Covered Kitchen Island Beside Raked Gravel

Design notes

Japanese-inspired outdoor kitchens are calm and linear. Look for a cedar or charred-timber cabinet run, a honed black granite or concrete counter, a hidden grill, a bamboo or slatted screen behind, and a gravel or stepping-stone floor. Lighting is warm and hidden, and everything unnecessary is edited out.

What to look for

• The work triangle — grill, sink and fridge within a few steps
• Ventilation: a hood, an open gable or clear sky above the grill
• Where guests sit relative to the cook