I'm confused - where is your window? Is it directly behind your range? In some locales that's against code. If it's not directly behind your range, I don't understand your concern with your hood.

Sorry I didn't describe it better. The window is above the range, about 29" above, which is why I don't want to block the window with the hood, or at least, I'd like to block as little of it as possible.

Here is a link that might be useful: GE Cafe Range with glass block window above

Okay - I looked at your picture. Where are you planning to put the hood? If you put it below the window it will be way too low for your cooktop - and if you put it higher, the hood itself will block the window.

the best you can hope for with that configuration is to get a hood with a very slim, modest profile that will still allow the light from the window into the room.

but if i were remodeling that kitchen, i'd lose the window entirely.

Well, now you see my problem.

weissman, I'm not suggesting putting the hood below the window. I've always planned on placing it properly above the range (27-30"above,) but choosing the hood so as to block as little of the window as possible--that's what I need help with.

edlakin, why would you suggest losing the window entirely?

Now that I see my photo (giving me a different perspective), maybe a slender chimney style hood would work best, allowing a feeling of a window to remain (on either side of the ducting.)
However, I REALLY need a quiet and powerful hood, because I have a sensitive nose, as well as a small house with open floor plan.

Thoughts?
And thanks!

What was confusing was that in your original post you said you wanted a hood to vent out the back - if you do that the vent will go right through you window!

I think you have two choices - a slender chimney as you suggested - or a low profile hood mounted up high so it only blocks the upper part of the window.

weissman, you're right--I've been confusing, as well as confused. My thinking about this issue is progressing as I post.

I was originally thinking about a back-vented under-cabinet hood because the handyman company I use suggested the back-vented solution as the 'easiest,' quietest, and least expensive option. They would have to go through the glass block window, probably at the level of the lowest row of blocks. Also, I'm now wondering if without a cabinet above the hood, that the top of an under-cabinet hood would look weird (even if they try to finish it in some way.)

If we mounted it up high, as you suggest, the hood would be way too high up to be effective, right? I must not be understanding you. When you suggest a low profile hood, can you give me an example of what you mean?

I think a slender chimney might be the way to go, like the Kobe CH-181, except it doesn't come in a 30' width (a wall-mounted hood with a slender chimney.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Kobe Range Hoods

By low profile I meant one that has a short height from top to bottom - and yes the higher you mount it the less effective it becomes but you can compensate somewhat with more CFMs. You're going to have to make tradeoffs between how effective the hood is vs. how much of the window shows. A low profile, high mounted hood will show more of the window at the expense of some effectiveness - a chimney hood will be more effective but will show less of the window.

the slender chimney won't have an effect on how it vents, as all hoods vent through a 6"-10" duct inside the wider outside portion.

you need to get a low-profile hood with a very slender chimney, and to vent it up through the ceiling. this will allow the most light to come in through your window.

due to that, i'd plan on going with a contemporary or modern design feel for your kitchen, since a hood/chimney set up like that will very much clash with anything more in the traditional/country/cottage type design mode.

(oh, and i'd lose the window entirely because i dislike glass block and having a window over a cooktop seems very strange to me, but if it's the only window in your whole kitchen, i could understand keeping it.)

i'll link to an example of the type of hood i'm talking about.

Here is a link that might be useful: zephyr europa hood

The CH-176 and CH-191 come in 30" widths.

The only way to mount an under cabinet hood without a cabinet is with some kind of chimney. The exhaust duct has to go somewhere.

The deep shelf below the window is going to be a problem also if you try to mount the hood low. It will block most of the hood and be useless anyway with the hood right on top of it, so it would have to go. Actually the whole set up is kind of attractive the way it is and a hood would spoil it I think. Two things I can think of is a through the wall vent fan in the backsplash-the bigger the better; this is what a lot of commercial installations do if they can't vent out the roof. They still use a hood, but extraction is out the wall and your shelf will provide some kind of "capture area. to hold some of the vapors before extraction." Probably work about as well as a downdraft vent. Or, try some kind of large fan set into the ceiling above. The cabinets flanking the range might tend to guide some of the vapors up rather than letting some of them dissipate throughout the room. Neither is as good as a proper hood but better than nothing. And anything else would really mess up the looks of what you have. I think the glass block window is pretty cool. Or change your cooking style to generate less grease vapor.

weissman, that's why I was originally looking at a back-vented under cabinet hood. I was presuming the exhaust duct would go straight out the back, right?

Thanks for the Kobe model suggestions. The CH-191 has some oil leaking/dripping problems according to this forum. The CH-176 has a very strong presence. I have a tiny kitchen and don't want to overwhelm it. What do you think about the RA-094?

