The Kitchen Detail You've Been Overlooking That Can Have A Major Impact

Long gone are the days when kitchens were viewed as purely utilitarian rooms. With all the brilliant hacks to make a kitchen more aesthetic, more and more people are getting creative with their spaces. Some choose to paint their cabinets a bold color. Others upgrade their builder-grade lighting, change backsplashes, and even install new flooring. These are, indeed, all great ways to elevate the heart of your home. However, there's one (rather large) kitchen feature that can make all the difference even if you leave everything else the same: We're talking about the extractor hood — or statement hoods, to be exact.

Wait, isn't hiding your stove range hood all the rage, you ask? The answer is yes if the appliance sticks out like a sore thumb. Thankfully, cooker hoods can now do their job in style. The credit goes to their hefty sizes for allowing them to make a bold addition on their own. Whether you're renovating or building new, we've rounded up our favorite picks below to get your kitchen design inspo going.

Whoever said that stainless steel hoods all look basic has obviously never seen the curved, custom stainless steel range hood with brass accents by Range Hood Master. Priced at $2,461, it's an instant eye-catcher and boasts all the right features, like heavy-duty, handmade, and easy to clean. For the modern tastemakers, check out the pretty rare $2,849 steel box-style range hood by MarkDeren on Etsy. This one screams simple yet dramatic when set against contrasting cabinetry. Meanwhile, you can find handcrafted hoods that would (without a doubt) become the center of attention in a traditionally styled kitchen, but do expect to pay several thousand dollars for them. Want something more colorful? Look no further than SMEG's Portofino Wall Ventilation Hood for $1,700 at Williams Sonoma.

If these prices are making you squirm, you can always give your existing hood a makeover with hood trim. Etsy has some pretty affordable options for your DIY project, setting you back a modest $40. On another note, you can also count on TikTok to show you how to DIY a stunning range hood to elevate your kitchen without costing a fortune.

Of course, aesthetics shouldn't be the only deciding factor when upgrading your kitchen's ventilation hood. You want it to be efficient, too. Don't forget the general rule of thumb is to have it about the same size or ideally around 6 inches larger than your stovetop.