Hallie Milstein is an Editorial Fellow for Southern Living covering food and culture. She has been published in Modern Luxury magazines, Our State Magazine, and Hudson Valley Magazine.
Mali Azim;Design by K Kong Designs Built In Cabinet Range Hood
Ventilation above the stove is critical in any kitchen, but it also provides a big opportunity for design. A kitchen hood can make a major impression in the kitchen and, when done right, can transform a functional element into a focal point.
“A hood is often the focal point of the kitchen and it’s a good place to start in kitchen design,” says interior designer Kristin Kong. “Opt for something unique as the hood is the jewel of the kitchen.”
We’ve gathered our favorite kitchen hood ideas that account for shape, color, and material. These stunning hoods light up the kitchens they’re in and tie together the space. While some seamlessly match other aspects of the kitchen, other hoods featured are made to stand out, as Kong suggests. Our best kitchen hood inspiration accounts for Southern-loved styles and professional interior designers’ best kitchen decorating tips.
Augment a plaster hood with some royal treatment. Interesting molding like you fight find on a wall will instantly spruce up the whole kitchen.
Jeff Herr Photography; Design by Intuitive Dwellings
This hood has the same appearance as the cabinets below but with a stylish, metallic addition.
"One of our favorite hoods that we designed has a curved veneer hood with steel banding that gives it a warm modern appearance," says Enwright.
Interior designer Lorraine Enwright says that wood is one of her favorite materials for kitchen hoods. Here, the wood takes on a geometric pattern.
Spice up your hood's silhouette with a pleasing arch. It's a subtle addition with wow-factor.
Emily Followhill Photographer; Design by Intuitive Dwellings
Here, the kitchen hood has a high ceiling of its own, concealing an Elica hood. There is an effective fan, though it looks like there's nothing there but a tall, beautiful backsplash.
Rather than standing out as a focal point, this kitchen hood blends right in. It's painted the same color and features the same materials and molding as the adjacent cabinets for a seamless appearance.
This homeowner chose a kitchen hood that hides the exhaust fan beneath. The look is simple and sleek, and it avoids an industrial, mechanical appearance.
Reclaimed wood and charming decor lend this kitchen hood a lovely, rustic look. Paired with bright wallpaper, the look is timelessly attractive.
There are several shapes that kitchen hoods can take. Here, a curved hood looks gorgeous in this kitchen. Other shapes include baroque-, box-, and bell-shaped.
Emily Followill; Design by Mark Williams Design
"If you want to make a statement with your hood, look beyond the myriad of stainless steel options that are offered at most kitchen appliance stores. Look to the other finishes in your kitchen for inspiration," recommends interior designers Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos. "Mixing metals, for example, brushed nickel and brass, is a fun way to bring some bling into your kitchen space, but always make sure you’re referencing the same combination in your cabinet hardware and decorative lighting. Everything must be balanced for bold moves to feel right."
Wood panelling brings a simple, chic style to this modern farmhouse kitchen. The styling matches the walls without blending in.
This kitchen hood is effortlessly striking because of its clean lines and modern look despite its plain white and fairly simple composition. The hood pleasantly accentuates the slanted roof of the kitchen.
Here, a glimmering kitchen hood surpasses the stove and covers the whole counter. The curved, extended appearance is similar to an over-hang.
While some styles hide the exhaust fan away with a wooden, metal, or plaster veneer, others embrace a straightforward look. A hood like this can provide a brilliant contrast to an otherwise timeless kitchen.
Max out a bulky hood by including a shelf. It's an incredibly convenient place to store stove-top staples.
Mask the hood entirely by incorporating open shelves across the front. This hard-working kitchen hoof multi-tasks as an essential fan with stylish storage.
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING BY: HOLLY SMITH
This backsplash and kitchen hood would complement a chic pizza parlor. The brick-oven look is aided by a rounded hood edge.
When choosing what color to paint a kitchen hood, there are multiple kitchen elements to draw inspiration from. Here, the hood is decorated to match the scenic backsplash below.
Another space to take color cues from is the walls. Here, a plaster hood is painted to match the white, brick wall.
Alternatively, paint the hood the complete opposite color from the walls. Here, a black hood, cabinets, and island are an agreeable contrast to the walls' white paint.
Rather than a simple hood, craft an entire nook. The exhaust fan is built into a protruding crevice where the oven, stove, cabinetry, and backsplash are inlayed.
Instead of letting this kitchen hood sit pretty on its own, these homeowners opted to hang art there. In many cases, the hood is a perfect blank canvas for some extra embellishment.
This kitchen hood matches nothing in sight, and yet it works. Go bold and choose something different that pleasantly clashes with other kitchen decor.
Here, a black oven and a black kitchen hood overhead have the visual effect of a column in the kitchen. Other matching appliances could further tie in the hood.
Copper hoods are a classic, dynamic choice. They can either take on a bronze appearance, or teal as seen in this beautiful kitchen.
Most kitchen hoods are attached to, or adjacent to, a wall. However, this one hangs centrally to suit an island stove.
In some cases, a kitchen hood may appear close to a mantel-place. Similar to a fireplace mantel, a grand kitchen hood can be stunning when decorated with a bit of drama.
This shiny hood gleams bright in the kitchen. Choose a metal hood that matches other kitchen hardware, or opt to mix metals prettily.
Unwilling to stay hidden or camouflaged, kitchen hoods like this one prioritizes function. Often, bare hoods tend to be sleek and simple, so they don't always need to be tucked away.
Mali Azim;Design by K Kong Designs
A hood that complements other elements up high in the kitchen is sure to be a winner. Here, a hood that mirrors the light fixtures creates a handsome coordination.
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