The new Star hood by Elica changes people's perceptions of how a stove vent should look. Elica, represented in the United States by Zephyr Ventilation, is not new to pushing the boundaries. Their advertising usually seems to be more in line with what is normally seen in a fashion magazine, than that of a shelter publication. Elica is the only appliance manufacturer, that I am familiar with, who prints its own calendar of scantily clad employees. They are definitely a cheeky group.

The Star has a spherical stainless steel frame that holds hundreds of glass "crystals". These crystals reflect and refract the light from three 40W lights hidden in the body of the unit. These lights cause the Star to emanate light closer to that of a decorative lamp, then that of what's normally associated with a kitchen hood. The re-circulating vent is barely visible in the unit, with only a slim control wand protruding from the under side of the vent.

The Star performs similar to most re-circulating vents, which makes it a good choice for those with simpler cooking styles. There are removable screens that may be cleaned periodically as well as replaceable filters to control cooking odors. In addition to controlling the Star with the wand, the unit can also be controlled by a very sleek remote control. (pictured below).

For more info on US availability visit Elica by Zephyr