sorry about the typos...I thought I had edited them...can you go back & edit things after they have been posted?

To Mommy, I really dont think it matters what type of cooktop you have under your vent hood. It is your kitchen and what you have is what you have. I personally would not worry about it, last year, I had a gas cook top that had a slow leak inside the box, I noticed the flame wasn't right, and kept thinking I would have H look at it. Well, I was cooking one evening and the whole cooktop imploded, yes it came out of the cabinet and missed hitting me in the face by inches!!!!!!!!! I will never cook on gas again, I have always been afraid of the flame. I love my electric flat glass cooktop and hope you keep the one you have! Just because they show pictures of gas ones in mags, only means they are trying to sell them to you and the mag is a perfect medium!! There are no set rules honey, it is your kitchen and you should have it your way!!!!!!!!!

bumping up....
to see if there are any others who have a response. Thanks

hapyfrustrated---OMG! I'm so glad that you are fine! WOW! What a story & making me feel much better about going electric:) Thank you!

I think a great looking hood adds a lot to a kitchen.

Every range top needs real ventilation no matter what the power source may be. I don't think it matters whether it's gas, electric or induction.

So I'd go along happily with it and put in whatever cook top you like.

People prefer gas, while others prefer electric, and so on. As long as you have ventilation you can't go wrong. Personally, I think the look of the electric, smooth tops are cleaner looking, and with your fabulous hood, it'll look that much better. I'm with "hapyfrustrated", the gas flame scares me too. We have a Bosch smoothtop which is wonderful and so easy to clean.

Sleep tonight. Not worth worrying about. It will look gorgeous.

You could bump out the front of the cooktop cabinet, maybe trim it on the sides with posts, fluting, or other details flanking some beautiful, deep drawers. This could help give the base cabinets some visual weight to balance your gorgeous hood.

Yes. It's extremely okay. Hoods are about ventilation, and cooking needs good ventilation. Decoration is about looking nice, and all kitchens and their owners are entitled to that. And stoves of all kinds are the center of the kitchen and deserve treatment that recognizes that.

You know, I had gas for decades and expected to be displeased when I had to go to electric temporarily. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. Gas is definitely over-hyped as the "cool" fuel, and electric has a nerdy inadequate reputation that is very undeserved. In some ways it's better. Busy professional cooks may need the responsiveness of gas to keep knocking those plates out in a timely manner, and devoted amateur cooks should have whatever fun their hobby requires, but for most of us the "need" for gas is basically group-think. Enjoy your smoothtop and the nice setting you've given yourself to work at it in.

Thanks for the responses and for making me feel as if I'm not maing a huge mistake. I know there aren't rules we must follow; however, I still want a kitchen that flows with form and function. I love your ideas and I'm going to work on some layout plans to spruce up the cabinets below the cooktop. Thanks!