Tour a California Design Blogger's Enviable Outdoor Space

Katrina Blair Sullivan's home features a cottage-style outbuilding that serves as a studio/office and an outdoor space that maximizes California's alfresco entertaining options.

August 19, 2021

By: Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason

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Watering Plants at Her California Modern Casual Home

Design blogger Katrina Blair Sullivan likes to describe her style as “California Modern Casual." The aesthetic is perfectly expressed in her cozy Sacramento 1950s ranch house. Just beyond the outdoor dining room is a perfect little garden that Katrina loves tending to.

Katrina In Front of Her California Cottage Studio

Katrina Blair Sullivan lives in a beautiful Sacramento bungalow with her husband Hasani, their two boys, and their chocolate lab Oliver. The design blogger and social media influencer is always tweaking things at home. And last summer during the pandemic, she and her husband made the decision that it was time to create the outdoor space of their dreams. They did just that, turning their back patio into a retreat with a lounge, dining area and a cottage studio where Katrina can focus on her creative work.

This Cottage Living Room Is a Beautiful Rhapsody in Blue

“My goal was to create a sunlit cottage, with midcentury vibes, natural elements and beautiful tone-on-tone colors.” Katrina did just that with a mix of blues that keep the small cottage feeling open and airy. “A sofa was an absolute must for my cottage. It was love at first sight when I came across the Monroe Sofa from APT2B. I wanted to add a punch of color in the space and I’m so, so happy I went for it and selected the navy fabric. I’m in love with the midcentury vibes, from the bench seat to the leggy profile.”

A Cottage Studio With an Iconoclastic Blue Door

“Working on the backyard cottage [was] a great creative outlet,” says Katrina. An empty shed in the back of the home became the perfect place for her work-from-home studio. “Everything before was very overgrown. One of the front windows of the cottage was completely covered in bushes and vines and the yard was in terrible shape. Outside the cottage, I trimmed back all the overgrown hedges and potato vines, and began training the vine to climb under the eves. To give the door a fresh look, I painted the door Baritone, by Glidden. The turquoise blue door looks so cute on the exterior and by happy accident, it coordinates with the interior.”

This Charming Backyard Cottage Boasts a Home Office

The cottage office has a desk and side chair in line with the midcentury aesthetic. “I love midcentury modern style and found the perfect desk at Scandinavian Designs.” For the chair, Katrina sourced another favorite shop. “I found the perfect desk chair at World Market. The chair is actually a dining chair and works perfectly as either. Online they’re sold as a pair [but] I was able to buy one in-store.”

A Sideboard Doubles As Storage in This Cottage Studio Office

The small cottage studio was also in need of storage. A dining room sideboard became the perfect solution. “[The] sideboard turns into a credenza and offers plenty of hidden storage with adjustable shelves inside.”

Custom Pillows Bring Pattern and Color To This Cottage Couch

When asked about the details of her space, Katrina says, “On the sofa, I wanted vibrant pillows that would look amazing and bring in texture and color.” Katrina admits that the custom pillows “were a labor of love. I just love the pattern mix.”

This Patio Retreat Finds Shelter Under a Charming Pergola

“The goal always is to make our spaces welcoming, relaxing and feel good,” says Katrina about the outdoor space she’s designed. “Our outdoor space feels like an extension of our home. We gain so much additional square footage, making our home feel so much larger.” The large outdoor area means that the whole family can gather outside with ease. Whether eating dinner, relaxing in the lounge area or enjoying a cocktail, the space has been curated to be a multifunctional outdoor living area.

A Well-Appointed Outdoor Bar Makes Entertaining a Breeze

Katrina also had a goal of making her outdoor space an easy place to entertain. An outdoor bar was installed by the back door. “One of my absolute musts for outdoor spaces is a console table. They’re perfect for holding all the things, from drinks to buffet style dinners. Using a simple white tray, I created a tabletop bar station and added one below for sparkling water,” she explains. With a few lemons fresh from the tree beside the console — one of the perks of California's temperate climate and year-round great weather — it’s the perfect place to mix a refreshing drink.

A Cozy Outdoor Lounge Area

“For the lounge on our patio, comfort is key. It's hard to choose my favorite spot to sit. We’ve had our sofa for a few years and we love it and our modern deep seating gray wicker chairs,” says Katrina regarding the outdoor lounge area. The seating area is complemented by a mix of blue woven pillows and lots and lots of greenery.

A Bright and Cheerful Outdoor Dining Space

“The first update we made to our outdoor space was a new dining table. We’ve been in need of a new outdoor dining room table and chairs for ages, our old one was on its last leg,” explains Katrina. With an outdoor dining table that can seat the whole family and guests, it’s the perfect place for alfresco dinners. “I love that we can comfortably seat eight people around the table. We’ve had dinner outside several times and it’s been so nice. I love serving family style.”

Metallic and Ceramic Accessories Bring Indoor Style to This Outdoor Dining Room

Katrina has a love of mixing and matching materials to bring interest to the spaces that she designs. “I love to mix and match various textures, especially outside.” On the dining table the mix continues with a modern metallic lantern. It stands out against the wood and white metal that makes up this outdoor dining vignette.