How do I cover unsightly range hood underside?

Question

We are about 75% complete with our kitchen remodel and I'm stuck on what to do with this range hood. We removed the cabinets from above the oven to open up the space more, which lifted the range hood so now the underside is above eye level. Our style is mid-century modern, and our house is small (950 sq ft total), so I think a chimney hood is too big. Other suggestions? Our top cabinet doors are still a work in progress, and will be white shaker style cabinet with a metal deco sheet (see photo). The countertop and lower cabinets are finished.

Katrina Warren · Answer

@Jen DeAngelo I would cut a piece of flexible plexiglass to fit into the hood opening, and also cut out the area where the vent is so it's not impeded by the plexiglass. Once it's all cut out, I would use 'Gallery Glass' matched to the color & style of your backsplash tile to make it look like matching stained glass, then pop it into place under the hood. Plus toss the vent screen in the dishwasher once a week or so, so it isn't all greasy & icky to look at. :) Your kitchen is looking great, good luck with the hood...

Leslie · Answer

I would remove it completely. Looks like it would be difficult to reach to turn on/off, and it is so high I doubt it is very efficient. The placement just looks odd.

Darrel Rose · Answer

I agree with them, the placement of this range hood is too high and makes it look unsightly and inefficient, the open area is also unsightly in this type of kitchen, there is nothing that I can mention that would either inclose the underside that would be safe to use for this type of application, this kitchen would be better suited to an island kitchen to best open it up and have more room in my opinion

Etoile Aloha · Answer

Your lower cabinets and countertop look fabulous! 
 I would remove the relocated vent hood, and go with something like the photos I found doing a google search. Good Luck, and update us when you are done. It truly looks amazing!
BTW: I do not see the photo of your upper cabinets, but they sound delicious!

Susan · Answer

I agree with Etoile and will also say, you should use your range hood everyday you cook.  Grease and moisture are 'aerosolized' while cooking, including the steam from using your oven (although most stays IN the oven).  I was without one for a couple of months and my entire kitchen had a sticky, greasy film that took forever to clean.  Couldn't see it, but it was sure there.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I would browse the aisles of your home stores every Monday or Tuesday for markdowns and closeouts. Even Sears is a great place to check for range hoods. I bought my $1200 range hood at Sears a few years back for $300 because someone returned it and it had a scratch. That range hood you have now is not made for going that high and the motor and exhaust will not exhaust as well as a hood designed to be higher. I use my range hood almost every time I cook and especially when my husband cooks (mine vents outside which is much better). By the way your kitchen is coming along nicely :)

Mary Clark · Answer

Remove the range hood. Use luan (sp) panelling cut to fit the space between cabinets to cover the hole. Add a shelf between the 2 cabinets.

The Redesign Habit · Answer

You might be able to find something here http://www.therangehoodstore.com/ that will replace what you have and bring it down to a height where it will actually do you some good. The one problem you are going to have is it will definitely cut into your sight line in your cutout. I think not having an exhaust fan at all would be a mistake. You will have a greasy film all over not only your kitchen but the other rooms too as it will travel through the air. Plus if you burn something or cook something with a strong odor, you might regret not having one. Good luck and let us know what you figure out. Your kitchen is really nice so far!

Dmotan · Answer

You have some room in the back of your stove. If you have a crawl space, you could have a downdraft fan installed. They pop up when you are cooking and then go down when you are finished. You could have an insulated panel put in front of the downdraft so it wouldn't be noisy. By all means, do not cook without a fan unless you plan to clean walls and everything often as even vegetables have oil in them.

Angela · Answer

hide it with a register grate

LD · Answer

The type of range hood you have is installation under cabinets, unfortunately you can't cover the underside for it is necessary to be left open for proper operation. You need to go with a island range hood since you have the opening in the wall it is installed. The following website has vented and ventless island range hoods. http://www.therangehoodstore.com/

Jean Myles · Answer

A range hood like that will not do anything that far from the stove top.. It doesn't have the strength to suck out the grease or odours

Cindy Hagemann · Answer

This is the style that you need:

Dfm · Answer

looking at my range hood- the new one, and looking at yours, i'm in agreement with marketingmomx4 & jean- if you don't want to have the from the ceiling style there is a down draft style of fan...fans come in 2 different modes, one style vents to the outside, the other filters the air and recirculates it.

Julies1949 · Answer

as above, you need to install a proper hood for your needs- either an island hood, or a pop up vent

Lily Schlender · Answer

i think having a range top in a pass through you could get burned reaching in from living room side. I would close off the opening. make a knick knack wall on the livingroom side with stain grade plywood (you could stain or paint) on the kitchen side continue your backsplash to match rest of kitchen. put up nice upper cabinets to match your existing. put in an exhaust fan you like. your kitchen is lovely. we opened our kitchen for a open effect and if i could i would have left it closed. this is your choice.

Itsmemic · Answer

that range hood is way too high to do any good at all. Remove it. Weird location...

JudyH · Answer

It looks like there is a bit of a ledge on the bottom of the hood. If so you might could cut a piece of screen to fit it if you can find some heavy enough not to droop and slip it in. If you need something heavier, perhaps a piece of opaque white shatterproof glass could be cut to fit with a cutout for the fan. DO NOT use plexiglass or anything with plastic in it. I had some plexiglass cut to hang behind my towel racks in the bathroom and the guy at the store wanted to know where I plan to put it because it is highly flammable and should not be used anywhere near a stove.

How do I cover unsightly range hood underside?

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How do I cover unsightly range hood underside?

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