What is the perfect summer day? For many, it's one lost in reverie. In a daydream, just reminiscing over that last trip to the south of France, the Greek Isles, Tuscany or the Caribbean. Or just soaking in the rays, the breeze, savoring a glorious vista. Outdoors -- ideally, just the other side of your back door.

More than ever, travel, Instagram shots and Pinterest boards, design publications and blogs are helping to shape outdoor lifestyles. Recreating experiences or settings, especially from luxury venues, is a prime instigator. In fact, retailers and manufacturers such as Restoration Hardware and Kohler Co. are even getting into the hospitality business with hotels and restaurants -- a value added for shopability.

"The luxury of travel is in tune with what it means to have an outdoor lifestyle," says New York designer Stephen Burks. "I consider outdoors as an extension of our interior lives. It represents how you love to live."

The focus is seduction, drawing your eye to products that will help you fashion your own al fresco sanctuary. A place for decompressing, entertaining, chillaxing.

RH, known for its signature hefty catalogs, of course has one entirely devoted to outdoors, with one scrumptious image after another. Furniture touches all categories -- teak, weaves, metals -- and hits all the essential design notes with distinctive shapes, often seriously large-scale. Fire tables and stunning accessories, including architectural teak or brass lanterns, round out the sophisticated collections.

In a mini West Elm catalog, an outdoor shot has an exotic vibe, with a modern low-to-the-ground sofa in a setting framed by lush vegetation. And on the Frontgate website, there's an idyllic scene, lush with blooming hedges and a reflecting pool, headlined: "Paradise Found: Skip the flight: A resort-worthy oasis awaits in your own backyard."

And that has been the point since we started paying more attention to outdoor rooms and the concept of extending our living spaces and styles beyond the walls of our homes -- spilling onto terraces, patios, decks and into gardens. Five years ago, the esteemed longtime casual furniture designer Richard Frinier identified what he had seen as an emerging phenomenon.

"For me, the outdoor room was never really a trend; rather, it is a lifestyle," Frinier told us then. "People are returning to the pleasure of entertaining at home, which has been fueled not only by resort-at-home trends, but by the many food and cooking shows inspiring people. This means they have to have wonderful indoor and outdoor living spaces to complete the experience."

Today, Wayfair, one of largest online destinations for the home, touts staycations "complete with lazy days and party nights," as it showcases its outdoor wares. One Kings Lane, a shopping site that also features vintage and flea market sales, has introduced its own outdoor line with two collections. The website is a popular destination for inspiration in a range of design styles, including Hotel Luxe.

Luxurious outdoor living is more attainable than ever before. And there's no reason to compromise design aesthetics that you've embraced indoors. A new collection called Cooper from Lane Venture has overtones of Scandinavian design. Mid-century styling has been trending -- no surprise, as it has also been popular in interiors, and homeowners are looking for more seamless transitions to the outdoors.

More modern designs have been trending as well, just as they have in interior furnishings over the past few years.

Some of the prominent directions, as seen at the last Casual Furniture Market in Chicago and at Maison et Objet in Paris show more high-end applications, attention to detail, focus on flexibility and lots of options for color -- sometimes as a focal point, as a covering or as an accent like pillows, side tables or even as a starring chair.

Mad for Modular. As sectionals began to bloom outdoors, the whole idea of modules makes perfect sense. Configure to your needs, build really large seating groups when you have the space, or tighten groupings into a smaller footprint. The comfort, style and appeal of performance fabrics have many consumers craving these outdoor pieces for indoors, too.

Got it covered. Many more fully upholstered styles are available, with slipcovered looks as well. Fills mimic the fluffiness of indoor, so this seating is designed for you to linger.

Wicked weaves. From finely woven resins, some with patterns, to chunky weaves, often with Sunbrella or performance fibers, the range is considerable. Some weaves look like sweater knits or crochets; others are woven in wide strips or strung up with thinner fibers in stripey styles. Some are subtle, like herringbones or weaves in multiple hues, using one to three different strands.

Mixed media. More and more, there are fetching combinations, like concrete or stainless steel with teak, wicker and teak, which clearly lend a more modern feel as they also encourage more eclectic styles that don't stick to one suite. Some manufacturers like Jonathan Charles, which launched its first outdoor line at the High Point market in October, introduced a breakfast table with an antique brass and marble top for a contemporary touch.

Artisanal looks. Again, parallel to interiors themes, there's a growing desire for craftsmanship, even in outdoor living. Burks, who has done collections for Roche Bobois and Dedon, is a champion of this cause. "I believe in bringing the hand to industry," he says. He has worked with artisans in Senegal, Kenya and Haiti to create colorful woven products that are suitable for outdoor use.

