Installing a plaster range hood is an easy way to create a stunning architectural element. Plaster range hoods elevate your kitchen without disrupting its flow or functionality. Finished to resemble natural stone, plaster range hoods are a beautiful addition to any kitchen remodel.
Surprisingly versatile, a plaster range hood can work whether your kitchen has sleek louvered, exquisitely carved inset or classic shaker cabinets. Plaster range hoods can have a coarse, earthy finish or be burnished to look like polished stone.
Ensure your hood vent stands out by choosing a different color and texture than surrounding walls, range and countertops. Or create a seamless transition by pairing a plaster hood cover with Venetian plaster walls in the same tint.
Read on for five of our favorite plaster range hoods. We also outline the process by which professionals install and finish plaster vent hoods.
The Plaster Vent Hood Process: What to Expect from a Professional
In many cases, the custom vent hood construction and installation process looks something like what we have outlined below. However, this process might vary from one craftsman to the next. Work with a professional to ensure your vent hood is stunning and perfectly suited to your kitchen — but also safe and stable.
Measure the Height of Your Ceiling and the Width, Height and Depth of Your Range
First, either you or a professional will measure the height of your ceiling and determine appropriate placement based on the size of your range. For a gas range, experts recommend that the bottom of the hood’s canopy hovers at least thirty inches above the burners.
If your kitchen has an induction cook top or electric range, you only need a foot of distance between burner and canopy. The crown of your vent hood will typically sit flush to the ceiling.
Consult on the Desired Shape and Size of Your Range Hood
Next, you will work with a designer to create the desired shape and size of your custom range hood. You will also determine the construction materials at this time. A designer might choose a wooden frame — often pine or plywood — but could also choose to reinforce with a metal frame.
As for appearance, some range hoods wrap around the range — kind of like an outdoor pizza oven. Most are smaller — about the width of the range — with upper cabinets surrounding. Common styles include angled, sloped, curved, tapered, fluted and bell-shaped. Range hoods mounted over kitchen islands will usually have a trumpet shape with a long chimney.
You or your designer will also choose a finish. As noted above, some prefer a rougher surface that celebrates the process of applying the plaster. Others opt for a high-shine polish across the entire hood. Still others choose something in between. In addition to the plaster finish, some homeowners ask for crown molding or other millwork to be visible on the canopy or chimney.
Install Ducts If Needed
Some range hoods are ductless and can be installed virtually anywhere in your kitchen, bar or kitchenette. Others must be attached to ducts that vent air out of your home.
A ductless range hood can be noisy and might not remove pollutants and odors entirely from your kitchen. Ducted range hoods are often quieter and more efficient at returning your kitchen’s IAQ to healthy levels.
Work with a designer to determine which is best for your home.
Prime the Wall For Hood Frame Attachment
Before installing the hood, professionals will prime the wall for attachment of its frame. After designing your vent hood and prepping the space for installation, it’s time to assemble and finish this fixture. This video from Golden Paintworks is a must-watch if you want to know more about how professionals apply and polish plaster. Whichever finish you choose, here’s what to expect:
Assemble the Hood
#1 Frame the Hood
#2 Insert the Vent Into the Frame and Connect it to the Ductwork
#3 Attach Drywall, Plywood or MDF to the Wooden Frame with Screws
#4 Score the Drywall, Plywood or MDF Pieces to Flex Around Curves in the Frame. Alternatively, use a thin flexible piece of wood or other material that bends easily.
#5 Ensure All Connecting Pieces and Seams Are Flush to Prevent Gaps from Showing Up in the Plaster
#6 Coat Seams and Screw Heads with an All-Purpose Joint Compound
#7 Add Bullnose Corner Beads to Joints If Any Seams Are Still Visible
#8 Apply Primer to the Vent Hood as Preparation for the Plaster
Apply the Plaster
#1 Use a Trowel and Spatula to Apply the First Coat of Plaster
#2 Drag the Trowel to Ensure Plaster is Evenly Dispersed
#3 Smooth the Plaster Once the First Layer Has Set and Is Half Dry
#4 Apply a Very Thin Second Coat Once the First Coat is Entirely Dry
#5 Run a Dry Cloth Over the Surface After the Second Coat is Dry to Smooth Ridges if a Polished Finish is Desired
#6 Sand Dark Areas Before Applying the Final Coat
#7 Wipe Off Any Dust with a Cloth
#8 Apply a Third (Very Thin) Coat of Plaster
Create the Desired Finish
#1 Lightly Burnish the Final Coat When Mostly But Not Fully Dry to Polish the Plaster
#2 Seal the Surface If Desired
#3 Attach Any Accessories or Details Like Wooden Beams, Copper Accents, Etc. for the Final Step
Five of Our Favorite Plaster Range Hoods
Below are a few of our favorite plaster range hoods from the LUDC archives and from designers we admire. And of course, we had to include the statement piece that is Mountain Lane’s metallic vent hood! While not enrobed in Venetian plaster, this vent hood is a bold addition to Mountain Lane’s airy, cheerful kitchen. Let us know which range hood wows you in the comments below.
