Snaps to reader Laura, who tracked down a company that would make a range hood exhaust fan — with scallops! — for her retro kitchen remodel. What a terrific find. To further research this story, I talked to Donald Stanley, the owner of Vents4Less – which retails the hoods, and to Janet DiRisio, manager of Imperial Hoods – which makes them. Yup: Made the U.S.A. — and since 1961. This is Imperial’s 50th anniversary, yay on them. Here is what I found out about ordering scalloped range hood suitable for a 1950s, 1960s or, yes, even 1970s kitchen project:
- Imperial Hoods can add scallops — or you could come up with your own decorative scrolled edge edge — to virtually any of their stock range hoods.
- The price for the scallop trip, when ordered via Vents4Less.com, is going to be $175. Very reasonable, in my opinion, considering the special handling involved!
- Imperial has a great selection of sizes, including 30″, 36″ and 42″. They also have island hoods — I see range-tops on peninsulas fairly often in midcentury homes.
- The company is very proud of their warranty: the industry’s only 7-year 100% parts and labor plus in-home service warranty. Janet says this is a testament to Imperial’s quality and the company’s determination to stand behind their product.
- The decorative scroll is cut separately from the range hood and adhered with a special tape made just for this purpose.
- And, they can do powder-coated colors. Vents4Less sent me a card with the custom colors – mostly primaries, no pastels, and no coppertone. But I bet if you were tenacious and nice, you could work with them to get a custom color…
How to order a custom range hood:
- Vents4Less is the retailer — that means you must go through them to make your order. Use their “Custom” contact page, and tell ‘em I sent you.
- Vents4Less will work with you and Imperial to finalize your design.
Great timing for me on this post…I’ve been trying to choose a range hood (right now we are saddled with a 1983 Spacesaver microwave with the built in exhaust fan…they only reason it is still hanging in my kitchen!) Anyway, I have a question…what style would you suggest for a kitchen that is a little more streamlined? The house was built in 1964 and we have smooth dark wood cabinets. As much as I like the scalloped edge, I think it would be too ornate…but I love the idea of having something unique. Would a flat edge in a contrasting color be a better choice? I would love to have some input on this…I’ve been mulling this over since we moved in back in January.
Can you send me some pics, Wendy?
Sure!
What is the best way to do that (email, FB page, or something else)?
send me your email via Contact box and then we’ll get started…
Sweet! I’d seen one in another kitchen (online photos) and wondered how to track one down!
I hope our readers don’t drive up the price before I need to order!
Yes, Lara Jane, I did some modest research and could not find anyone else who’d covered this issue. They showed photos, but were generally quite unhelpful. They said: Go to a local metalworking shop. I tend to believe that will get very expensive, very fast.
that’s awesome!!
Ah, but these Imperial hoods appear to come in black, white, or brushed stainless. What about those of us who need copper to go with our knotty pine cabinets? The copper stuff out there is generally way too fancy–faux-Craftsman (no, Gustav Stickley did not endorse those things!) or some sort of Italian villa nightmare.
I’m thinking my best option is to refurbish my aging model with a quieter motor and then have an automotive paint shop redo the peeling copper/brown finish. Anyone have any experience with that type of redo?
Imperial can do custom colors – mentioned in the post. And yes, I think that retrofitting an existing hood sounds like a strong possibility – let us know how it goes!
Thanks, Pam. I’m thinking it might be easier (and I hope cheaper) to get that “faux copper” look with the darker brown shading around the edges working with a local paint shop. I just hope I can rework the fan function, as the thing currently sounds like a Harrier jet taking off! I’ll let you know what I find out about replacement parts availability.
I just love that scalloped trim. I going to their site now to see if I can get a 30″ in white or possibly blue. Thanks Pam.
Hi Pam, I will forward some photos in a day or so of my hood, an amazing 48″ “Ventahood” with dual fans, light, and best of all, in turquoise with nickel starbursts mounted to the incline. It was one of the features that sold me on the house!
What’s so great about this site is the detail of the different subject matter- range hoods are to most people a very utilitarian thing that sort of blends into the backround- no so with retro kitchens- as often as I go to estate sales,
I see dozens of range hoods from the post-war years that are as unique as a fingerprint.
Yes, please send me your photos. I was just rereading the New York Times story and noticed that the reporter said I had ‘inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae of home décor’ — these home inspire that!!!
Hello all: I happen to own a pristine 1950s60s chambers 42 inch brushed stainless steel range hood (fully functional) for sale to a good home. In Lakewood (near Cleveland) Ohio.
Keith, can you take this over to the Forum, please. No buying/selling here on the main blog.
We have a 48″ Swanson range hood that we will be using – getting a new motor for it. It cleaned up beautifully but the Swanson logo on the front is really worn. Wonder if anyone knows where I can get the metal Swanson logo
Mari,
I have a Swanson hood that neither the motor or light’s work. Where are you getting your motor from.
Thanks,
Pat Harris
Hi Pam, is this a custom order then? I went to both sites and did’nt see the scallop. Sorry if you already said this
yes, it’s custom
I just spoke with Donald Stanley at vent4less.com-what a nice guy! He is even going to try to get the workshop to mimic my existing scallops above the sink!!! So happy!
YAY — let us know how it turns out!