Covered Stone Island with Bar Seating

Design notes

Classic outdoor kitchens are built like a room of the house. Expect brick or dressed-stone piers, a gabled or hipped roof tied into the architecture, granite counters with a traditional edge and a proper hood over the grill. Proportions matter more than finishes here: symmetrical layouts, generous overhangs and a sensible work triangle keep the space usable for decades.

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