Disappearing Range Hoods: A New Kitchen Trend?
Find out why more and more people are embracing the trend for hidden range hoods in the kitchen
Anne Ellard
15 July 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
Stainless-steel canopy range hoods and decorative feature range hoods have been popular choices in kitchens in recent years, but we are now seeing a big move towards concealed or integrated range hoods. This goes hand-in-hand with our increasing desire for more streamlined kitchens with clean lines and unobstructed runs of cabinetry, regardless of the style of kitchen.
Range hoods, or extraction systems, are an essential part of most kitchens. They extract grease and odours from the air when cooking, thus helping to keep the air in the home clear and odour-free. But, just because you have a range hood in your kitchen doesn’t mean it has to be on show. Here are some reasons why you might choose to conceal the range hood… and ways in which you can do so.
Range hoods, or extraction systems, are an essential part of most kitchens. They extract grease and odours from the air when cooking, thus helping to keep the air in the home clear and odour-free. But, just because you have a range hood in your kitchen doesn’t mean it has to be on show. Here are some reasons why you might choose to conceal the range hood… and ways in which you can do so.
Why hide it away?
A concealed or built-in range hood is one that is seamlessly integrated into the kitchen and is hidden away from sight. Hiding a range hood, or any other appliance for that matter, helps to focus the attention on the custom cabinetry and other design elements in the space, as opposed to the appliances themselves. Concealed range hoods are especially beneficial in a small kitchen, which can get visually cluttered when there are lots of appliances on show.
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A concealed or built-in range hood is one that is seamlessly integrated into the kitchen and is hidden away from sight. Hiding a range hood, or any other appliance for that matter, helps to focus the attention on the custom cabinetry and other design elements in the space, as opposed to the appliances themselves. Concealed range hoods are especially beneficial in a small kitchen, which can get visually cluttered when there are lots of appliances on show.
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What style of kitchen?
A concealed range hood can work in any style of kitchen, from crisp and modern right through to traditional or country-style kitchens. Integrated appliances are the ideal choice when planning a contemporary streamlined kitchen. Concealing the range hood helps to maintain clean lines and avoids disrupting the continuous flow of overhead cabinets, creating a very sleek look.
A concealed range hood can work in any style of kitchen, from crisp and modern right through to traditional or country-style kitchens. Integrated appliances are the ideal choice when planning a contemporary streamlined kitchen. Concealing the range hood helps to maintain clean lines and avoids disrupting the continuous flow of overhead cabinets, creating a very sleek look.
Integrating range hoods into traditional-style kitchens has been a very popular choice for many years. In a traditional-style kitchen, range hoods are often built into ornately designed custom cabinets such as the mantelpiece-style cabinetry pictured here. This creates a feature in the cooking area that often has a large freestanding stove that is the visual centrepiece of the kitchen.
The current trend for open shelves in the overhead area (as opposed to the cupboards of the past) is another design style that benefits from integrating a range hood. Here, the open shelves are the main feature of the back wall. The range hood is integrated into the overhead cabinets to the right of the shelves, completely concealing it from sight. This ensures that nothing detracts attention from the shelving and display area.
What range hood to choose?
There are many ways in which you can integrate a range hood into kitchen cabinetry on a wall. The first step is to ensure that the range hood you choose is designed to be integrated, as not all of them are. Check with your appliance supplier and kitchen designer before making your decision, to ensure it can be seamlessly integrated into your new kitchen design.
How to hide the refrigerator
There are many ways in which you can integrate a range hood into kitchen cabinetry on a wall. The first step is to ensure that the range hood you choose is designed to be integrated, as not all of them are. Check with your appliance supplier and kitchen designer before making your decision, to ensure it can be seamlessly integrated into your new kitchen design.
How to hide the refrigerator
Concealed wall-mounted range hood
The range hood in this kitchen is what is referred to as either a concealed, integrated or under-mount range hood. This style of range hood is completely concealed behind kitchen cabinetry and the only part that is visible is the bottom of the range hood on the underside of the cabinet.
A Parisian-style kitchen with hideaway elegance
The range hood in this kitchen is what is referred to as either a concealed, integrated or under-mount range hood. This style of range hood is completely concealed behind kitchen cabinetry and the only part that is visible is the bottom of the range hood on the underside of the cabinet.
A Parisian-style kitchen with hideaway elegance
Slide-out wall-mounted range hood
Another option is to select a slide-out range hood as pictured here. A slide-out range hood is also built into the cabinetry above the stovetop, with just the front edge of the slide-out section showing close to the bottom of the cabinet. This section is usually finished in stainless steel, however, some models have the option to swap this out for a custom panel in the same colour as the kitchen cabinets.
Slide-out range hoods can be the more cost-effective alternative to completely concealed range hoods, and are often available with a recirculating option where ducting to the exterior of the house isn’t possible (such as in an apartment, or where the range hood is positioned on an internal wall).
Another option is to select a slide-out range hood as pictured here. A slide-out range hood is also built into the cabinetry above the stovetop, with just the front edge of the slide-out section showing close to the bottom of the cabinet. This section is usually finished in stainless steel, however, some models have the option to swap this out for a custom panel in the same colour as the kitchen cabinets.
Slide-out range hoods can be the more cost-effective alternative to completely concealed range hoods, and are often available with a recirculating option where ducting to the exterior of the house isn’t possible (such as in an apartment, or where the range hood is positioned on an internal wall).
Range hoods above an island
The island bench is a popular choice for the location of stovetops. It means the cook can be involved in conversations with family or friends gathered around the island as opposed to standing with their backs to guests.
