Welcome. You have stepped into a minefield, some of which I fear was planted by me. Here is the home of perfect is the enemy of good enough; good enough is the enemy of inexpensive. In my view, long before choosing a brand, one should determine requirements. I won't repeat the process here; you can find many examples by searching threads that I've commented on, as well as by others whose comments may be found in such threads.

Some mine markers include:

• Need for make-up air (MUA), informal, formal passive, formal active
• Possible need to heat the MUA
• Need for sufficient capture area
• Need for sufficient volumetric flow rate <==> hood intake air velocity
• Need for operating within a range of duct velocities
• Fact that blower specified flow rate applies to hanging freely in the air, not within a system
• Relative merits of mesh vs. baffle filters
• Relative merits of "magic lung" squirrel cage impingement filtering vs. baffle filtering.

Several threads, including recent ones, have references that should be of help.

I know what I need technically (it's not my first rodeo), but I'm looking for things people have liked or disliked about certain models or brands. I'm not asking people to tell me what to buy, I'm asking for their experiences. Feel free to share your experiences, but I'm not going to look up past threads about the physics of vent hoods, or baffles vs. mesh. Been there, done that, and it doesn't apply to the question I asked.

“it's not my first rodeo”

Ha, yes…I’ve seen your name on this site for years.

Don’t know what your budget is, but we have a Vent A Hood, and are extremely pleased with it…despite the continuous bad mouthing by kaseki and opoane, who don’t live with one.

Even on high, the fan is quiet enough to have a normal voiced conversation at the nearby kitchen table. Grease containment is excellent…in almost 6 years of heavy use, there’s no grease on the abutting upper cabs. Odors are well contained, as well. Cleaning is fairly simple, as all parts go in the dishwasher. Every once in a while, when the parts are removed, DH or DS will get up far into the unit, and scrub the sides. But, honestly, there’s never much grime in there, as the squirrel cage does a great job. Hope that helps.

@darbuka - Would love to know what brand, style, wood and stain you have in the kitchen picture you posted. We've been looking for inspiration for our kitchen remodel and then stumbled across yours. We absolutely love it! Also, do you happen to have the model of the Vent A Hood you mention?

Michael, thank you!

The cabinets are from Tedd Wood, one of the better semi custom companies, out of PA. Most people don’t seem to know about them, here on Houzz. Style is Shaker, but it did have a more specific name, as Tedd Wood offered several variations of Shaker. Wood species is birch, with an Autumn stain. Not sure if that combo is offered anymore, as the cabs are now almost 6 years old.

As to the Vent A Hood model, I’ll have to get back to you on that. I’m sure that info is recorded somewhere…I just have to locate it.