While the summer may be winding down, there still might be time to spruce up your outdoor kitchen—or at least think about it for next year. For inspiration, check out the following installations by designers Sandra Espinet, of Interiors by Sandra Espinet, and Michael Glassman, of Michael Glassman & Associates.









































_{Photos: © Aleph Studio}


Located in the Palmilla development just four miles from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, this outdoor kitchen by Espinet has a breathtaking view of the Sea of Cortez, as well as an outdoor seating area shaded by a roof of terracotta tiles. At night, a custom iron chandelier helps set the mood and a remote-controlled gas fireplace offers a touch of drama and a bit of warmth to counter the cool gulf breeze.

Meals are served from a nearby cooking area that encompasses a barbecue and smoker for fabulous summer fare; a refrigerator for keeping produce fresh and beverages chilled; and a sink and ample counter space for food preparation. For the countertops, Espinet selected granite in a flamed finish instead of a polished finish, which absorbs and retains heat more readily, and cabinets are equipped with custom iron doors for durability. Adding rustic appeal, a back wall of locally quarried stone frames the cooking area and features a cutout area paved with Antigua Mexican tile. Twin iron sconces anchor each end of the wall and add a little brightness for nighttime cooking.









































_{Photos: © Aleph Studio}


For the host who likes to cook while chatting with guests, this outdoor kitchen, also located in the Palmilla development and created by Espinet, offers the perfect solution. Partly shielded from the sun by a pergola supported by two columns made of Cantera stone, it packs a good-sized grill, refrigerator, sink, icemaker and storage into a neat, bar-like setup. The polished marble countertops ensure plenty of room for prepping and staging, and custom iron cabinet doors protect against the elements. Decorative Antigua Mexican tiles line the back wall and backsplash for local flavor, and an iron sconce adds rustic charm. Enhancing the look is a bar front of local flagstone, while above, an elevated countertop and seating allow guests to sit and relax.









































_{Photos: © Amy Gallo}


If this kitchen looks familiar, you may have seen it on HGTV's Sizzling Outdoor Kitchens, where it came in as number two in a list of 10 best. Situated in the backyard of a home in Sacramento, CA, this elegant installation by Glassman shelters both host and guests with a peaked roof, yet complements its natural surroundings with a palette of concrete and stone.

Chef and diners are separated by a curved two-tiered counter topped with travertine tiles and faced with Peacock Slate. The upper countertop provides an informal dining and gathering area, while the lower tier contains a sink and serves as a work surface for prepping and plating. Along the back of the kitchen, a second counter functions as the cooking station and is furnished with a grill, burners and a warming drawer. And for pizza lovers, a wood-burning pizza oven to the side delivers freshly baked pies. The roof is equipped with fans and misters for comfortable dining, and recessed lighting ensures sufficient brightness for nighttime entertaining.









































_{Photos: © Amy Gallo}


Intimate and refined yet no less functional, this outdoor kitchen in Sacramento, CA, also uses a curved counter to delineate its cooking and dining areas. The counter is equipped with a sink and two Desert Gold quartzite countertops—one for serving and the other prepping—while above, an open pergola offers shade and a structure into which Glassman integrated lighting.

Just steps away, the main cooking station, also topped with Desert Gold quartzite, is ready to entertain with its stainless-steel barbecue, a set of burners and a refrigerator. Glassman added a stuccoed back wall for privacy and designed it with a series of quartzite insets for visual continuity.