Range hoods are not what they used to be. What began as a loud fan to tackle the worst cooking smells has grown into a quiet, smart and often beautiful feature of the kitchen. A brief look back shows how that happened, and why today's hoods are so different from your parents'.
The first range hoods: loud and functional
In the 1950s and 1960s the range hood made its way into home kitchens. At its core it was a fan: large, made of metal and often rather noisy. The aim was simple: get rid of the cooking fumes. Looks and noise were hardly considered.
The 1970s and 1980s: filters and a neater look
Grease filters made the range hood far more effective. Grease particles stayed in the filter instead of on the walls and cabinets. The appearance improved too: hoods became sleeker and matched the straight, simple kitchens of the time better.
The 1990s: quieter and easier to clean
In the 1990s, noise took centre stage. Quieter motors meant you could still hold a conversation while cooking. Hoods also became easier to clean and more economical to run.
The turn of the century and beyond: smart, efficient and beautiful
From the 2000s, range hoods arrived with sensors and remote controls. The hood adjusts its power to the amount of steam and you control it without having to reach up. Designers discovered the range hood as a design object: an island hood as a light source above the cooking island, a hood that disappears into the ceiling, or a hob with extraction already built in.
Recirculation sets the range hood free
One of the biggest changes of recent years is something you don't even see: the rise of recirculation. Ever better filters, from carbon to plasma, purify the air, which then returns clean to the kitchen. As a result, the hood can go wherever the design wants it, and installation in an apartment or renovated kitchen is no longer a problem. Read more in Ventilation without heat loss.
What this means for your kitchen
Today's range hood is quiet, efficient and lights your cooking area at the same time. At afzuigkapSpecialist.nl you will find Wave models for every kitchen: wall-mounted hoods, island hoods, built-in and ceiling units and hobs with integrated extraction. The lighting complements them beautifully too.