What a pretty room you're creating! I prefer the second range hood, as it seems to go best with the more traditional elements of your kitchen. The first one is just a tad too "space age" to be complementary IMO.

Totally agree with Auntjen!

Me too, # 2.

Below are some pictures that I used as inspiration for the kitchen. You can see here that they used the curved glass hood.

I do like the looks of both hoods. However, I am trying to mix contemporary with traditional. It's an open floor plan with an 8' opening between the living room and kitchen. There is also room for a small dining room table between the living room and kitchen, as shown below. I figured that I could use a contemporary chandelier above the dining room table to pull in some more modern looking pieces.

The half-bath right off the kitchen has some contemporary styling and has the pictured vanity below.

The master-bath (while the average visitor won't see it) will have a mixture of traditional and contemporary as well. See my other post here about the master bathroom - Master Bath Topic.

Sorry for all the rambling and pictures. It seems to be a pretty fine line in mixing different styles without making it look like a mess. Having no decorating experience, this is a bit intimidating me for.

For what its worth....I will be going with Samsung stainless appliances that have curved handles on them. My kitchen cabinet handles are also slightly curved.

I usually like curved shapes but think in your case, I'd prefer the second hood because it echoes the square framing of your cabinets. The shaker with the curved hood seems off. I see curved hoods more with contemporary slab cabinets.

You can always introduce more contemporary and curvy shapes with your light fixtures.

I like either (the second one slightly more), but do both have the same cfm rated motor? I'd look at whichever removes the most air.

I think either would look nice- both similar enough that it just comes down to personal preference...

but, I agree... I have never had a glass hood, but can't imagine trying to keep it clean and streak free, etc! our hood gets plenty of grease on it and I don't even stir fry with much oil or cook bacon, etc very often at all! I would do some research on how difficult the glass hoods are to maintain before choosing that one!

They are both rated at 760 cfm and made by AKDY (found on Amazon.com). I too had some concerns about keeping the glass clean.

#2 won't date itself as quickly.

#1 is already dated. I've been hanging out in Kitchens for the past four years since my remodel and I haven't seen anyone use it.

I have a stainless chimney like the second, and although regular dusting is needed, I'm glad I don't have grease on the underside to deal with.

I think they would both look fine. I would go with the one with the best ratings for performance by users, the lowest sone rating, and the best CFMs. I share concerns about keeping the glass hood clean.

Your kitchen is similar to mine in color of finishes and location of appliances and such. We went with a ss hood similar to the one pictured (I like yours better!). I think the glass one is too modern for your kitchen.

I have had a vent hood like the first one (curved glass) for nine years. I cook a lot, but I rarely fry. The glass is very easy to keep clean. It takes less than 10 minutes once a month or so.

I too have the vent hood like the first one. It's over a range on a peninsula. We have been pleased with its form and function. Because of the glass it is less obtrusive. Yours is against a wall, which gives you more options. The second one, which is all SS would not interfere with a view so might be a better choice.

I looked at this thread earlier today and thought the second, more traditional hood looked better. But now I like the first one! I don't know why... I understand your inspiration pic more and see that you're mindfully tying in other modern elements like the hardware, lighting and adjacent rooms. Get the first one!

I do think Funkycamper makes a good point though about checking the ratings of both first.

Glass? Well you gotta clean everything anyway... It'd be kinda gross if you chose the second one simply because you had to clean it less often. Built-up grease smells no matter where it's stuck so you may as well see it and know when to clean it.

I mentioned potential problems keeping the glass one clean and didn't mean to imply that I'd pick the one that I could leave dirtier....just that I know how often I have to clean my glass coffee table to keep it dust free (like every day) so looking up there and seeing dust (possibly mixed with cooking/grease residue would make me crazy. Plus, trying to clean to a streak free state seems like a lot of maintenance, but others posted who've owned them say "not so".

Thank you all for your opinions and comments. Who would have thought picking out a range hood would be so difficult. One thing that I forgot to mention is that the backsplash will be a tiled mosaic that wraps around the entire kitchen. The tiles consist of small rectangular glass pieces (mix of white and blue / gray in color), rectangular pieces that are made of stone, and rectangular stainless pieces.

For what it's worth, below is a picture of the range....as well as the range photoshoped into the kitchen with both hoods.

I was pleasantly surprised at how small amount of dust collects at vent hood height.

I would Google photos of busy mosaics with your granite. Most people use a solid tile with those granites.

