You may be surprised to learn that the kitchen vent hood is more than just a decorative feature that can move the smells around. While these hoods above your range top can set the entire decorative tone for the kitchen space, their primary purpose is safety.
Let’s discuss what a vent hood does and the different design styles you can choose from.
Function of a Vent Hood (or Range Hood)
The primary purpose of a vent hood is to remove carbon monoxide from the gas stove from your home, which is incredibly important. They are also needed to remove smoke and grease.
For the vent to work correctly, they usually need to be overhead and provide good coverage of your cooktop. Some vent hoods just filter air and blow it back into your home, but those don’t really accomplish much.
For the vent to work as intended, it should be connected to ductwork that blows out to your home’s exterior. This is why it’s common to see the vent hood and stove against a wall in the kitchen with easy access to the home’s exterior; however, they can also be vented out the ceiling for cooktops on an island or interior wall.
Design Styles
Now that you know what a vent hood does, we can get to the fun part: design styles. Vent hoods can make a big design statement in your kitchen. Here are some of the most popular range hood options:
Modern Hood: A vent hood with a stainless steel look that matches your appliances will help create a kitchen space that looks modern and clean. This style does not overpower the rest of the kitchen design but is still interesting to look at.
Vintage Hood: If you’re looking for a hood that will steal the show, vintage is the way to go. A black or bronzed vent hood with ornamental detailing can be the extra touch that takes a kitchen from ordinary to extraordinary.
Wood cabinet look: If your kitchen needs a range hood, but you don’t want it to stand out, you can have one designed to match your cabinets. You will still have the health and safety of a vent hood while having other features of the kitchen be the focal point.
When You Don’t Need A Vent: If you have an electric cooktop, it doesn’t create any carbon monoxide, so you don’t necessarily need a vent hood. But cooking will still generate grease and smoke, so you’ll have to work a little harder to keep your ceiling and light fixtures clean.
So even if you don’t have a gas stove, installing a hood is still a good idea.
If you need help deciding whether you want to make a statement with your choice of hoods or have it blend in with the rest of your kitchen, give us a call. We would be glad to help!
