I think Beenie130 built a beautiful one

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designed and built range hood mantle - need a critical eye

Here's mine. I do have pictures of my hood and the construction of the box that are not uploaded yet. If you want to see those, let me know.

I used a 40" hood over my 36" cooktop. It's called Proline and I linked the insert page. They were amazingly helpful on the phone in helping me decide exactly which model I needed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Proline Hood Inserts

Here is mine. I love placing different art work and decorative items up there. Mine has a 54 " hood liner with remote blower on the roof. I have 54" under it of cooking space....there is a 36" gas Caldera cooktop and a 12" Miele builtin deep fat fryer, with 6" between them. I broke the rule for the width since I have a 1400 cfm liner by Tradewind and also the main burner is in the center so it all has perfect capture. I linked the website for my liner. They are extremely good quality, very quiet and great price. c

Here is a link that might be useful: Tradewind hood liner

We had hoped to use a mantle from the old farmhouse my grandfather grew up in, but it's condition was worse than we expected, so we had our contractor build a replica of sorts.

Here's the old one:

Here's the new:

When we ordered the cabinets we made a plan for the pieces we would need for the mantle -- columns, panels, beaded trim, corbels, etc. -- so all the materials are the same as the cabinets.

I confess I don't know much about the venthood that is inside it: the contractor selected what he thought we needed based on our cooktop and what would work in the mantle.

FWIW -- Amy

You all had such an imaginative use of space above your cook area--I am impressed! I guess I have my work cut out for me! Thanks

Ooooh, clergychick, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your mantle! I've been trying to envision a mantle for our new kitchen that would be elegant and not overwhelming for our space, and this is it! Love the traditional styling, and the mirror really opens it up. I copied it to my idea file and I hope to give it to our cabinet maker to shamelessly copy in the new year.

I love your cranberry bottles just as much as the mantle itself. Have they been in your family forever, or by any miracle did you purchase them recently. And if so where? :-)

Wow, thanks, taggie! It would be very cool to think there is another mantle out there like ours! I'll have to keep watching the forum just to see it someday.

As for the bottles, good news for you! They were $5 each at Pier One! I think they are still available -- but if not there, surely you can find them elsewhere.

Amy

Yaaayy, thanks clergychick. Just got back from Pier One with bottles in hand! Now I just need the new kitchen and I'm all set. :-)

I don't think I have paid much attention to your niche until now, Clergychic. You got a useful feature while retaining the aesthetic integrity of the tiles and the mantel concept. Good job!

Thanks, florantha! I love it -- both functionally and aesthetically. --Amy