Outdoor Kitchen Island Beneath Timber Pergola

Design notes

French country outdoor kitchens are half garden room. Look for limestone counters and floors, a stone or plaster island, an iron canopy or pergola with vines, zinc or wrought-iron bar stools, a bread or pizza oven and a long stone or timber table beneath a tree. Lavender and rosemary in pots do double duty as seasoning.

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