#1 Flared Range Hood at Hedwig Village
First on our list of stunning plaster range hoods is the piece pictured above, which we designed and installed in the Hedwig Village kitchen. We love how the shape and finish of this hood’s canopy reflect the molding at the top of each cabinet — but in reverse.
Our team actually added a new wall where the range is mounted to allow for a larger stove and more counter space. We selected the vent hood’s plaster, which is the same color as the cabinetry for a seamless look.
We also coated the brick backsplash with a light wash to replicate the home’s exterior and reinforce the connection from indoors to outdoors. This finish also appears on the loggia outside, which creates an indoor-outdoor space perfect for bridging the gap between interior and exterior.
Learn more about our Hedwig Village project here.
#2 Brass-Edged Plaster Vent Hood in Historic River Oaks
Next on our list is the beautiful hood pictured above, which was installed in the kitchen of our River Oaks Traditional Remodel. The grand plaster vent hood was designed by Segreto Finishes and installed by Lonestar Custom Construction & Remodeling.
With its gentle slope and bold gilded edges, this vent hood is just as sculptural and artistic as it is functional. Unlike others on our list, the plaster finish of this vent hood was evenly applied and has a slight sheen. The plaster was buffed to a polish. Just below the brass apron is a shelf for pot lids, spice jars and other cooking necessities. Our team also replaced the homeowners’ stainless steel oven with a Wolf range.
The LUDC team chose aged brass and glass dome pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting to compliment the range hood and warm-toned wood. In the interest of preserving parts of the original kitchen and conserving its character, LUDC worked with Shelton Builders to update existing cabinets. While the range hood does not match the cabinets in this kitchen, it does reflect the white countertops and plaster walls.
#3 Integrated Vent Hood at Camino Haciendas in Santa Fe
In 2019, Laura Umansky led the team on a new construction project for a Houston-based couple that frequently vacations in Santa Fe. This home won Best Design, Category 1 at the Santa Fe Parade of Homes in August 2019.
Inspired by the city and its rich history, we chose bold colors, intricate patterns and inviting textures. Materials that feature throughout this Adobe-style home include reclaimed wood, plaster and wrought iron. Large windows let daylight – and the stunning Southwestern sunsets – into each room of this home.
As we note in our project reveal blog post, “this home was destined to honor the Southwestern Land of Enchantment.” Warm, welcoming, colorful and eclectic, this vacation home reflects the landscape and culture of Santa Fe.
Masterfully mixing old and new, both modern and antique accents can be found throughout the home. The kitchen is no different. The cabinet pulls remind one of iron accents elsewhere in the home, and the wooden beams follow from dining room to kitchen.
With a dramatic backsplash, plaster white walls, reclaimed wooden beams and a sleek vent hood, this kitchen is surprisingly serene. The color matches the new kitchen cabinetry, walls and dining chairs. We love how the vent hood blends in seamlessly with the surrounding walls, punctuated by dark-stained wooden ceiling beams.
#4 Bold Dark-Toned Plaster Vent Hood at Overbrook
Many homeowners love how an all-white plaster range hood blends seamlessly with the surrounding walls and cabinetry. The scale is typically what sets white plaster range hoods apart from other kitchen fixtures. However, plaster range hoods work equally well in maximalist interiors.
Case in point: our Overbrook project. With neon art installations, puffy furniture and striped walls, the rest of this home is bold, colorful and highly textural. Several rooms — like the kitchen — embrace a classic high-contrast black and white color scheme with a few contemporary twists in each space.
The vent hood pictured above is an art piece in and of itself. The finish varies from a soft sheen to high gloss, making it appear almost like a pool of deep water at night. Its dark tone connects to the hardware and veins on the island and countertop slabs.
#5 A Monarch Finishing Vent Hood with Gracefully Curving Corbels
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Last on our list is the Monarch Finishing hood chosen by California designer Lindye Galloway for a kitchen created by her Costa Mesa studio. Galloway often selects monolithic vent hoods for her projects.
A glossy backsplash, brass pot filler and honeycomb cabinet doors provide intriguing juxtaposition to the hood’s dramatic corbels and sharp canopy. Find further photos of this white plaster range hood by woman-owned and operated Monarch Finishing on their Instagram.
Honorable Mention: Mountain Lane Show House
Of course, the vent hood at Mountain Lane is not finished with Venetian plaster. However, it is one of our favorite fixtures. This custom hood was handcrafted from stainless steel before it was PVD coated with brass.
Plus, the brass matches temperature nobs on the range! We partnered with Monogram Appliances to create this beautiful, family-focused space for LUDC founder and CEO Laura Umansky.
From Range Hoods to Full-Scale Renovations
Are you planning a kitchen remodel in 2023? Are you interested in commissioning a custom vent hood for your own home? Reach out to the team at Laura U Design Collective. From large-scale renovation projects to full-service interior design, we’d love to work with you on your home.
Stay tuned for our upcoming post about the value of hand-crafted, custom-designed furniture and fixtures for home.