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Take a scroll through your Instagram feed, or pop onto Pinterest and it won’t take long for you to be inundated with hundreds of photos showcasing cover-page worthy chef’s kitchens. The saying “the kitchen is the heart of the home” has never been more true. Whereas the kitchen used to mostly be the spot just for you to churn out yummy meals, it has now become the hub of any family home; The gathering spot, the home management spot, the space for maximum functionality. And it does all of this while also being the room wherein the most crucial of design decisions are made. From the stone countertops, to the lighting. Every design detail has to work off one another to create a truly beautiful space.
One specific appliance that has continued to garner more and more attention is the range hood. This appliance went from only serving functionality to sometimes becoming the star of the show. We have seen stunning applications over recent years that showcase designers playing with scale, shape, and a myriad of finishes. Selecting the right finish for your range hood can be an incredibly important decision to any kitchen. Choose the wrong finish, and you’ll forever hate it. Choose the right finish and you’ll have a swoon-worthy kitchen so stunning even Debra from down the street will be impressed. So today, I thought it would be fun to dig into each finish a little deeper, looking into the pros and cons of each one. So grab a coffee and hang out with me for a while and we look at an honest deep dive into hood fan finishes.
Stainless steel
By far the most popular finish when it comes to range hoods is stainless steel, and for good reason. It has been around forever and is the most cost-effective option in this list.
To first cover the positives, there is no shortage of options. Stainless steel hood fans are by far the easiest to shop for and many local home stores carry and inventory. This means that they do not need to be custom-made and on top of that, you can install them yourself. This is a huge plus as most other options on this list need to be custom made and properly installed by a professional. If you can do the install yourself, this means that this is also likely the option with the quickest turnaround time. Stainless steel hood fans can offer a sleek and more modern / clean feel if that is what you’re into. They’re also easy to clean and resistant to rust and corrosion.
Now for the negatives. Stainless steel hood fans show fingerprints more easily than almost any other finish, and they’re susceptible to scratches. For the aesthetics side of things, I’m going to share my personal opinion, and it might upset a few people. If you have the budget, and this is a big if, I would consider either going for a stainless steel hood fan that is larger / more custom than what we typically see. Or, going for a different finish altogether. The only reason I say this is because they’re truly so many gorgeous options that will make such a big impact on your space. Yes, other options can be more costly, but a hood fan is something you could have in your space for the next 20 years. Get something you love, if you can.
Plaster
Plaster has become sort of like the golden child when it comes to range hoods recently and it’s not hard to see why.
Plaster range hoods are beautiful. Plaster range hoods can either seamlessly blend into the rest of the kitchen; Or, they can become the focal point of the space. Another plus is the customization options. From the texture, to the shape and scale. Selecting plaster for your range hood finish offers many design options you just don’t get with other finishes. I really don’t want you to forget about the massive benefits to plaster, because next we’re onto the cons, and there are a lot of them.
First off, plaster range hoods require a professional. Sometimes multiple professionals. One to build the frame, and the other to take care of the actual plaster application. This is something you want to keep in mind, and it is important to ask your trades how they like to work when you start talking to them. This way you are sure of the costs and exactly what everyone needs on site.
Plaster itself is porous. This means that it can take on stains along the way. Personally, I don’t consider stained plaster quite as charming as a natural patina on a copper or marble product. It’s ultimately up to you if this finish is right for your home. With that being said, the plaster should be sealed and finished with a protective coating. You also have to keep care of it over the years. So if you hate products that require any type of maintenance, plaster might not be right for you. The other downside to plaster is that it can chip and cracker. This is a natural characteristic of plaster, even with skilled applications.
Paint Grade
Another widely popular option for range hoods is paint grade AKA painted range hoods.
You also have tons of design options where it comes to painted range hoods. You can opt for different sizes, shapes, profiles, and you can even mix finishes and do a range hood with a mix of wood and paint grade elements. This is a great option if you have multiple finishes in your kitchen. You can select any color, which is a great benefit. Although, I would say I see 90% of range hoods.. are white. Maybe we’ll start seeing more pops of color. How fun would that be? Paint grade range hoods are also relatively cost-effective.
There really aren’t a ton of negatives when it comes to paint grade range hoods, which I guess, is another plus. 😉 The most negative aspect to paint grade range hoods is that they can peel and chip and when they chip and peel, they can be difficult to repair. This is however, no different than paint grade cabinets that are in many kitchens.
Wood
Wood hood fans are really beautiful and are always a classic choice. Some of the most popular types of woods used in range hood applications are oak, maple, and cherry species.
Getting into the pros, of course I have to mention aesthetics. There is really nothing quite as warm, inviting or beautiful as a wood range hood. They really offer something special in a gorgeous kitchen. Secondly, wood range hoods can be stained to match other cabinetry in the kitchen which is a beautifully customized look. With wood range hoods, you also have various options when it comes to profiles, stains, and profiles.
