By Design

When it comes to kitchen and bath design, generation gaps seem narrower than ever.

That's because modern notes are sounding -- mirroring trends in home furnishings -- with simpler cabinet fronts, minimal hardware and clean, sleek lines in appliances and faucets. Modern is the fastest-growing category, according to a survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

"We see kitchen design trending more contemporary this year," says John Petrie, a certified master kitchen and bath designer (CMKBD) of Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and president of the NKBA. That means "clean, simple lines, less clutter and little ornamentation."

Petrie also suggests that spa baths and Zen-like retreats, which are probably at the top of remodeling wish lists, are "driving a more contemporary aesthetic."

And technology is being embraced by all, with more efficient products that are smarter, faster and more stylish.

Connectivity, particularly, struck a chord at the February Kitchen and Bath Show in Las Vegas. That shouldn't come as a surprise, considering that the latest data on the Internet of Everything (IoE) points to a growth from 10 billion to 30 billion devices in 2020, according to Allied Business Intelligence Inc. That means more network connectivity for everyday objects, allowing them to send and receive data.

How does that affect your roast, you might ask. One buzz-worthy introduction from Dacor is its first Droid-controlled wall oven, with a generous 4.7-cubic-foot capacity and Wi-Fi connectivity that will text you when dinner's ready.

Already on the market is a refrigerator from LG (Smart ThinQ) that is equipped with an LCD screen that tells you what's inside, which food about to expire and even ingredients you need to buy -- all accessible through a smartphone app.

Other appliance-smart features have to do with function. For wine enthusiasts, Dacor's new built-in Discovery WineStation dispenses and preserves wines, keeping contents "as the vintner intended" for up to 60 days.

A high level of sophistication, especially with multiple functions, is further distinguishing the more commercial-style ranges. Viking's impressive Turbo oven is speedy and versatile: It roasts, broils, toasts, dehydrates and turns out fab pizza in minutes -- plus it has a microwave mode. A whole chicken can be roasted in 14 minutes; 48 minutes for a 14-pound turkey.

Healthy eating also is feeding continued interest in steam and convention functions, and Thermador's 48-inch Pro Grand Steam range offers a combined steam and convection oven, in addition to a large-capacity convection oven, six burner gas cooktop (with one high-power 22,000 BTU burner) and electric grill/griddle, as well as a warming drawer.

In addition to the way things cook, appliance manufacturers also are looking at accessibility -- both for its convenience and for universal design. So one of the new Viking wall ovens actually borrows from the concept of the popular French door-style refrigerators. The way its two-door oven operates is with a single touch, which opens both sides. It's not only a feature that speaks to an aging population or the vertically challenged, it's one that appeals to anyone handling a casserole.

Space-saving and organizational efficiency is one more hot button for manufacturers. Microwave drawers such as Thermador's flush mount MicroDrawer are offering new flexibility and function (1.2 cubic feet and 10 cooking modes) for standard-depth cabinets. A 24-inch European-style all-freezer or all-fridge from Liebherr is three inches slimmer than Sub-Zero's slimmest.

And Frigidaire's new freezer is a chameleon: It converts to a refrigerator at the flip of a switch. A company spokesman said the idea is for an extra appliance to blend in (it was shown in a laundry room, in a steely gray painted finish to match a washer and dryer).

According to an NKBA survey of kitchen designers, the features most in demand are: induction cooktops, steam ovens, French door refrigerators; bottom-freezer refrigerators; touch-activated faucets; electronic (no-touch faucets) and LED lighting.

Furniture-style cabinets still are dominating kitchen design, and along with the trend for cleaner lines, there is less of an interest in highly ornamented Tuscan and Provincial looks as well as distressed finishes.

That said, showing off grain is riding a new wave of popularity -- in traditional and modern styles. And if there is a color story in cabinetry designs, it's gray -- both in kitchens and baths. It ranges from richer brown-based cappuccino to almost blue-gray, in matte finishes in stains and paints, as well as high gloss. Going-with-the-grain looks range from quarter-sawn oak to ash to walnut. Some reclaimed looks were described by one company as a "Restoration Hardware style."