Chroma is key. Neutrals still are favored, and they're especially impactful when they're nuanced, often with the emerging textures we're now seeing in performance fabrics -- things like chenille, velvet, boucle and other nubby surfaces. But some color themes are prevalent. Ranges of blue seem to be a perennial favorite, especially in coastal areas, where they reflect the ocean, the shore or a lake. Denim and indigo shades in ikat-like patterns are as appealing as they are fashionable. Fun prints, like animal patterns, are lively, while upscaling imagery such as flowers makes it more modern. But smaller patterns also work, especially in vibrant combinations like orange and pink. Strong yellow is making a showing, and although the limey greens that seemed to be everywhere a few years back still can be found, more grassy hues and blue-greens are emerging.

Fresh, sophisticated brights are different from the neon hues that shook up housewares several years back. One example is the Portico collection from Thibaut. While its main hues are strong pinks and oranges, their pairing with white and the types of patterns -- basket weaves, trellises -- make them more serious, while still playful. Also, note that you'll be seeing more and more of "indoor/outdoor fabric" on labels, because more homeowners have come to appreciate the wearbility, fade-proof and no-stain properties.

Patterns. Designers are taking cues from fashion (like Missoni's signature flamestitch), retro prints on a larger scale (think splashy florals or bold cabana stripes), paisleys and zigzags are some of the motifs.

Bold black and white is emerging as a graphic look, simply with contrasting frames and upholstery, but now with some amazing geometric prints. The graphic nature of the combination, especially in a stripe or geometric pattern is a winner. The simplicity of black or white frames with the contrasting solid fabric has a classic appeal.

Fire tables are more of a go-to, for obvious reasons like warmth -- both physical and visual. People love to gather around the fire, and if the piece does double-duty, all the better. Materials, shapes and sizes offer abundant selections, with concrete looks as well as metals available for eclectic mixes.

Accessories such as lighting, particularly lanterns, are becoming a force. The range in metal finishes, from bronze to black to burnished brass, as well as scale and architectural form, has added to the allure.

One thing is clear: Indoor sophistication and style are stepping out. And with that, a whole lot of modern style.

"It's not a flash in the pan thing," says Waynette Goodson, editor of Casual Living, a trade publication, and a new trade magazine that caters to upscale products called Exterior Design. "It's not a flash in the pan thing. It's a style that can be successfully combined with other styles.

"Modern is going to be around for a long time."

Sources

-- Agio, 800-416-3511, www.agio-usa.com

-- Dedon, 877-693-3366, www.dedon.de

-- Frontgate, 888-263-9850, www.frontgate.com

-- Holly Hunt Outdoor, 800-320-3145, www.hollyhunt.com

-- Kenneth Coponbue, 888-889-9005, www.kennethcobonpue.com

-- Lane Venture, 800-225-0265, www.laneventure.com

-- One Kings Lane, 855-746-7655, www.onekingslane.com

-- RH, 800-762-1005, www.restorationhardware.com

-- Roche Bobois, 312-955-0275, www.roche-bobois.com

-- Thibaut, 800-223-0704, www.thibautdesign.com

-- Tommy Bahama, Lexington Home Brands, 336-474-5300, www.lexington.com

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

-- Woodard, 800-877-2290, www.woodard-furniture.com

Art and craft give interiors their soul. They personalize, like all things bespoke, and make a house your own, with an intimacy that really is hard to match, especially when there's a backstory.

These objects speak to you, especially when they have a memorable provenance that adds a touch of romance. A piece of tinwork you acquired while traveling. Or a one-of-a-kind decorative ceramic pot that you fell in love with in an artist's studio. Perhaps folk art from a museum. You may have learned about the inspiration for a rug and how it was woven. Just seeing these pieces in your foyer or living room brings you back and adds to the enjoyment.

Particularly in the last few decades, the appreciation for handcrafted objects has swelled. Seeking the artisanal extends to everything from aromatic soaps to chocolates, like the hand-decorated signature ganaches from MarieBelle New York Chocolates, which look like a box of 16 miniature paintings, each with a different flavor.

The appeal, says Caroline Hipple, president of Norwalk Furniture, which has featured craft-inspired looks on its fabrics for upholstery and pillows, is authenticity. "It's an antidote to mass consumerism, the opposite of technology. We want to feel the touch, know the source, relate to the maker. Celebration of indigenous materials, using them in new ways -- that's what I love."