It sounds to me like you are favoring the first one and want to tie it in with the curved handles on the range and cabinets as well as the more contemporary faucet. If your are being consistent with some contemporary touches throughout the house, I don't thiink the glass hood is going to look out of place or that you will tire of it.

The second hood would be the more traditional and safe choice -- and the one I would have said before I read your additional posts -- but if that photoshop has it close to scale, I would really want to keep shopping for something similar but with more heft to it. I realize it is just a mock up, but it looks kind of dinky, for lack of a better word.

If you really want the first one and are just having second thoughts, I would stay with your plan. It makes sense with your other choices and the glass and curve will give some relief to all the recatangles. Worst case, it's not a permanent fixture. If cleaning the glass drives you crazy after a few years or a new owner wants something more traditional, it can be changed.

Mayflowers,

Thanks for making me second guess myself more than I already do ;) I took your advise and looked at some pictures of those that used a mosaic tile with their bianco antico granite. I think that I may be okay with my selection for the backsplash.

The first pic is of the tile that I will be using. The remaining pics are examples of a mosaic with my particular granite.

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Here's a photo of Bianco Antico with a mosaic like yours. Look beyond the perfect color match and notice that both the granite and backsplash have strong patterns. This look is called "paisley shirt and plaid pants" in the kitchens forum. It's an equal competition for attention, giving a very spotted appearance.

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Now look at a calmer pattern combo. It's still contemporary but it doesn't distract or compete with the granite.

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Most often the busy mosaics are paired with a plain quartz countertop. I was surprised you found all those examples on Houzz and I wonder if they're older remodels. I'm sure designers got excited over the new stick mosaics, but they are already fading in some markets.

You can take your idea of mixing traditional and modern a little too far by swinging way out to the other extreme of contemporary with your materials. It doesn't necessarily make for a transitional home by doing so. < Emphasizing that.

Your raised panel cabs are very traditional, so a happy medium would be a quieter mosaic backsplash like the one above. Larger format subway tile in a color that matches the light cocoa colors. Mosaics of one color. 2 x 8" tiles, possibly in glass. Glass is very pretty with BA.

There are hoods that are mostly chimney with a flat control panel. I think a wider chimney would be good for your space. Then what about tiling? Your cabinets don't go to the ceiling so you'll probably stop the tile at the hood. I think a straight hood will look cleaner.

You did good with your bathroom but I think you may be missing the mark in your kitchen.

I wasn't looking at your tile and granite at all, but I completely agree with mayflowers after that was pointed out. Definitely a paisley shirt, plaid pants kind of thing. It is done, but most people will find it disquieting, even if they don't know why. You can still do a mosaic, but you need something much calmer -- less color variation.

I don't want to get too far off-topic here so I started another thread about the backsplash - http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3472254/m=23/will-this-mosaic-tile-work-with-bianco-antico-granite

I spent a lot of years in professional kitchens and the first thing I thought when I saw your faucet was.. I want one !!

As far as the hoods go I prefer the glass. At least it's different from the run of the mill SS which is really not a lot of fun to keep clean either and that includes the top where dust can collect a lot faster than you might imagine. Either way you have to clean a hood. I'd wouldn't sacrifice function for form but if the ratings are reasonably equal then get the one you like best. They both look nice.

I prefer a less busy backsplash too, but that too is a personal preference...

it is one thing to wipe down a range hood and it is a whole different thing to keep glass looking nice!! I do not clean my whole range hood thoroughly even every week! ugh! several houses ago we had a kitchen chand that was a 'modern' style that had a single large bulb and a large, flattish glass shade around it- sortof like a large plate. it was a huge pita to keep nice looking and it wasn't even over a stove!!(I hate streaks!) that was my experience! :)

I much prefer the second hood, and would only use the mosaic tile in one area-- maybe behind the range. I think a solid color tile, or a stainless steel tile, would look best.

I don't know if you can get a style like this with baffles, but it's a great transitional style. The chimney looks a little wider. I think the open space above your cabinets can make the chimney look undersized--tall and narrow. Your faucet isn't wimpy, so you want your hood to have that same substantial feeling. It will clean with a quick wipe--my canopy gets very dusty and requires a step stool to clean. It came up on a search for GE Monogram chimney hoods. You'd want to buy by function first with any appliance.

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I found one with baffles.

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The pictures look like this thread has morphed into a backsplash discussion, but I will go ahead and vote for the curved glass hood. The more traditional a kitchen is, the more it needs some modern, "space age" touches.