Are there other brands that you'd suggest I look at that are effective and QUIET(Best or Zephyr or Prestige?)

the noise varies from model to model, depending on CFM's, and what kind of baffles/filters are used. no one brand is quieter than another. most good appliance websites will list dB's in their specs for each product. look for a low number.

another lo-fi option is to simply install a pull-chain operated wall fan into the glass block window. not sure how easy that would be to install, though.

edlakin, sadly, we don't have the finances to renovate. We just finally had enough to trash our old Modern Maid AG stove and replace it with the GE Cafe. And, we live in a Chicago cottage, with handmade tile and wide grout lines and glass brick because that's what they did when they did the gut rehab 17 years ago. So, at least for now, a modern or contemporary hood WILL clash. I despise country, but we ARE stuck with what we have (for the time being.) I prefer to think of it as a 90's take on a Tuscan kitchen.

I didn't notice that shelf either - you'll have to remove it for any hood to work. As much as I think venting is important, you're going to have a difficult time with it in any case. I gather you didn't vent before with your old range. I think the suggestion of a ceiling fan might be best at this point. I actually like the look of the window the way it is.

yeah, that's kind of a tough situation. at the very least, you could install a louver vent (as is often seen in glass block windows in bathrooms) in the glass block window to allow for some passive venting.

Kobe hood models CH2230SQ 6" high and CH7930SQ 9" high both are 800 cfm and can be top or rear ducted. Very quiet and very effective, I have the CH7936SQ over my Bluestar range

I definitely was going to remove the shelf; I'm not adverse to changes to the existing set-up. I just want to preserve as much light as possible.
And, I want a hood. Not passive venting or an exhaust fan. A real hood.

edlakin, thanks for looking up the Zephyr Europa hood for me. Too contemporary for us, but also the chimney is too wide; a wide chimney will block a lot of the window as well.

guadalupe, thanks for both the Kobe endorsment and for looking up those two models for me. Interestingly, those two models were actually two hoods that I was initially considering because of their flexibility with either top or rear ducting and also for Kobe's quietness. But then I worried about how the top of the hood would look without having a cabinet on top. I suppose when I remove the shelf under the window I could then reinstall it on top of the hood to cover the unfinished top.

jenny -

good for you going the effort of getting a "real hood"

Ck out the link below to Zephyr under cab hoods - some are very sleek and many have the option of vertical or horizontal ducting -

I have the Typhoon (850 CFMS) under cab 6 speeds - Like it very much - I would not say it is quiet at high speed, however that is typically used for only a few minutes

I would rec printing out the specs of models you think may work in your application and then discussing w/your contractor to make certain it can work - must consider clearances, electric and ducting -

Then ck the ones that may work at local appliance store

if it fits right won't the glass block basically be the "cabinet" it sits under?

good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: zephyr

Keep at it...you will eventually find a way to vent. We went through a nightmare w/our KD and contractor who kept insisting there was absolutely no way we could externally vent and guess what? We are venting outside! It just took a lot of creative thinking and insistence on our part that a solution be found...we stood our ground until both KD and contractor grudgingly worked w/us to work it out!

I'm trying to remember who it is that has her vent in front of a window...I've seen it either on this Forum or the Kitchens Forum...not sure which. I would suggest the Finished Kitchens Blog, but it would be like hunting for a needle in a haystack going through all those kitchens (plus, about half the picture links no longer work.)

Does anyone remember who has their hood in front of their window???

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog: Categories

Thanks you all for continuing to help me work this through; your suggestions are terrific!

buehl, thanks for your vote of confidence on proceeding with this installation. do you remember if it was a chimney-style or an under cabinet-style in front of the window in the example you're remembering?

jejvtr, thanks for your helpful suggestions on the Zephyr and about showing all the specs to my contractor--very helpful idea. Is your Zephyr quiet on the lower and middling speeds?

capecodcook, thanks also for the vote of confidence on the window--I like the way it looks, too. And, I always was going to remove the shelf. I really want a real hood, so if I go very, VERY, low profile, and put the under cabinet model where the shelf is, I think I'll only lose one row of glass bricks. Not ideal, but maybe the best compromise, given what I have and what I want.

guadalupe, why did you go with Kobe CH-7936, instead of Kobe CH-2236? How is the location of the lights on yours? Are they in front? Thanks!

The undercabinet vent fan that I installed in my kitchen vents directly back via a 3 1/4" x 14" opening. The fan is very low profile (5 1/8"), and fairly quiet. Extremely quiet for the lower and middle speeds.

It is a Broan Elite 661. I just checked and they do have a 30" model as well as the 36" model I bought. Here's a link:
http://www.broan.com/display/router.asp?ProductID=100287

If you decide to go with this model an need a 3 1/4" X 14" elbow for directing the airflow within the wall cavity, I can provide info on how to find them. (Its not easy) And if you only need one I have an extra.