Escape to the Patio

Transforming a small, hedge-engulfed patio into a chic, luxurious mecca was the challenge for two local pros. Interior designer Dayna Katlin and landscape artist John Lyons show how they pulled it off.

There used to be a big divide between indoor and outdoor furniture. But lucky for us outdoors-lovin’ Californians, not any more. These days, plush, stylish, weather-resistant pieces with colorful, textured fabrics—suitable for the swankiest of living rooms—are available everywhere.

That was what immediately came to Dayna Katlin’s mind (daynakatlininteriors.com) after glancing at the rarely used patio off the master bedroom at an Encino ranch house. Easily compiling a list of local resources, she envisioned a picturesque, Zen-like outdoor lounge filled with generous, woven rattan pieces.

“I wanted to make the patio a place for breakfast, lunch, evening relaxing, a spot for a glass of wine—one person napping while the other is reading. I also wanted it dog- and kid-friendly,” Dayna remarks. The use of Sunbrella, she adds, “makes it all possible. It’s a miracle fabric. It holds up well to wet swimsuits, sun and dirt.”

Before furniture was even discussed, though, Dayna and John Lyons (thewovengarden.com) zeroed in on landscaping. They agreed: The four-foot hedge had to go. “The hedge was a little claustrophobic and too monochromatic. I wanted to create something with a lively but subtle palette of color that wouldn’t get too high,” John explains.

John headed to the pristine, plant-filled West Valley Nursery in Tarzana, selecting low shrubs that hold up well to heat. “As they grow, they’ll form a lovely tapestry of hues,” John says. For a pop of color, blue salvia was added to the foreground.

To accent the canopy bed, John placed potted, silver-hued dwarf olive trees. “Slow-growing, the trees will reach four to six feet, depending on pot size. They can be root-pruned every few years to keep them truly dwarf.”

Dayna’s selection of pillow fabrics was key for giving the space a “playful vibe.” She chose three prints: a Missoni-style chevron, a basic stripe and one with dragonflies. “It is pretty eclectic but still visually cohesive. The combination is fun and spirited. Outdoors should not be serious,” she remarks.

And to add a touch of of whimsy, the interior designer used accessories in unconventional ways. The blue-and-white ceramic planter serves as a beverage cooler; the metal planter becomes a towel holder. “You don’t have to buy everything new to achieve this look. I’m always advising clients to look at what they already have and use it in a different way,” Dayna quips.

Now the homeowners have an additional space offering beach-resort comfort almost year round—perfect for everything from dining to dozing. No construction necessary. Just clever ideas and unexpected choices.

ON THE COFFEE TABLE:
Place settings and flatware
Cost Plus World Market, worldmarket.com
Blue-and-white ceramic pot, $175
A State of Mind
12429 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, 818-760-8330

FURNITURE:
All-weather rattan swivel rocker chairs, $1,225 each
Coffee table, $602
Canopy bed, $4,195
Patio Heaven, 310-694-7355
Pillow fabric Duralee
800-275-3872, duralee.com

IN THE SPICE GARDEN:
Bluebird house, $258
Porcelain plant markers, $7.75 each
Aum & Garden
13363 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, 818-788-3400

ON THE PATIO:
Metal French Planter (used to hold towels), $450- Aum & Garden
Monogrammed towels – Encino Dry Cleaners 16946 Ventura Blvd. 818-986-8464

ON THE BED:
Le Cadeaux salad plate in white, $14
Le Cadeaux dinner plate in blue, $18
Le Cadeaux bowl in blue, $14
Aum & Garden

PLANTS:
Dwarf olive tree
‘Little Ollie’ Pittosporum
‘Creme de Menthe’ Pittosporum
‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’ Coleonema Pulchrum
‘Sunset Gold’ Salvia
‘Mystic Spires’ West Valley Nursery
19035 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 818-342-2623