A kitchen fan serves an important practical purpose for restaurants and caterers: it ventilates the kitchen and removes steam, grease and smoke while cooking. Manufacturers eventually realized that these fans can look good as well as be functional, and they started creating all sorts of stylish products for those concerned about aesthetics as well as performance.

Keeping up with the latest trends in hood vents and other kitchen fans is important. When a client contracts you to come up with a great design for her restaurant or catering kitchen, you have to be ready to impress. Stay knowledgeable about different kitchen fan styles and options so you're ready to give your clients what they're looking for.

1. Compile a kitchen fan list to help your clients figure out which styles they like the best. Include lots of photos along with the advantages and disadvantages to each.

2. Talk to your clients about how much cooking they do. You'll need to find a kitchen fan that has the capacity to vent the right amount of exhaust as well as look attractive in the client's kitchen.

3. Get some kitchen fan information to ensure that you're making a practical choice for your clients. You must know the technical aspects regarding these fans so you can recommend products that will fit your clients' needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Go with a traditional yet attractive under-cabinet kitchen fan

Some of your smaller restaurant or catering clients may produce their food offerings in small kitchens, or even in their home kitchens. These clients may be able to use a traditional under-cabinet fan. This type of vent is what most people think of when they hear the term 'kitchen fan.' Under-cabinet fans mount to the bottom of the cabinets over the range. Check to see if there are ducts installed already, if not, you'll have to make sure the fan you suggest is 'duct-free,' 'non-vented' or will work with either ducted or non-ducted applications.

I recommend: Buy one of the pro-style canopies from AJ Madison. Take a look at the variety of under-cabinet models at Improvement Direct.

Try out a modern wall-mounted kitchen fan

The weight of this type of fan is supported by mounting it to the wall. Wall-mounted vents are frequently chimney-style and extend up to a duct in the ceiling. You have several design options as far as the hood itself is concerned, so take your client's budget into consideration.

I recommend: Browse through the attractive selection at KitchenSource.com. Find an wide variety of styles at Futuro Futuro.

Find a kitchen fan provider that sells island ventilation fans

Island cooktops present a unique problem in that they're freestanding, so there's nothing to mount a fan to. Manufacturers know that the popularity of islands is increasing, so they have come up with a vent that mounts to the ceiling. These fans come in a wide range of sizes to accommodate the needs of even professional chefs.

I recommend: Check out the different sizes available at Fabyka Range Hood. The vents at Euro-Kitchen have convenient LCD displays.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An alternative to vents that draw steam upward is the downdraft kitchen fan. This is an option used mostly for islands when buyers don't want obtrusive fans hanging from their ceilings. It isn't as effective as an overhead fan, though; make sure you warn your clients about this fact.