Bolstered by globalization and easier access online, sites such as the handcrafted product marketplace Etsy foster relationships, introducing and connecting makers with buyers. Artisans may be discovered, like Justin Bieber, on YouTube, Instagram or other social media. Or they meet up through local or international craft shows.

In Dublin, Ireland, there's an annual creative expo entirely devoted to Irish artisans called Showcase, organized by Enterprise Ireland. Alanna Gallagher, who curated the Home and Gift editors choice selections at Showcase this year, says, "The story each piece tells is vitally important. Products I consider worth featuring must first and foremost be functional, but they must also be covetable and engaging."

At shows like Maison et Objet in Paris and Salone del Mobile in Milan, booths are well scouted by retail buyers, designers and manufacturers looking for new creative craft.

Art museums collaborate with manufacturers on licensed furnishings collections, including Traditions Made Modern, which holds the Museum of New Mexico Foundation at its core. The rich resources include traditional and ethnographic materials from the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the New Mexico History Museum. Themes from these institutions are adapted into modern pieces of furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories. Its latest licensees include Hickory Chair, Maitland Smith, Jaipur Living, with African Kuba cloth-inspired, hand-knotted carpets, and Wildwood lamps, whose inspirations include Turkish ceramics, Native American jewelry and indigo-dyed Japanese coats.

At a recent design summit in Santa Fe, Pamela Kelly, vice president of licensing for the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, spoke of the importance of expanding its brand.

"Using the resources of our four museums," says Kelly, "we inspire with new ideas, exploring materials and methods. The alchemy is an intersection of technology and tradition -- one fast; one slow. We believe they're two sides of the same coin."

Consider the art of New Yorker George Venson, whose signature style is bold graphics and color. His inspirations take him to his Greek roots with urns and vase imagery, the Ballets Russes, new takes on chinoiserie and flora and fauna, all in a vibrant expression. His paintings are translated into wallcoverings and fabrics with digital printing.

Digital printing has revolutionized such production, as well as that of porcelain tile, creating texture as well as pattern. Printing with 3-D technology is reportedly saving some designer careers in Italy, where numbers have been dwindling due to competition from China.

For contemporary artists, it's often difficult to market wares without gallery or retail representation. The Artful Home catalog, launched in 1985, has been one forum, representing more than 19,000 original works of art in a curated collection.

Forward-thinking retailers like West Elm, which in the past has done pop-ups with Etsy, launched a local initiative to discover artisans -- painters, furniture makers, potters, quilters -- to spotlight in area stores. Its network now includes more than 500 makers, with 4,500 products, some one-of-a-kind works.

Other companies regularly seek out artists. Currently, one of Venson's new chinoiserie papers is available on Anthropologie's website. The retailer also has its own creative team that designs in house, with inspiration from contributors' various travels.

Romo, a high-end fabric manufacturer based in the UK, nodded to London watercolor artist Jessica Zoob for a riveting collection a few years back. Described as a modern impressionist, Zoob's dreamy large-scale florals and lush palette are especially enchanting on velvet and linen.

Irish artist Sue Gifford's large-scale splash of roses printed on a linen pillow at Showcase Ireland were breathtaking.

Drawing from ancient, antique or vintage pieces can often assume a more modern sensibility with a shift up in scale or by changing media (pottery to glass) or design and technique (as in Waterford's edgy Punk collection from four years back). At Maison et Objet in Paris, technique dazzled with colored crystal bowls from Swarovski that feature new laser jet crystal printing.

Mixing media also intrigues. Last year's trend in teaming wood and marble continues with a fresh wrinkle: a black-and-white-striped resin set into a beautifully figured acacia bowl by Juliska.

Old World crafts, like lost wax and sand mold casting, also are shaken up with modern aesthetics. Jonathan Glatt of the O&G Studio created a series of brackets and hardware that steals the show from the white lacquer shelves it supports.

Even contract furnishings companies -- which service hospitality venues, offices and hospitals -- spotlight craft or the craft-inspired. The Milan-based Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, art director for Hayworth (a company based in Holland, Michigan, that includes Poltrona Frau, Cappellini and Janus et Cie), created a group of modern rugs for Gan that look like giant knit and crocheted patchworks in a perky palette. Knoll often takes inspiration from the fashion world, and a recent launch by designers for SUNO features Japanese motifs.

Computers, 3-D printing and new technologies have generated a maker's movement, with DIY a big component. Spirited by MAKE magazine, which launched in 2005, there now are Maker Faires, billed as festivals of creativity and invention, all over the country (www.makerfaire.com).

