Circular Gas Fire Pit Beside Stucco Arches

Design notes

Mediterranean design is about shade and thick walls. Look for stucco in warm neutrals, terracotta or travertine underfoot, arches and loggias that throw deep shadow, and gravel courtyards rather than lawn. Water is small and central — a fountain, a rill, a tiled spa — and planting is drought-tolerant: olives, cypress, lavender, rosemary and bougainvillea. Wrought iron, blue-and-white tile and a long table under vines finish the picture.

What to look for

• Conversation-distance seating all the way around
• Setback from structures, fences and branches
• A dry, lit path back to the house