This Seemingly Harmless Kitchen Improvement Actually Adds Stress to My Day

When we moved into our Tennessee home almost two years ago, we were fortunate to be able to renovate the existing kitchen. This wasn’t the first kitchen I’d been involved in designing, so I felt pretty adept at knowing what we needed for our family of seven and how we (read: me) functioned in the kitchen. For example, we opted for a counter-depth refrigerator because it streamlines the entire kitchen space, and for a huge workstation sink to maximize space. And on the advice of a chef friend, we bought an induction cooker — and we love it!

However, even with all my previous experience, careful thought, and careful research, there is one thing I still get wrong: the range hood. Also on the advice of my chef friend, We made sure we got a powerful range hood that would keep the kitchen free of cooking smells and smoke – but we didn’t make sure we got one that would be as quiet as possible while doing it.

Here’s the thing: There’s a lot going on in our kitchen at any given time. One person might be cleaning dirty dishes, another might be making a quesadilla for a snack while I’m trying to get out the onions and cutting board I need to make dinner. The kids come home from school and tell me about their days as they unpack their backpacks, which means papers on the counter, and wash lunch boxes. All this while the dogs are busy and I’m under pressure because my boys’ football practice is coming back and my little ones have to go to bed.

It’s a lot of stimulation, and that’s why I chose a calming color palette and a classic but minimal design in the kitchen. I’m also a very sensitive person, so I’m more affected than average by all the sights, smells, sounds, and needs around me – doing what I can to control the environment helps me not get overwhelmed. feel overwhelmed. This means keeping “optional” noises like music to a minimum, or sometimes drowning out the chaos with my AirPods.

What I neglected when designing the kitchen and choosing appliances was taking note of the noise level of the hood we purchased, even though it is listed in the product specifications! I know the hum of the hood impacts my stress levels in the kitchen because of the relief I feel when I can turn off the hood! It’s loud, and it just never crossed my mind.

I won’t be replacing my range hood anytime soon; it’s practically brand new, after all. But the good news is that changing this easily overlooked but potentially impactful kitchen detail doesn’t require a complete kitchen remodel, for me or anyone else. Replacing a noisy hood with one with lower sound levels could be the key to reducing kitchen noise and therefore creating a more peaceful kitchen.

Do you regret any part of your cooking? Let us know in the comments below!