Darkened steel dome hood with steel straps and copper rivets

Summer of 2009- I offered a customer of mine a new look compared to what our copper range hoods can offer with their patinas.

The new look is our steel range hoods with patinas that exit the spectrum of browns and enter the spectrum of grays.

The hood we created was a dome styled hood with steel strapping in a block pattern along the base of the island hood and extending to the ceiling and following the curvature of the steel hood’s curves.  The steel strapping was attached using copper rivets.

The body of the hood was darkened to a medium gray color and the steel strapping was made to be darker and accentuate the copper rivets.

Steel Range hood with blackened steel patina

The latest steel range hood I created for a customer with distinct criteria on what she wanted her range hood to look like. 

The criteria was that she wanted the hood to curve horizontally and vertically and it had to fill the space with an arched ceiling and house a large exhaust fan liner to boot; the only option was to use an English wheel to create a compound curve body for the hood.   The end result is a sheet of metal that has unique asymmetrical structure to allow for a shallow depth for the hood and a sleek overall look to the entire steel range hood.

The patina was a crucial part of the hood and many samples were created until the choice to use steel over copper was offered. 

The finished product closely matched the hardware and fixtures found in the kitchen that were necessary to match.

Signature arc slope copper range hood design

Here is a nice large range hood in our signature arc slope copper range hood design.

The copper hood is premade for the use of a Tradewind PSL760 hood liner although can be fitted with a custom stainless steel liner to fit most exhaust fan inserts.

Copper urinal handcrafted by Mountains Edge Copperart Inc.

In 2007, I was asked to take on the task of building of a rustic copper urinal for a interior design project of Joanner Boucher’s and Island Enterprises of St. Joseph Island, Ontario.

The project required the intensive raising/hammering of 2 copper bowls.   Fitting those bowls together to create the shape seen here in the photos.  The bowls had lengths of copper pipe welded to the curves to offer protection against the raw copper edges and to act as a lip to keep liquids inside the urinal.

The patina was left natural as the client wanted the urinal to take on its own natural patina. Given that urine was used by Japanese patina masters to offer various grades of green patinas.  I have also read that some of these patinas were aged a number of years, stored in bottles and different diets affected the coloring process.

Another photo of the copper urinal

Style 1900 - Our 1st Cover Shot

Over the years Mountains Edge Copperart has been privileged to be promoted in many magazines.  We have had our copper products featured in detailed articles on kitchen renovations or product features on our copper mailboxes or copper hoods.

Magazine’s include: This Old House, Style 1900, Southern Living, Renovation Style to name a few.

Cedar Gables Inn is a great bed and breakfast experience

My wife and I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful weekend in Napa, CA at the Cedar Gables Inn B&B.  The intimacy of our hosts Ken & Susie Pope made us and all the guests of the Inn indulgently comfortable.   The intensely charming bedrooms are full of antique furniture, fine linen and art work along with all of the other rooms at the Inn.  The favorite meeting spot is downstairs in the lounge where wine and beer are served along with fine cheeses in the late afternoon to welcome new arrivals and those returning from their daily excursions.  The social atmosphere is relaxed and allows you to introduce yourselves to guests from all over the world.   With your revitalizing sleep, you awake to the wonderful smells of food preparing for the gourmet breakfast held each morning.  These delicious breakfasts are prepared each morning by Susie; she used to run a culinary school in Los Gatos for SurLaTable.

We are most fortunate for having visited this fantastic retreat.

I was approached last year by Ken to assist with their kitchen renovation project.  Ken & Susie discussed their intentions for their kitchen design with me and I was happy to supply them with one of our copper range hoods, a copper apron sink and a copper prep sink.

Ken & Susie also host cooking classes with distinguished chefs from the Napa region in their new kitchen. You will be able to experience cooking and preparing food with our great copper fixtures!

I can’t wait to try out a class and visit the Cedar Gables Inn again!

Small copper range hood with hammered upper and lower sections

“Worked out fantastic.  Great Job”

These were the comments from our client on the copper range hood we supplied him for his home.  This copper hood most definitely stands out and adds value to the overall kitchen design.  Using the flat top on the hood also didn’t cause any conflict with the vaulted ceiling.  Simple, elegant with a little rustic hammered copper to boot!