But there are some who still prefer -- and are trying to keep alive -- the good old-fashioned by-hand methods.

Ger Collins, who designs a range of soft furnishings for the nursery under the label Pippablue, is passionate about passing the tradition to children and grown-ups. With pop-y patterns, including tweeds and bold, non-traditional colors, she and her business partner, Eve Esteve ("two mums and sewing teachers"), create charming kits cut and packed in their studio on the west coast of Ireland.

With an early start, perhaps the enthusiasm of maker can be nurtured -- especially when it comes to defining one's style. And creating, above all else, for the pure joy of it.

Sources

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

-- Avoca, online@avoca.ie, www.avoca.com

-- Claire Newell Ceramics, clairenewellceramics.com

-- Cole & Son Ltd., customer.service@cole-and-son.com, to the trade through Lee Jofa, 312-544-2965, www.cole-and-son.com

-- Hickory Chair, 800-225-0265, www.hickorychair.com

-- Horchow, 877-944-9888, www.horchow.com

-- Knoll, 866-565-5858, www.knoll.com/textiles

-- Maison Christian Lacroix for Roche Bobois, 212-980-2574, www.roche-bobois.com

-- Nambe, 800-443-0339, www.nambe.com

-- Pierre Frey, 212-421-0534, www.pierrefrey.com

-- Pippablue, info@pippablue.com, www.pippablue.com

-- Rejuvenation, 888-401-1900, www.rejuvenation.com

-- Sue Gifford Design, hello@suegifford.com, www.suegifforddesign.com

-- Sundance, 800-422-2770, www.sundancecatalog.com

-- Swarovski, 888-207-9873, www.swarovski.com

-- Valdese Weavers, 828-874-2181, www.valdeseweavers.com

-- Voutsa, 646-892-7797, www.voutsa.com

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

There is a shift in the kitchen landscape, and most of it is seasoned with modern style -- if not in form, then in function. Cleaner lines in cabinetry and more streamlined hardware and appliances have been trending, but what's really making a huge impact is what is under the hood.

Most striking has been the impact of technology, both in terms of mechanics -- hardware that allows touch to open, soft close, easy slide drawers, LED lighting -- as well as expanding the universal "Internet of Things," which now allows us to communicate with our appliances by smartphone and even utilize personal assistants such as Amazon Echo's Alexa.

More than ever, manufacturers are thinking about what makes cooking, cooling, washing and prep better and more efficient. Add to that specialty niches, like built-in coffeemakers that handle barista-quality lattes or macchiatos and even wine coolers. Or nugget ice makers that deliver that popular, chewable crushed ice. Viking has a new one that even can be used outdoors; and U-Line's (debuting later this year) requires no drain.

Part of the thinking here has to do with providing more options for customization, while continuing to provide pro looks and functionality that consumers like. To that end, one new buzzword: column refrigeration. In recent years, fridges have perhaps gotten fancier, with French-style double doors, drawers and even cameras inside to record what's there so you can have a virtual grocery list at the supermarket. Now there are built-in options for 18-, 24-, 30- and 36-inch-wide versions of all refrigerators and all freezers. This allows configuring to your needs. But there are also side-by-side and even triple alignments. Dacor's newest Modernist series has an all stainless interior, three-sided tunnel LED lighting and auto-open doors, and is equipped with a camera that snaps and shares via mobile phone what's inside every time you open the door.

It's a similar story with cooktops and ranges, with many commercial features now available for the home, combined energy-delivery systems like gas and electric, and even products designed for multiple styles of cooking. Thermador's new 60-inch Pro Grand range offers side-by-side ovens, including one 36-inch convection and one 30-inch steam/convection, as well as a warming drawer.

And although induction cooktops have intrigued and are raved about by chefs, they have been slower to catch on, perhaps because of price. But some feel that once prices come down, the segment will take off. Frigidaire's new induction cooktop hits a price point of less than $1,000.

Frigidaire also is banking on black, which seems to be gaining traction. "It's the first time black stainless steel is in our product line," says Frigidaire brand spokesman John Weinstock. "We really think it's the next look."

"It's both sophisticated and handsome, and it will up the ante in any kitchen," says designer Nate Berkus, who developed a black stainless collection with LG Studio. "I've always believed that a kitchen should feel timeless, using classic materials and design elements that will look good today and in 10 years' time." Berkus adds that he feels the black stainless is elegant.

