The outdoor hearth is primed for cooking in the summer.

About her collection of cookware, Tyler comments: “I use accessories as the color in spaces so these items are an integral part of the overall design."

Shoku enjoys cooking.

“We want guests to come together and eat and have a drink,” says Judith, “but we also want guests to feel like they have their private space.”

With all the add-ons fitted, the Ulaelu cooking platform can be set up to handle the entire cooking process. The base unit starts at just under $2,000. One possible add-on, the sink, features a holder to position your garden hose in place. Used water can be funneled with a hose to a drainpipe or flowerbed.

Along with the main platform, you can order a charcoal grill with a stainless steel cooking grate for preparing meat and vegeables.

The fully kitted version of the Ulaelu, with a sink and hose holder, drained stone work surface, and charcoal grill costs $5,018. It's higher than the cost of a $150 Weber charcoal grill, a $400 gas grill, or a sub-$100 fold-away table, but you’re purchasing a full-fledged kitchen that will transform your outdoor cooking experience.

"I don't like traditional spatulas very much," Perelman says. "I always find them a little thick and cumbersome, but I love using what's called a flexible fish spatula and there's no reason just to use it for fish; I use it for everything. It's a thinner metal spatula that's a bit bendy. It's like razor thin so you can slide it under anything really easily. I use it to loosen cakes from pans and to get them off a springform base. I've gotten rid of pretty much every metal or bent spatula for this instead." Sur La Table sells stainless-steel versions for $9–$17.

Because the Mellow connects via Wi-Fi, it can also take commands mid-cycle to extend or shorten the cooking time if you’re delayed or coming back early.

Sous Vide by Nomiku, $299 Clip this onto the side of a pot, add sealed ingredients, and turn the knob to start cooking. The Sous Vide’s precision temperature control lets you cook a fish fillet to the exact doneness.

José Roberto, who says his family is always cooking something, prepares a snack with Jimena on the Ariston gas cooktop installed on the custom table.

The Hang Around cooking set designed by KiBiSi for Muuto.

If you frequently entertain guests in your home, or love holding long leisurely dinner parties on the weekends, it’s a good idea to keep these points in mind when designing or remodeling your kitchen. Here are some tips on how to turn this functional area into a space that's fit and fun for gatherings.

Le Nid ramekin for cooking and serving eggs by Christian Ghon for Alessi.

Kitchen cooking area

Another tactic is perishable items that look good enough to display on a kitchen counter. This line of Greek olive oil fits the bill--it even won a Red Dot Design Award for packaging in 2012. FIVE Organic extra virgin olive oil, $49 each at Ultra Lavish.

The 510 Cabin is one of Leggitt's designs, executed with the help of student apprentices.

A cooking classroom contributes to the students' well-rounded education.

House in Luxor - Cooking Space

Get into the Valentine’s Day spirit while you cook or bake with the Falcon Enamelware Prep Set, shown here in bold red. The set includes five mixing bowls and a colander.

Ben enjoys spending time outdoors on warm days cooking meals for his family.

Launech teaches cooking classes in the house, and the mobile countertops make it easy for her to configure the kitchen to her tastes.

The Hang Around cooking set is made of white Beech and measures in at 11.2 inches in length.

Large sliding glass doors extend to the kitchen and dining area, creating outdoor cooking space when fully open.

The cover of Murakami Versailles.

At 700 square feet, Chris and Ady's cottage had to make economical use of space—like the bar-height dining table doubling as a cooking countertop.

The kitchen extends from inside to outside. Large sliding doors completely open up the interior living spaces to the exterior deck, which provides additional prep, dining, and cooking spaces.

Pendant by Matthew Fairbank Design.

Clock by Ding3000 for Discipline.

The structure of the coop was inspired by the new bus shelters and newsstands in New York City.

The architects set up a cozy reading nook off the kitchen, with furnishings picked by Santos. Positioned as it is beside the big windows, the spot benefits from the views outside, and enables family members to chat easily while cooking.

At their dining table, the Moumings enjoy the fruits of Joanna’s passion for cooking and Geoff’s passion for growing.

For this growing and active family, the open concept works great for cooking and dining, with plenty of storage space for all the family's cooking and dining essentials.

William Lamson's Solarium.

Though humble, their kitchen contains state-of-the-art cooking equipment, including a Presso hand-operated espresso maker.

The steel-framed stair with concrete treads and glass guardrail makes a nice perch for the family cat to take in views of the lake and check out what's cooking in the kitchen. Photo by J.C. Schmeil.