So the espresso hues that once captivated have all but disappeared -- from the near black, with richer browns retreating from oranges and red tones, sometimes to greener bases taking their place, according to a spokesman from KraftMaid. This actually parallels what's happening in interior design, except for gilt and silver finishes which are unlikely to be translated to the cucina.

Shiny finishes have opened the door to high-style European looks. Elmwood Cabinetry, a Canadian-based company, introduced furniture-like resin panels with 3-D effects, such as foil metallic substrates that appear to be backlit. Other looks include wavy, stripy veneers for both counters and cabinets, some with a hint of metallic sparkle, all mirroring trends at Maison & Objet in Paris.

Horizontal striping also is trending in cabinetry, again -- a look that's not uncommon in Europe, as evidenced in Poggenpohl collections in walnut and ash. In addition, plank looks, riffing on those in flooring, as well as bead board turned on its side are fresh ideas.

What's especially apparent is a fresh kind of eclecticism where weathered plank floors, linen-y upholstery, minimal cabinetry and crystal chandeliers seamlessly cohabit.

Cabinet interiors are equally important, again most notably with soft, close mechanisms that are practically a standard option and pull-down options as well as cubby drawer dividers, which organize everything from spices to spatulas.

Customization of cabinetry punctuates the trend to creating spa-like bathrooms, which, like kitchens, also are becoming more high-tech. Besides therapeutic applications, such as aromatherapy and hyrdrotherapy, which have been ramping up in recent years, other digital technologies include integration of music into the bath.

Nearly half of the adult population in the United States own a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center, and users cop to taking them everywhere -- according to a recent survey, 75 percent use smartphones in the bathroom.

"Smartphones are transforming the way people access music," says Leslie Bronson, product manager for faucets at Kohler Co. "Half of all smartphone users stream music directly from their devices." Kohler's Moxie showerhead, syncs with any Bluetooth-enabled device (up to 32 feet away), smartphone and MP3 player, and streams music into the shower. The cool, acoustic wireless speaker actually pops in and out so you can charge it and use it anywhere in the house or take it to the beach.

Besides hands-free faucets, there are digital showers with wireless technology to control water temperature. Delta Temp2O features a digital temperature display with LED color indicators to signal different water temperature ranges.

Brizo now has flush-mounted body sprays called HydraChoice whose heads extend with water pressure, can be adjusted 50 degrees in any direction and aimed where you want the stream. Plus there are four choices of interchangeable sprays for customization. Select heads feature H2O Kinetic technology to provide the feeling of a warmer, more drenching shower that actually uses less water.

And Kohler's fanciest toilet, the Numi, not only is Bluetooth enabled (either by storing MP3 files or through a plug-in device). Its cover and seat have motion sensors, an integrated bidet and air dryer, deodorizer, heated seat, foot warmer and illuminated panels.

Now that's pampering that appeals to a very wide demographic across generations.

Sources

-- Ann Sacks, 1-800-278-8453, www.annsacks.com

-- Atlas Homewares, 800-799-6755, www.atlashomewares.com

-- Blanco, 888-668-6201, www.blancoamerica.com

-- BlueStar, 610-376-7479, www.bluestarcooking.com

-- Brizo, 877-345-2749, www.brizo.com

-- Dacor, 800-793-0093, www.dacor.com

-- Delta, 800-345-3358, www.deltafaucet.com

-- Elmwood Cabinetry, 905-688-5205, www.elmwoodkitchens.com

-- Fairmont Designs, 714-670-1171, www.fairmontdesigns.com

-- Frigidaire, 800-374-4432, www.frigidaire.com

-- Kohler, 800-456-4537, www.kohler.com

-- Liebherr, 866-543-2437, www.liebherr-us.com

-- Poggenpohl U.S. Inc., 312-755-9023, www.poggenpohl.com

-- Polycor Inc., 418-692-4695, www.polycor.com

-- Thermador, 800-735-4328, www.thermador.com

-- Top Knobs Hardware, 800-530-8245, www.topknobshardware.net

-- Viking, 888-845-4641, www.vikingrange.com

SIDEBAR A

A QUICK HARDWARE SWAP CAN PROVIDE A FRESH LOOK

Even if you're not totally remodeling your kitchen, changing hardware is a quick way to add personality, color, sparkle and texture. Some options echo current trends in fashion, such as animal prints or quilting, which (with some high-end brands like Chanel) never goes out of style. Others are even eco-friendly, like the Polycor handles made from a mix of raw materials that include recycled glass.

