Just two years ago there, was a color tsunami at the international housewares show in Chicago. From spatulas, knives and cook pots to mixers, blenders, irons and, of course, the ubiquitous water bottle, a rainbow of pigments electrified booths.

Now what? No longer shocked by the novelty of hip, hot hues (or even the revolutionary silicon), we can observe ever-emerging favorites (always shades of blue) and shifts in popularity -- perhaps away from neon lime (although not abandoning orange or magenta). Or take in a mini-moment for purple cookware, thanks to an intriguing speckled lavender from Paula Deen or a plum from Rachel Ray's Cucina line, both from Meyer. But we're not color blind to great form, style and design.

And more and more, manufacturers are aiming to please -- with a look to modern, simple and sometimes elegant designs -- especially targeting the millennial consumer. Crossovers from other areas of home design capture microtrends like the use of wood, wood-metal mixes, hammered and relief finishes, colors, textures and patterns such as animal prints from fashion runways.

With so many products to peruse, the show organizers divvy up the wares into categories including wired & well; dine & design; clean, contain & sustain; global crossroads. With a lens on the kitchen, dining and entertaining, here is what to expect at retail this summer and fall.

Talking tech

The networking of appliances continues to ramp up, as do options allowing Bluetooth connectivity. High-end appliance manufacturers such as Dacor have integrated graphic user interfaces that, for example, alert your smartphone when the roast is ready. A Samsung refrigerator features a Wi-Fi enabled LCD screen to watch TV, pull up recipes and even make or answer phone calls. There's even a "Perfect Drink" scale and app that's loaded with recipes and walks you through steps to blend a single portion or a pitcher full of margaritas and other beverages (www.amazon.com).

Thermometers for grilling and cooking can be synched up with your smartphone and whole-house devices control thermostat, garage openers, lights and locks (check out www.iDevicesinc.com for its new whole-house Switch).

One show demo dazzled, with its application of 3-D technology in the kitchen. A PancakeBot from Storebound can be programmed to produce colorful and fanciful creations -- kid drawings, butterflies, dinosaurs or even the Eiffel Tower. Save original artwork or photos to an SD card or USB, and then print your design. A "smart batter dispensing system" outlines the desired image onto a griddle. The product, which has a suggested retail price of $299, is expected to launch in early fall. Storebound gets kudos for helping inventors get products to the marketplace. This particular one benefited from Kickstarter, where it met a goal of $50,000 within the first 40 hours.

Eye on health and cooking styles

Demand for professional heavy-duty juicers like Omega and Vitamix remains robust -- high price tags notwithstanding. But the offerings (and price points) continue to expand. Salton's newest professional power blender is marketed with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak. It can whip up smoothies, soups and even mill rice for rice flour. Best of all is a more modest price point of just under $200 (compared to $500 to $700 for others). And the Hamilton's Jamba affiliation draws that brand's aficionados to fresh squeezed juices.

One category that has taken off is slow cookers -- a blast from the past, but capturing a new generation. However healthy you cook, of course, depends on what exactly you toss in to simmer all day. Low temperature settings are said to retain flavor, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but attractive to many, of course, is the set-and-forget factor; coming home to an aromatic, ready-to-eat meal.

Steam cooking continues to attract those seeking healthier cuisine. So aside from uber-pricy, dedicated or combination, built-in steam/convection ovens, there are more than a smattering of inexpensive gadgets that allow you to adapt the appliances and cookware you already have. There are devices for the microwave and inserts for pots, with some cleverly retractable for storage.

This all speaks to added value and double duty. Dedicated appliances like rice cookers gain even more traction when they add functions, like Philips' new all-in-one multicooker, which steams, braises, slow cooks and even makes yogurt.

Practical add-ons also make sense. For example, a number of cutting boards have morphed to include storage as well. A new eco-friendly bamboo cutting board from Curtis Stone (www.curtisstone.com) includes recessed containers on top for cut up ingredients and storage drawers tucked beneath, all made from plastic BPA-free material.

One company that delivers with wit as well is Dreamfarm. Its well-thought solutions are tagged with clever names, like click-lock tongs ("clongs") or chop and sit up spatulas ("chopulas"), and scrape level measuring spoons called "levoons."

Other lifestyle trends

While single-serve coffee makers continue percolating, other methods of java brewing also are emerging. KitchenAid introduced three other coffee makers to "bring the barista home." One is a siphon brewer with vacuum technology that fully immerses grounds in water to create a more complex flavor. And French press is making a strong showing -- its simple brewing process, which measures coffee and water by weight instead of volume, is touted for its strong flavor.

