Kitchen Appliances

Ventilation

One of the most important features of any great kitchen is the ventilation hood. Although
ventilation hoods have never been the kitchen s center of attention, they play an
important role in your dream kitchen. Ventilation hoods grab the greasy, smoky and
steamy byproducts of that gourmet meal you prepared and send them outside, faraway
from your shiny new appliances and beautiful cabinetry.
Ventilation hoods usually come in two different styles: updraft vents and downdraft
vents. Updraft vents are found above the cooking area, while downdraft vents are below
the cooking area, usually concealed in a cabinet. Because of their location, updraft
ventilation hoods are much more effective than downdraft vents, but downdraft vents are
great for cleaning air around island cooktops, where vent hoods are not practical. Many
modern kitchens use both styles to achieve maximum ventilation.
Some of the newer designs include baffle filters, which filters and collects grease on an
oil plate (which can be washed in the dishwasher) and then filters the air through charcoal
before recirculating it into the house. Noise is also an important consideration when
selecting a ventilation hood, and fortunately, most manufacturers have made great strides
in reducing the noise created by ventilation hoods.
Manufacturers have also done a great job in making ventilation hoods more appealing.
Today s ventilation hoods come in a variety of styles, including hand-carved wood, and
are often decorated with stucco or brick to add a touch of style and class to this long-
overlooked appliance.