When it comes to choosing the cooker hood it can become a little overwhelming, as there is so much to think about like, finishes, styles, extraction rates, noise levels, building regulations, where it’s going to be located, what preferred model and if it’s going to be ducted-out or a recirculation design.
The open-plan space has become increasingly popular in today’s living with all three zones in one, sometimes an island is centred in the middle to divide the different zones. Excellent extraction is the most important to create an environment that is pleasant in which you can cook, dine and relax in.
The beautiful and popular Carrara Quartz has been fitted to the kitchen worktops in this area. A wonderful stainless steel cooker hood sits in the middle of the kitchen providing a focal point and a great appliance to eliminate those smells.
What is a cooker hood?
A cooker hood is designed to remove airborne grease, odours, and cooking fumes from your kitchen. The surrounding areas won’t become greasy or smell of frying foods.
The benefits
- A cooker hood removes the grease from the air and filters it through the grease filters.
- It will remove smells from your kitchen and the steam and condensation
- It can add an overall look of the kitchen, with many styles available to choose from
Keeping within your budget
Lots of people are spending a lot of money on their extractor fan, creating a visual centrepiece in the middle of the kitchen. They can vary in price from as little as £50 – £3000 for some of the advanced models, set a reasonable budget.
Width
There are many hoods available that are to fit all freestanding cooker and built-in hobs. Purchase and research the hood, make sure that it is the same width as your cooker and hob to make sure it works efficiently.
Height
The extractor hood needs to be the right height above your hob. The space needed to be left from the hood to the hob is between 65cm and 75cm, depending on whether you have a gas, electric or induction hob.
Extraction hoods
Extraction hoods are more effective and usually faster. They remove the smoke and grease out of the kitchen area, sucking it out of the room via a pipe that’s located outside. This type of hood may need to be fitted by a professional unless an extraction unit is already in place.
Recirculation hoods
These type of hoods recycle the air in the kitchen passing it through the filters that clean the air. They all come with a grease filter that can be made of metal, paper or cloth. They can be fitted by yourself and are often cheaper but can be less effective.
The extraction rate
To find out the best extraction rate for your kitchen, you need to know the volume of it. Use a tape measure to calculate the width, height and length, then multiply the measurements together to get the volume of your kitchen. Take the volume and times it by 10 to get your extraction rate number.
A lovely little kitchen in Hertfordshire featuring the CRL River White quartz. A powerful chimney hood sits above the range cooker fitting in with the style and decor this space has to offer.
The type of hoods
- Ceiling extractors are perfect for an open-plan space and they do not affect the cook’s line of sight. They can be built into the ceiling or as a bulkhead designed to lower the height of the ceiling.
- Wall-mounted extractors are great for hobs that are facing the wall and are a common design in the kitchen.
- Island extractors are fixed to the ceiling above the kitchen island or a peninsular unit. They create a stunning, stylish statement in the hub of the home. Many of the models are also suitable for recirculation.
- Decorative pendant extractors are suspended above the island from the ceiling and are suitable for recirculation only. They can resemble a light fitting and can indeed provide secondary lighting in the kitchen.
- Downdraft extractors rise up from the worktop and sit completely flush with the surface when not. They are often installed to the side of behind the hob. The theory on this type of hob is, if you place the extractor closely to the source of cooking, the more chance you have of successful extraction before the air in the room becomes ‘dirty’.
- Built-in extractors are built into the kitchen cabinetry above the hob to blend them seamlessly within the kitchen design. They are great for people who like a minimalist approach as this type of extractor does not intrude on the kitchen design, also known as canopy hoods.
- Visor hoods are a traditional type of hood, that are basic and more affordable in our homes, making them ideal for a smaller kitchen.
- Telescopic hoods are similar to visor hoods, they feature an extended section for a more streamlined design when not in use.
- Chimney hoods extend down from the ceiling, offering a very stylish design and do require lots of space. They are eye-catching and offer a high-performance fan.
Our client chose the Brazilian Granite known as Azzurite to complete their kitchen space. We love the cooker hood. It’s sleek in appearance and eliminates odours and smoke powerfully.
The brand
- Belling
- Bosch
- Elica
- Hotpoint
- Neff
- Newworld
- Range Master
- Zanussi
- Miele
Extraction noises can be quite loud, so you need to take into consideration the noise level of the fan. The faster the speed the more noise it will be, though higher-end models do tend to be quieter across all power levels.
Dare to be different, like our client with her Compac New Passion quartz worktops in 20mm. We think this is a fab look with a stunning contrast between the high gloss white cabinets and red quartz. A sleek stainless steel ventilation hood was added to this kitchen space
Cawdor Stone Gallery are a division of the Cawdor Group, one of the UK’s leading natural stone providers. With over 30 years of experience, our highly qualified team have undertaken international projects of all sizes, providing high-quality materials and a comprehensive range of stone-related services to a range of projects. Contact us today for more info on our quartz and granite worktops.
