- Changing from your existing masonry fireplace to the linear gas fireplace in the photo you posted a link to would likely be fairly expensive, as it would require removing/modifying the masonry of your existing fireplace, but there are other approaches you might consider. One of the keys to modern is minimalism. You might try keeping the appearance as uncluttered as possible - perhaps by removing an existing mantel or stripping away other elements to leave only the most essential parts. If it is a wood burning fireplace, the building code requires that you leave non-combustible hearth protection in front of the fireplace, but you might be able to change the hearth material to make it more modern (pink wall with hearth flush on floor). The other thing you might consider is changing over to a modern gas burner, with glass media or stones (first photo, with black mantel). There are gas inserts that are beautiful as well last photo with stone wall), but the investment goes up when you get into a full system with firebox, surround, venting etc. If you have a photo of your current situation, we might be able to tailor our suggestions to be more helpful.

Thank you roj leather and Simon for your recommendations. I like the hanging chair and the almanda creeper on the wall. This will certainly liven up the patio.

This arrangement works much better, but some adjustments are needed to make it work. First, the fireplace grouping needs to be tightened. It crowds the dining area and you need a passageway behind the couch. Turn the rug lengthwise, parallel to the fireplace. Pull the large couch about 2 1/2 feet closer to the fireplace, and place the two chairs and loveseat on the ends of the rug, and pull them closer together. This will give you a more intimate conversation area, and not impose on the other areas of the room. Remove that floor lamp from behind the couch. If you need the light in that area, put it by the fireplace. Also, the stereo system on the mantel needs to find another home. Maybe it can go IN the fireplace instead. At the other end of the room, I think the arrangement would look better if the seating were rotated 90 degrees. Keep the rug and coffee table in its current configuration, place the sofa either facing the window or with its back to the window, and put the two chairs opposite it. Finally, the dining area. Now that you've moved the big leather chairs, you should have enough room. Your rug is too small. It should be big enough to give you at least a 2 ft. border all the way around when the chairs are pushed in. And it's a really beautiful table; please uncover it. I can't see what kind of lighting that area has. It really needs a pendant or chandelier hanging directly over the table.

A few suggestions based upon your lower photo, the fourth I guess. a. If you had the wall built, ask the guys that built it to perform your wishes. If it came with the house, call the former owner, whose name is on your deed. b. If the former suggestion is a dead end, let's analyze before we plan. You want to have a space for cooking and dining outdoors. This is such a beautiful yard, it does not deserve a portable BBQ unit exposed when not on fire, so put it in the garage as soon as it is cool. If you are going full hog for a builtin BBQ facility, perhaps it can be built against an existing wall, and just the dining area then needs the increased space. A 6' wide round table, requires about 12-14' for itself and the surrounding chairs and service area. Will you be happy with only a 15' or even a 20' section of wall moved? c. Remove the plants from the area that you plan to usurp, and about 5' beyond, and rent a sod cutter to remove all of the lawn from the vehicle entry point to the lower curved wall, by the palm, and stockpile it in shade, if possible. d. Have the contractor saw a vertical cut in the wall at the points of removal. Measure the distance of the plant bed to back wall. Cut the front bed wall that is to be removed with two sections of that overall bed dimention, so they can be placed as end walls for the two sections of bed that are no longer continuous. e. Have the contractor dig up the wall, and cut the two pieces to remain so they are free of the wall to be dumped. He will remove the existing soil from the bed. Modify any irrigation that exists, and then install the two wall slabs to their new duty locations, attach them to the remaining walls, backfill and replant as required.. f. The next step is to cultivate the compaced earth in the lawn area, rake it and resod. If the dining/BBQ areas are to be a dining terrace, you might wait until the sod is reestablished, say another month, before initiating that construction, as you don't want the sod to remain in a pile for long, or you will have to buy new. If it is to be a flagstone terrace, you can have that material delivered and stockpiled where the bed used to be, while the wall crew is just leaving. Will that fill your need. Give this post to the contractor so he can take measurements, and provide you an estimate overnight. Summer cookouts have already begun. Looks like we will miss the 4th of July bash.