Oven-to-table and serve ware

Nambe metal ware has upped the ante on stylish, sculptural pieces that can go from freezer and oven to table. And cookware manufacturers of stainless and enamel-clad pots have paid more attention to design. One standout with a modern sensibility is the Italian maker Sambonet. Its square handles and matte-finished terra cotta give it a distinctive look that handsomely transitions to tabletop.

And sturdy cast iron has been gaining new devotees. FINEX takes design to a new level with its handcrafted cast iron skillets. Octagonal lids are not only fashion forward, but they also allow easy pouring from six directions. Stylish, ribbed, polished stainless steel handles also are ergonomic, shaped to fit the natural curve of the hand. And the handsome mottled lids have brass accents.

There's an uptick in the use of wood, especially spotlighting unusual grains and inlays. From cutting boards to serving pieces for crudites or cheeses or appetizers, there's more variety in wood species as well as characteristic markings. Carving also is calling new attention to wood, as with pieces designed by Marcel Wanders as part of the Dressed Collection for Alessi.

Among the leading edge of design are Italian, Scandinavian, French and German imports. Many of these manufacturers debuted product earlier in the year in Paris at Maison & Objet and in Frankfurt at Ambiente, two important international furnishings shows.

With more and more emphasis on form and function, inspired by evolving lifestyle trends, a stepped-up focus on healthy eating as well as fashion and decor, housewares in this country will continue gain points in the style, efficiency and health arenas.

Sources

-- Alessi, available at retailers like Bloomingdales, plus Amazon.com and Lumens.com, 877-445-4486; www.alessi.com

-- Argent Orfevres, Hampton Forge, 877-423-6743, www.hamptonforge.com

-- Casabella, 800-841-4140, ext. 184, www.casabella.com

-- Cristel, 843-540-0013, www.cristelusa.com

-- Dreamfarm, 415-626-3333, www.dreamfarm.com

-- French Bull, 212-317-9646, www.frenchbull.com

-- FINEX, 503-946-1136, www.finexusa.com

-- JIA, U.S. distribution through Counterpoint, 507-280-6419, www.jia-inc.com

-- JK Adams, 800-451-6118, www.jkadams.com

-- Joseph Joseph Inc., 917-338-0900, www.josephjoseph.com

-- KitchenAid, 800-541-6390, www.kitchenaid.com

-- La Cafetiere, Lifetime Brands, 800-999-2811, www.lifetimebrands.com

-- Paula Deen, 800-388-3872, www.pauladeenkitchenware.com; Meyer Corporation, 800-298-1071 (for Paula Deen), www.meyer.com/us

-- Philips, 866-309-8817, www.philips.com

-- REO, Lifetime Brands, 800-999-2811, www.lifetimebrands.com

-- Savora, 516-740-6790, www.savorastyle.com

-- Smeg at West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com; www.smeg.com

-- Storebound, 800-898-6970, www.storebound.com

SIDEBAR

STACK 'EM & PACK 'EM

Homeowners appreciate clever and colorful solutions to space-saving and chores. So stacking and nesting are welcome in areas where real estate is tight. And color has an added value: It can make tasks more fun.

We love multifunctional objects -- especially when they economize on footprints with retractables, collapsibles, stackables. Cristel's thoughtful Mutine cookware collection stacks and has removable handles, much easier to tuck into those deep drawers.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

When the Apartment Therapy website collaborated with Casual Living, a trade publication, to do an outdoor decorating survey, their main finding was no surprise: Nearly eight out of 10 homeowners have an outdoor room or are creating one.

"Outdoor rooms continue to evolve as one of the most important areas of the homescape," says award-winning West Coast-based designer Richard Frinier.

"Outside has become the dining, living room and kitchen," says Steve Lowsky, president of Pride Family Brands, a company that specializes in luxury handcrafted aluminum casual furnishings. "And there is way more potential -- it's the 'room' with the most square footage."

With the explosion of performance fabrics and fibers for weathersafe rugs, as well as a range of furniture frames -- including wood, metal, wovens and resin -- that allow plenty of decorating, color and pattern options, there's no shortage of style. And performance fabrics now have a softer hand, sometimes mimicking luxury indoor fabrics like silk, chenille, velvet and even leather.

"The constructions, textures, patterns, colors, UV stability, easy care, and even use of recycled yarns, are remarkable," Frinier says of Sunbrella, a leader in the performance industry. "That allows us to do much more outside than we would have ever considered doing just a few years ago.

"Also, people are starting to mix and match their outdoor furniture, (pulling) pieces from different collections the way they do indoors," says Frinier, "to create a more unique, original and sometimes curated look."

