I would never trade a proper hood for a downdraft. The down drafts at best are not good and a cooktop in front of a window just bad idea. Let us see the rest of the kitchen maybe a range somehwere else is the answer but I need to see the whole kitchen and you need to figure out actual lighting

Building codes for things like cooktop location and ventilation differ by location. What country or area are you in?

I’m in Germany. Placemant would be possible. But is it desirable?

Below is a foto of the entire kitchen. The cooktop needs to stay on that wall. The isand is just a huge old cupboard. We cannot change where the electric is, as it’s a rental, but we also would not want the cooktop in the island.

I wonder if you could also put some small track lighting on the sides or tops of some of the beams for more ambient light as well.

I wouldn’t go to the expense of moving /replacing any appliances in a rental. Just add some lighting.

It‘s complicated. In Germany apartments often come without a kitchen. The renter has to put it in and she owns the kitchen cabinets and appliances.We bought ours off the former renters. It doesn’t have a hood yet. We need to buy one if we choose to keep the cooktop where it is. We will need to replace the countertop sooner or later as its breaking and we don’t plan on moving out probably ever. So we are wondering whether to replace it now and while replacing it reconsider the placement of the cooktop.

So, all that aside: which light set up would you choose for which scenario and why?

which cooktop set up would you choose and why?

I’d appreciate your professional insights!

@threeonthetree:

there is actually elecricity on each and every one of the beams!

Those two cables coming out off the wall that you mentioned where randomly left there for cabinet lighting. We plan on putting them into the wall for the sonces. Just need to know whether to go down or above the windows…and yes, there is an outlet for the hood already in place.

Sweet! Light that whole cathedral ceiling up! And don't forget to wipe off your footprints on the island from taking the picture!

We are considering it. BUT, what about the down light question?

ps. it was a stool ladder on the kitchen island. ;)

IMO a slim profile linear would look better with all that's going on, sort of "disappear," and fit the style of kitchen, because with all the open beams any other style of individual light would look like a "pimple," and any wall sconce doesn't seem like it would provide enough functional light because I don't see anything else provided.

track lights? above the periphery and the island? Considering it. BUT like the scone idea and want to bury those two cables anyway.

This one could work:

This one I cannot fathom actually looking good in out set up…

This is what we have ao far in terms of lighting: