Taking into the ceiling and venting directly downward is the best solution. You could also have the vent integrated into a cabinet. This tends to be more common with base cabinets, but the concept is the same, and a kitchen designer or cabinet maker should be able to work with you on this. Or you could buy a decorative vent and integrate the vent into the design. My master bedroom had an ugly asymmetrical vent, and I bought two old, decorative floor registers on eBay. I replaced the ugly vent with one of the decorative vents. To create balance, I put the other vent on the wall as a dummy vent. This helped with the symmetry, and I ended up with a fun design feature on an otherwise boring wall.

Mama-The construction company was probably cringing while installing the hood, but I wonder why they chose to include this picture on Houzz. I wonder why the clients couldn't be swayed to change the design... Also, I wonder if the clients worked with a kitchen designer to configure cabinet / appliance placements. Local- No, I agree with you. They could have build cabinets around hood to cover the ductwork if they had to put the range and hood in the corner. It looks like an afterthough, doesn't it? Like it was just stuck up there. Almost like the cabinets were existing and they retrofitted the hood without wanting to remove or modify anything. They could have eliminated those three small and out of reach cabinets and installed a island type hood instead. Another question- does anyone know what the three slits in the backsplash under the window are ? Heating, maybe ? Bpa- lol@ backhoe! It's true, that's what it looks like!

Colin3: - thank you for reminding me about space between ceiling joists. I THOUGHT my joists run in opposite direction, but after closer inspection, they run parallel to the direction of venting out. Yay: so I get another ~7inches!!! YAY! - I will check w/ my HVAC person about customizing the duct transition pieces. - The back of the hood = my familyroom. And upstairs = the guest room. But w/ PALIMPSEST's input, I may get another 2 inches, if I drop the hood to countertop height to 27" to increase effectiveness. Willtv: Thank you for the great info on the Proline/your experience. But weren't you nervous w/ all the negative feedback? I don't know if I can pull the trigger. I really like the high (er than Broan) CFM for the great price. W/ my layout, I do not have the luxury of a quiet hood, but all I care is that it'll suck the grease and smell of garlic and oil, etc, out! Davidro1: chicken or egg? Do I buy the hood that I want, and then fit it to my house? Or see what my limitations are due to my layout to deduce on which hood to purchase? There are so many beautiful hoods that I know will not fit into my layout/ceiling/up-left-out layout. Thank you, Amanda

2 separate units will do the job, but cost of maintenance and break downs of 2 units as opposed to one with zone controls will in the long run be more costly. You have 2 units to maintain, you have 2 units to repair when they break. Tag team event. One system breaks down one month. The other system breaks down the next month. Doesn't always happen this way... but it could. zoning has to be done right. So what does that cost? I don't know I am not there. 'Design, Design, Design' other wise 'Trouble, Trouble, Trouble'.