SIDEBAR B

COLOR COMES HOME

Even though neutrals, particularly shades of gray, from dove to milky cappuccino to taupes and blue-grays are huge, that doesn't mean color is absent. That's especially true in Europe, where design is a bit bolder. So there you're as likely to see an orange range as a Ferrari red cabinet. But Radiant Orchid, this year's Pantone Color of the Year, turned up not in Milan at Eurocucina, but at the Architectural Digest Show in New York. Quite the fashion plate.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

When it comes to outdoor furnishings, what's in and what's out is not so clear anymore.

That's because the real trend is a growing category of products that's equally at home in a family room as it is on a patio. What both have in common is comfort -- both curl-up and visual. And not unlike the glue that holds interior spaces together, accessories are what make outdoor rooms livable -- and give them personality.

Livability is quite the buzzword. In fact, on retailer websites, outdoor living is the updated header that once included only a few furniture options and now encompasses pillows, poufs, rugs, lighting, lanterns, planters, curtains, dinnerware and even art.

When IKEA U.S. commissioned a report on the home, its conclusion about outdoor living is that it is "our new backyard oasis ... an extension of our living room and our kitchen, a place to relax and entertain."

On the Pottery Barn website, there's a mini primer that puts forth design ideas. "For areas big and small, everything starts with comfort; extend your hours outdoors by layering in lighting with a mix of lanterns and flameless candles; to effortlessly entertain, have a variety of occasional tables to accommodate food and drink."

"After years of separate but equal, the great outdoors and the great indoors have merged into one space," says New York designer Elaine Griffin, author of "Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator" (Gotham). Griffin is one of the competing designers on the reality show, "American Dream Builders" on Sundays on NBC. "The backyard used to be a stepchild with lawn furniture and not much more than plants or candles," Griffin says.

The blurred lines between indoors and out have gotten a boost with performance fabrics and materials as well as style. So weatherproof rugs, which most would not have given a second glance to for al fresco use, let alone in prime real estate indoors, are dazzling with color, pattern, style and even an indoor voice when it comes to texture. High-end designers like Emma Gardner now are translating sophisticated rug looks more affordably, as in her recently launched collection for Couristan. And some fanciful designs and hues have even broader appeal -- such as the new Jupiter polypropylene collection for Loloi, which also is being touted for children's rooms.

A trending go-to accessory indoors is doubling its appeal outside as well: the small-scale table, which is showing up in all sorts of materials from porcelain to resin and reclaimed steel drums.

Relatively new on the outdoor scene is the pouf, a hybrid that merges ottoman and table, but in a puffy rounded or squared shape. There's a lightheartedness about it, especially when expressed in vivid geometrics and bright solid weaves. The versatility of a piece that can double as a place to rest feet or a tray full of snacks is a big selling point.

As consumers are spending more time outdoors, they are not only decorating their homes, but their gardens as well, according to a 2014 trends report from Garden Media Group, which is based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

The worldwide gardening and outdoor living market is expected to increase yearly by almost 3.5 percent through 2016, when it should reach nearly $220 billion, according to the report. It cites the rise of social trends like lawn games, glamping (a glamorous spin on camping) and garden parties for fueling a record growth in garden furniture and accessories, driving demand for tabletop fountains, outdoor chandeliers, garden art, decorative birdfeeders, unusual planters and candleholders.

The design is not at all random, or simply based on summery shades and storylines. For example, coastal themes will always be favored by those who live near water. But even the expected corals and anchors are more fashion-forward, say, with line drawings of sea critters in flat colors on off-white backgrounds or photo-realistic images of starfish in rich detail.

Italian designer Paola Navone's outdoor collection for Crate and Barrel features familiar summer icons, like graphically printed watermelons, but also a mashup of geometric patterns in different colors that live in perfect harmony.

Elaine Smith, whose outdoor pillows always have taken a cue from fashion runways, in one group has embraced an eastern vibe, including modern chinoiserie looks and singular images like a pagoda -- and shown them in fresh palettes like aqua and coral.

