People who travel a lot tend to value a harmonious, tidy home all the more. Flight attendant Kati, from the Instagram account @fly_kati, is no exception. She finds particular relief from the stress of everyday life on her spacious patio. We met the mother of three to talk about summer – her favourite season – and how she uses her outdoor space, among other things.
Dear Kati, tell us: what's the story behind your Instagram name, @fly_kati?
I started my account long before we built our house, and back then it was inspired by my job, which takes me to the most beautiful places in the world. Travelling has always been an important part of my life, so I've kept the name ever since, and I still take my followers along on every trip.
Your job means you're away a lot. Is that why a cosy, harmonious home is particularly important to you?
As a flight attendant, I've been travelling the world for years. Sometimes I'm on the other side of the world for more than a week, and I always have to adapt to new circumstances – hotels, new colleagues and different cultures. So at home, I simply need a safe haven that I'm always happy to come back to and where I feel completely secure.
What has been your most beautiful destination so far, and why?
I honestly can't choose one particular place. I love wandering through an unfamiliar country or city, soaking up the culture and everything that comes with it, and broadening my horizons. I love Asia just as much as North America, for example. New York in the USA will always be at the top of my list, but so will vibrant Asian cities such as Singapore, Shanghai in China and Hong Kong.
How do you relax to balance all the travelling for work?
Above all, through my family. However hectic things get at home with three children, they give me exactly what I need when I come back from my trips. A cosy home is just as much a part of it as regular yoga classes, which I always make time for.
What can your Instagram followers look forward to?
My account is mainly about all the beautiful things you can find in the world of interiors. I love design pieces with clean lines that are simply timeless. We'll probably pass many of them on to our children, and that's the lovely thing about them. In summer, of course, the focus of my account is on our garden and patio.
Summer is your absolute favourite season. Why?
I've always loved summer – I'm a real sun worshipper, and that will never change. On the contrary, since we've had our garden, which becomes a kind of outdoor living room for us in summer, I enjoy life outdoors even more.
How important is your outdoor space to you? What does it mean to you?
We included the spacious patio in our plans while we were still designing the house. From the start, we had in mind an outdoor space with different seating areas and places to retreat to, but it still had to feel open and free, giving us an extra living room in summer.
How big is your outdoor space?
Our outdoor oasis, including the garden, takes up well over half of our plot – almost 600 m². The patio alone is just over 100 m², plus the covered area with the lounge corner.
What are the challenges of such a large patio and garden?
Our garden grows from year to year, and we're far from finished with the design. The upper area still feels too bare to me – I'd like more trees and flowers. My husband, on the other hand, loves keeping it minimalist and symmetrical there, too. I think we still need to find common ground. I'm still dreaming of a pool, for example, and we'd like a raised bed in the same style as the surround for our olive tree.
What style do you follow on your patio and in your garden?
Minimalist design is close to our hearts on the patio, too. Everything is in concrete tones, black and white, and our 5-metre-long dining table in weathered oak fits perfectly into the picture.
What is your personal outdoor highlight?
Without a doubt, our 200-year-old olive tree, which is the jewel and focal point of our patio. We'd always dreamt of having one, and thought for a long time about whether we should risk planting an olive tree in our climate. So far, the experiment has worked, and we've become a kind of test case for many other garden owners. On Instagram, there are now quite a few olive trees with surrounds in exactly our style.
What makes the perfect outdoor space for you?
In summer, we simply move our living room outdoors. Everything then happens in the open air. So of course, the patio needs to be just as cosy as indoors, and the different seating areas definitely help. We eat at the table, of course, and for relaxing there are two lounge areas, sun loungers and a fire pit. I also love ending the day with a glass of wine in my hanging chair until the sun goes down.
Is your outdoor space exactly as you always imagined it, or has it evolved over time?
At first, of course, the idea was a large patio around the house with large concrete slabs. While it was being built, we even made it bigger, and every year new pieces or even whole areas are added, such as the fire pit. I don't think you're ever really finished with a house and garden. After all, you're always changing yourself, and the same naturally happens with your home.
What are the newest designs and accessories on your patio?
I'm always finding new accessories for our patio. For example, we recently added the two large Lyngby glass vases, which we use as lanterns on the dining table. Then there's the Classic Korbo basket in galvanised steel, where we keep the pool towels. When I discover new pieces, I always know exactly where I want to put them.
Have you noticed any current trends in patio design?
On Instagram especially, there are lots of trends that many people then adopt. Our dining table, for example, has been recreated many times, and you'll find our black chairs on quite a few patios. That's exactly what's so lovely – sharing ideas and inspiring each other, so new trends keep emerging along the way.
Is anything else planned for the outdoor space soon?
Definitely a pool with a sun terrace and a new lounge corner next to it. I'm already looking forward to planning and furnishing this area from scratch. My wish list is already full of must-haves for it, and many of them will certainly be from Connox.
Where do you find inspiration for home, living and outdoor ideas?
Mainly on Instagram and Pinterest. There are countless special accounts where you can find ideas. I also love browsing design magazines and, of course, design catalogues like yours, where you can find lots and lots of inspiration.
How are your patio and garden divided?
When we were planning, the most important thing for us was having different places to retreat to on the patio. In the evening, for example, we love sitting on our lounge furniture under the shade sail, while the children prefer to retreat to the lounge area under the covered seating area, even during the day, because it's the shadiest spot. The area around the campfire is also much loved: that's where we toast sausages and bread on sticks, while we relax in our Hee lounge chairs from HAY.
Your favourite plant is...?
Definitely olive trees and citrus plants. I simply love the Mediterranean style and the scent of lemon blossom. It reminds me of the south, and for me, lemons stand for summer. Both are also fairly easy to care for, as long as you know how to look after them.
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Thank you so much for inviting us into your spacious outdoor space!
https://www.instagram.com/fly_kati/
