Abstract: A ventilating range hood having an interior transverse wall spanning between the side walls of the hood. The transverse wall separates the range hood into a rear chamber and a forward chamber. The transverse wall includes an aperture for allowing communication between the forward and rear chambers and a closure member for selectively opening and closing the aperture. A plate is removably connected to the back wall for covering the rear exhaust opening. In a recirculation only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member is opened so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows through the aperture and out the top exhaust opening.