I would do polished nickel, as chrome will show fingerprints more easily.

Really? I always thought they were equally prone to fingerprints.  That's why we chose brushed nickel for cabinet hardware.

This service may help you because you can generate kitchen design selecting colors, but it is more for a general idea of color and design:

https://www.airoomstyles.com/

Hi Jan, thank you for your detailed response. I did consider brass for the cabinet hardware but when we saw the colour renderings of the kitchen, the temperature felt too warm with the oak cabinets and the oak floors, even with the white upper cabinetry mixed in. Once we switched to satin nickel for hardware it looked more balanced. But then again, brass hardware blends in more with the oak cabinetry. I'm flip flopping on this one! I will look into the D pulls, I had originally looked at the square bar pulls from Top Knobs.

I did think about a black faucet initially, however, we recently remodeled our ensuite bathroom and installed black faucets and shower system. And now that I've lived with that for a while, I now know I don't want that in my kitchen. I found it too harsh.

I went out today and looked at more faucets and found an Italian brand - Cea Design - that looks great in a stainless finish.

I do understand what you mean about bringing in some contrast so the room doesn't fall flat. I have considered black for lighting and for the counter stools at the island as a combo. But I'm concerned it'll lean industrial with the black. The room is relatively small and I don't want the lighting to be visually heavy. I was considering a set of 3 glass pendants over the island. Images attached. Or maybe 1 long linear light, or 2 larger pendants. I'm stuck on the lighting!

Several things

I dislike renderings for this very reason. It will never replicate the texture that comes with being in the space

Do the SS Brizo, please. It isn't boring. ( there's not one Industrial bone in that black /gold Brizo, but it would be best with hardware that acknowledges that gold tone)

So..............

. Change that appliance pull/pantry pull.

. Add a touch of black, LIGHTING, STOOLS

. .More finishes than that are not necessary.

. Also?? This is what happens when a perimeter has two cabinet finishes - it complicates hardware but far LESS so when an island has the accent color or stain. That white/oak upper/lower split is tougher : )

. Then live/use the kitchen : ) That is what warms any of them. They're meant TO be USED.

Attached are a few REALLY rough renderings of our kitchen. Please don't pay too much attention to details here. Not the chairs, lights, faucet, and sink we want. There are missing details such as end panels, and hardware on the bottom of the fridge is incorrect.  Like I said,  it's ROUGH.  However,  the renderings did help us with colour blocking our finishes (keep in mind the colours are totally off here too!) of white and a light white oak. After reading Jan's advice, I have reconsidered the satin nickel cabinet hardware and stainless faucet. 

What if we did brass cabinet pulls, chairs from West Elm in brass with black upholstery, and a brizo faucet in black/gold? Is that a better combination? The faucet does come in just the luxe gold finish as well. Then I also need to plan for lighting. Is this more interesting?

What did you decide on the faucet and cabinet hardware? I am considering some of your choices with a similar look, but walnut, not white oak. Love your renderings and selections you were considering.