I have a setup much like item #2 and like it alot.

I like the chimney hood. Adds some visual "space" between the cabs. I would take the backsplash all the way up behind the chimney.

I ditto Sarah's suggestion.

I have #2, but I sure like the chimney hood for your setup.

My vote is for #3 with the backsplash all the way up.

I have #2 in the exact kitchen you're describing, so I vote for that!

Chimney hood (#3) here as well (w/backsplash all the way up). I think #2 has too much SS and #1 just doesn't look as "nice" in the design...I think it's too bland.

I like #1 best, but that's just me. I like things pretty simple.

Chris

Love the chimney hood!

Ditto, on the Chimney Hood with back splash to the top. My second choice would be #2 as it looks more substantial to compliment your beautiful wolf stove.

Chimney hood...it also looks the least contemporary to me.

I vote for option 4 - a cross between 1 and 2. basically a bigger (18" high) incline hood (like the Independent Incline hood which you vent straight out the wall) with cabinets on top (possibly higher than your other cabinets creating a nice focal point)

#1 looks nice, if you like it cozy and a little bit more old fashioned. The other two make your kitchen look a little bigger.
p.

#3, the chimney hood adds visual interest to the kitchen. That gets my vote.

Jodi-

I like #1 - undercab - sleeker - I prefer not having a hood as a focal point - it's duct work - I'd add that putting some medallion, metal work, something over the range would add interest and break up the expanse of so much subway

Good luck

looks like the chimney hood is winning by a wide margin... that was my original choice.

But then I saw Angelcub's hood photos and have been torn ever since. Here's a link if you haven't seen her beautiful kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: angelcub's kitchen

We have set up #1 with similar elements in our kitchen. I like it very much. At the risk of boring everyone to tears with the same old "in process" pic, I will post one of our set up. we have a 36" Icon range with a 36" Icon hood (18" tall).

We are in the process of building a similar kitchen... white inset cabinets, matte black counters (?? possibly Jet Mist honed, or Nordic Black honed)... I like the chimney style more, but I really like angelcub's kitchen as well as the other pic posted. I personally was trying to go for a more unfitted look without a lot of upper cabinets so didn't want a cabinet above the range.

We ended up ordering a hood from Range Craft. www.rangecraft.com

I wanted the Baroque but it was too expensive so we went with Taconic in stainless, with bands up the front and on the corners and with rivets on the corners and a pot rail on the front.

I had also looked into Metalloart and Texaslightsmith but the Range Craft hoods came in less money and more appealing the me visually.

Here's a pic from my kitchen, which I meant to post earlier

What Sarah said. #3 with tile to the ceiling would be dynamite.

I like #1 best. And, you can clean it without having to get out a ladder.

I like #2, but without the stainless over the hood. I think an 18inch hood looks much more substantial and professional than a 9inch, and I think #3 breaks up the line of the cabinets too much. I did something similiar to Whippiechick, except did not build a cabinet over the hood. I have 6 inch wood facia matching the cabinets over the hood, and continued the crown molding all around. For the vent, rather than cover with stainless, I had a plasterer build a box around it to the ceiling, and it's painted.

What Sarah said. : )

I personally like #3. However, with the white cabinets and dark countertops, you could have a more traditional look and I think #3 is more modern in aesthetics. Based on that, I think #1 would look good in your kitchen. It seems to fit in nicely and would let your cabinets and countertop shine, rather than the hood.

I vote for #1 with your kitchen style.

Looks like your trying to do a simple black and white shaker kitchen? In keeping with that style I would vote for number one. Besides a big hood over a 30in stove would tend to overwhelm the space IMHO. Good luck! It will be beautiful!

I like the chimney style, but I'd use a 12" duct cover - your drawing looks wider - to keep in scale with the range.

Yes - Angelcub's is essentially what I had in mind with my "option 4" That type of hood but with cabintes over them like VW hippiechick posted

I have been trying to reply for a few days but my browser keeps getting hung on GW. Gack!

thanks so much everyone-- I really appreciate hearing your thoughts!