Consumer tastes have been trending to simpler, more modern silhouettes in recent years -- both indoors and out. But no matter what the preference, there's one thing that most everyone agrees on: comfort.

While style choices are broad, here are five categories for this season's al fresco offerings that are especially directional.

White

White and natural often are part of the cushion package for outdoor furniture, as they go with everything. In frames, white long has been a classic -- think Adirondack chairs and English painted planters and furniture. But this year, it is especially coming on strong in the contemporary category -- both in slick glossy and matte finishes.

"White is a classic neutral, which is always popular," says Frinier. "When used on upholstered furnishings, it serves as a starting point like a clean canvas to a painter. Whether bright or soft, warm or cool, white tends to lighten a space (indoors or out) and even lifts our moods and spirits. It is seen across all styles. Starting with a neutral, white palette allows you to bring your personal style to any collection simply by choosing a frame finish and also textured and patterned fabrics for toss pillows to stylize as you wish."

Frinier describes his new modular Connexion collection for Brown Jordan as a thoroughly indoor/outdoor sectional designed for comfort and versatility, light in appearance, though durable and functional.

"The framework is tautly upholstered with a double wall of a proprietary Versatex mesh, which means you can actually use the same or different fabric on the outside and inside vertical surfaces for either low or high contrast appeal."

Another modular grouping, from Royal Botania, has a less pronounced, slender frame that's barely there, serving as a platform with short feet for cushions, especially striking in black. White and taupe also are a dynamic combination in a tightly upholstered armless sofa from Room & Board. Other color options are available, including brights, which coordinate with a fun cube table designed by Frank Gehry.

More transitional is a new group for Janus et Cie that pairs handsome chairs with gridded backs by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy with a table designed by the company CEO Janice Feldman. The pieces were influenced by the style of Josef Hoffman and the early 20th-century Viennese collective Wiener Werkstätte, and their graceful lines suit both contemporary and traditional architecture.

Statement pieces

At the other end of the spectrum, there's explosive color and bold form. Like statement jewelry, these are standalone pieces that can shake up a neutral setting.

"When you bring colors into your outdoor spaces," says Frinier, "whether subtle and soft or bright and vibrant, this splash of patterns and textures draw people into the space because of the visual interest and energy generated, exactly the same way we all use color and pattern for our interiors.

"When you are inside of your home looking out to your outdoor room and spaces, or when you are looking down from a balcony, or near a pool, you have to remember you are seeing your outdoor furniture arrangements from a different perspective and it is smart to consider this when choosing frame finishes and fabrics."

That goes for scale as well. The Tiempo chair from Janus et Cie calls attention to itself because of its heft, but also because of distinguishing features: pairing teak and powder-coated aluminum and canting the sides of its square arms, plus its striped coral upholstery.

A double chaise takes up a larger footprint as well, and the eye-catching Oko lounger from Mamagreen also boasts functional pullout trays and small umbrellas as well as a perky stripe to make it a standout.

Form and materials put the spotlight on complementary pieces as well, such as a glass-topped side table from Janus et Cie, which has a pedestal that looks like it's made of knotted cords; it's actually Sunbrella fabric.

Even bolder is a chair from a line called M'Afrique for the Italian brand Moroso. Its vibrant hues rival anything blooming in the garden, but it's the craftsmanship that really stands out. It's handcrafted by artisans in Africa who use a technique of plaiting by hand -- with plastic cord traditionally used to make fishing nets that's perfectly safe for outdoor use.

Woven

All-weather wicker continues to be popular. It lends texture and options, as there are different styles of weaving as well as opportunities for combining more than one hue to create nuanced effects. Some mimic sweater weaves, others herringbone. And sometimes the material lends itself to bending in ways that can't be replicated in other outdoor media. A collection introduced by designer Celerie Kemble for Laneventure, for example, featured "movement" in skirted bases, a kind of draping that resembles fabric folds.

But even traditional forms can be tweaked for great effect. Take the outdoor wicker wing chair from Arhaus, for example. The shape and style are familiar, but the expression in a large-scale herringbone weave takes it in a new direction. That it sits on turned feet is another nice indoor furniture touch.

Another woven by Barbara Barrie for McGuire doesn't disappoint her followers; it delivers clean lines and smartly tailored looks.

Mixed Media

There's more of a desire in outdoor furnishings to not go all-suite, everything matching. It takes a good eye for design, though, to mix it up by pulling from different brands and collections, which is what good designers do for an eclectic look. So some manufacturers are mixing it up themselves, teaming up different materials within one collection or crossing collections.

Teak manufacturers, in particular, like Barlow Tyrie and Gloster have started to do this. Showing wood tables with woven chairs or tables with metal bases and stone tops lends more visual appeal.

