Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 PRF0147726B – Full Review of the 100 cm Ceiling Hood with Plasterboard Panel, H16 Motor, Tune-White LED and Wi-Fi App Elica Connect

The Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 (code PRF0147726B — EAN 8020283046764) is the first completely concealed ceiling hood, designed to blend in a totally natural way with the kitchen ceiling or false ceiling. Design by Fabrizio Crisà. This is the H16 version (a compact height of just 16 cm) with integrated motor, a panel coverable with plasterboard customisable with the same finish as the ceiling (plasterboard not included) and a stainless steel frame — the Illusion variant that achieves the maximum degree of architectural integration: once clad with the ceiling's plasterboard, the only visible element is the slim perimeter stainless frame and LED strips. The Illusion design philosophy is radical: eliminate the hood visually not as an element that blends into the kitchen style, but as one that literally disappears into the ceiling, becoming part of the space's architecture. The PAINT panel allows the same material, paint or cladding as the ceiling to be applied — plasterboard, plaster, wallpaper, any finish compatible with plasterboard — creating absolute surface continuity. Despite the slim 16 cm profile, intensive airflow is 720 m³/h at energy class A. The Tune-White LED strip 2×14W (563 lux, 2,700–5,000K) with dimmer makes the hood also an adaptive lighting system. Controls via included 3V+2I remote control or via Elica Connect Wi-Fi App and voice assistant. Installation is facilitated by the Super Easy Installation system with 5 directions for the ventilation unit. Made in Italy, Fabriano (AN).

Key Features

• Model: ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 – PRF0147726B
• EAN: 8020283046764
• Design: Fabrizio Crisà
• Type: Ceiling hood – plasterboard-clad panel – integrated H16 motor
• Width: 100 cm
• Dimensions: 100 × 50 cm
• Height: 16 cm (super slim H16)
• Net weight: 23 kg
• Finish: Panel coverable with plasterboard (not included) + stainless steel frame
• Energy class: A
• Controls: 3V+2I remote control included – Elica Connect Wi-Fi App – Voice assistant
• Intensive airflow: 720 m³/h
• Maximum noise level: 69 dB(A)
• Total power consumption: 293 W
• Lighting: LED strip 2×14 W – Tune-White 2,700–5,000 K – 563 lux – dimmer
• Decorative lamp provision: Yes – compatible with any lamp on the market
• Air outlet: 220×90 mm (rectangular)
• Filters: Aluminium grease filter included
• Installation: Super Easy Installation – 5 directions for ventilation unit
• Version: Extraction (A) – convertible to recycling with optional kit
• Optional recycling kits: KIT0148450A / KIT0167743
• Long Life Filter: Available – regenerable odour filter lasting up to 3 years
• Made in Italy – Fabriano (AN)

Assessment

The Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 PRF0147726B is the most radical product in the hood category in Elica's catalogue: it does not merely integrate into the environment but disappears into the ceiling architecture in a total and definitive way. The PAINT version takes this philosophy to the maximum level — the plasterboard-customisable panel eliminates the last trace of "appliance" in the horizontal plane of the kitchen. The slim stainless frame that remains visible is not perceived as a hood but as an architectural detail of the false ceiling, comparable to a finished plasterboard edge. The H16 version with just 16 cm height is the solution for false ceilings with limited technical space where the H30 version would not be installable — even at 16 cm, the 720 m³/h airflow ensures adequate extraction for medium kitchens. Control via Elica Connect Wi-Fi App and voice assistant — in the absence of any visible button on the panel — is the only interface mode consistent with the concept of total invisibility; the remote control is the tactile quick-control tool. Tune-White LED lighting — 2,700?5,000K colour temperature adjustment — transforms the LED strips from simple service lights into an adaptive lighting system that changes character with time of day and kitchen activity. The provision for additional decorative lamps (braided cables, ceramic lamp holders, warm LED bulbs) allows Illusion to also be used as a kitchen lighting hub.

FAQ

What is the PAINT panel on the Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100, and how is it customised?

The PAINT panel of the Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 PRF0147726B is the central panel of the hood designed to be clad with plasterboard — not included in the box and purchased separately. The concept is that the plasterboard applied to the PAINT panel can be treated exactly like the rest of the ceiling: painted, plastered, covered with wallpaper, tinted with the same colour as the false ceiling, or any other finish suitable for plasterboard. The result is absolute continuity between the hood surface and the ceiling surface — the only visible element is the perimeter stainless steel frame. This distinguishes the PAINT panel from the BL (black soft touch, black frame) and WH (white soft touch, white frame) variants: while those have a predefined finish that integrates chromatically, the PAINT integrates materially, adapting to any existing or planned ceiling finish.

How is the Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 controlled without visible controls on the panel, and what does the Elica Connect App offer?

The Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 PRF0147726B is controlled exclusively via three interfaces: the included 3V+2I remote control — enabling management of 3 standard speeds plus 2 intensive, lighting and dimmer from a distance without any physical contact with the hood; the Elica Connect App — available for smartphones and tablets, enables Wi-Fi management of the hood even without a local internet connection (BLE); and compatible voice assistants for hands-free control during cooking. The remote control is the primary daily-use mode; the app adds scheduling and remote monitoring features. The decision to eliminate physical controls from the panel is consistent with the total integration concept: any button on the surface would break the continuity effect with the ceiling.

What is the difference between the Elica ILLUSION H16 and ILLUSION H30, and when should the H16 be chosen?

The two main Elica ILLUSION versions with integrated motor differ in hood body height and consequent technical space required in the false ceiling: ILLUSION H16 (PRF0147726B) has a compact height of just 16 cm — the super slim version designed for false ceilings with limited technical space — with intensive airflow of 720 m³/h; ILLUSION H30 has a height of 30 cm, accommodates a more powerful motor and offers higher airflows. The choice between H16 and H30 depends primarily on available height in the false ceiling: if technical space is less than 30 cm, H16 is the only option. Where space is available, H30 offers greater motor flexibility for larger kitchens or intensive cooking. The NO MOTOR version (PRF0146252A) with no integrated motor also exists, to be connected to any compatible external remote motor for maximum installation flexibility.

Conclusion

The Elica ILLUSION H16 PAINT/A/100 PRF0147726B is the choice for those who want the hood to completely disappear into the ceiling architecture with absolute material integration: plasterboard-coverable panel customisable with ceiling finish, stainless frame, super slim H16 integrated motor just 16 cm, 720 m³/h class A airflow, Tune-White LED strip 2×14W 563 lux 2,700–5,000K with dimmer, included 3V+2I remote control, Wi-Fi Elica Connect App with voice assistant, Super Easy Installation 5 directions, 100×50 cm, 23 kg, extraction convertible to recycling, Made in Italy Fabriano. A hood you cannot see, cannot touch and cannot hear — only feel its effects. Visit the official Elica website to discover all versions and accessories of the Illusion range.