The disadvantage of having the cooking zone located in an island is that positioning a range hood above the stovetop can often create an eyesore in the space. One way to overcome this is to build the range hood into custom cabinetry that matches, or complements, the rest of the kitchen, as has been done here.
The island bench is a popular choice for the location of stovetops. It means the cook can be involved in conversations with family or friends gathered around the island as opposed to standing with their backs to guests.
The disadvantage of having the cooking zone located in an island is that positioning a range hood above the stovetop can often create an eyesore in the space. One way to overcome this is to build the range hood into custom cabinetry that matches, or complements, the rest of the kitchen, as has been done here.
Ceiling exhaust system
Another option for above an island bench is to select a range hood or exhaust system that can be built in flush with the ceiling. These range hoods will be a more expensive option, as they need to be extremely powerful to suck up greasy air and odours from such a distance. The advantage of this type of range hood is that the area above the island and the view to other parts of the home beyond it remain completely unobstructed.
Another option for above an island bench is to select a range hood or exhaust system that can be built in flush with the ceiling. These range hoods will be a more expensive option, as they need to be extremely powerful to suck up greasy air and odours from such a distance. The advantage of this type of range hood is that the area above the island and the view to other parts of the home beyond it remain completely unobstructed.
Downdraft exhaust system
This is one of my favourite extraction solutions when a stovetop is located on an island bench. It is unobtrusive and doesn’t become visible until in use.
A downdraft extractor is built into the cabinetry below the benchtop, and either behind or to the side of a stovetop, and sits flush with the top of the bench when not in use. With the touch of a button, the extractor rises out of the benchtop to extract odours and grease from the cooking area.
These extractors are extremely powerful and can be costly.
Careful planning is required to ensure that such a system can be incorporated into a new kitchen design, as the extracted air needs to be ducted outside through the floor. It isn’t always possible to do this in an existing home, so it may be necessary to choose a recirculating model instead.
This is one of my favourite extraction solutions when a stovetop is located on an island bench. It is unobtrusive and doesn’t become visible until in use.
A downdraft extractor is built into the cabinetry below the benchtop, and either behind or to the side of a stovetop, and sits flush with the top of the bench when not in use. With the touch of a button, the extractor rises out of the benchtop to extract odours and grease from the cooking area.
These extractors are extremely powerful and can be costly.
Careful planning is required to ensure that such a system can be incorporated into a new kitchen design, as the extracted air needs to be ducted outside through the floor. It isn’t always possible to do this in an existing home, so it may be necessary to choose a recirculating model instead.
Some top-of-the-range stovetops now come with an optional in-built exhaust system. Again, these are a great option for island benches or in a space where there are no overhead cabinets to accommodate a concealed range hood. They operate in a similar fashion to downdraft extractors, except nothing rises up – instead, the exhaust system sucks steam and odours down using powerful fans. The air can then either be ducted outside, or cleaned and recirculated back into the room.
Bora induction cooktop with extractor fan: Reillys Home Appliances
Bora induction cooktop with extractor fan: Reillys Home Appliances
No range hood
Depending on where you live there will be different building regulations and guidelines that must be adhered to when designing a new kitchen. Some building codes will deem that it is not essential to have a range hood in the kitchen, as long as there is adequate ventilation. This isn’t a very popular choice, as most people prefer to have some means by which to quickly extract grease and odours from the air when cooking.
Depending on where you live there will be different building regulations and guidelines that must be adhered to when designing a new kitchen. Some building codes will deem that it is not essential to have a range hood in the kitchen, as long as there is adequate ventilation. This isn’t a very popular choice, as most people prefer to have some means by which to quickly extract grease and odours from the air when cooking.
So what are the cons?
A completely concealed or under-mount range hood only covers about half of the stovetop below it, as it fits inside a standard 300-millimetre-deep kitchen overhead. These range hoods therefore have to work harder to suck air up from pots and pans that are situated on the front burners of the stovetop. This usually means that this style of range hood will be more expensive than a slide-out range hood, which pulls out to cover more of the stovetop when in use and therefore doesn’t have to work as hard.
One more issue with a built-in range hood is that the cabinetry in which it is housed is generally custom-made to suit an individual range hood. This can make it more difficult to not only access the relevant areas of the range hood for repair, but to find a replacement that will fit into the same cabinet if the current one breaks down.
A completely concealed or under-mount range hood only covers about half of the stovetop below it, as it fits inside a standard 300-millimetre-deep kitchen overhead. These range hoods therefore have to work harder to suck air up from pots and pans that are situated on the front burners of the stovetop. This usually means that this style of range hood will be more expensive than a slide-out range hood, which pulls out to cover more of the stovetop when in use and therefore doesn’t have to work as hard.
One more issue with a built-in range hood is that the cabinetry in which it is housed is generally custom-made to suit an individual range hood. This can make it more difficult to not only access the relevant areas of the range hood for repair, but to find a replacement that will fit into the same cabinet if the current one breaks down.
Your turn
What do you think? Are concealed range hoods something you’d like in your next kitchen – or do you have one already? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Kitchen
What do you think? Are concealed range hoods something you’d like in your next kitchen – or do you have one already? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Kitchen
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Top rated ones are by brands Best (see its Cirrus models), Miele, Futuro Futuro, Falmec, Zephyr, and Faber. They are ceiling mounted recessed or not. Even Italian companies like Falmec have them available in the US.So do the others listed. Faber has some that are designed like lampshades - kinda neat looking.
Just remember to do your research and gather information on best places to use them and how they work. There are pros and cons to every appliance including different types of range hoods.
Wow!!!!
I have had an island built in Thermodore gas range/electric oven with a pop up downdraft fan for 20 years. I love it! I do worry about replacing it however. I'm not sure I can find a new unit that will fit.