Yoosta B - 8/5/2012 08:24 iseedit is right- depends how/if you cook. I think it's a big mistake, putting a cooktop in an island. Last fire you saw- where was the smoke going? Up. Takes a mighty wind to make it change its mind and go down. There's a very good reason we put cooktops against a wall- we need the backstop to capture the smoke/heat/fumes from cooking. At the very least, you're sucking away heat that you wanted to use for cooking. Who's sitting at the other side, trying to eat? Young children? Want them that close to your hot surfaces? Want to reach across the cooktop to serve them? If you want to put something in the island, put the sink in there. Most time spent in the kitchen is at the sink. Time was when wife needed to watch out the window to keep an eye on the kiddies or throw the water out when finished. Nowadays, we want to be facing our guests during prep and cleanup. If you do want to go with a trend-on-the-way-out, then go ahead, but you MUST vent to the exterior. Most of what you are venting will be moisture- don't forget that. The blower can be anywhere in the stream. If you don't cook, then it doesn't matter. Be honest with yourself and decide accordingly.