Upholstered and slipcovered looks

Fully upholstered sofas and chairs as well as slipcovered looks are here to stay. Fillings also have improved, not only with waterproof features but also in ultra plush comfort.

The newest collection by Timothy Oulton at Restoration Hardware easily could transition indoors. Shown in white, the sectional is clean-lined -- one that can play off of a variety of companion pieces. The design seems to exude comfort, exactly the ambience that's so sought after because it reminds us of how we like to live indoors.

Notice, too, that sofas, sectionals and banquettes all lend themselves well to designing the space with all sorts of accessories, such as lanterns, throws, pillows, side tables -- anything that visually warms the setting. There's also the idea of creating a sanctuary, a getaway.

Some of the comments from those surveyed by Casual Living/Apartment Therapy spoke to the psychology of being outdoors.

A Michigan consumer weighed in: "My outdoor room is a place to feel connected with wildlife and nature. ... Somewhere to enjoy the sound of birds and rustling trees and to watch the flicker of the fire pit. It's somewhere to entertain guests and to show off to neighbors."

And a respondent from Missouri summed it up: "It's an escape in my own backyard."

Sources

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

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

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

-- Gloster, 434-575-1003, www.gloster.us

-- Henry Hall Designs, 800-767-7738, www.henryhalldesigns.com

-- Janus et Cie, 800-245-2687, www.janusetcie.com

-- Mamagreen, 415-279-7895, www.askmamagreen.com

-- McGuire Furniture, 800-662-4847, www.mcguirefurniture.com

-- Moroso, www.moroso.it

-- No. 9 Thompson, at Holly Hunt Ltd., 800-320-3145, www.jimthompsonfabrics.com; www.hollyhunt.com

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

-- Room & Board, 800-301-9720, www.roomandboard.com

-- Royal Botania, D'apostrophe, 212-812-9852, www.royalbotania.com

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

Cover-up isn't the issue. For most, windows are welcome -- the more, the merrier. They usher in natural light, and sunshine is a surefire pick-me-up. There is that privacy thing -- you don't want to feel like you're living in a fishbowl. But equally important, is the matter of decor's finishing touch, the punctuation and warmth (both visual and physical) that fabric adds, in the form of well-chosen window treatments.

"Draperies are an important design element," says Marta Enriquez, director of interior design for Ethan Allen. "They can be used to filter light and protect furniture, to darken a room, and to keep it cooler or warmer. They can open up a space or make it appear cozier -- depending on how they are hung -- and can be used to add color and texture. They are great for drawing the eye to a beautiful view or architectural (element) you want to showcase."

Although some types of draperies (here's looking at you, swag) seem fussy or dated, working with an interior style and architecture for an appropriate complement will net major design dividends.

But buying window treatments is not as easy as snapping up a chair. Or is it?

That depends on whether or not your windows themselves are standard issue, meaning their measurements. If the dimensions are not unusually wide or tall, you're in luck. Most retailers today carry ready-made (or off-the-rack, in fashion parlance) draperies. The price ranges from just a little bit more than nice shower curtains (around $40) to several hundred dollars and up, depending on fabric (quality and how much of it), whether or not there's a lining, complexity of style (rod pocket, where fabric is folded over and stitched to allow sliding into the rod, is the simplest construction), and trims.

That's not all. There's quite the range in fabric and pattern styles -- from elegant silks and velvets to nubby linens and smooth cottons, from opaque to sheer, from stripes (skinny or fat) and geometrics to ikats and zigzags, from florals to paisleys. The designs can be screen or digitally printed, even embroidered.

Another bonus: dressmaker details. Contrast borders, ribbon ties, pompon edging, ruching (a kind of puckering), bands at the top, bands at the bottom, even nailheads or grommets used to define. The punctuation also is setting off top treatments like fixed boxy headers or loose valances.

"Cool white linen panels," for example, "can offer simple, sophisticated style on their own," says Enriquez. "But when you add a Greek key tape trim, the same panels take on a more classic, elegant look."

As in most other segments of home decor, fashion also is influencing drapery design -- from materials to accoutrements.

"Just as rich color and textures have been all over the runways this year," says Enriquez, "we're seeing those same trends in home decor. Luxurious fabrics, brilliant new embellishments and hardware options. Many designers also favor ultra-feminine looks and colors, so light, airy sheers are in vogue again."

