For the past few weeks our kitchen has felt a little odd—because the over-the-range microwave was gone and the hood wasn’t yet in place. We removed the microwave before painting as part of our Phase 1 kitchen refresh and decided we wanted better ventilation over the stove, so we planned to replace the bulky microwave with a vent hood and a countertop microwave for day-to-day use.
We kept the remodel modest for this stage, swapping only the appliance that dominated the space. Our plan was to eventually move the stainless countertop microwave into the pantry once an outlet is installed there, but for now we still needed a solution for over-the-stove ventilation.
Rather than invest in an expensive permanent hood we knew we’d replace again in Phase 2, we scanned the usual local listings and found a number of affordable options. When this clean white hood showed up for $25, it matched our size and venting needs and seemed like the perfect temporary upgrade—practical, inexpensive, and easy to resell later.
What appealed to us was the hood’s top-vent configuration and its crisp white finish. The only potential hurdle was that it was sold without the usual mounting hardware for under-cabinet installation, which meant we’d have to improvise a secure mounting method.
Fortunately, most things lined up: the hood could vent out the top or the back, and the rectangular top vent on the hood matched the rectangular exhaust opening already in our cabinet. That saved a lot of time. I sealed the unused rear opening with proper foil duct tape (not general-purpose tape) to prevent leaks.
There were already electrical wires routed in the wall right where they needed to enter the hood, so we didn’t have to hire an electrician. I removed a small metal access tab to pull the wires through and make the necessary connections inside the hood housing.
A minor complication was a lip under the cabinet that prevented screwing the hood directly to the cabinet base. To solve that, I fashioned a simple wood block sandwich from scrap lumber and fastened blocks to each side of the cabinet interior so the hood could attach flush from the front and still be firmly supported.
The part I worried about most was holding the hood in place while fastening and wiring it. Instead of wrestling the hood between two people, I used a simple support trick I found in a how‑to video: clamp a thin 1×2 scrap board across the cabinet opening to hold the weight while you work. It meant temporarily removing one cabinet door, but the support made the installation completely manageable by myself.
The video also suggested screwing a temporary brace into the back wall, but in our case the hood rested firmly without that extra step, which spared us a few unneeded holes.
With the hood supported, I raised the clamps until the top of the hood seated flush against the wood blocks, checked inside the cabinet to ensure the duct aligned with the hood’s exhaust, and then sealed the joint with foil duct tape for a tight connection. I secured the hood using screws and washers through the keyhole slots visible once the two filter screens were removed.
After driving all four mounting screws (front and back on each side) I completed the electrical connections inside the hood’s junction box. Everything was accessible from within the hood by working through the filter openings, which made the wiring straightforward and tidy.
The whole job took about 45 minutes from start to finish, most of that time spent cutting and fitting the scrap wood for mounting blocks. It’s not the most elegant install you’ll see online, but for $25 and under an hour of work we’re thrilled to have proper ventilation back above the stove. The new hood also opens up the space, removing the cramped feeling the old microwave created. We plan to resell this hood later for roughly what we paid, so it’s a budget‑friendly Phase 1 upgrade.
One of our favorite features is the small halogen lights on the hood. Until we install under-cabinet lighting, these lights give the sink wall a bright, polished glow and make the cooking area feel more finished.
Overall, it’s a satisfying transformation for that corner of the kitchen—from cluttered and heavy with an over-the-range microwave…
…to cleaner, more open, and properly vented.
Next on our list is installing floating shelves along the sink wall and then tackling cabinet painting—projects we hope to work on over the holiday break so the new year starts with a fresher kitchen look.
If you’ve swapped a vented microwave for a hood, did the installation go smoothly or did it get complicated? It’s always nice when a project you expect to be tricky turns out to be straightforward—especially when you can solve it with a little planning, the right support, and some basic materials.