I know this studio and Elica unveiled that hood at KBIS a few years ago and won an award if I'm not mistaken. It is a recirculating type with an active charcoal filter, so it's not a complete joke. There are zillions of apartment and co-op dwellers that have no choice but to use a non -vented model. So, the designers didn't neglect anything - they actually hit it out of the park so to speak. Some people also hate the functional look of appliances so this totally camouflages the unit. The display they have it in also has a door that covers all of the ovens for a kitchen that doesn't look like a kitchen. Not for everyone , but some like it. This said, a vented model with a properly sized capture area is always better than a recirc. type. They do a lot of highrise work and if you look at their displays you'll see that they are not huge, and cater to the "glitter or lifestyle set" not the serious gourmet. It's perfect for their demographic. It's not for everyone , but neither is a 50" wide custom barrel hood with bronze rivets with a 9' pipe like Modernaire might sculpt for you. mojav - you forgot to mention how easy it's going to be to keep clean and dusted. Their owner/houskeepers better get one of the umbrella things for cleaning chandeliers for this one.

Yes, pstillway -- first it was "OMG I love that." Then it was "catch me I'm falling..." The price is the price and if you want it and aren't a serial renovator it certainly adds a Wow factor. No question. The only question for me would be scale. Our kitchens are really big and it's hard to imagine one of those over a beefy range. Those hoods look to me like they are, more or less, designed for the smaller spaces one finds in European kitchens but the Falmec hood is quite powerful -- the gold one with leaves at http://www.atticmag.com

Finally - 3 months after ordering, the Elica Hood arrived. All appears to be good quality. The stainless is all protected with a peel-off sheet; a peek under one corner looked good. Nice finish, and the corner & seam joinery looks good. Not taking it out of the package completely yet, until installation time. Need to move it a couple more times until then, and keep it protected. I'll follow up with an installed photo and any further remarks then. So far, it looks very nice. Hope it works just as well.

Why not choose something from a good reputable company like Vent-a-hood for instence instead of one I have never heard of.