We're in the process of having cabinets installed this week and have a wood hood with an insert. We ended up going with a 42in Faber Inca insert for our 36in Bluestar rangetop.

We had to select the insert first, and our cabinetmaker used the specs to build the wood hood. We have an arch similar to the one in the photo, and the cabinets above ours are somewhat useful, but the cabinetmaker had to put a false back inside to hide the ductwork for the hood blower. We chose to make it look like 3 small doors, 1 solid in the center and 2 on the sides with glass panels and cabinet lights, so they will be mostly decorative- for a nice plate or glassware, not sure yet. It all evolved from a need to hide the ductwork and still want a bit of glass on that wall to break up all the wood.

Thanks labbie. Is the ductwork just a big tube through the center?

I like the mantle look to be able to put a picture or big platter, or maybe even a clock like the photo above. I just hate having unused space I guess. lol

Right now I put my pitchers in the cabinet above the cook top because it's the only place tall enough. If I lose that space, I'll have to store them in another room.

Sorry long to respond, I can't respond to posts at work (but at least I can see the board!). Yes, our duct is 10inches due to the requirements of our rangetop, but I'm not sure what the average size is- 6 or 8 maybe? Ours has to go up from the rangehood at a slight angle then straight over the the left to vent outside.

Our cabinets above hood are more decorative vs. useful and because we placed the hood as high as possible within the specs to accommodate our height when cooking.

Thanks labbie. We still need to check to see what is above our cooktop. Chances are we will have an angle also.

Do most people try to listen to the insert or hood before buying to know how loud it really is?

we were able to listen to ours, as the showroom had one installed over a range they used for cooking classes. It was less cfm than the one we ordered, but we would hope not to be using it at full speed to often anyway.

"we were able to listen to ours, as the showroom had one installed over a range they used for cooking classes."

Unless you use the EXACT same ductwork (EVERY turn, every length) the odds are that your installation will NOT sound the same.

If the cabinets are built you may well need a sheet metal shop to build a hood to fit, and then you can use on outside blower).

Lighting and controls are another issue.

Oh, definitely agree that you can't go solely by any type of "demo". We were aware it would not sound exactly the same, and in fact will be louder as we are not using an external blower. All that said, between research on features we were looking for within our price range we were satisfied between what we saw and the research we did.