Stucco Cabana Kitchen with Stone Island

Design notes

Desert outdoor kitchens are built for shade. Look for stucco or rammed-earth bases, concrete counters, a ramada or louvered roof with fans, a kamado or grill set into an earthy island, corten accents and gravel underfoot. Planting stays to agave and desert trees, and lighting is low so dinner can happen under the stars.

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