What is this wood box over my kitchen Island?
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Marion Nesbitt on Dec 21, 2015It might have been installed to focus the light on the work area of the island instead of glare. Personally I think it looks cumbersome so I would remove it. You could always replace the existing light with a pendant or such..Helpful Reply
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Louis Lieberman on Dec 21, 2015it could be either for lighting or for an exhaust fanHelpful Reply
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Kathleen Mckirkle on Dec 21, 2015I think the box would be there to focus the lighting down on to the island and like Marion I too think it looks pretty cumbersome and would look much nicer with a pendant light. It would look more 'airy' without it.Helpful Reply
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Annette Wilson on Dec 21, 2015I agree with the previous posts...take it down and add pendant lights over the island. If possible, I would remove the track lighting sometime in the future, as it looks outdated.Helpful Reply
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Janet Pizaro on Dec 21, 2015I think it was a trend in the 80s not necessarly used for a particular purpose.I would look ito removing it to give the kitchen a more open appearence.Helpful Reply
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Francine Nault on Dec 21, 2015I agree with Annette and all above. By removing it the kitchen would be brighter.Helpful Reply
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Hope Williams on Dec 21, 2015Hi Jennifer. Go up in your attic and see if you can get any clues. If there is a tube, rectangle or round, it was a prior vent hood system. If it is just an electrical junction box, then it's just a light system. Pull your insulation aside to help get a clear view. I'm willing to say it is 100% removable as most everything is. You just have to run down the list of possibles. If attic access is not possible, just start pulling trim on one side then move on to the panels. It is not structural so don't let that stop you. Let us know if we can help.Helpful Reply
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Cynthia Nye on Dec 21, 2015Was the island ever a cooktop? So the tube could have housed the exhaust fan? Island remodeled, fan became light? You could put some cross beams in it and turn it into hanging pot rack...Helpful Reply
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J Vaught on Dec 21, 2015We bought a house with a similar box that housed a fluorescent light fixture but it had a piece of acrylic covering the opening. We removed the box and installed a light fixture.Helpful Reply
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Renee Confere on Dec 21, 2015I'd make a pot rack out of itHelpful Reply
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Sharon on Dec 21, 2015With white cupboards and stainless steel worktops you are going for a great modern look. This box is not modern, not sure what it is but I'd loose it.Helpful Reply
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Peppi on Dec 21, 2015get rid of it! go to etsy, yehudalight, you will find great ceiling lights and you will never see another one like it! also will be the envy of all who see it.Helpful Reply
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Flying Texan on Dec 21, 2015What if you painted it inside and out and drilled holes in the sides? You could make a design and using a relatively skinny bit, drill holes so the light shines through. It does need to be lightened up if you keep it. Good luck!Helpful Reply
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Carole Bisby on Dec 21, 2015I would either remove it or use it as a pot rack as the other lady said. I think the pot rack would look nice but I would definitely paint it. I would take that wall paper down and paint it a nice color maybe Med gray and paint the box a dark gray to blend it in. Then it would look more modern.Helpful Reply
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Linda on Dec 21, 2015It looks like it was supposed to be an exhaust fan for a range, but clearly that is not the case! I would get rid of it if it has no useful purpose!Helpful Reply
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Holly on Dec 21, 2015For some reason I can't see the other answers so I apologize if someone may have already suggested this. But it could be the stove once was there and the hood served as exhaust. Then converted to a light and the stove moved. You should be fine to remove it either way.Helpful Reply
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Johnchip on Dec 21, 2015Take it down, turn it upside down, fill with chocolate pudding and invite Joan Collins and Linda Evans over for a pudding wrestling match!Helpful Reply
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Johnchip on Dec 21, 2015I am also not a fan of subway tiles. They look just that, like a bathroom in an old train or subway station. There are so many wonderful tile choices, don't go so common looking, guaranteed most will be torn out and be joining pet rocks and troll dolls in the landfills within ten years when the fad is over with.Helpful Reply
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UpState on Dec 21, 2015Re-configure and use it as a "Cone of Silence". Will need mechanism to raise & lower. Family fun for all.Helpful Reply