Mackenzie-Childs, a company known for its playful marriage of patterns, most notably checkerboards and florals, is a striking newcomer to outdoor, with amazing resin pieces in multicolored wovens. Along with its rich signature pattern-on-pattern weather-safe fabrics, fans will be thrilled. Even a small accent, such as a birdhouse, is high-impact.

In fabrics, you'll find plenty of colors, often in groupings: grays, for those who can't get past neutrals, and a nice companion to gray furniture frames, which are coming on strong; blues from aqua to indigo; greens, apple to citron; yellows, more mustard and saffron than pastel; oranges, reds and pinks. There's even a bit of magenta or Radiant Orchid, the Pantone color of the year, with an occasional purple.

The sky's the limit, especially with bright summery hues in solids, tweeds, stripes (awning style and thin multicolor), geometrics and, of course, florals, though the latter aren't as dominant as they once were. With a huge range of fabrics from Sunbrella, Perennials, Dwell and other designer names, there are many choices. Check out Calico Corners (www.calicocorners.com) for by-the-yard outdoor options.

Just as air and the sky open up these spaces, there's a suggestion of a little more latitude with rules, a little more freedom to have fun, particularly with accessories.

"It's wonderful now that can the outdoor room can be as well accessorized as in the house," says Griffin. "Your home can make a cohesive style statement that starts with curb appeal, through the front door, through the interiors and a continuation of that same statement once you hit the back yard. That is truly living with style."

Sources

-- Arhaus, 866-427-4287, www.arhaus.com

-- Laurie Bell, 336-362-4133, www.lauriebell.com

-- Bleunature, www.bleunature.com; the French company's products are available through www.shopstyle.com and a number of U.S. retailers including Barney's (www.barneys.com)

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Emma Gardner for Couristan, www.emmagardnerdesign.com, 877-377-3144; www.couristan.com, 800-223-6186

-- Groovy Stuff, 800-933-0536, www.groovystuff.com

-- Mackenzie-Childs, 8888-665-1999, www.mackenzie-childs.com

-- O.W. Lee Co. Inc., 800-776-9533, www.owlee.com

-- Restoration Hardware, 800-910-9836, www.restorationhardware.com

-- Elaine Smith, 561-863-3333, www.elainesmith.com

-- Summer Classics, 888-868-4267, www.summerclassics.com; product is available through www.frontgate.com

-- David Sutherland Showrooms (also Perennials Fabrics), 212-871-9717, www.davidsutherlandshowroom.com

-- Surya, 877-275-7847, www.surya.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

SIDEBAR A

COLORS AND PRINTS PLAY OUTSIDE, TOO

The outdoor table is the perfect spot for pizazz -- color and pattern, even a touch of whimsy. Melamine and acrylic dinnerware and serveware offer tons of style options. From ikat to animal prints, geometric patterns, chevrons, polka dots, stripes and florals and ferns -- options run the gamut, often inspired by fashion. This year's newest designs include more complex, layered collage looks, and fun animal images. Even acrylic glasses are available in a surprising range of colors and shapes -- whether it's for wine, beer or margaritas.

Colors will pop on a bare table or on a coordinated cloth. Some fresh-cut flowers from the garden and votives or lanterns filled with candles will add a little ambience that your guests will surely appreciate.

SIDEBAR B

MAKE GARDEN DESIGN PART OF YOUR MASTER PLAN

A group of mismatched, dinky little pots on the back deck isn't going to cut it anymore, especially if your outdoor space is styling. No worries.

You're no longer limited to wood and ceramic that will crack if you leave it outdoors during the winter. There are faux stones, woods and concrete as well as metal, teak and marine painted wood, fiberglass in a range of shapes, heights, textures and color. Whether your style is modern or French country, you'll find a suitable container.

The shapes help dictate the type of plant to put in: modern and tailored call from more sculptural looks like boxwood or sansevieria.

Use pots to add height to the garden, to line a path, to frame a doorway or to define a seating area.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

What's new in outdoor furnishings?

Better question: What isn't?

One of the most rapidly growing segments of home design, the U.S. market for outdoor furniture is projected to exceed $5 billion by the year 2017, according to a new report by Global Industry Analysts Inc.

