The Right Range Hood

The range hood is the perfect blend of beauty and function. Its job is heavy duty and the sheer size of the vent hood can make it a significant design statement. Striking the right balance can be tricky. Here are our tips to choosing the right hood and the right design for your kitchen.

Tech

Range hoods come in all different sizes and power levels. The fans are measured by how much air the fan moves out, cubic feet per minute or cfm. Cooktops are measured by how many thermal units of energy they produce or btu (British thermal units). There are basic rules of thumb to pair the cooktop’s energy production with the hood’s oil- and grease-sucking power. For every 100 Btu, you need 1 cfm. This info can be found in the appliance manuals.

Finding the vent hood that is the appropriate size, cfm and has venting that works for your project can be helped along by asking the pros. We love the folks at Clark Appliance Showrooms and highly recommend their expertise.

The decisions

The first design decision is the biggest. One piece hood or hood insert with a cover. Each has their own benefits and drawbacks, but they should both work equally well. So function is taken care of, time to explore beauty.

All in one Range hood

These are a great option if you want the look of a professional kitchen. They are typically stainless steel and are a classic and utilitarian approach. The fan and exterior are all one piece, they’re easy to find and can be a little more budget friendly. That being said, some ra age companies, like the wonderful French L’Atelier have matching vent hoods that are one piece yet make quite an impact.

Vent hood inserts

Choosing an insert will open up your design possibilities. You will purchase the vent insert and then the cover. If you’re working with a designer or custom cabinetmaker this means your options are wide open and you can make as much or as little of a range hood statement as you wish. The vent hood can be a focal point of your kitchen, a way of centering your design or it can slip into the background. The choice is yours.

A few ideas

This Miele all in one range hood connects the range and the cabinetry hardware. It’s utilitarian look is balanced by the luxurious walnut and white inset cabinetry.

Now that’s a custom range hood. Fabricated by the talented folks at Brooks Custom, based on our design. This zinc hood makes a great statement and fits perfectly with the Wolf range.

Here’s a more subtle example of a vent hood cover. Painted to match the cabinetry, with the same trim as the crown molding this cover is quiet and unobtrusive, but it gets the job done.

The shape of the vent hood cover can also be played with. This bronze cover with wood trim is a classic grand shape.

This statement hood gives a nod to the recessed panel cabinetry design and adds warmth with the band of walnut. Subtle but a clear design statement.

Did we get the wheels of inspiration spinning? Come to one of our showrooms and take a look at our hood designs in person, talk through the kind of look you want and get your dream kitchen started. You can also check out the L’Atelier range and vent hood in person!