The Range Hood: Turning a Functional Feature into a Focal Point
Every room needs a focal point that draws the eye, anchors the space, and sets the tone stylistically. In the kitchen, this might be a stunning island, an eye-catching chandelier, or—more and more often—the range hood.
In today’s kitchens, the range hood is often seen as a design element. Far from just being a functional ventilation device, it’s an opportunity to showcase your style and creativity. Range hoods are now functional and bespoke pieces of art that set the tone for the whole kitchen. With a variety of materials to choose from and shapes that elevate your design, a custom range hood might be the piece that ties your kitchen remodel together.
What Are Range Hoods For?
Functional Role
Range hoods are essential for cooking ventilation. They remove grease and smells from the air and either send them outside or clean and recirculate the air back into the kitchen. The range hood keeps the air and your kitchen’s surfaces cleaner, and can help the kitchen stay cooler while you’re cooking. If you have a gas range, your hood also removes harmful pollutants.
Design Role
Because range hoods are large, they take up a lot of visual space. And since they are often placed front-and-center, they naturally catch the eye. A thoughtfully designed kitchen will take advantage of these facts and use the range hood’s shape and material to set the tone stylistically for the space.
Types of Range Hoods
There are two main kinds of range hoods, and the one you choose will depend on the placement of your range.
Wall-Mount Range Hoods
If your range is placed against the wall, this is the type of hood you’ll use. It can be vented outside or can filter and recirculate the air. This hood is often framed by cabinetry or the backsplash, and can be easily made into a decorative element in your space.
If you have a wall-mount range hood, you have the opportunity to go big. This type of hood works especially well with statement materials like plaster, wood, or even tile, as well as the more traditional metal. By using a shape that is dramatically different from the surrounding cabinets (like swooping curves or a tall and thin chimney look), you can make the range hood stand out. A wall-mount range hood can also be subtle, blending in with the cabinets to create a gentle, soft look.
Island Range Hoods
Many modern kitchens include the range as part of the island, so it’s in the center of the room instead of against one wall. This design is great for open kitchen layouts and for homeowners who love entertaining. But it can pose a bit of a challenge when it comes to ventilation.
Luckily, there are a lot of island range hood options that are both beautiful and functional. Since this type of hood is suspended from the ceiling above an island cooktop, it is visible from all sides. This requires careful design and planning—you want it to be visually stunning without blocking the view and making the open kitchen feel cluttered.
Island range hoods work well with metal and glass materials, and curved or cylindrical shapes. Many of these hoods have various lighting options to illuminate your workspace.
Materials that Make a Statement
Regardless of its placement, the materials you choose for your range hood will determine whether it feels bold, timeless, or modern. You can make it stand out dramatically or blend in seamlessly. The choice is yours. Here are some great options to consider:
Copper: Warm and traditional yet eye-catching, a copper range hood will develop a unique patina over time, becoming more beautiful every year.
Brass: An elegant and luxurious choice, brass also ages well. It looks great with mixed metals and warm color palettes.
Wood-clad: This design adds warmth and texture and looks great in farmhouse and organic modern kitchens. It can be stained or painted.
Wood to Match Cabinets: For a streamlined, understated look, try making your range hood match your upper cabinets. This allows other elements to take center stage.
Stainless Steel: One of the most popular choices, a stainless hood looks clean and modern (check out this one!). In design, the shape becomes more important than the materials. Stainless steel is easy to maintain and looks great in any kitchen style.
Plaster: A soft, sculptural look, plaster adds warmth and texture. It’s a unique design that stands out, looking hand-finished and lovely
Galvanized Steel, Bronze, and Zinc: These metals are unique and distinctive, adding personality to your kitchen remodel.
Tile/Backsplash Material: Many homeowners prefer to match the range hood to the kitchen’s backsplash (see a stunning example here). This adds subtle shape and dimension to the kitchen without overwhelming the space. It creates a cohesive focal point that is ideal for minimalist or modern kitchens.
Choosing the Right Shape
Beyond the materials you select, your range hood’s shape defines its visual weight and architectural presence. The shape should complement the cabinet height, the ceiling height, the size of the space, and its overall style. A kitchen designer will be able to help you with this decision.
Tall Range Hoods
Tall hoods draw the eye upward, emphasizing ceiling height and creating a dramatic, elegant look. These hoods can be narrow or wide, and they often reach to the ceiling in a chimney style.
Wide Range Hoods
Perfect for large ranges, big kitchens, and walls in need of extra visual balance, wide range hoods look great in modern kitchens. They anchor the wall and definitely make a statement in your kitchen remodel.
Extended Range Hoods
These oversized hoods stretch higher or wider to create a stronger presence. They add architectural interest and are at home in luxury kitchens.
Curvy or Round Shapes
With a more organic feel, rounded range hoods add visual movement and soften the straight lines that often dominate kitchens (cabinets, islands, etc). They look great in modern, farmhouse, and European-style kitchens.
The Design in the Details
No matter what shape and material you choose, it’s often the small architectural details that elevate your range hood from functional and “fine” to a stunning, custom work of art. Click here and here for some of our favorite, beautiful examples. Bespoke range hood details include:
Rivets, for an industrial and handcrafted feel that adds both texture and interest.
Bands that create structure and visual framing. These work well with metal hoods and are really stunning when made of contrasting metals.
Trim and moulding are traditional and elegant, tying the hood into the cabinetry seamlessly.
Corbels add architectural support and detail, and instantly elevate the look.
These small accents pull their weight in making the range hood stand out and look intentionally designed.
Form and Function
The range hood is undoubtedly a hard-working element in your kitchen. But today, it also serves another purpose: a stunning focal point, art all its own. With the perfect blend of form and function, your range hood can take your kitchen remodel from adequate to perfect. And we’re here to help. Your DC, Virginia, or Maryland kitchen is in good hands with BOLT Builders. We’d love to talk to you about your taste, needs, and wants, and design the perfect space for you—complete with a beautiful range hood that ties the space together. Contact us today to get started.