The beauty of many of the new finishes is that they're smudge-proof, which has been an issue with untreated stainless steel. Black matte has a particular appeal -- in faucets, cabinets and surfaces as well. The Canadian manufacturer Miralis introduced a true matte black surface that is not only smudge-proof, but antimicrobial as well.

At the recent Kitchen and Bath Show in Orlando, many stone and quartz manufacturers offer the same looks in two finishes -- honed and glossy.

Quartz and now porcelain, which come in slabs and stone lookalikes have pretty much supplanted granite as a go-to counter. One innovative product from Caesarstone called TRANSFORM is what is billed as the first 13-millimeter quartz overlay surface, allows fitting over existing countertops, a big saver of both time and money. The product is low-maintenance, scratch-, stain- and heat-resistant, and comes with a lifetime warranty. More than ever, the scope of available finish options is mind-boggling -- from wood-grain looks, including laminates like Formica's oak herringbone veneer, to materials such as leather and even porcelain tiles, which themselves offer a range from stylish shagreen to geometrics to metallic mixes and even 3-D.

As in other areas of the home, warm metallics have been trending. So we're still seeing brass, sometimes with sheen and sometimes burnished, and a little bit of rose gold. There seems to be more of a comfort level mixing metals as well. So faucets, appliances and hardware don't all have to match up.

Black does seem to be striking a chord, and one of the most striking combinations recently debuted was a black and gold chic contemporary model, part of the Litze collection at Brizo.

The pull-down, commercial-style faucet is ubiquitous, distinguished by finish, motion tech (touch-free) and a variety of sprays. One at Delta creates a perfect bubble. Kohler has a three-spray option -- one for fragile fruits and veggies, one for heavy-duty cleaning and one for filling pots.

Many hardware manufacturers are featuring a full range of metal choices for each collection, with both matte and shiny choices available. You'll also find elongated pulls, which seem more modern than knobs. This larger scale, whether chunky or skinny, is better suited to the proportions of taller cabinets and longer drawers -- a trend we're seeing from Europe

And Grohe adds fun to its line of faucets with a wardrobe of silicone sleeves for a pop of color.

Cabinetry still is popular in gray tones that range to warm brown -- stained, grains, painted. Walnut is emerging as a new favorite; so is horizontal planking -- smooth or rough for more rustic looks. Modern styles are so significant that more traditional manufacturers are wading in to answer growing demand, including Wellborn, which introduced a frameless collection called Aspire.

Open shelving is offering visual relief to rows of cabinets, either in floating planks (wood or stone) or those supported with decorative brackets. Islands also float, or they get support from a pair of front legs, a welcome lightening up of the familiar monolithic form. And the island "table" is gaining traction, much in the spirit of the sexy red grill on castered legs that architect David Rockwell designed for Caliber, so that people could gather 'round.

As ease of use and smartphone connections ramp up, some companies already are looking to kick it up a notch. London-based Moley this year launches what it calls the first robotic kitchen, which will include an "iTunes style library of recipes." On the demo video (www.moley.com), someone touches a digital screen, programs in Grandma's spaghetti Bolognese, and you see a pair of white robotic arms doing all the work with ingredients set up at the stove. "It can mimic the skill and flair of a master chef" boasts the website. The hands even clean up. Bravo!

Sources

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

-- Caesarstone, 818-779-0999, www.caesarstoneus.com

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

-- Formica, 800-367-6422, www.formica.com

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

-- GE Appliances, 800-626-2005, www.geappliances.com

-- Hafele America, 800-423-3531, www.hafele.com

-- InSinkerator, 800-558-5700, www.insinkerator.com

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

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

-- LG Studio, 800-243-0000, www.lgstudio.com

-- Monogram, 800-626-2000, www.monogram.com

-- Rev-A-Shelf. 800-626-1126, www.rev-a-shelf.com

-- ROHL, 800-777-9762, www.rohlhome.com

-- Scavolini, contact@scavolini.com, www.scavolini.com

-- Smeg, 212-265-5378, www.smegusa.com

-- Thompson Traders, 336-272-3003, www.thompsontraders.com

-- U-Line, 800-295-5510, www.uline.com

-- Viking, 888-845-4641, press 2, www.vikingrange.com

-- Wilson Art, 800-433-3222, www.wilsonart.com

Sidebar

A look inside

Besides slide-out drawers, what improves interior storage? Lots of compartments and bins, which are even better when you can configure them to your needs. Add LED lights, and you won't have to squint while you search.

And even though you may not see it, you're certainly aware of the sometimes bad smells that come out of that sink disposal. InSinkerator has an answer: citrus-scented baffles; and even cleaning pods to keep things smelling fresh.