I have a hunch that nobody has thought of a good answer for you yet. There is a pretty long distance between the two hoods. I know I don't have a suggestion.
Just didn't want you to feel like no one was paying attention. :)

Thanks, jakuvall. I was feeling a little lonesome.

All I can come up with is vary the heights and vary the depths.

Are you staying with a traditional style or willing to step out of the box a bit? I would consider a change of hood if budget allows if not you can do something like your neighbors but just box/cabinet in the pipe to the ceiling. But doing all that cabinetry may cost as much as a statement piece vent hood ie Modern Aire.

I think you need to read the resurrected thread from LWO about "getting there from here". It's simply not going to happen with your choice of elements. Pick a different inspiration. Or upgrade your budget.

I stay out of these things most times but if I were talking to a client of mine (or my wife)
First- I'd suggest not to do a mantle hood as narrow you have pictured.
But if you must go that way then ditto to what green said.

I typically advise to keep a keen on the total budget and do NOT look at the cost of any individual item until it comes time to trim the budget. Everything anyone "wants" is expensive when viewed without context.
The question becomes can it fit in your budget, is it important enough.

Next- avoid poor imitations- if you can't get the specific thing to look right then let it go-completely. A lousy imitation looks like one (ala the LWO thread)

Instead if your trying to generate more interest do it another way, or somewhere else.
Most folks are happier with less done well than more done poorly. You only need one or two things that make your heart sing every time you go in the room years down the road. Often those are small things, smaller than what people focus on during the process.

I don't think I would shoot for pizzazz on that wall if you're planning on a plain vent hood and a 30" range. I don't think it ever looks right when there's a "shrine" of elaborate cabinetry and tile work built around a common 30" range, as shown in your friend's kitchen. It's top-heavy and draws needless attention to an ordinary appliance. I'd focus on the sink area or an island or some other feature as a focal point.

This post was edited by may_flowers on Fri, Oct 25, 13 at 12:21

I agree with may_flowers. That type of mantle surround is usually used with a "showpiece" range that is 48" or larger. The scale and grandeur of the hood surround is too much for a standard 30" range. I like what you did in your last kitchen better.

There are prebuilt units for installing a hood like yours. However, you need extra space on each side of the stove for it to be inserted behind. With your current configuration it means removing the upper and both side cabinets if you want to replicate your friends kitchen.

For some reason I see a good use for a fireplace surround in that area. No idea how that would work, but to me it looks very much like one with some added cabinets. Wonder if anyone has done this.

"How can I use the Zephyr pictured above and yet have some pizzazz on that wall in my kitchen?"

You can't. Your ideas and material are at cross purposes here. Unless you want something silly like the (in)famous microwave mantle hood.

HA! Holly, that is quite an unusual use of a decorative hood. Looks like a kitchen made for DH. If he can't nuke it, he doesn't "cook" it.

Thanks to all who responded with such outstanding advice. My eye was not discerning enough to see that the size of the hood isn't proportionally pleasing.

I knew I couldn't do much with the Zephyr except use it as it is intended. I had no notion of enclosing it in a mantle/hood/whatever those things are called. I was just wondering about something like varying the heights and depths of the upper cabinets on that wall. It is the wall that you see as you round the corner from the living room, so it is a focal point for the room.