Now for the cons. The first con is of course, the price. Wood range hoods will be one of the more expensive options. However it can be less than metal or stone finishes (depending on size and scope.) They also should be routinely sealed.
Natural Stone
Natural stone offers a luxurious high-end option for a range hood finish. You also have no shortage of options where it comes to natural stones. You could opt for: limestone, marble, granite, quartzite, or travertine. If you’re looking for something dramatic, here she is!
Let’s get into the good stuff. If you’re looking for something truly unique, a natural stone range hood is it. Selecting your slab means no one in the world will have the exact same range hood as you. And that is something special in and of itself. Another positive, is that you can coordinate your stone and use the same material on your counters or backsplash. It will also last forever. I mean it’s already been around for much longer than you’ll have it. So that has to count for something, right?
There are a few considerable cons to think about. First, is what I consider to be the most important. Which is installation / application. You need to be using a skilled fabricator and install a team to pull this off. Stone if of course, heavy. Which means, your space and walls will require important prep work to ensure there is sufficient support to both hold the weight of the stone and
pull the install off successfully. You would probably think that price is going to be on my list here. However, I feel like with the range in pricing both in natural stone products, but also in range hoods as a whole, I don’t see price as a negative. This is however dependent on a number of factors such as the material you’re using, your fabricator, and the size of your range hood.
Tile
Although tile isn’t one of the most popular finishes on this list, it rightly deserves a spot. I love the extra bit of drama and texture a tiled range hood adds to a space. It also isn’t a design choice seen very often, which means it’s still a surprise when someone has this in their kitchen. And if you’re anything like me, a design surprise is some of the best kinds of surprises.
Now if that wasn’t enough to convince you. Here are a few more ticks in the “plus column”. You have literally thousands of options when it comes to tiling your range hood. From types of tile, to size, to finish to grout color and layout style, a tiled range hood can be completely customized. This is another way to get a truly unique range hood if that is something that is important to you (hey, no judging here!) Tile is also incredibly resistant to heat and moisture just about all the applications in your home tile are used for.
On the “cons” side of things, grout can get dirty. The grout itself should also be sealed. In addition to this, tile can chip or crack over time. Depending on the tile you select and the style of your kitchen, I actually don’t see this as a huge negative. All kitchens will have wear and tear over the years.
Upgraded Metals
Now we’re getting into metals that are a bit higher on the “metal rung” so to speak. You have many different options when thinking about the look you’re ultimately trying to achieve. From old world elegance, to modern, or traditional farmhouse, you can make almost anything work with a metal range hood. Let’s get into some of the finish options.
Brass / Gold
If you want a metal to add some elegance to your kitchen, brass could be your best friend.
Some of the pros, it is resistant to corrosion. This can be incredibly important. Brass can also develop a patina over time. Although not for everyone, this is a pro in my books.
Onto the negatives. This is another personal preference, but I have to mention it. Brass can be categorized as a few different things: brass, or gold and satin (matte) or polished. I am going to dig into these metals in a post soon but for now, I just want to point something out. Although both gold and brass have a yellow undertone; Gold will have a yellow undertone accompanied by green. And brass will have a yellow undertone accompanied by red. When selecting brass or gold and using it in an application as large as a range good, the result can end up either being extremely elegant or terribly tacky. I would personally never select satin brass, and would stick with polished gold. This can be difficult to identify, because brands will use the names interchangeably and call different finishes by different names. Polished gold to me, will never go out of style and is truly one of the few timeless finishes.
Copper / Bronze
If I was to think of one finish that really identifies to me as something you would see in a true chef’s kitchen, it would be copper. Maybe it is the fact or how long it lasts, how timeless it is, or the old world charm it gives off but copper is a winning finish in my books.
Copper / bronze are highly durable and resistant to corrosion. They also develop a unique patina over time.
For the negatives, these metals do regular maintenance if you want to prevent tarnishing. Copper is also an extremely expensive metal. Depending on the style of your kitchen, these metals may not work. I find copper especially tends to work best in a European or craftsman style kitchen.
Zinc / Iron
Selecting Zinc or Iron for your range hood is a great option for adding character into your kitchen and both finishes have been gaining popularity over the years.
Zinc hoods typically feature a matte gray finish that develops a natural patina over time, adding to their character and charm. Iron hoods, on the other hand, often have a darker, more rugged appearance, with a raw, unfinished look that complements industrial and rustic kitchen styles. Both materials are durable and resistant to corrosion, making them suitable for use in high-heat cooking environments.
As for the cons, zinc or iron options can be more costly than many of the other finishes on the list. However, you will likely still find the cost coming in less than some of the other metals such as gold or copper.
Well that covers just about everything. It’s easy to see from this list how selecting the right finish for your range hood can be an overwhelming decision. We hope this list provided you with some valuable insight on how to make the best choice for your home. If you found this helpful, we’d love it if you could take a minute to pin or share this post.
Happy designing!
