Downdraft cooktop cabinet advice

last year

last modified: last year

I need help with the INSIDE of a cabinet. We bought an Elica induction cooktop with downdraft that we are installing in our new IKEA kitchen. The cooktop is 32" and the cabinet is 36" so plenty of space on the top and inside the cabinet. However, the 6" downdraft venting goes right through the middle of the cabinet.

I need some suggestions before the cooktop is installed on how to finish the inside so that I can have some usable storage under the cooktop. I need some advice BEFORE the cooktop is installed in case I need to feed some shelves through the ducting. I have 2 IKEA shelves for this cabinet that are still in plastic, I'm holding on to until we figure this out.

NOTE: The pics are from different stages of the renovation - inside cabinet from before the counter went on and the cooktop for depth 8 1/2" and then 2 other pics to explain the backsplash and windows seen behind.

There is approximately 13" of space on either side of the venting.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

jwvideo

last year

last modified: last year

FWIW, what I'm seeing in the photo is that the windows and door are on a different wall and not directly above the cooktop and backsplash. They appear to me to be in a back wall, or maybe the one that has the upper cabinets and is at right angles to the counter with the cooktop. Apparently, whoever is cooking will be able see over the backsplash down into some lowered living space beyond, Maybe a family room or dining space in what used to be called a sunken or split-level space?

Anyway, if you can go down to where the "undercarriage" housing is only about the width of the six inch wide venting structure, then notching a shelf around it would be the way to go , as recommened above.

However, a quick (and probably inadequate) search turned up an Elica installation instruction pdf and some YouTube installation videos which show Elica cooktops with a rather large 11" inch deep "undercarriage" that extends across much more of the bottom of the unit than the vent box seen in the top photo, above. That seems to leave maybe only 4 inches of space or so to either side of the undercarriage in a 36" wide base cabinet. If that is the case, then it doesn't seem worth trying to notch a shelf around it.

And if that is the case with the your Elica s unit, it would leave only about 17 or 18 inches of vertical space below it for shelving in that IKEA cabinet. For pots and pan storage, maybe use just one of the IKEA shelves, with shallow pans like skillets on the shelf and taller pots and pans below? Or add the second shelf for spaces to stack other relatively shallow items like sheet pans, cake pans, cookie sheets, etc?

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Comments (9)

PRO
Minardi
last year
last modified: last year
If you want a useable cabinet below a cooktop then you don't put in a useless downdraft. You do overhead venting, and then do pot and pan drawers below. Plus, you need to pull that entire run 6" off the wall, to be safe against what should be safety glass.
dan1888
last year
I'd treat the cabinet like a bathroom cabinet below a sink. You notch and or box the shelve or better yet drawers to close around the vent duct. For shelves you may need a ledger type 1 x 2 screwed through the back material into the 1 x 2 to rest the shelf on on either side of the duct cutout.
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John Liu
last year
Quick 'n dirty I'd simply cut a "U" in the Ikea shelves, opening facing to rear, so the shelves fit around the duct. Yes the duct will be visible. Spray it black or white or something.

The ledger dan1888 describes is to support the back of the shelf which is weakened by the cut. If the cabinets have already been fastened down, you can drill holes in the 1x2 and cabinet back and use nuts and bolts, since you can still get your hand down between the studs. Failing that, you can screw the 1x2 to the rear bottom edge of the self itself to strengthen it, and don't load the shelf up with stacks of your heaviest cast iron cookware.
wdccruise
last year
Minardi: "Plus, you need to pull that entire run 6" off the wall, to be safe against what should be safety glass."

What glass, safety or not? There's a backplash behind the cooktop, and a window and sliding door beyond that.
Marie and Miles Kirkwood
Original Author
last year
Thanks so much for all of the responses so far. We can't add overhead venting because the kitchen overlooks the family room (2 steps below).

I've added some more photos to explain the windows and why we have that short backsplash. The cooktop is only 8 1/2" deep. I like the idea of cutting out the middle and making a horseshoe, but I'm not sure it would be sturdy enough to hold anything and might crack or bend over time so adding a support across the back would be needed so it doesn't warp.

I've looked at some narrow pullout shelves (NOT Shelf Genie $$$$) but I'm not sure how useful they'd be for the cost - unless I use the storage below the cooktop for cooking utensils or oils/seasoning?

I really like the idea of cutting a 7" hole in the middle leaving the sides and front and back for support of a shelf but I'd still be tempted to add a support brace across the back.

And you're right JWVIDEO I'd only be able to fit 1 shelf in here. I'm saving the 2nd one as an option to cut a better/tighter opening and cover up the irregularly shaped opening my contractor made.

If anyone else has any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it!
wdccruise
last year
Just put an IKEA JONAXEL 9 7/8 x 20 1/8 x 27 1/2 Storage combination (or similar) on either side of the duct.
Marie and Miles Kirkwood thanked wdccruise
Cavimum
last year
last modified: last year
We have an induction cooktop with downdraft in an island. Overhead exhaust is not possible with a bedroom directly above. While the shape is a little different, it mostly affected the rear storage area. The upper storage shelf is cut in a squared U-shape to match the initial downdraft housing.. *see photo* We had a similar shelf installed to maximize storage with cutout around it, just like in our bathroom vanity for the drainpipe to get a middle shelf for storage.

Photo below of the bottom floor of cabinet...
Marie and Miles Kirkwood thanked Cavimum
jwvideo
last year
@Marie & Miles Kirkwood -- the understructure on your Elica unit may extend only 8½" below the cooktop but installation instructions for induction cooktops may specify additional clearance and air-space. Maybe, for example, to assure properly cooling the internals. Best check your unit's install instructions or check with Elica tech or customer support to find out before trying to fit shelving around or close to it.
Marie and Miles Kirkwood thanked jwvideo