Kitchen Guides
Are Hidden Chimneys in the Kitchen the New Trend?
Concealed exhaust fans cut visual clutter in the kitchen
Large stainless steel chimneys have been all the rage in kitchens in recent years, but we are now seeing a move toward concealed chimneys.
Chimney or exhaust hoods extract grease and cooking odours from the air. But just because you want or need one doesn’t mean that it has to be on display. Here we explain why and how you might choose to hide the hood.
Chimney or exhaust hoods extract grease and cooking odours from the air. But just because you want or need one doesn’t mean that it has to be on display. Here we explain why and how you might choose to hide the hood.
A concealed chimney can work in any style of kitchen and is especially appropriate when planning a contemporary streamlined kitchen. Concealing the chimney helps maintain clean lines and avoids disrupting the continuous flow of upper cabinets, creating a sleek look.
Browse through images of concealed chimneys
Browse through images of concealed chimneys
Integrating chimneys into traditional-style kitchens has been a popular choice for many years. In these kitchens, chimneys are often built into ornately designed custom cabinets, such as the mantelpiece-style unit pictured here. This creates a feature in a cooking area that often has a large freestanding stove as its visual centerpiece.
The current trend for open shelves in the kitchen (as opposed to upper cabinets) is another design style that benefits from an integrated chimney. In this photo, the shelves are the main feature of the back wall. The chimney is integrated into the upper cabinets to the right of the shelves, completely concealing it from sight. This ensures that nothing detracts from the display area.
What are the choices?
There are many ways in which to integrate a chimney into kitchen cabinetry and otherwise conceal it. The first step is to ensure that the chimney you choose is designed to be integrated (not all are). Check with your appliance supplier and kitchen designer before buying to make sure that it will work.
There are many ways in which to integrate a chimney into kitchen cabinetry and otherwise conceal it. The first step is to ensure that the chimney you choose is designed to be integrated (not all are). Check with your appliance supplier and kitchen designer before buying to make sure that it will work.
Inside a wall-mounted cabinet
The chimney in this kitchen is referred to as concealed, integrated or undermount. This style is tucked in an upper cabinet, and the only visible part is the bottom of the hood on the underside of the cabinet.
See these remarkable kitchen cabinet designs
The chimney in this kitchen is referred to as concealed, integrated or undermount. This style is tucked in an upper cabinet, and the only visible part is the bottom of the hood on the underside of the cabinet.
See these remarkable kitchen cabinet designs
Slide-out
Another option is a slide-out chimney, seen here built into the cabinetry above the cooktop, with just the front edge of the slide-out section showing close to the bottom of the cabinet. This section is usually finished in stainless steel; however, some models have the option to swap this out for a custom panel in the same colour as the kitchen cabinets.
Another option is a slide-out chimney, seen here built into the cabinetry above the cooktop, with just the front edge of the slide-out section showing close to the bottom of the cabinet. This section is usually finished in stainless steel; however, some models have the option to swap this out for a custom panel in the same colour as the kitchen cabinets.
Above an island
The island is a popular location for cooktops since it allows the cook to converse with family and friends who are gathered around. The disadvantage of having the cooktop on an island is that positioning a chimney above it often creates an eyesore. One workaround is to build the hood into custom cabinetry that matches or complements the rest of the kitchen, as shown here.
Here’s how a kitchen island can be more than an island
The island is a popular location for cooktops since it allows the cook to converse with family and friends who are gathered around. The disadvantage of having the cooktop on an island is that positioning a chimney above it often creates an eyesore. One workaround is to build the hood into custom cabinetry that matches or complements the rest of the kitchen, as shown here.
Here’s how a kitchen island can be more than an island
In the ceiling
Another option for above an island is to select a chimney or exhaust system that can be built in flush with the ceiling. These hoods are generally more expensive, as they need to be extremely powerful to suck up greasy air and odours from such a distance. The advantage is that the area above the island and the view to other parts of the home beyond the hood remain unobstructed.
Another option for above an island is to select a chimney or exhaust system that can be built in flush with the ceiling. These hoods are generally more expensive, as they need to be extremely powerful to suck up greasy air and odours from such a distance. The advantage is that the area above the island and the view to other parts of the home beyond the hood remain unobstructed.
Downdraft
A downdraft exhaust system is one of my favourite solutions when a cooktop is on an island. It isn’t really visible unless it’s in use.
It’s built into the cabinetry below the countertop, and either behind or to the side of the cooktop, and it sits flush with the top of the counter when not in use. With the touch of a button, the exhaust fan rises to extract odours and grease from the cooking area as needed.
These units are extremely powerful and can be costly.
Careful planning is required to ensure that such a ventilation system can be incorporated into a new kitchen design, as the extracted air needs to be routed to the outside through the floor. It isn’t always possible to do this in an existing home, so it may be necessary to choose a recirculating model instead.
A downdraft exhaust system is one of my favourite solutions when a cooktop is on an island. It isn’t really visible unless it’s in use.
It’s built into the cabinetry below the countertop, and either behind or to the side of the cooktop, and it sits flush with the top of the counter when not in use. With the touch of a button, the exhaust fan rises to extract odours and grease from the cooking area as needed.
These units are extremely powerful and can be costly.
Careful planning is required to ensure that such a ventilation system can be incorporated into a new kitchen design, as the extracted air needs to be routed to the outside through the floor. It isn’t always possible to do this in an existing home, so it may be necessary to choose a recirculating model instead.
Some top-of-the-line cooktops now have an optional built-in exhaust system. Again, these are a good choice for an island or a space where there are no upper cabinets to accommodate a concealed chimney. They operate in a similar fashion to pop-up downdraft systems, except that nothing pops up. Instead, they suck steam and odours down using powerful fans. The air then can be routed outside or cleaned and recirculated back into the room.
What are the cons?
A completely concealed or undermount chimney covers only about half of the cooktop below, as it fits inside a standard 12-inch-deep upper cabinet. These chimney therefore have to be more powerful to effectively suck air up from pots and pans on the front burners. This usually means that concealed chimneys are more expensive than slide-out models, which pull out to cover more of the cooktop when in use and therefore don’t have to work as hard.
Another issue with a built-in chimney is that the cabinetry in which it’s housed is generally custom-made to suit the hood. This can make it more difficult not only to access the relevant areas of the hood for repair, but also to find a replacement that fits into the same cabinet if the current one breaks.
A completely concealed or undermount chimney covers only about half of the cooktop below, as it fits inside a standard 12-inch-deep upper cabinet. These chimney therefore have to be more powerful to effectively suck air up from pots and pans on the front burners. This usually means that concealed chimneys are more expensive than slide-out models, which pull out to cover more of the cooktop when in use and therefore don’t have to work as hard.
Another issue with a built-in chimney is that the cabinetry in which it’s housed is generally custom-made to suit the hood. This can make it more difficult not only to access the relevant areas of the hood for repair, but also to find a replacement that fits into the same cabinet if the current one breaks.
Read more:
Which Chimney is Right for Your Kitchen?
Tell us:
Would you like a concealed chimney? If you have one, please let us know what you do and don’t like about it.
Which Chimney is Right for Your Kitchen?
Tell us:
Would you like a concealed chimney? If you have one, please let us know what you do and don’t like about it.
A concealed or built-in chimney is integrated into the kitchen and out of sight. Hiding a chimney, or any appliance for that matter, helps focus the attention on the kitchen cabinetry and other design elements, rather than on the appliance itself. Concealed chimney are especially beneficial in a small kitchen, which can get visually cluttered when lots of appliances are out in the open.