For minimalists, even a whisper of decoration is like a flaw on an otherwise perfect diamond. But one reason that a more modern aesthetic currently is appealing to a broader segment of consumers is because it's showing a softer side. That may translate to a loosening of form or color -- both unabashed and subtle -- where something more neutral is expected.

And with a less rigid interpretation also comes -- wait for it -- a bit of well-chosen embellishment.

Even when the dress-up is low-key, it can be so dramatic. Woven fabric trims are popular as borders on everything from drapery to chair skirts. But in Los Angeles-based designer Mary McDonald's new collection for Guy Chaddock Furniture, the deft placement of parallel bands of Greek key tape, from sofa back continuing through to seat, create just enough striping on the solid-colored gray upholstery to make a wow statement.

One reason that minimalism in its purist form is unsettling to some is because it's too stark. Practitioners such as the Italian-born, London-based architect Claudio Silvestrin, who believes that the best faucets are invisible, gets that minimalism is not in fashion. "What dominates is decorative-ism," he told Elle Decor. Still, he prefers "warm minimalism," using natural materials, to the "ice cold" interpretation that has been trendy.

In the June issue of House Beautiful, Editor-in-Chief Newell Turner notes: "What's modern now is not all-white, pristine, uncomfortable or 'less is more' -- especially not all at once. Modern is a highly personal expression of style that draws on the rich history of design and the treasures of cultures from around the world, even while utilizing the new technologies that make life both better and more beautiful. It's original and fresh in its combinations, and it's always filled with life and the joy of living."

Curiously, the most intriguing introductions at recent furnishings shows are those that take chances with convention: more streamlined forms somehow dressed so they don't feel self-consciously naked; a modicum of trim on upholstery fabric, even furniture; a little bit of bling, sheen in weaves or fabrics like glazed metallic linen; texture, such as hammering or roughed-up surfaces; dressmaker details such as pleating and channeling -- even on leather (leather with plenty of options beyond plain, solid colors, including croc, ostrich and shagreen); and fabric-like treatments such as draping are extending to other materials from resin to glass.

At the same time, more hard-core traditional is sporting an edgier look.

Especially powerful is the marriage of opposites. Sometimes it's well-planned; other times it's totally serendipitous. A French-style fauteuil from Roche Bobois, for example, takes an unconventional turn with its upholstery. A jaunty marine stripe (in black, red or blue and white) delivers some attitude, but the overprinting of a baroquey cherubic image down its center, like a fashion T-shirt reference, takes it to another level. And the featured Botticelli-like figure is outfitted in a striped bathing suit, another surprise, in this fabric from fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Sculptor and collage artist Phillip Estlund, who works both in Florida and New York, drew inspiration for his tweak of iconic seating from a simple, random placement. He was organizing and laying out cutout images of flowers when he began placing some on the seat of his Charles Eames molded fiberglass chair. "The otherwise stark surface became immediately activated in a way that I hadn't considered, and after arranging and adhering the flowers to the seat, the result was the Bloom chair," says Estlund. It's the first in his Genus series for Grey Area (www.thegreyarea.com). The flowers are hand-decoupaged onto the Herman Miller-produced chairs.

For the most part, the kinds of details that are distinguishing new furniture design are not really novel -- it's just the way they are used that shakes things up.

-- Pleating and draping. A fashion reference (think pleated skirts or bodices of a gown) or the kind of folds created in drapery design, the crossover to upholstery isn't as much of a stretch on skirts of sofas. But trompe l'oeil draping or real folds on a wicker console by Mariette Himes Gomez for Hickory Chair really pushes the envelope.

-- Dressmaker details. Some are signature characteristic of clothing; others are drawn from handbags and shoes. There's channeling and tucking, a kind of sewing that creates parallel folds of fabric, which sometimes is seen on bedding and also has shown up on sofa skirts; "trapunto," a stitchery technique that Himes Gomez employed on the arm of a leather sofa. British designer Bethan Gray used the kind of stitchery, perforations and serrations that are signature on brogue shoes for the apron of a table.

-- Jewelry-like hardware. More manufacturers are paying attention to this simple dress-up. And, of course, changing out hardware is an easy re-fresh on existing furniture or cabinetry.

-- Nature as inspiration for form and pattern. From the geode-inspired women's collection of Phillip Lim, the mineral structure itself has showed up in naturally jagged-edge agate light sconces as well as in printed fabrics and area rugs with a similar swirly vibe.

-- Cladding. Again, there's nothing new about this, as it's the equivalent of using veneers as surfacing materials. But clever takes and applications have created a buzz. Chests cloaked with grass-cloth wallcovering or fabric have been trending in Europe. For Wesley Hall (www.wesleyhall.com) at the spring High Point furniture market there were trunks and parsons desks covered in plaid fabric. Eglomise -- reverse-painted glass -- is becoming a decorative tour de force again; perhaps most arresting are more abstract mottled patterns, especially with sparkling flecks. Decoupage, applique, flocking and gold leaf command attention. Skins -- crocodile, shagreen, ostrich and suede -- are covering entire pieces of furniture, such as bureaus and desks. Decorative molding also is applied to create fancy patterns like Moroccan tracery on simple frames. Figured and/or stained veneers are employed to create distinctive patterns, such a herringbone, on the face of furniture. Even shells, long a crafty solution to designing with beachcombing souvenirs, are assuming a more modern look as insets on tabletops or door fronts.

To many, the idea of details is perhaps more palatable than embellishment, which seems almost colored to suggest excess. But even Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's furniture sometimes sported dressmaker "embellishments" like channeling and button tufting.

Then again, wasn't it Mies himself who said: "God is in the details"?

Sources

-- Bernhardt, 866-527-9099, www.bernhardt.com

-- Bethan Gray, (email) info@bethangray.com, www.bethangray.com

-- Coleccion Alexandra, (email) mail@coleccionalexandra.com, www.coleccionalexandra.com

-- Phillip Estlund, 561-670-4693, www.phillipestlund.com

-- Fortuny, 212-753-7153, www.fortuny.com

-- Guy Chaddock Furniture, 855-535-6992, www.chaddockhome.com

-- Hickory Chair, 800-349-4579, www.hickorychair.com

-- Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture, 252-446-3266, www.jonathancharles.com

-- Ligne Roset, 212-375-1036, www.ligne-roset-usa.com

-- Roche Bobois, 212-889-0700, www.roche-bobois.com

-- Thomas & Gray, 336-859-2155, www.thomasandgray.com

-- Thomas & Vines Ltd., (email) orders@flocking.co.uk, www.flocking.co.uk

SIDEBAR

A FLAIR FOR LIGHTING

Shapes and materials often dictate the style of lighting. The sleek, clean lines are obviously modern, but mixing up materials in unexpected ways can turn the design around. And even lamps more traditionally based can take on a whole new flavor in surprising finishes such as flocking on chandeliers -- especially in neon brights. And just imagine a piece like that in a starkly minimal interior. Sure to make purists' heads spin.

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

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)