to trixieinthegarden - if I use an undercounter hood, don't I have to revent the whole thing? Or do all the under mounted models use recirculating vents? Right now, I have a nice arrangement that vents to the outside (I'm in a freestanding house, not an apartment) and I was hoping to keep this configuration (trying to save what remains of my budget!) Most are configured to vent through the top or through the back, sometimes offering both options. If you use a top-vented one you should be able to re-use your existing venting, depending on your vent size. Most take a 6 or 8 inch duct. The only thing that would be an issue for you is that undercabinet vent hoods usually have keyhole hangers for the back wall, so you would have to mount a strip just under your soffit at the back to mount the screws for the keyholes to hang. The vents are also attached through the bottom of the cabinet above so that takes much of the hanging weight.

FHB-- I've told you before but I have to say it again because each time I see it, it's looking better and better! : That range and hood combo is simply fabulous! I can't wait to see your entire kitchen! Cleanclassic: Thanks so much for your nice words about my hood. It's one of the best decisions I made about in the whole reno. By all means, do follow up with Sayde for photos of other MA styles, or contact the company directly. They will be happy to send you plenty of photos. Good luck! Boxerpups, follow your dream. You won't regret it!

All nice chimney hoods. I came in late on this topic, also 8' ceiling, but looking for bead board chimney wood hood. They said chimney part would b trimmed to 9-10" and 23" for hood and 3.5" for crown. Does anyone have this combo?? Not sure if it would look funny. Thx

Thanks so much for the suggestions and advice!! Chicoryflower .. no laughing here :) If I was in a different house, I'd snap up some vintage MCM metal cabs and have them painted at an auto body shop in a super fun color. I love colorful kitchens and MCM design, your mockup is great! Mclark and Littledog, a base cabinet that had dividers to hold baking sheets, pot lids, etc is a super idea! That would be an excellent use of space. Thanks so much for the suggestion, I'm going to investigate if some of the 'after market' places ( like rev-a-shelf ) have a comparable unit. Live wire oak and Kabergs, the refrigerator and dishwasher will both be stainless, so I'm hoping the hood will help tie it all together. I have thought that if I get the hood put up and don't like the look against the stove, then I would have it painted by an auto body shop. We know a guy that does great work and is very reasonable. Unless anything changes between now and then, what I'm planning for the kitchen is to use IKEA cabs. We will be doing some carpentry work to them, so they look a little more custom. I've seen the Tidaholm painted and they look just like frameless shaker cabinets, we'll be painting ours white. I'd love to have custom shaker cabinets, with inset doors, they would go better with our older home. My DH is too busy to make them though and after pricing them out it's just not what I want to spend right now. I'm fairly certain we'll be using soapstone counters, we are in the process of looking into Alberene soapstone up in Virginia. We'll probably buy/pick up honed slabs from them, transport them home and then we'll(DIY)fabricate them on site. I already have a soapstone farm sink here waiting, it was a super good deal off of e-bay. The floors will be salvaged heart pine that matches the rest of the down stairs. That's going to be a bit of work, we need to take up layers, upon layers of old floors, put down plywood and start fresh. Right now the kitchen is the highest part of the downstairs. *LOL* We've been working on and off on a Mahogany unit that will be a storage/pantry area. Here's the doors just set in place ( they aren't hinged, just setting there, so the reveals are/look off ) we still have to make the sides of the unit. This is just the raw wood too, it hasn't been treated with a top coat yet. We'll probably waterlox it and let it age naturally, no stain. Cruddy picture, but ..