A Guide to Kitchen Extractors: Finding the Right Style for Your Kitchen

At Cash & Carry Kitchens, we offer a range of extractor options to complement different kitchen styles and layouts. Here are some of the main types to consider when designing your new kitchen.

Kitchen extractors help manage steam, cooking odours and airborne grease, but they can also play an important role in the overall design of your space. While some homeowners prefer an extractor that blends discreetly into their cabinetry, others use it as a statement feature. And with downdraft extraction, you don't necessarily need an extractor above your hob at all.

Telescopic Extractor Hoods

If you want your extractor to be as discreet as possible, a telescopic extractor hood can be a great solution.

Telescopic hoods are integrated into the kitchen cabinetry above the hob, helping them blend into the overall design rather than becoming a focal point. When required, the extractor can be pulled out for use and neatly tucked away again afterwards.

This makes telescopic extractors particularly suited to streamlined, contemporary kitchens where you want to maintain clean lines and keep appliances visually unobtrusive.

They can also be a practical option in kitchens where storage is important, as incorporating your extractor into the cabinetry can create a more cohesive overall look.

Built-In Extractors with Cabinetry

Another way to integrate extraction into your kitchen design is to conceal the extractor behind or beneath coordinating cabinetry.

Available in selected kitchen ranges, this option allows cabinetry to be incorporated over and around the extractor so that it feels like a natural part of the kitchen design.

This style can work particularly well in traditional, Shaker and in-frame-inspired kitchens. Rather than introducing a contrasting appliance above the hob, the extractor area can become an architectural feature that complements the surrounding cabinetry.

It can also help create symmetry around your cooking area, particularly when paired with wall cabinets or other features on either side.

Wall-Mounted Extractor Hoods

Not every extractor needs to disappear into the background. A wall-mounted extractor can become a statement feature in its own right.

Mounted directly above the hob, these extractors are intentionally visible and are available in a variety of shapes and finishes. Depending on the model you choose, a wall-mounted hood can introduce a contemporary, industrial or more traditional element to your kitchen.

This option works particularly well when the cooking area is intended to be one of the main focal points of the room. Rather than surrounding the hob with cabinetry, giving the extractor its own space can create a strong visual centre for the kitchen.

Wall-mounted extractors can also provide an interesting contrast against your choice of splashback, worktop and kitchen doors.

Downdraft Extractors

For open-plan kitchens and kitchen islands, downdraft extraction opens up a completely different range of design possibilities.

Rather than positioning an extractor on the wall or suspending one above the hob, a downdraft extractor is incorporated into the cooking area itself. Steam and cooking vapours are drawn downwards into the extraction system, removing the need for a traditional overhead hood.

This can be particularly useful when positioning your hob on a kitchen island. Without a large extractor hanging overhead, you can maintain open sightlines across the room and create a cleaner, more spacious appearance.

It also means your cooking zone doesn't necessarily have to be positioned against a wall, giving you greater flexibility when considering your overall kitchen layout.

For an open-plan kitchen where the island is used for cooking, dining and socialising, a downdraft hob can help the space feel more connected. You can cook while facing into the room rather than towards a wall, making it easier to chat with family or guests.

Which Kitchen Extractor Is Right for Your Space?

There isn't one extractor style that works for every kitchen. The right choice will depend on your kitchen layout, cooking habits and the overall look you want to create.

If you prefer clean, uninterrupted cabinetry, a telescopic or built-in extractor can help your extraction system blend into your kitchen.

If you want to create a focal point around your cooking area, a wall-mounted extractor can become part of the overall design.

If you're planning a kitchen island with a hob, downdraft extraction can give you greater freedom over where you position your cooking zone while keeping the area above the island open.

Your choice can also be influenced by the style of kitchen you're creating. A concealed extractor can complement the clean lines of a contemporary kitchen, while cabinetry surrounding a built-in extractor can become a beautiful feature in a more traditional design.

Think About Extraction Early in Your Kitchen Design

Extraction is worth considering at the beginning of the kitchen design process rather than treating it as a finishing touch.

Where you position your hob, whether you want wall cabinetry above it, whether you're planning an island and how open you want your sightlines to be can all influence the type of extractor that works best for your space.

Planning these elements together means practical requirements can be incorporated into the overall design, rather than compromising the finished look of your kitchen.

At Cash & Carry Kitchens, our expert kitchen designers can help you consider everything from the position of your cooking zone to storage, appliances and extraction, creating a kitchen designed around both your space and the way you use it.

Planning a new kitchen? Book a free, no-obligation design appointment at your nearest Cash & Carry Kitchens showroom and discover the extraction options available for your kitchen design.

Kitchen Extractor FAQs

What are the different types of kitchen extractor?

Kitchen extractors are available in several different styles, including telescopic, built-in, wall-mounted and downdraft extractors. The best option will depend on your kitchen layout, the position of your hob and the look you want to achieve.

Can a kitchen extractor be hidden inside a cabinet?

Yes. Telescopic extractors can be integrated into cabinetry to create a discreet appearance. We also offer built-in extractor options with coordinating cabinetry in selected kitchen ranges.

What type of extractor is suitable for a kitchen island?

Downdraft extraction can be particularly well suited to kitchen islands because it doesn't require a traditional extractor hood above the hob. This can help maintain clear sightlines across an open-plan kitchen.

Do I need an extractor above my hob?

Not necessarily. While traditional extraction is usually positioned above the hob, downdraft systems draw steam and cooking vapours downwards into the extraction unit instead.

Should my extractor be a feature or hidden?

This comes down to the style of kitchen you want to create. Telescopic and built-in extractors are good options if you prefer appliances to blend into your cabinetry, while wall-mounted extractors can become a deliberate statement feature.