A California family puts a fresh face on their underused backyard.

The Mission: Repurpose a nondescript patio into an inviting, year-round entertaining space. Chris Fenmore and her husband, Eric, never thought the backyard of their Southern California ranch house needed much enhancement. It was featureless, but it had a serviceable patch of lawn and tables for outdoor dining. Then the couple, who own a garden-design firm in Corona del Mar, replaced the 1950s-era windows overlooking the patio with newer versions. Deciding the moment was right for an outdoor overhaul as well, Chris drew on her expertise from 14 years in the landscaping business to configure an easy-living, eco-chic backyard that maximizes the property’s size and views. Casual and comfortable, the new space is now the family’s favorite hangout spot.

The lack of lawn is no problem. “Our ranch home is pretty small,” says Chris, “and by paving almost the entire backyard, it’s like we doubled the house’s square footage. To me, the trade-off was worth it.”

The Big Idea: Blur the line between indoors and out by treating the patio as a seamless continuation of the interior. “I wanted the backyard to feel like a series of interconnected rooms,” Chris explains. So the couple mapped out free-flowing zones that approximate a living room, dining room, and kitchen. Homey touches, such as a comfy cotton carpet, pendant lamps, and a generously-sized fireplace hearth, reinforce the effect.

The Plan: Create a relaxed-yet-traditional patio that harmonizes with the home’s decor, using materials that require minimal upkeep. Visually anchor the backyard with a dramatic, wood-burning fireplace that encourages into-the-evening lingering. Echo the house’s low-slung architecture by constructing a minimalist, shaded dining pavilion. Install a state-of-the-art grill and half fridge for easy meal prep.

The Splurge: Paving almost the entire rear of the property with reclaimed brick “was pricey, but worth it,” Chris says. The bricks, from a building tear-down in nearby Los Angeles, “have so much character, and I love the texture.” To help delineate specific activity areas and keep the eye moving, Chris laid the bricks in a mix of patterns, including herringbone and basket weave.

The Savings: With an inexpensive do-it-yourself fountain kit and a 42-inch-tall glazed ceramic pot, Eric and Chris were able to afford the noise-obscuring water feature they craved. The couple gave the pump-fitted urn a pricey custom look by adding uplights for nighttime illumination.