Topping my wish list for the ten years I lived in New York was a backyard space. Just a little patch of grass with enough private space for me to kick back on an Adirondack chair and sip on wine during the hot summer nights would have sufficed. Since moving to Minneapolis and easily procuring that little patch of grass, I’m dreaming even bigger now, envisioning comfy patio furniture, lush wildflower gardens and in my wildest dreams, an in-ground pool. I might be getting a little ahead of myself, so for now I’ll pore over the dreamy backyards and patios in our Sneak Peeks of the past few years. Scroll to the very end and tell me you don’t want an in-ground pool too. -Shannon

Image above: Chelsea and Forrest Kline show their California pride and use cinderblocks in the most creative way in their backyard.

Image above: Dance parties are a common occurrence on this screened-in patio come spring and fall for interior designer Cortney Bishop.

Image above: Hard to believe that Mary Jo and Steve Hoffman’s secluded lake side backyard is just ten minutes from downtown Minneapolis.

See more backyards and patios after the jump…

Image above: Hillary Petrie of Egg Collective says this screened in patio in her New Orleans home is a great place to end all dinner parties.

Image above: Nestled in her Santa Barbara yard, Leslie Lewis Sigler culled this beautiful collection of succulents from friend’s yards, neighborhood walks and local nurseries.

Image above: Jess and Dustin Glasscoe spend summer days lounging in these nifty hanging chairs in their Vermont home.

Image above: Paula Mills’ Australian home is a stunning showcase for thrifted and salvaged decor. Her charming front porch is filled with furniture sourced from eBay, an auction and an art school.

Image above: Amy and Erich McVey and Erich’s dad made this inviting summer patio area in their Oregon home, from the table to the seating and upholstery. It’s no surprise that they spend as much time as possible on this patio during the warmer months.

Image above: The newly built deck in Paula Kilpatrick’s Australian home is a great place for gazing out at the pastoral beauty that is actually her neighbor’s property.

Image above: A couple of raised garden beds in the backyard of Greg and Melissa Hoy’s Pennsylvania home.

Image above: In Brooklyn, Douglas Riccardi cherishes his tiny yet lush urban oasis.

Image above: Claire Cottrell would love to build a treehouse in the great big pine tree in the front yard of her California home.

Image above: Hard to believe that Bernadette Pascua’s charming little balcony is located in Brooklyn rather than somewhere in Europe.

Image above: Tyler and Jessie of One Plus One Design spend as much time as possible during the summer sitting under the pergola in their Winnipeg home.

Image above: Jesse James and Kostas Anagnopoulos keep it simple with in the backyard of their upstate New York getaway.

Image above: Another look at Mary Jo and Steve Hoffman’s backyard. The zip line Steve and his dad installed for their daughter Eva’s 13th birthday. She asked for a cell phone, they built her this zip line instead.

Image above: Jess and Mr. Lively love that their Chicago apartment has a patio, a great spot for relaxing after work during the summer.

Image above: Jared Frank and Sam Jacober transformed their previously barren and gravel filled backyard into a relaxing, spa-like sanctuary by sourcing antique items that could withstand the elements.

Image above: Maybe the most playful backyard in our round up, many rowdy summer days and nights have been spent in Cody Cloud and Julia Galdo’s California yard.

Image above: I saved my favorite backyard for last: a vacation home located in Provence. Between the renovated stone courtyard and the pool (below) flanked by cypress and olive trees, I would spend the entire summer in this yard.