by Jan Rutgers
Appliances are an important part of Kitchen design.
Because of this I have been focusing my posts on appliances for the last several weeks in anticipation of launching a FREE workshop on appliances.
Before you read on, spend a few seconds and register for my appliance workshop to be updated on dates and times.
[hubspot portal=”9253671″ id=”0b168eca-5b3f-4fd7-af68-5bcd815f8e0d” type=”form”]Specifying a custom hood for your client’s kitchen is the ideal way to focus the décor style of the room and to produce a focal point.
The hood is an element in Kitchen Design that you as the Kitchen Designer, are best suited to design and specify.
In this post, I want to present a variety of hood designs to represent the Art of Kitchen Design in popular décor styles.
There are infinite décor styled you can specify for your Kitchen designs.
Statistically 9 décor styles have been identified as consumer favorites in the past few years.
Let’s have a look at how you could include a custom hood in your next kitchen design to Get-the-Look in these popular styles.
Contemporary Décor Style
Contemporary design is defined as design-of-the-moment or design that is popular now.
You can find a lot of standard metal hoods at your local appliance showroom for your contemporary kitchen designs, but you can get a unique look by specifying a custom hood.
Kitchens with white shaker cabinets are everywhere and you can differentiate yours with a simple hood like this.
The square lines echo those of the shaker doors and the horizontal band in a warm wood is right on trend.
If your contemporary kitchen design has softer lines, adding a curve to the hood would be an appropriate design detail.
This arch could be echoed elsewhere in the design.
Perhaps in the shape of the sink or in the lines of the cabinet hardware as the designer did here.
Modern Décor Style
Modern is a style that evolved out of the Mid-Century Modern design movement in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
This streamline minimalist look could position the hood by blending it into the décor or by having it make a statement.
The red range is the showstopper in this first example, and the modern approach to the hood design perfectly blends in with the upper cabinetry, letting the range take center stage.
This type of cabinet hood can either tilt forward or pull out to function over a gas range.
The modern glass and metal custom hood in this design is the perfect addition to the moody two-tone grey kitchen with its clean, lineal lines.
This very functional piece of equipment has become a modern art installation here.
Traditional Décor Style
Traditional style is inspired by the past but is constantly being updated for today’s consumer.
It is a classic style that will always be popular and can support an over the top custom hood.
Incorporating classic traditional elements such as the keystone in the center of this white hood is a good starting point for your hood design.
The addition of crown mouldings and panel mouldings are the finishing details that will make it unique.
Another classical detail that is appropriate for traditional hoods is the introduction of decorative corbels.
The mahogany hood shown here has the corbel installed sideways to continue the line from the arch detail in the center of the hood.
The choice of the dental moulding and exotic wood species is perfect for a traditional Kitchen.
Transitional Décor Style
Transitional style is the combining of modern and traditional styles into an up to date look and is an extremely popular choice with consumers.
The Kitchen designer has a lot of creative flexibility with this décor style, and a custom hood is the perfect place to start.
This grey hood becomes transitional due to the addition of the simple crown moulding at the top and the panel detail on the front.
It is the perfect pairing of traditional and modern styles.
The maple island hood has combined the modern clean lines of maple wood with the addition of a copper band that is accented with a small crown moulding.
A larger version of the crown moulding anchors the hood to the ceiling.
Farmhouse Décor Style
Farmhouse style is an updated country look.
This décor style has been popular for awhile and is in the process of getting a bit of an update.
A contemporary take on Farmhouse is to warm it up a bit.
Shiplap is a staple of farmhouse style and this custom hood is clad with it.
To warm it up, the designer has chosen to accent it with a wide piece of wood stained in a warm grey.
The wood produces a nice contrast to the all-white Kitchen and balances the stainless-steel range below it.
The designer’s approach to the hood in this farmhouse Kitchen was to repurpose the “backsplash” from a piece of furniture and design a hood around it.
The backsplash was flipped upside down, attached to a plastered hood top and then finished with crown moulding stained to match.
This hood is truly a one of a kind!
Industrial Décor Style
The Industrial Kitchen Design style was inspired by commercial kitchen design.
It is a style that is substantial and can balance large pro-styled appliances.
These oversized appliances need a hood to match.
Metal is a material ideally suited for the custom Industrial styled hood.
This first example is a custom metal hood with a unique patina finish.
The soft curves of this design provides a great contrast to the industrial feel of the hood making it the perfect focal point in this Kitchen.
The designer of this second hood employed hammered brass and variegated copper for a stand out Industrial hood design.
The material finishes were the stars in both these hoods and the perfect choices for these industrial styled Kitchens.
Coastal Décor Style
Coastal has become a popular décor style with consumers because of its casual laid-back style that evokes vacation living.
It is influence by living by the water, often using blue and white color schemes.
Simple accents like Beadboard are popular in coastal design and a simple hood clad with beadboard will evoke the look.
The white color is classic, and this design would be easy to achieve.
For a more sophisticated look this bulbous shaped hood would be ideal.
The shape is reminiscent of waves so it would work well in a coastal scheme.
A simple crown moulding accent finishes off this hood, and pulls in the details of the rest of this Kitchen.
Mediterranean Décor Style
The Mediterranean style originated in areas around the Mediterranean Sea.
Morocco, Spain, France, and Italy have all influenced the design style.
Natural, earthy materials are the hallmark and the style and the manipulation of these materials by craftsman produces beautiful hood designs.
Plaster hoods with a patina is a popular look for Mediterranean styled hoods.
Oversized hoods resembling hearths is often part of the design with the main part of the hood being supported by columns and oversized corbels.
The designer of this hood also specified the niches in the columns to keep the much-used olive oils close at hand.
Incorporating stone is also a way to evoke the Mediterranean style.
The stone accent on this hood has a carved rope detail above a simple crown attached to an angular plastered top.
The subtle coloring in the finishes is perfect and does not overwhelm the space.
Cottage Décor Style
Cottage styled Kitchen design is a décor style with a retro feel.
It is a look that can work in both intimate cottages and large country homes.
The AGA cooker is a stable in English cottage kitchens.
In this design, the bright yellow color draws the eye to the cooking hearth.
The simple hood accented with a display shelf is the perfect compliment.
The shelf provides a display area for treasured collections and finishes off the simple hood.
This next example is a bit more regal and was designed to compliment the original stained-glass windows in this home.
The black accent of the small crown moulding capping the hood echoes the lead in the glass windows and ties in the contemporary black painted base cabinets.
A great solution by this Kitchen designer.
More than any other single item, the hood can set the décor style direction of your Kitchen designs.
I recommend you collect images of custom hoods to inspire you to include them in your designs.
If the cabinet manufacturer offers hoods look at them to see how you could enhance them for your own unique look.
As a Kitchen Designer, knowing how to work with and integrate appliances into your spaces is an important part of the job.
For more information on appliances, you will want to register for my upcoming FREE Appliance workshop.
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Jan Rutgers has been designing kitchens and products for over 25 years and is a recipient of Kitchen & Bath Design News’ Top Innovators in 2020 for the Kitchen & Bath Industry. She has designed more than 1000 kitchens learning valuable skills with each one! Her experience in Kitchen Design, Millwork Manufacturing and Product Development has led her to create VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN where she educates and mentors people passionate about the Kitchen Design Industry.
Another excellent article Jan!
This is one of your BEST!
Hope you are doing well and enjoying this wonderful Fall weather.
Cheers
Celeste