Hi, I guess it depends on whether you're looking for modern or contemporary. We have recently chosen a 'traditional shaker kitchen' but have teamed dark only blue units with a white / grey Quartz top and contemporary brass handles, which when matched together looks lovely. Armac Martin as already mentioned do lovely handles. We chose the Bella brass mushroom knobs and cup handles but they also do they in a polished chrome or satin nickel which look very contemporary. http://m.martin.co.uk/kitchen-bin-pull-drawer-handles http://m.martin.co.uk/mushroom-kitchen-furniture-knob?search=Mushroom knob Take a look at deVOL kitchen like the attached images if you need some inspiration- they have some lovely modern looking shaker kitchens https://www.devolkitchens.co.uk Good luck whatever you chose

Everything is just personal preference. I agree that T bar handles are a nuisance insomuch that you can catch yourself. I’m not a knob lover but I have arthritis in my fingers and knobs are more difficult to grab as opposed to a handle. By co-incidence I was looking for black handles only this morning for a customer and while there are some it is limited. Look online at Hafele. You can’t buy direct from them but Toolstation stock some of their products or give Hafele a call and ask for a local trader. Regarding splashbacks look online at Premier Range for colourfull glass splashbacks. Haven’t deal with them but have always thought their choice is good. https://www.premierrange.co.uk/glass-splashback-in-premier-colours-made-to-measure?utm_term=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2tCGBhCLARIsABJGmZ4NrwPp1msAdVkCe0W4OHMeW7_8wQgjbROcmNdrEbxR-CB63WiVz6waArV_EALw_wcB

One more thing to think about (sorry!) - you don't have to have all the same handles on every single door and drawer. Some might merit a longer pull, some a shorter one, some a knob rather than a bar pull. It's best for them to all come from the same range so the finish is the same though. Just have a look at some of your inspo pics and pay attention to the handles - are they all exactly the same?? Sorry I know there's a gazillion decisions to be made, but 40 pulls is a lot - maybe and uppers chould be knobs instead to lighten the visual load, add a bit of interest and make it look really intentional?

550mm centres does seem very big for a kitchen cabinet. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your requirements as often, even large handles are only around 200mm centres for the mounting points. We are a supplier of handmade brass and steel handles by 'From The Anvil' and you can get 20% off RRP with us. Drop an email to the sales team for info. for example: https://www.fromtheanvil.co.uk/ironmongery/cabinet-furniture/pull-handles/all-pull-handles/aged-bronze-half-brompton-pull-handle-large.html A great way to refresh a kitchen is to swap the handles and perhaps you could swap to a single handle and fill the other hole?