The concept of outdoor living, according to the market research report, is especially being expressed in lavish outdoor living spaces with comfortable seating and elaborate lighting. More than ever, it's driven by style, color, pattern and a wide range of materials, as well as technology that makes things sturdy, water-resistant, fade- and mold-proof. Add to that, music, flat screens and kitchens, as well as ambience -- water and fire features.

After what has been a brutal, tenacious winter in most parts of the country, the idea of sunshine, flowers and doing anything al fresco is nearly exhilarating. Whether you're looking to add to existing pieces or start fresh, focus on making a big impression. As in big scale, big statement or the next big thing.

Shop around and you'll find that a lot of seating is upsized -- not only in the frame itself, but even in the proportion of some of the components, such as wood and outdoor wicker weaves. One new wood chair at Restoration Hardware (RH) features unusually broad rustic slats, much like wide plank flooring. Clearly this won't work on a small balcony, but it does lend itself well to a generous terrace or roof deck, where more delicate pieces might read like postage stamps.

Modern style seems to be making the most noise because of its simplicity and clean lines. That parallels the trend inside -- both in furnishings and in the kitchen.

"Contemporary styling is at the forefront of high-end design today," says Phil Haney, president and CEO of Lexington Home Brands. "It is redefining the look of luxury living, with bold lines and an exuberant sense of style. At the same time, affluent consumers are looking for outdoor living spaces that mirror the styling and sophistication of their interior decor."

Synthetic weaves are making a strong case for high visibility. They're appreciated because of the texture they add, especially if you mix in other materials, like metals and woods. Chunkier sweaterlike weaves or mega-scaled ribbon or crocheted looks still look fresh, as do sheer, opaque weaves that stretch over frames like upholstery and more delicate, spider-web weaves.

Slipcovered looks also are gaining traction. Most are indistinguishable from seating that might be in the family room. Cushions that feel like they're plumped with down express the idea of comfort outdoors as well as in. In the spring Arhaus catalog (www.arhaus.com) there are several slipcover offerings, including menswear gray with white striping. A wide range of choice in performance fabrics that are stain- and sun-resistant from well-known high-end companies such as Donghia, Robert Allen and Boussac, are boosting widespread use indoors as well, not only for upholstery, but also for drapery. Ethnic-inspired geometrics, lively palettes and lovely tapestry weights also are informing outdoor fabric designs.

Although most of the fully upholstered pieces still are neutral, we're starting to see some overblown patterns, especially out of Europe. Missoni, an Italian company, recently launched a large-scale floral. These big blooms are particularly edgy on poufs, which seem to be this year's go-to accessory. That's because these stylish ottomans are so versatile: They can serve as cocktail tables or extra seating, and whether they're rounded or gently sloped squares, they can be low-key or high-octane, depending on color.

Other well-known fashion brands (such as the luxury Fendi) have extended their offerings to the outdoors. Familiar high-end design names such as Christian Liaigre, Bunny Williams and Rose Tarlow have followed suit. Their fans appreciate the continuity of style as well as the eclecticism that these designers offer.

"Furniture enhances the roomlike quality of an outdoor space, just as it transforms empty rooms indoors," says New York designer Bunny Williams. "It makes a space more welcoming. I find complete suites of garden furniture to be heavy looking and overdone. On the other hand, too many disparate pieces mixed together look cluttered and distract from the garden."

Williams' collection for Century Furniture does deliver a mix of materials, such as handwoven resin, solid raw teak and powder-coated aluminum. Some tabletops have a zinc finish.

"The pieces are beautiful on their own," says Comer Wear, marketing director for Century, "yet work together to create settings that feel lived in the way we would think of outdoor living."

Tarlow's Arabesque collection for Sutherland nods to 18th-century Georgian style. It's Sutherland's first mahogany group, and it's finished in a proprietary antiqued ivory crackle.

White also is re-emerging as a strong option in contemporary design (sometimes in a glossy finish and particularly effective when teamed with black). Although gray still reigns as the new loved neutral, in frames from weathered wood to glossy powder-coated aluminum and even in upholstery, color still is the obvious catalyst for energizing a space.

