Hello sweet friends…today, I have a story for you…
It’s all about the time I got my way and Mike built a sweet little range hood in place of the microwave! Fascinating stuff huh? 🙂
This tale started on a crisp afternoon in autumn. (most good things happen on crisp afternoons in autumn don’t you think?) It was lunch time and I had leftover chili…ahhhh, perfection. I opened our over-the-stove microwave and put in my bowl of chili, closed the door—pushed the power button— and… nothing. It was then that I noticed the keypad was dark. Oh dear.
My first reaction was: “you have GOT to be kidding me-how will I heat my chili!” then, revelation dawned …
 Beyond my bowl of cold chili, something bigger was happening here…
I’ve been gunning for that microwave for a year or more. Why?  Because that thing wasn’t a cute little addition to our kitchen like some microwaves are…that thing was large and in charge. That thing was the focal point of our kitchen…heck, that thing was the focal point of the entire house! ( I’m exaggerating as I tend to do when I’m arguing a point )
Anyhoo, back to the story…Â when the ancient microwave gave up the ghost, I knew it was time to broach the subject with Mike…
“Now’s the time to put in a range hood-it’s a sign that the microwave broke—a SIGN I tell ya!!!” (picture me waving a determined fist in the air) “but I promise we’ll keep it super easy and completely simple…”Â
And so there it was …my plea and my promise and ya know what? He said yes! (as he tends to do) And we really did keep this project super easy and completely simple. Seriously… like do-it-in-an-afternoon kind of easy!
 Mike started by taking out the gargantuan appliance. The moment he did, the space opened up…Obviously we had to add subway tile where the microwave had been, which added some drying time to the process and was I think, the hardest part. (Not for me mind you,  because I didn’t lift a finger on this particular project…but that’s what he told me)
Putting in the exhaust fan took him only a couple of hours…We ordered ours supplies from The Home Depot online…
 A Power Pack for Range Hood and a Power Pack Insert Liner
A Wall Cap  and a 30-Gauge 90 Degree Round Adjustable Elbow
There are great instructions for the fan installation that come with the fan …so I’m not going into that in this post. (Also, I have no idea how he put in that fan, because I was upstairs working and he was done in a jiffy!)
Now, I need to tell you…Â to keep the entire process as simple as possible, he didn’t take out the existing cabinet. He just removed the guts of the cabinets, leaving the box – this meant he didn’t have to build an entirely new structure to hold the fan-just pop the doors back on when the fan was installed…
Here’s where your personality comes in…this simple design can be adapted to fit your decorating style. It has the look of a mantle and like a mantle, Â you could build this with paint grade wood or a better wood for staining…or if you happen to have access to barn wood or old wood planks (that’s what we used)– they will give you a more rustic look…
It’s a three sided box of sorts, built around the liner…it’ extends 6″ below the edge of the liner as you can see in this photo!
Almost too simple isn’t it!? If you wanted yours a little more ‘refined’ 🙂 – you could add corbels, moldings, and even laser cut wood accent pieces! But Mike and I…we are determined to insert a bit of rustic charm into every room in this house…
This beam is deliciously rustic...(we cut the beam in half to make it the right depth to fit over the liner- and added another piece to make it long enough to extend the liner 6″)
Since this part of the kitchen truly is what you see from our kitchen table area and from the den, decorating the top for every season will not only be fun but will also add a bit of interest to the surrounding spaces…
I’m telling you- this was so easy…it took longer for me to clean up and relocate what was once in these cabinets than it did for Mike to do the whole project…
If you wondered where the microwave went HERE is the answer 🙂
Sending love my friends! xo
Debbie Esparza says
October 1, 2014 at 10:03 amYour new addition looks wonderful!
Robin says
October 1, 2014 at 1:49 pmDebbie, thanks so much my friend ox
Vicky says
October 1, 2014 at 12:01 pmMy Father-in-law is trying to fix this very thing in my childhood home- oh I can’t wait to show him! The vent part has us truly challenged, but wait till he sees this ingenious idea for a hood. Thank you Robin and Mike!
Robin says
October 1, 2014 at 1:49 pmVicky, I hope this helps!!! Your FIL is such a wonderful man—like his son! xo
judyincarefree says
October 1, 2014 at 1:01 pmRobin , I love that as I think a nice range hood makes a wonderful focal point in a kitchen. Mine is cement and I will post it on Instagram .
Robin says
October 1, 2014 at 1:48 pmThanks so much Judy! I can’t wait to see yours! You know how much I love your house!!! ox
Jennifer says
October 2, 2014 at 8:03 amWhat a wonderful idea! The range hood looks fantastic!
Robin says
October 2, 2014 at 11:24 amJennifer, thank you so much my friend xo Have a great day!
