Sunken Fire Pit with Curved Seating Wall

Design notes

Mediterranean design is about shade and thick walls. Look for stucco in warm neutrals, terracotta or travertine underfoot, arches and loggias that throw deep shadow, and gravel courtyards rather than lawn. Water is small and central — a fountain, a rill, a tiled spa — and planting is drought-tolerant: olives, cypress, lavender, rosemary and bougainvillea. Wrought iron, blue-and-white tile and a long table under vines finish the picture.

What to look for

• The paving material and how its joints are handled
• Whether the furniture footprint fits with room to move
• Shade at 4 pm, not just at noon