Island Range vs Wall Mount Range Hoods

Range hoods take many different forms. They are always placed over the cooking surface, but how they fit into the kitchen depends on many factors. Wall mounted range hoods, island hoods, and under cabinet range hoods each serve a unique purpose, and we'll break it all down below.

The Names Tell the Story

You don't have to be an expert in this area to understand these various types of hoods. In fact, their names pretty much say it all -

• Wall mounted range hoods attach to the wall behind your cooking surface and typically extend up to the ceiling

• Island range hoods serve island cooktops by hanging down from the ceiling directly

• Under cabinet range hoods are mounted below your upper cabinets while taking up minimal wall space

So those are our simple definitions of these three useful types of hoods. But which one should you use in your kitchen? The decision comes down to understanding your needs and determining which will allow you to create the beautiful, functional kitchen of your dreams.

Wall-Mount Range Hoods

Let's start with wall mounted range hoods. Here at CopperSmith, we have many stunning options available in this category (although that can be said for the other two categories, as well).

A wall mounted hood is a compelling option when you want to make the range hood a focal point in the room. It is going to be alone up there on the wall, drawing attention from anyone who walks in. This style of vent hood is often used in open layouts where the sightlines stretch throughout the kitchen and into adjoining rooms.

You will have no trouble achieving proper ventilation with a wall mount range hood. These can be equipped with powerful fans, either integrated or remote, and will easily move out steam, smoke, and cooking odors.

Pros and Cons

• Pro - Strong Visual Presence. The right range hood mounted on your wall above the cooktop can be the main focal point in the whole kitchen. You could choose a stunning hood from the CopperSmith collection and build the rest of your design around that piece.

• Con - Requires Clear Wall Space. There is no way around this one. You'll need to have enough clear wall space to mount the hood without running into upper cabinets. Smaller kitchens might not be able to sacrifice the storage space that is lost by not having cabinets on that part of the wall.

• Pro - Excellent Capture Efficiency. This type of hood is able to capture smoke nicely because it has the wall behind it as a natural barrier.

• Con - Chimney Height Needs to Reach Ceiling. If you have particularly tall ceilings in your kitchen, a chimney will need to be fabricated to carry the hood all the way up. Of course, when you partner with CopperSmith, this kind of order customization is made easy.

• Pro - Flexible Size Options. You aren't limited by set dimensions when you choose a wall mount range hood and ventilation system. You can make it as big as it needs to be to keep up with your cooking habits and clear the air effectively.

Island Range Hoods

If you are going to put a range in your kitchen island, you are going to need an island range hood. This hood will take on a particularly important role, because with no wall behind the range to capture smoke, the job falls entirely to the hood to pull smoke up and out of the house.

As you design your kitchen layout, it's important to keep the need for a hood in mind. By moving that hood out to the island area, you open up space for more kitchen cabinets along the walls. You may also enjoy having your cooking area in the middle of the room where you can interact more with friends and family members while preparing a meal.

Pros and Cons

• Pro - Feature the Hood. Just as a wall mounted hood can be a focal point, so too can an island hood. Hanging in the middle of the kitchen, this hood will need to look great from every angle, so it's important to work with a custom fabricator like CopperSmith on the project.

• Con - Reduced Containment. Even with a powerful ventilation system within the hood, you'll still struggle to keep everything contained. The lack of a physical barrier behind the range means some of your smoke and grease is likely to escape the reach of your hood.

• Pro - Define an Open Space. In a kitchen that is open to the rest of the living areas, adding an island hood can break things up and provide much-needed visual interest.

• Con - Complex Installation. Since the ductwork has to run through the ceiling, this installation process is a little trickier than wall mounts. Also, additional structural support may be needed in the ceiling to hold the weight of the hood securely.

Under Cabinet Range Hoods

Under cabinet hoods can provide efficient, quiet ventilation without taking up a lot of space in your kitchen. Whether their smaller profile is a positive or negative will depend entirely on your perspective. For kitchen styles that place an emphasis on the cabinetry, tucking your hood under the upper cabinets might be the perfect solution.

Pros and Cons

• Pro - Space Efficiency. You get to add effective ventilation without having to lose cabinet space in the process. Typically ductless versions will be used when you want optimal ventilation while keeping as much storage as possible in the kitchen.

• Con - Less Design Presence. Under cabinet range hoods offer plenty of aesthetic appeal, but they usually don't make the bold statement of a wall mounted hood or island hood. Think about how this reality aligns with your design vision for the project.

• Pro - Straightforward Installation. Even with high ceilings, installing under cabinet hoods is pretty simple. Any contractor will be able to complete this job without any trouble. With the unit installed, you'll enjoy clean air by removing smoke, and yet will still have more space in cabinets for storage.

• Con - Performance Limits. You can get a powerful motor in an under cabinet hood, but it might be hard to establish a high-output configuration for intense cooking environments. If you do a lot of cooking that produces smoke and airborne particles, a wall mounted hood might be a better performer.

Experience the CopperSmith Difference

In a world of prefab products, CopperSmith does things differently. We emphasize craftsmanship, quality materials, and complete customization. The many range hoods you see on our site are but a starting point. It's your custom design choices that will make your new hood a unique work of art. Contact us today to get started.