IMHO the hood stands out as a separate piece in the kitchen. I prefer a unified look. I would put upper cabinets above all the lowers, and incorporate the hood into the uppers.

norwega....not sure if i understand??? do you mean a built in look, the hood looks like cabinetry??? I have a pic that i will also post that i am trying to duplicate. i wanted to get away from the cabinetry look.......

Here is a link that might be useful: inspiration hood

Gglks, you're thinking wood, but for what it's worth, one way to make a vent that stops partway up a wall look right is to make it look like just what it is--a vent exiting the wall there, i.e., a metal tube (nicely constructed, of course) that instead of just stopping curves and heads out. I've seen them in magazines here and there and one as a model in a high-end kitchen and thought they added character and individuality.

Another idea: The website for one of the vent insert manufacturers has a picture of a nicely detailed rectngular box around one of their inserts with no hood rising at all and no cabinets alongside. The carpentry was handsome, and the top was used as a shelf for display. It sounds yucky in my poor description, but it actually looked really good.

rosie,

can you direct me what websites to try??? this is one i really need to see on paper or pictures....can't visualize!!!

Look at the kitchendesigner.org blog. She currently has pictures of French country kitchens, and some have vaulted ceilings, and they are so pretty.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vaulted Ceilings

jeannie kitchen,
wow that is pretty....and i think i got 2 different ideas from that site!!!!!!! i'll have to run it by my KD, and GW to see what everyone thinks. Thanks, I'm feeling better now!!!!

What a great site. I couldn't find that picture I was thinking of, GG, but it sounds like you're off and running anyway. Was one of the ideas that "chimney" that spans a large part of the wall? That kind of mass might work really well in your large space.

rosie,

do you happen to know which kitchen it was numbered??? i think there were 25 kitchens and each had a number. i'd love to know which one you were thinking....

Hi OP!
I got your email and have to be brief since I'm just taking a mental break from packing for our move tomorrow.

I saw your sketch, and you are right, we have simlar kitchens. I'm afraid I can't offer much help. My architect also wanted my rangetop on the same wall yours is on, and he wanted the hood to go all the way up to the ceiling. I didn't like that it would be off-center to my peak, so I had them move it to my window wall and we put windows on each side of the hood on that wall with everything centered.

Having the vent on the window wall presented several challenges. Since I had a remote blower for my rooftop, and wanted it on the back of the house (windows face front of house), moving my rangetop meant 3 elbows and a much longer duct run. This meant I needed to get a much higher powered blower (I ended up with 1200 units of whatever they the airflow in.) The height of my kitchen was also a tricky issue (original height pre-lofting was 8')

I dont' live there yet, so am not sure if the hood is venting well enough or not, but it holds a piece of paper tightly when on high, so I'm optimistic that it will be sufficient!

Back to your sketch, I'm afraid I have to agree with you that I don't care for it stopping short of the ceiling with a custom wood hood. But I also wouldn't like the look of it going all the way up unless it were centered (it looks slightly to the right in the sketch; is that correct?)

Of the suggestions above, I think I like the idea of having the venting pipe exposed. Maybe consider leaving your hood SS (or copper or whatever; it could really be very beautiful, although I admit a different look than the built-in white kitchen I have and that you like!)

Best wishes to you! Feel free to email if you have any other questions I might actually be able to be helpful with - I'll try to get back within a reasonable time, but again we are moving tomorrow! <:o>PS. If I knew what I know now back in the planning stage, I wouldn't have done inset cabinets. I know a great cabinet maker who makes beaded inset LOOK cabinets that are actually overlay. It's not necessarily cheaper to do, but I wouldn't be having the sticking of doors due to the high humidity levels in my house (AC only recently went fully operational and the construction guys are incapable of keeping doors and windows closed!). Email me if you are in NJ and I'll give you his contact info. He did all my bath vanities and more, and I wish I used him for my kitchen!

GG, look at 11 and 16. 16 may not actually run to the corner, but it could. I don't like the way 14 looks, but it also is dealing with the issue of an off-center stove with a ceiling pitch. Running the chimney clear across that side of the wall to the corner, like an update of a really old kitchen chimney stack, could potentially be one of those touches that breaks away from the ordinary to become something special.

Smarge, you're going to love living with that gorgeous happy kitchen, with the doors closed appropriately.

rosie, smarge and jeannie...

i not getting the "exposed" vent duct...would it still run up to the ceiling or across the wall???

i have two thoughts that i will TRY to explain to you....the first is vaulting the ceiling from all four sides (still just to the flat part in the middle). They the hood could hit the vaulted ceiling just like smarges....my only fear is that i don't really want a tray (sp??) ceiling but I think with all of the trim work, it would still look ok.... The second is somehow running a soffit ONLY on the wall with the hood. My KD said it would only need to be about 12 inches deep. I am having him sketch both up for me because I seem to need visuals when it comes to this ceiling stuff!!!!!!

What are your thoughts on those ideas??????

SMARGE.........PS
let me apologize for being soooooo self absorbed....thanks sooooo much for getting back to me in the middle of your move!!! good luck with it. you are very lucky to be moving into such a gorgeous house!!!