Stone Fireplace Kitchen with String Lights at Dusk

Design notes

Rustic outdoor kitchens lean into texture — stacked ledgestone, rough-sawn cedar posts, reclaimed brick and iron hardware. Stainless appliances are framed by masonry so the steel disappears into the stone, and a wood-plank ceiling or pergola warms the space overhead. These kitchens sit comfortably beside fire pits and mature trees.

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