Gray teams well with most hues. But a tropical punch -- vivid hues across the spectrum -- can really shake things up. A single rogue chair frame or even multiples (seating around a dining table, for example), ottomans, pillows, throws, planters and small-scale tables in strong colors can all add drama.

Just as it does indoors, color unifies the design as it draws the eye into a setting and visually connects the dots. You might start with a pot of fuchsia petunias or dahlias and pick up the color in pillows and a sassy striped rug.

Creating ambience is more important than ever, since entertaining is so much a part of outdoor living. This is why fire pits have been blazing hot -- not only for the warmth that they deliver, but for the same reasons that people like to sit around the fireplace inside: It's cozy.

And even if you don't have a full outdoor kitchen, there are new hybrid grills, pizza ovens and smokers to heat up summer fare.

Grills and water features rate highly on the 2014 residential landscape architecture trends survey.

"Homeowners are interested in livable, open spaces that are both stylish and earth friendly, says Nancy Somerville, executive vice president for the American Society of Landscape Architects, which conducted the survey. "Homeowners know that designed landscapes add value to their lives -- as well as their property values."

Sources

-- Beacon Hill, 800-333-3777, www.beaconhilldesign.com

-- Boussac, Pierre Frey, to the trade through Gracie Showroom, 212-421-0534, www.pierrefrey.com

-- Brown Jordan, 800-743-4252, www.brownjordan.com

-- Bunny Williams, Century Furniture, 800-852-5552, www.centuryfurniture.com

-- Christian Liaigre, 212-257-6136, www.christian-liaigre.fr/en

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Kalamazoo, 800-868-1699, www.kalamazoogourmet.com

-- Missoni Home, through YLiving, 800-236-9100, www.yliving.com

-- Munder-Skiles, 212-717-0150, www.munder-skiles.com

-- Paloform, 888-823-8883, www.paloform.com

-- Restoration Hardware, 800-910-9836, www.restorationhardware.com

-- Rose Tarlow Melrose House at Sutherland, 800-717-8325, www.sutherlandfurniture.com

-- Tommy Bahama Outdoor Living, Lexington Home Brands, 336-474-5300, www.tbfurniture.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

SIDEBAR A

FIRE, GOOD

Fire features continue to sizzle in popularity outdoors. There's an uptick in patio heating products, according to a Freedonia Group industry study, mostly because they extend the season, allowing outdoor spaces to be used comfortably even in cooler weather.

Fire pits offer an attractive option when there's no room for a built-in fireplaces. There's a wide variety of bowl shapes as well as tables, some of which even offer a cooking option. As linear fireplaces are trending indoors, that sleek profile now is being extended to the modern outdoor room.

In the landscape, a freestanding long and narrow piece can ride low, sometimes doubling as a cocktail table, or serving as a divider (Paloform's latest design, the Komodo, is 7 feet long and stands 2 feet tall.

Also observing trends, but this time in restaurants, is Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. Its new Gaucho grill delivers authentic Argentinian Santa Maria style features such as the signature 36-inch spoked stainless steel wheel. Supported on a 30-inch tall bridge, the wheel raises and lowers the cooking surface cradle to allow both searing and slow, low-temperature cooking. Rotisserie cooking also is an option. The grill will be available to order in May -- at between $17,495 and $21,195.

SIDEBAR B

PERSONALIZE YOUR OUTSIDE PERCH WITH COLOR & TEXTURE

As more upscale manufacturers look outdoors to expand their product lines, the bar has been raised with regard to quality, style and hand, especially because of technology that enables replication of most types of materials that wouldn't normally be associated with exposure to the elements -- everything from lookalike leathers to velvets to convincing linens.

Boussac is new to the outdoor arena, and its introduction at Pierre Frey in January during Paris Deco Off, an annual showing of textiles, did not disappoint. Some patterns are inspired by 1950s-style geometrics that really transcend era. Palettes include vivid, happy hues.

At Beacon Hill, another direction a tapestry-like material in rich hues woven in the Chinese province of Guizhou, known for its intricate batiks, detailed embroideries, complex appliques and saturated tie-dyes.

Such diversity and wealth of design goes a long way to boost the personalization of outdoor spaces.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)