I recently purchased a Kobe wall mount hood that uses a 6" duct. I will be installing it this week sometime, but we don't move into the new house for another week yet...so i won't really be able to give it a thorough test for a while. When the hood arrived, I opened it up and temporarily hooked it up to see how well it works. I had some duct work connected to it to see how loud it was going to be once installed. I was very impressed with the construction and performance of this unit. I'm sure I will be just as pleased when it's installed too. Here is a link that might be useful: My Kobe hood

I like it! I'd just do the backsplash up to the base of the cabinets and base of the hood. Then I might box in the space above the stubby cabinet so it visually goes all the way up, or heck, put in a basket and see how it looks! (The "box" could be just trim--it doesn't HAVE to come out to shelf depth...although you could shelf depth it and also have shelves alongside the hood...) If you wanted to do 'splash up by the chimney as well, continue it over to the basket area if you don't box it off.

cpartist, thanks for the info on the monsoon (and pacemakers). I will stick with the monsoon and gas though even though lots of folks here love induction. Opaone, you must revisit the keys then after this pandemic is over! Although I think you would find it a bit different from before, more people have discovered it. But it is such a relaxed lifestyle. Regarding your above question about heat, we don't have any in this house! Megs, thanks for your input on Best, I feel that the noise level is what pointed me towards Zephyr in my initial research. Fureywoman, thank you for relaying your store's confidence in Zephyr. We emailed architect today and he is fine with our choice--which supports the theory that the cabinetmaker was the source of the recommendation.

Yes, indeed, the stove is on an interior wall. It would be simple if it were on an exterior wall, but a remodel to move it is out of the question. I am very happy with the current placement of all appliances and sink and storage. The stove currently vents down and under the floor out to an exterior wall. I will seriously consider induction, just wish I could get it with down draft. I have checked my pans with a magnet, and not one pan I have works, other than my numerous cast iron pieces. All the comments (especially the links that show the process) give me a lot to think about. I have to keep some kind of exhaust as I occasionally make a batch of lye soap. I hadn't thought about a portable coil for countertop, but it would allow tea brewing in the 2 gallon pot and would accommodate the steel pressure cooker. I am not sure I would trust the large heavy pressure canner on it. I could always visit a friend to can! Guess I would find out who my real friends are.