Kitchen Design: To Hood or Not to Hood?
Kit Pollard
February 2, 2010
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and... More
When we renovated our kitchen, one of our bigger decisions was how to handle the vent over our stove. We ended up going with a super cool stainless steel chimney hood. Aesthetically, it was an easy decision - it just looks right in our modern space.
Financially, though, it hurt a little - even with our architect's discount (which she kindly passed on to us), it was the single most expensive appliance in the kitchen - and that's saying a lot. Plus, choosing a chimney hood meant that we chose not to include storage over the stove.
Still, when we were chatting with some friends about to embark on a kitchen renovation of our own, we emphatically suggested that they get a hood of their own, budget be damned. After a couple of years, we still love our hood, both for its look and its function. It really does vent better than any other system we've used.
And that's important when I'm burning something on our grill pan.
So when the question is "to hood or not to hood," my answer is "HOOD!" Here's some inspiration:
Financially, though, it hurt a little - even with our architect's discount (which she kindly passed on to us), it was the single most expensive appliance in the kitchen - and that's saying a lot. Plus, choosing a chimney hood meant that we chose not to include storage over the stove.
Still, when we were chatting with some friends about to embark on a kitchen renovation of our own, we emphatically suggested that they get a hood of their own, budget be damned. After a couple of years, we still love our hood, both for its look and its function. It really does vent better than any other system we've used.
And that's important when I'm burning something on our grill pan.
So when the question is "to hood or not to hood," my answer is "HOOD!" Here's some inspiration:
This is the type of kitchen that (I think) naturally lends itself to a hood. I love the sharp angles and clean lines of the hood here.
Hoods don't have to be stainless, either. I like the way this white hood blends in with the wall above.
The curve of this hood has a cool Art Deco vibe. It's definitely different from what you see in most kitchens.
I love the way this hood's structure allows for some open shelving. Very usable!
This is another great example of incorporating shelving into the hood. I also like the way the stainless hood adds a touch of modern to this traditional kitchen, without seeming out of place.
Hoods are a natural solution for venting island stovetops. Here, pot racks make the hood seem like a natural part of the ceiling-scape - it doesn't stand out. Plus - functional!
But even if the hood does stand alone over the island, it's practical and it can look great.
This kitchen runs a little more traditional than my taste, but I like the way the hood works with the cabinets, rather than forcing something overly modern into the mix.
Ditto for this space - the white hood works nicely with the rest of the room.
This space, too. Even though this is WAY more traditional than my own taste, I can definitely appreciate its lodgey look. Although I have to admit, taxidermy in the kitchen kind of freaks me out.
I really love the way this hood works with the backsplash. It's so shimmery and pretty, especially with the white and the windows.
This super boxy hood is fantastic with the peninsula and dark wood - I love the whole look.
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Keep in mind that once an undercabinet/in-cabinet hood is installed, changing its location will typically involve modifying the cabinet, which is a lot more work & expense.