Perhaps it's a reflection of the times.

As we expect more of our home furnishings -- to make us comfortable and allow multitasking, all while looking damn good -- the mirror has been morphing into an object of art. One that can cost a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Not that that wasn't in its decorative DNA. To wit, all of the gorgeousness of grand gilded Louis XV or baroquey mirrors are historically masters at commanding space in European museums, palaces and villas.

But this is different. Almost like designing a piece of art that includes a mirror, with the feeling like the mirror is sometimes kind of an afterthought. And, curiously, it follows that trendy period where large-scale rectangular mirrors showed up in so many interiors -- on the floor, leaning stylishly against the wall -- as an emblem of modern design.

It started with mirror frames. More imaginative materials began drawing the eye, demanding at least equal time with the mirror. Beautiful figured wood veneers were beefier so you couldn't help but notice. Fanciful, loopy golden metals, framing like filigree on a ring, or three-dimensional buildups of texture, expanding on traditional elements from seashells to petals of leather to feathers, or unexpected combinations of materials.

Then came a downsizing, in which smallish mirrors emerged and practically begged for company, designed to be displayed in multiples. Not really a new concept, but one borrowed from collectors, who intuitively group beauties like French guilloche enameled hand mirrors or bejeweled Peruvian mirrors. Today, manufacturers sometimes assemble a set of circles or other shapes connected as a single piece of wall art for easier hanging.

Some designers began exploring the mirror itself, creating new geometry with smaller parts, divvying up in Mondrian grid segments as in a bronze/clear mirror from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Some perhaps took cues from tile tesserae or even Parisian parquet floors, as Tel Aviv artist Arik Levy, who has a Paris studio, fashioned a mirror out of long strips of mirror, staggering them to create a single piece.

Inevitably, there has been an exploration of form. Karim Rashid did a playful collection of bath mirrors called Reflect + for the Belgian company Deknudt, that play up color with LED lighting. Again, three hung together are more dramatic than one. Designer Julia Buckingham took a star shape and sort of stretched it out, then ganged six diamonds in two sizes into a single cohesive piece for impact at Global Views. The Italian manufacturer Seletti introduced the Luminaire mirrors, conventional round and oval shapes flattened slightly, then circled with LEDs. The inspiration for the designer was strings of lights hung above a piazza during a festival.

Buckingham, whose newly published "Modernique" (Abrams, $40) explains her decorating and product inspiration mixing vintage and modern style and fashion, channeled jewelry for another design for Global Views. It's a starburst brooch, hung like a pendant from a chain, with the tiniest mirror as a jewel in the center. A number of new mirror designs are suspended in this fashion, and the chains, leather cords or ribbons lend a graceful, even elegant note.

And now the very mirror surface is being decorated -- kind of like the feel of antiqued mottled glass, but with deliberately placed patterns that almost appear random.

One overscale rectangular design at Anthropologie, has an allover pattern that resembles suzani, the trendy vintage embroidery centered by circles, but actually was inspired by French lace. Another is more ambiguous, actually due to its technique of color washing over mirror. A mirror from Arteriors has a textural surface that resembles a slice of the solar system. And still another, Edinburg, from the same company, is irregularly shaped (kind of trapezoidal) with its craggy surface like a moon crater, looking more like a stone than a mirror.

A mirror by Zuo features a mesmerizing pattern created by repetition. It consists of a series of bull's-eyes, which recall turn-of-the-century stained and clear glass compositions called "rondels." Another, on an uber grand scale, is by Memoir Essence Furniture, a Portuguese brand. It combines geometric shapes of different sizes, some dimensional, whose surfaces have been antiqued to create a composition that thoroughly dominates a wall.

Still another fresh new direction actually pairs mirror with other materials, such as wood, to underscore pattern. An example at Roche Bobois features a distinctly art deco look, teaming mirror with wood in a tasteful composition. And at West Elm, one-half of a mirror is a live-edge slice of tree trunk, its rings clearly delineated, while the other side follows the irregular shape with a mirror image. The designs are visually reminiscent of the wood with white marble pairings in cheese blocks and trays so popular in housewares.

"Designers have started to understand that the framing around mirrors is an intricate part of a functional piece," says Buckingham. "But, all of a sudden, there are so many options, so many different shapes. There's a total crossover. In every entryway, if there has to be a mirror, how incredibly intricate, colorful is one embellished with stones? It's not just an ordinary mirror anymore. It's propelled into superstar status."

So the new artistry, much of it playfully asymmetrical, lends more gravitas to the usual spots in interiors -- over a fireplace mantel, a console in a foyer, a buffet in the dining room, the bed. The artful mirrors may function traditionally -- to reflect views or visually expand a room.

"I like taking and creating an unexpected mirror," says Buckingham, "and putting it in a place that's unusual -- where you would least expect it -- like a butler's pantry. Some might say, 'Why would I want a mirror there?' Until they see how decorative and sculptural it may be."

And for those who don't own a lot of art, if any at all, this new mirror wall decor offers a cool way to add a grand, whimsical focal point that owns the wall.

Sources

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

-- Arteriors, 800-338-2150, www.arteriorshome.com

-- Deknudt, www.deknudtmirrors.com

-- Global Views, 888-956-0030, www.globalviews.com

-- Memoir Essence Furniture, info@memoir.pt, www.memoir.pt

-- Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, 800-789-5401, www.mgbwhome.com

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

-- Seletti, 646-484-5606, www.selettinorthamerica.com

-- SHO Modern, 949-643-1000, www.shinebysho.com

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

-- Zuo Modern, 866-7-ZUOMOD, www.zuomod.com

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