Happy July 4th!! Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Okay, here is what I am up against. My husband really wants the back splash to extend up to the ceiling. I showed him pictures of beekeeperswife's kitchen where the backsplash stopped just a few inches short of the base of the hood and the wall was painted just above the backsplash and under the hood. This is a great trick that ties in the painted area to the area under the hood as well. Another option that we both like is adding an arched panel with crown at the top leaving the bottom open rather than an soffit type box. Instead of stopping at the top of the cabinets, extend a few inches down between the cabinets to allow the tile to disappear and go up the wall to meet the ceiling behind it. I am thinking a panel like the arched panels in these pics without the cabinets above it, mounting flush against the ceiling with crown on the top. It could also be an after thought design element tying in the archs from our windows and doorway into the cabinet area. Neverdifficult - We are really second guessing ourselves for not adding that little extra to extend the cabinet heights. It's not like we can't add it now but we like the continious crown molding around the room and adding something like this arched panel might dress up that stainless hood which was my husband's "absolutely gotta have" piece.

Thank you all for posting the pictures -- it helps me visualize. The look definitely works for transitional or traditional cabinetry. I'm still trying to figure out if a modern look requires wider. Fouramblues, I asked my architect and GC a few times about whether our city has a MUA requirement. They both said they had never heard of one (and they both appear to be allergic to research). I tried researching myself online without any luck. We live in SoCal (no AC) and leave the kitchen window open most of the year for fresh air, so that is our MUA plan, lol. We also have a 50-year-old house that is not even close to air tight. Secondhalf, is that the Kobe RA-02-1? Are you satisfied with the finish? I was considering the 42" 1000 CFM version of that hood. I could only find 1 Kobe hood in a local store. It was a different model (pyramid with straight corner instead of beveled) and there was a visible seam all the way up the "corner" where the front panel overlapped the sides panel (i.e., the pyramid part was made with 3 pieces of metal instead of 1). Is that how your hood is constructed, or is the lower part seamless? Also, how much space do you have between your uppers and the hood? GreenDesigns, I thought I could offset size with higher CFMs. Would I be better off with a 42" 715 CFM hood? One hood in my budget that I find aesthetically pleasing (other than the mesh filters) is the Zephyr Venezia. I'm not sure I will ever use the grill on the range, as we grill outdoors year round. I only bought that model because it was a floor model at 35% off. If I had realized what venting my "bargain" range would cost, I would have skipped it. Now I wish I had bought induction, as it would have been cheaper to replace all my pots and pans if I could use a simple 600 CFM hood.

Correction I used the chart for a dwelling constructed after 1994 (501.4.1). 1995 year built 2500 sq ft so the first time I did the chart using 500 cfm I got that I would need 160 cfm MUA then I put in 400 cfm and got that I would still need 80 cfm MUA but then I tried 300 cfm and that was 0 MUA needed. Did I do that right?

Hi Julie, some range hood companies are able to lower the CFM for their range hoods if you request it. This is usually done by reducing the speeds of the range hood, and this way it can comply with the building codes in your area. Since your ceiling is lower than 8', you will likely need to have the stainless steel chimney cover that comes with the range hood cut to fit. You can sometimes request that through the company which you are purchasing your range hood, or you can speak with a local metal shop and see if they have experience cutting stainless steel. If you are willing to spend the time to have the stainless cover cut, and the CFM reduced, you should be able to pick out any range hood style that is 30" in size. I would suggest speaking to the companies that you are looking at when purchasing your range hood and see if they offer these custom services. Good luck with the remodeling!