I re-drew the chimney hood with the subway all the way up to the top (it shows up in the original post.) I completely agree with that suggestion.

I did a powerpoint rendering of what froggie_ma suggested (sort of option 4, with a wood fascia instead of a cabinet on top.) I like it. Only thing is that I would have to rethink the uppermost cabinets since they are a little unbalanced now.

Mary_in_nc, you've got me thinking. I've only ever seen the chimney hood in 36 inches or bigger. Maybe it is too much in 30". Does anyone have a picture of a 30 inch wide chimney hood?

Thanks again everyone.

Number 1 in your first set of drawings. It makes the hood receed and lets the stove shine. If you have the ability to put in that kind of hood (because your cabinets are right up against the hood), I think it makes the kitchen look more integrated.

I originally went right for #3, but then I read all of the suggestions and doubted my decision. I can't even make up my mind for someone else. AGGGGGGHH!

I looked again, and I think that the last drawing that you made is very nice, too.

I suspect you really want stainless, but what about a wood hood, simple Shaker style like your cabinets? It would really put the focus your range and whatever you choose to do with the backsplash.

Time for a Sweeby test!

What is the look and feel you want from the kitchen? Understated classic is #1. The updated understated classic would be #4 or #3. I think #2 is a more contemporary, semi-industrial influence, and the added stainless fights with the micro in that placement.

Mine is like your #4 but I just have a panel over the hood and not cabinet doors. The doors to either side are glass, and well, that wasn't going to work very well.

In #4, it looks like you would just have an inch or so of adjustment that can be done with filler or making the cabinet a little larger but the doors the same size as the one to the right.

My tastes would lean towards #4 or #3 -- which is exactly the choice I had to make. SOmewhere between the hassles of getting a chimney right for a 10 ft ceiling and other factors, we went with the plain wall hood. I think it is what fits my house best and was the right choice for us. Look at the rest of your house -- what are the cues given there?

Dinos -
Good for you! This is all hard work isn't it? At the end of the day....it's your kit you have to love what you planned -
I like your most recent rendering - that or the undercab gets my vote -
I think something over the range - rather than subway all the way up would help break up the expanse of subway -

quick look for ideas -

http://www.meredithtile.com/gallery/kitchen1.html

http://www.meredithtile.com/gallery/kitchen9.html

http://www.meredithtile.com/gallery/kitchen15.html

fr. GW finished backsplash
diykitchen 66
gail2
jordanl 123

Or simply running it in a herringbone pattern & framing it around would help break it up as well

hanging an architectural iron work-
texashottie260

Ok, I'm done playing in YOUR kitchen

Good luck !

Here is a link that might be useful: backsplash

hmmm....not sure I'm any good at articulating my design objectives, but i will try: I want the kitchen to be simple and old-fashioned, and not over-crowded in spite of being densely packed with storage (out of necessity).

I guess the chimney hood does not fit the bill for simple and old-fashioned. On the other hand, it feels the most spacious to me.

Perhaps something more like 4, with the top piece being a panel instead of mock cabinet doors, might be the right choice.

There is a kitchen that I like from "the new bungalow kitchen" (great book BTW) which does something like option 5. I'd post it but I s'pose that would be copyright infringement, huh?

I had this same dilemma and went with something much like your #1 pic. I was a little worried that the 9" hood would look too small in scale, but it doesn't at all. With a 30" range (mine's 36"), I think it would be even better. I think that the chimney look would definitely look overwhelming with a 30" range. Also, if storage space is an issue, I'd definitely go with real cabinets instead of the fake panel. I was surprised at how much storage space I could get in there.

I have similar set up to your #4.

I like the look of #5. If storage is an issue perhaps you could have that cabinet hinge up and keep the same look. I think that the chimney hood is far too contemporary and trendy to go with white inset cabinets and black tops. Why did the uppers to the right of the range change from drawing #1 to the others? I also like the tall, one-piece cabinet as opposed to the ones topped by the shorts. I think it gives the kitchen a cleaner, uncluttered look. My kitchen I'm in now has 48s to the ceiling and I love them.