One of our favorite home-renovation fantasies involves stepping out the creaky back door and into the perfect outdoor “living room,” where we would comfortably lounge on warm, breezy summer nights, sipping Lillet and laughing with friends. A living area not entirely unlike this:

Thanks to the recent issue of Elle Décor that featured this photo, we’ve been revisiting this fantasy for several days now. In fact, we’re already chilling the Lillet. Don’t you just love the idea of reclining by this firepit as the sun slips down over your country landscape?

What? You don’t have a country landscape? And firepits are not allowed in your dry, Southern California neighborhood? No, wait, that’s us. But, never mind all that, it’s time to embrace the summer months and stop thinking of square footage in terms of interior floor space alone. And there is a variation of this outdoor space that would suit our home -- and fire safety standards – just perfectly.

And we’re going to find it. Any suggestions?