Nothing marks the start of backyard season quite like a cookout! We’ve got all the ingredients you need for an open-air cooking area that’s truly worthy of your five-star food. Incorporate as many improvements as you’d like—and as your budget allows—then expand your chef’s corner and outdoor kitchen spaces over time. Get started with some of our best ideas, complete with inspirational photos and step-by-step instructions.

Why run back and forth to the house when you can make all of your preparations right outside in the fresh air? You’ll need a food-prep surface (whether it’s a custom-built bluestone countertop or a small, all-weather table), good lighting to keep the party going after nightfall, shelter for the chef (whether it’s a pergola or market umbrella), and if you want to go all out, a sink and some appliances.

Kitchens are the undisputed heart of the home, where everyone gathers, mingles, and lingers during parties. But to achieve that kind of appeal outside means expanding your outdoor living space. To draw a crowd—and keep them entertained—requires a bit more than plopping down a table and a few plastic chairs.

With an outdoor kitchen you can prepare meals and be around your guests with minimal time spent running back inside for plates, beverages, or tongs. Although you could spend tens of thousands of dollars for a custom outdoor kitchen, a basic island is an efficient design that leaves out the complexity of curves and angles. Not only that, with an island guests can relax on one side while you’re cooking on the other, so you feel as though you’re part of the gathering.

Since durability is such a critical issue for an outdoor kitchen, stone veneer is a low-maintenance option that won’t need painting or sealing. Real stone is heavy, expensive, and requires the experience of a mason. Cementitious cultured stone  is easier to work with because it’s lighter, cuts faster, and lasts just as long as the real thing—all while looking as natural as real stone.