In my opinion the brushed nickel and SS are so similar you can't tell the difference. I bought a Kohler Forte main faucet in SS, my prep sink faucet is Kingston Brass in satin nickel and the air switch is satin nickel and they all match. Now the SS finish varies from brand to brand. Price Pfister SS is more of a bright silver than most of the others I saw. Your chances are very good that your SS and nickel will go together.

First, only a truly TKO can tell the difference between SS and BN, as kidshop noticed. However, this may be one where you want to go with black. There have been several threads where people contemplate whether they have too many holes behind the sink, especially with a wideset faucet (faucet, sidespray, soap dispenser, air switch). HTH.

yes -- we got SS to go with BN faucet. Can't tell.

This is one of those kinds of things that you agonize over now, but that will make very little (if any) impact on the over all look of the kitchen once it's done.

I agonized over lots of little details like this. In the end I probably could have gone either way and it would have been fine. So, I'd say, either one will work, pick one and don't fret.

To answer your questions:
Yes, our air switch button matches our faucet. Both are SS.
No, I don't think it would look funny to have a black switch with dark counters. You probably wouldn't even notice it in a few weeks after having it.

Our airswitch is the Insinkerator BN and our faucet is the Kohler BN...they match. We also have brushed SS disposal flange & strainer. When I put them together it was difficult to tell the difference. So, once they're installed, I don't think anyone will tell the difference b/w brushed SS & brushed nickel!

I'm pretty sure that the Insinkerator Airswitch I got from HD was SS, not BN.

Thanks everyone for your helpful input. I'm going to bite the bullet and buy the Satin Nickel. I'm checking it out on ebay as I write this.

Paul_ma, I've only seen the Insinkerator Airswitches packaged with Satin Nickel, Chrome and White or with just Chrome and White. Would have been less stressful if my local HD had SS!

Regardless of the brand of your switch, it looks like Westbrass makes a universal air switch trim replacement that comes in 15 or so finishes. Just to make life even more difficult .. ;-)

Westbrass trim kit