Teresa says
October 2, 2014 at 8:43 amThis is absolutely wonderful! I love range hoods and you have added rustic charm (my favorite) to range hoods! My kitchen is tiny and my microwave is used everyday (maybe a point I shouldn’t share so willingly) so I can’t unfortunately get rid of mine. But, I will covet yours!
Robin says
October 2, 2014 at 11:22 amTeresa, we aren’t getting rid of the microwave 🙂 We got a counter depth micro and we’re going to kind of build it into a cabinet 🙂
Tawn says
October 2, 2014 at 9:20 amRobin,
This just gets my mind a-goin” I will have to show Daddy-O. We have the same hood that we built in when we built the house 30 years ago. The fan is one that is not vented outside (don’t know if they even make that kind anymore. But for that reason, I have never used the fan. I only use the light, which I usually keep on all day. Daddy-O could just build something like this for me and put a light under there. Keep your fingers crossed that he is on board with this idea….I’m goin’ in!
Eileen says
October 2, 2014 at 10:52 amYou know I love rustic, Robin, So, the minute I saw this, I loved it! Mike did a wonderful job and it looks like it has been in place there always. I also really like how you can decorate it for the different seasons. I say it is picture perfect!
Sending hugs, sweet friend! Have a wonderful day!
Robin says
October 2, 2014 at 11:21 amEileen, thanks so my my friend xo
[email protected] says
October 2, 2014 at 12:18 pmIt looks wonderful! And like it has always belonged here.
Robin says
October 3, 2014 at 7:07 amThanks soooo much Magali—I really like it so much better now 🙂 Have a great day my friend xo
Angela says
October 2, 2014 at 7:05 pmOh gosh, I love this Robin! I have a microwave like you had and I’m so ready for it go die!!! I’m so anxious to see where you put the new microwave as that’s my biggest problem to figure out! Take care, my friend!~~Ang
Robin says
October 3, 2014 at 7:06 amAng…thank you so much! We’ve about got a plan for the counter-depth microwave a new home! 🙂 Should start work on it in a week or so…I’m crossing my fingers !!! ox
Joanne Boulter says
October 2, 2014 at 10:34 pmYour hood looks amazing. What a great idea! XX Jo
Genny says
October 3, 2014 at 6:07 pmThis transition worked out so nicely! I have a nice wood range hood, but so often I wish I had a microwave up there as mine sits on the counter and takes up room! I wish I had it built into my island like I wanted, but somehow that was too hard for the cabinet guys to figure out! lol They just couldn’t picture it! Men!
Robin says
October 4, 2014 at 5:18 amGenny, have you searched for built in microwaves on pinterest? There are so many ways that you could tuck a counter depth microwave into a cabinet…that’s what we’re doing…(hope it works!) xo
Julie Garmon says
October 3, 2014 at 6:50 pmPlease, please tell Mike this tonight, as soon as his BFF gets home from work, I’m showing him this!
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
Absolutely ADORE this!!!!!!!
Laurie Cann says
October 3, 2014 at 11:48 pmThis is absolutely beautiful!
Carolyn says
December 10, 2014 at 8:49 amRibin, I LUV this idea and want to do this is my kitchen but I have to have my microwave handy…I know u understand! Where can I see what u did with your microwave…I’m itching to see what you came up with!
Robin says
December 10, 2014 at 11:41 amCarolyn! I just posted the microwave solution (A microwave cubby) TODAY! Here’s the link! hope this helps my friend xo http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/2014/12/09/open-cabinets-microwave/
Connie says
December 12, 2014 at 11:55 pmVery clever way to add personality and charm to your kitchen! I will be needing some beams for a remodeling project and live in your area. Could you please share the name of the specialty lumber yard? Thanks!
Robin says
December 13, 2014 at 8:32 amConnie the place went out of business last year-he sold all of his supply…we bought as much as we could and have been using it ever since…if I hear of another source I’ll let you know! Good luck w/ your beams…that sounds AMAZING! xo
Connie says
December 13, 2014 at 10:07 pmThanks for your reply. Looking forward to your next project with the beams!
Dana says
January 16, 2015 at 8:17 amI am planning on doing this very thing with our microwave. It came with the house like this, but I have never liked it. So, Thank you for the idea. I am going to remove the doors off of another wall of cabinets and move the micro there.
Thanks !! Dana
Robin says
January 18, 2015 at 5:10 pmDana, I think you’ll love it!!! It’s made the biggest difference in our kitchen 🙂 xo
Teresa Henry says
May 20, 2015 at 9:53 pmI was wondering if the depth of your cabinet you put your fan in is 12 inches or deeper? Thanks
Robin says
May 21, 2015 at 9:29 amIt’s a little deeper Teresa-