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Leslie on Dec 21, 2015Hi Jennifer, the question is what do YOU want?? If you hate it get rid of it. It was a light and not a vent otherwise there would be a vent in the ceiling instead of lights. If you want to keep a clean look I suggest recessed lighting throughout the kitchen. You can google DIY pot hangers. I will bet you will see gobs of interesting ones that will go with your aesthetic. Check Pinterest. Also a suggestion for the countertops is cement instead of stainless steel for the counter tops. I have seen some beautiful ones with different muted color patterns and after it is sealed almost indestructible. Stainless is nice but do you want to take time to polish and how resistant to dings and knife cuts is it? I know I threw a fly in your ointment with the cement countertops so here is another lol, decide on the backsplash AFTER you decide on the countertops. If you are doing the installing you can do this last :) Good luck.Helpful Reply
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Linda Johnson on Dec 21, 2015It looks like the frame is just to direct the light on the counter below. I'd remove it and put in newer lighting. Perhaps recessed led lights...Helpful Reply
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Bonnie on Dec 21, 2015It's simply a huge ... lampshade. The box concentrates the light down onto the workspace because the ceiling is high. (Remember, in the 80s the thought was bigger is better. ha) Industrial look was a big thing, too. Soo, if you don't like it, take it down, put up a chandelier or hanging light that will bring your lighting down from the ceiling. You could even use a fan light if you're needing some air movement in there too. Make sure you turn the breakers off before you start disassembling....Helpful Reply
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Charles Prock on Dec 21, 2015No matter what it is.....get rid of it....You have no idea how much larger your kitchen will look.Helpful Reply
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Kathy Paullin on Dec 21, 2015We had a similar box over our island in the kitchen. It came down even lower and had an exhaust fan because it was over our stove. we got rid of it, installed a great light fixture, and put in a jenn-air type stove. the difference is amazing!Helpful Reply
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Katrina Warren on Dec 21, 2015It may have been to hang pretty copper pots from, but unless you are going to use it for that, I say take it out it will open up the space & make the whole room look larger but be prepared to fix any damage to the ceiling in that area.Helpful Reply
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Louis Lieberman on Dec 21, 2015u are very w3elcomeHelpful Reply
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The Redesign Habit on Dec 21, 2015It looks like it was maybe originally an exhaust vent and was converted to a light box. Whatever it was then, if you get rid of it now, you will really open up your whole kitchen. You can put some great modern lighting over you island..maybe some recessed lights or a beautiful pendant fixture.Helpful Reply
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Jen on Dec 21, 2015Yup..my guess is they had a stove on the island back in the day..thats the exhaust hoodHelpful Reply
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MN Mom on Dec 21, 2015Looks like the island may have been the site of a cooktop back in the day and my guess is that box was the exhaust fan vent. If it doesn't do anything important now have it removed. Enjoy your remodel!Helpful Reply
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H on Dec 21, 2015Rather than remove it completely, which will leave you with ceiling damage,maybe you could take the longer skirt bit off the box and leave just the first few inches and use that as a frame for hanging pots or putting your lights into. The box skirt could be turned upside down and used as a coffee table base or a raised herb garden?Helpful Reply
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Carol Tanner on Dec 21, 2015I would add hooks to it and use it for hanging pots and pans from - probably was originally a vent hood for a long ago removed cooktop. Why they left the vent hood after they took out the cooktop, you may never know!Helpful Reply
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Leslie on Dec 21, 2015Most welcome :) Keep us informed of your progress and post pictures of the end result I am interested in seeing how it all worked out :) Good Luck!!!Helpful Reply
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Doc Jackson on Dec 21, 2015Or, since the wiring is still in the cabinet below, you could do the unthinkable and reinstall the cooktop and put the ventilation fan back in the hanging unit. Yes, more expensive, but would greatly enhance your kitchen, especially if you have an older range.Helpful Reply
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LD on Dec 21, 2015At one point there was probably a rooftop on the island and the exhaust was probably installed within the box as you call it. I would remove this box light area and your track lighting, and install recessed LED lighting with soft lighting underneath the cabinets, which can give extra task lighting, but also you can turn t these on after your finished in the kitchen for anyone coming in for a beverage or snack. Instead of white subway time I would go with a glass mosaic tile which will give you texture and color to the room. Here are a couple of links: https://www.tileshop.com/product/brushed+bronze+w-glass+metal+wall+tile.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&refType=&from=fn&ecList=7&ecCategory=100234; https://www.tileshop.com/category/tile/glass/glass.do?c=100181.100219.100224&ColorFamily=Clear&sortby=ourPicksAscend&page=allHelpful Reply
