prices at the baldwinbrasscenter) or Top Knobs - 2 varieties

How I decided on style and placement was to look at many pictures of kitchens on here and houzz.com and the style and placement that always caught my eye was pulls on doors and drawers so that is what we did.

I did tape the pulls on the cabinets to look at them for a day before drilling!

I knew what I wanted, a small, simple white knob with a thin black rim.
Then I had to find who made them.
Fortunately, it didn't take too long, and they turned out to be the least expensive item of the entire project.

I spent HOURS looking online. And I had my sister's to look at and go by IRL. I loved her handles. And I learned from her about the needed projection and length (5") of handle for ease of fingers, no fussy trim/design (less to accumulate grime and gunk = easier cleaning), no sharp edges/ends (to catch a shirt on or hurt myself) etc.

I found numerous handles that fit into the needed requirements - the final one was price. I had to rule out a lot that i liked because of too little projection or too much detail or too expensive. I found something simple with a curve that I liked with rounded ends, about a 1.25" projection and within price range for me. AND they're available in nickel or ORB - which ever of those I decide on. That will depend on what color my cabinets end up.

Then I found them at HD (or L's) in nickel and bought one to put on a cabinet and try it for a time. So far I still love it.

Bean - I think it was Beekeeper that posted a beautiful kitchen with standards for handles

desertsteph- your SIL sounds a lot like mine - same rules and good advice.
Which model did you end up purchasing?
Thanks

We started from the idea of function--ergonomic aspects, including ADA/elderly. This ruled out a number of styles off the bat. We also had lists of our aesthetic needs/wants and our budget. I did plenty on online window shopping and of course fell in love with pieces that were $25+ apiece.

I went to a hardware supply store and tried out a lot and found out what the real thing feels like, or almost the real thing. When I found something on eBay that was like something much pricier, I already had a prepared mind. And part of the prepared mind was "okay I've tried out this and that ideas and now I can move on to something more practical."

Thanks, everyone! This will help. I'm with you on the projections on the ends catching on things, and no intricate details making them harder to clean!