But what to call them: draperies, drapes or curtains? Years ago, there was a kind of snobby distinction. Drapery was reserved for more formality, while curtains fell into the more casual beat (like cafe style, hung on the bottom half of a double-hung window, which often shows up in breakfast rooms. Designers often grimaced if the word "curtain" was uttered, though even cafe curtains are better looking today (check out Ballard Designs' checks with pretty French pleats and solid grosgrain ribbon trims, particularly fetching in black and white).

Curiously, retailers are referring mostly to curtain categories, although Pottery Barn hedges its bets by dropping all three names. Further, PB features two videos on its website that address "how to hang a drapes," and "how to hang curtains," but honestly, no revelations about what's the dif. Other sites offer tips that include how to measure, create fuller effects and puddle, with six to eight inches at the bottom for added oomph.

What all have in common, of course, is panels. When you're purchasing, that's what you need to know -- the width and length of a panel. Most panels are 50 inches wide; when doubling up (to open in the middle) that covers a good-sized space -- a little more than eight feet across. If that doesn't do it, you can purchase additional panels (and have them sewn together, if you like). More choices of lengths are available today, generally from 48 up to 120 inches. That full 10 feet happily handles windows in spaces with tall ceilings.

With sheers trending, some gauzy looks are especially suited to those loft settings, because they're light and airy -- even in bold hues like fashion-forward yellow. Crate and Barrel's French/Belgian linen is transparent enough to allow filtered light, and is attractively flow-y, to soften a modern layout.

Another semi-sheer, tie-dyed print on polyester, is even bolder because of pattern, but with an eclectic enough spirit that's a wonderful counterpoint in dark gray on white to shades of blue in a contemporary room, like one designed by Crate and Barrel.

Of course, a sheer linen in natural goes with pretty much everything. It's especially fetching in the presence of weathered or light woods, baskets and other natural materials, as seen at Pottery Barn.

Patterns can lead or follow design themes. Flora or fauna, especially in more modern, open styles, can lend a tropical or outdoorsy vibe. Geometrics often are a favorite go-to with mid-century styles. Velvet has become a more popular option -- and in brighter colors (a surprisingly modern choice), one that can add a bit of visual heft and suede-y texture in a simple design. And silk, especially lush taffetas, lends a ballroom-gown elegance to rooms calling out for more dressed-up decor.

Drapery accessories also have ramped up, with more attention now showered on finishes and shapes of rods (with some squarish alternatives), and stylish finials in metal, ceramic, resin. Mercury glass, so popular in furnishings accessories, has found a home in sparkly golden finials, for example, at Anthropologie. Tiebacks also are far more fetching than "self-ties," made out of the same fabric as the curtains, some even crafted in leather.

Going the custom route, of course, appeals to those who want to orchestrate a more personalized expression, choosing more exclusive fabrics and details, through decorators or programs such as Drapery Expressions at Ethan Allen (not available online), which offers choices of thousands of fabrics, trims and hardware options plus designers to help navigate the process.

At the high end, custom is as fabrics go; some ornate or sumptuous imported materials may command price tags of $1,000 per yard, times the amount of yardage (say 30 for full treatment on a few windows), PLUS labor -- and you'll quickly see how intimidating those numbers can be.

Online shopping is attractive because it's easy -- and offers almost instant gratification.

Says Enriquez: "That enables (consumers) to get the look and feel of custom with the ease and affordability of ready-made."

Sources

-- Anthropologie, 800-309-2500, www.anthropologie.com

-- Ballard Designs, 800-536-7557, www.ballarddesigns.com

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

-- Country Curtains, 800-937-1237, www.countrycurtains.com

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

-- Ethan Allen, 888-324-3571, www.ethanallen.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

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

SIDEBAR A

MAKING THE MOST OF THE LITTLE THINGS

You can't help but notice the details that distinguish some of the most fashionable draperies today. Even the simplest style -- shirred on top or folded over rod pocket -- can be dressed to transform it from plain to styling.

Banding -- at the top or bottom -- sometimes as deep as 12 inches, can be subtle or dramatic, in the same tone or contrast color or even pattern. Edging can simply be a sewn strip in a different color. Or it can be a ribbon trim in a pattern, like a Greek key design, which adds a sophisticated touch. Tassels or self-ties can add further punctuation.

Pompon or ball fringe dresses the edges of draperies, too, especially striking in a color picked up from a patterned fabric, like a golden yellow check and creamy white.

SIDEBAR B

AN EYE ON THE DETAILS

Even drapery hardware has stepped up in style. Once limited to designer-only sourcing, both design and materials have become much more fashion-forward.

This is especially visible when it comes to finials and tiebacks. From mercury glass to hammered or burnished metals, the added ends of rods leave open a lot of choices from the most prevalent spheres to other shapes, even charming dimensional ones like dogs.

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