After lurking for several weeks, reading and reading and reading threads, I think it's time I posted my questions.

If I keep my existing lay-out, which has worked quite well, I will want to improve our island cooktop venting. We currently have a 7" pop-up vent, which is so space-age cool but doesn't work quite as we'd hoped.

My options are 14" pop-up with exterior fan or a hood. The pop-up won't work as well as the hood but it will still give us the open look we love about our kitchen. The hood will work better but since we have white appliances, we'd have to go with wood encased, which are always bulkier. We did see a nice stream-lined stainless steel hood at a recent remodeled home tour but it's very modern, much too modern for our home.

If you've run into this and solved it, please show me how you did it. Did anyone break the rules and go 36" above the cooktop (or more?). I just don't think either hubby or me will like having a big ol' wooden hood hanging 30" above the cooktop, blocking our view into the family room.

TIA!

PS I already posted my layout queries on the following thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Double wall ovens plus cooktop vs. range