Copper Island Hood with Stainless Steel Hardware

Mountains Edge Copperart continues to create beautifully sculpted custom copper range hoods for clients with distinct taste.  We have just added a section to our website that features discounted copper hoods.  These hoods are mostly premade and prefinished and ready for immediate shipment.

The prices are usually discounted 35-50% from the original custom hood order price.  This collection of copper kitchen hoods was formed from non-orders, dimension-changes and some from our showroom stock.  Have a look and see if the dimensions might possible work in your kitchen.  We will assist you in the selection of the exhaust fans that will work in each of these copper hoods.

Small hammered copper mailbox

Along with our copper range hoods, we also have a dozen or more hammered copper mailboxes in both large and small sizes.  The large mailbox goes for $350 and the small mailbox goes for $300.  Prices in USD

Each copper mailbox is handcrafted by our artisans from the best materials and will endure a lifetime of use.

Copper wall mounted range hood in bell design

Our coppersmith artisans are creating some of the most beautiful designs in custom range hoods.

Copper range hoods compliment many different design styles such as; Tuscan, French country, rustic, arts & craft, mission, American country, Victorian and modern design. Natural materials like stone and wood seem to be a strong foundation for materials that cooperatively work with copper. We have found that stainless steel integrates best with a copper range hood in the form of rivets, straps or pot rack hardware.

Copper range hood designs are only limited by the ability of the craftsperson. Copper crown moldings, corbels, multi-faceted designs, Repoussé work, hammered textures, creative patina colors and the incorporation of other materials like glass, stone, steel and wood are part of the palette that we, as copper artisans, works with. The copper patinas applied to our copper range hoods are expanding from the warm natural brown penny colors to vibrant patinas exhibiting hues of reds, blues, yellows, purples, silvers and white.

The patina coating on copper range hoods can usually be coated with a lacquer coating that will permanently protect the patina coating. Typically though, patinas are coated with a wax to naturally preserve the patina finish. The periodic application of a wax to the patina surface can help maintain the patina finish. Applying a furniture polish such as Pledge or Orange Glo to copper range hoods with wax coatings will also preserve the patina finish.

Today’s copper range hoods also take advantage of sophisticated exhaust systems in varying capacity, dimensions and ergonomic integration. These exhaust systems are usually supplied in the same brand names as your kitchen range or oven.

Large copper fireplace hood

Outdoor installations of a copper range hood over grilling and BBQ areas are increasingly used to enhance the visual appreciation of the outdoor patio design.  Particular attention must be paid towards the proper selection of an exhaust fan able to operate in an outdoor environment as well as the size of the hood and its ability to capture exhausting fumes from the cooking area.

Fireplaces and fire pits are another area that copper hoods are used for an enhanced look as well as the hoods functional properties.  Since fireplaces are usually constructed from stone or masonry materials; copper is an ideal complimentary material.

Copper has the ability to kill bacteria such as E. Coli in hours compared to surviving for months on stainless steel surfaces. Using copper as a countertop material or food preparation surface could help reduce the risk of food poisoning from bacteria such as E. Coli.

Copper kitchen countertop with integrated sink

With the use of copper as a counter surface; not only does one benefit from these bacteria killing properties, but one also benefits from the beauty and natural warmth that copper countertops offer.

A weakness of copper as a food preparation surface is that it is affected by acids like lemon juice; that will discolor the surface patina. Copper countertops should then be evaluated like a porous stone material such as soapstone and thought of as a living material; changing with use. The surfaces can be protected with a food grade wax such as beeswax or orange wax, but this would lessen the ability of the copper to protect against these harmful bacteria.

I have also started a side project called metalartcraft.com It is a directory of metal art and craft artisans. It will serve as a source of quality craftpersons from around North America whom create original metal art and craft pieces.  I invite fellow metal artisans to expore the Metal Art Craft website and then submit their information for review and promotion on the metalartcraft.com website.