Q: We'll soon begin construction of a new home, which
will have a kitchen with an electric cooktop on a large island. The
problem is that the kitchen will open to a great room, and the ceiling
above the island will be about 11 feet high. We'd like to minimize the
visual impact of the hood, so I'm wondering if it can be made of
something clear, like glass or Plexiglass. I sketched out a design and
showed it to the interior designer at our local home center, but he said
it might cost as much as $15,000 to custom-build! Could it really be
that expensive?
— Fred, Montrose, California
With kitchen islands, bigger may seem better, until you add up the miles you'll have to walk to get around it. In many kitchens, a wheeled island you can easily move from place to place is more convenient and versatile.