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Jean Myles on Dec 21, 2015If it was mine I would just demolish it and deal with the celing as you would like. If it had a use you don't sound like you like it ,so you might need to do a bit of dry wall repair. Then you can put what ever lighting you choose.Helpful Reply
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Karen Stark on Dec 21, 2015Was it always a light? Looks like it was meant to light the island. Be glad it's wood. My in laws' kitchen has a similar looking light, except their's is forged steel and is very, very heavy. I think it is from the 80's. Not only that, theirs isn't even over an island.Helpful Reply
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Luanna on Dec 21, 2015Good grief! Get rid of it, whatever it is!---it's like an elephant in the room! I'd put in bead board ceiling and a new light fixture--maybe pendant lighting over the island if you are keeping the island there.Helpful Reply
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Mickey Baron on Dec 21, 2015I'm not sure what its original purpose was. It does look like it had been an exhaust, possibly, then reverted to an island light. Right now it looks like the elephant in the room. I'd remove it, AND that track lighting, update it to your liking. (You're on the right track)Helpful Reply
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Sandra on Dec 22, 2015Looks like a vent... Was there a counter stove top below it sometime ago?Helpful Reply
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Lynda Dexter on Dec 22, 2015It could have been a pot and pan rack that got converted into a light. If you do not like it get rid of it or convert it back to a hanging rack for pans.Helpful Reply
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Leslie on Dec 22, 2015Most welcome :)Helpful Reply
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Lola on Dec 22, 2015Get rid of it, it will lighten up the look of your kitchen greatly. Add different lighting. It looks obtrusive and clumsy. It looks like a massive job, but it's not. I had the same thing and after looking at it for a year I asked my husband if he could take it down. He didn't understand why I would want to take down a perfectly functioning fixture. Half an hour later it was down. I found vintage ribbed glass lights (2) that I put in it's place, hubby patched and painted and it looks beautiful. You won't be sorryHelpful Reply
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Betty Miller on Dec 22, 2015I would take it down but be prepared to do dry wall patching and little electrical you will probally want pendant lits or something over the island.Helpful Reply
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Duv310660 on Dec 23, 2015Maybe trade in for a quirky chandelier? I have one in my laundry, and I love it every time I turn it on!Helpful Reply
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Katie Lloyd Mansfield on Dec 23, 2015Take it down. It would open up your space. I think it is just a weird 80s light fixture. You may have some ceiling work to do but it would be worth it.Helpful Reply
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Nancy on Dec 24, 2015If there is a light inside, there was probably some type of plastic/glass covering the opening. If you remove this, be sure that you know how to remove the fluorescent fixture. Be prepared to plaster your ceiling.Helpful Reply
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Nancy on Dec 24, 2015Just another suggestion, Get a glass cut and fitted for it. If you plan on stainless steel counter tops, you could paint this a stainless steel color or if you are super handy, cover the sides with stainless tell sheathing.Helpful Reply
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Nancy on Dec 24, 2015I meant to type stainless steel sheathing.Helpful Reply
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Nana moving on on Dec 24, 2015Just take the lower angled part of the box off and replace the old light with a new energy efficient one. Then you'll only have to paint the more shallow part left there to match your cabinets.Helpful Reply
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Jennifer Rapp on Dec 24, 2015Excellent idea. That would save me from having to fix the ceiling. Thanks for the tip!Helpful Reply
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Psellers on Dec 30, 2015You could make it a focal point but since you have the busy wallpaper, maybe you could just paint it to blend it with the surroundings. Any covering, even glass, will soften the light benefit. I'm sure it was originally there to direct the light to the work counter.Helpful Reply
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Teresa C on Dec 31, 2015I have seen where they totally remove the structure and then place plywood the same size over the hole and then use molding to replicate the look of the front of your cabinets. Paint white before attaching to ceiling and once you find a light for the area make sure to cut a hole to fit the new light kit.Helpful Reply
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