Innovations in design, materials and manufacturing have had a big impact on home decor 鈥� outdoors as well as in.
Besides advances in durability, there鈥檚 now an expansive range of styles that designers can tap in to.
Luxury is one of them.
Think velvet cushions. Tailored detailing. Rich, soft upholstery. Lacquered or carved artisan-made furniture. And lots of other high-end elements that bring the elegance and sophistication of a richly finished interior to a home鈥檚 outdoor space.
鈥淭hink fully upholstered sofas covered in performance chenille fabric that鈥檚 just as soft as traditional chenille,鈥� says Waynette Goodson, editor-in-chief of Casual Living and Exterior Design magazines. 鈥淭hen, there鈥檚 Carrara marble tabletops, Italian volcanic rock finishes, and even natural brass, like Brown Jordan鈥檚 classic Kantan collection.鈥�
Casual Living鈥檚 features editor, Jennifer Bringle, says decorative accessories, too, are being elevated.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking the tiki torches and scratchy coir rugs of yore,鈥� she says. 鈥淚nnovations like solution-dyed acrylics, polypropylene weaves and water-resistant LEDs mean that outdoor accessories offer the same level of on-trend style and luxury as their indoor counterparts.鈥�
Barclay Butera, a designer in Newport Beach, California, has a collection for Castelle that would look equally at home on a city terrace or on a suburban pool deck.
鈥淚 was inspired by this magnificent geometric ceiling carving I saw in an English manor, years ago,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e incorporated this pattern into the fretwork.鈥�
The collection鈥檚 aluminum frames are hand-cast in sand using a process that eliminates air pockets, making the material nearly as solid as iron. Frames accented with artisan-applied brass details cradle deep tailored cushions, and the pieces are crisply done in Butera鈥檚 signature navy and white.
The pieces are made using the same techniques as fine interior furniture, with carefully finished joinery, hours of hand-finishing, custom detailing and thick, high-quality cushions. Characteristics such as these, including the use of marine-grade steel and durable tropical hardwoods such as Costa Rican teak, are the hallmarks of top-end outdoor furnishings.
Prices tend to reflect the luxury features. Butera鈥檚 three-seater sofa lists for about $5,000 US.
At Gloster, the Cradle outdoor daybed designed by Londoner Henrik Pedersen is a framed circle of powder-coated aluminum and teak with a thick slab mattress, and retails for about $13,000.
Vondom collaborates with international designers and architects on high-concept resin decor with an edge. That includes Ramon Esteve鈥檚 geometric Vela collection, which uses LED lighting in the bases, so seating and tables seem to float slightly at night, to ethereal effect. Planes and angles create sculptural pieces of art that are also a sunchair, bench and planter.
Also at Vondom: Teresa Sapey鈥檚 Adan collection of giant faceted heads has an Easter Island vibe. And ultramodern chairs by designers Eugeni Quitllet and Jorge Pensi are cloaked in gleaming gold or silver, combining avant garde with elegance.
Tropitone鈥檚 Cabana Club collection blends woven, metal and upholstery elements in roomy, contemporary seating inspired by luxe resorts in Bali and the Cote d鈥橝zure.
CB2鈥檚 new outdoor collection includes Ceci Thompson鈥檚 French Riviera-inspired mahogany and cabana-striped sofa. A daybed poises slim cushions on an iron frame given a rich golden glaze.
European midcentury modern looks are also finding their way outdoors. For Gloster, Petersen鈥檚 chic, minimalist Blow side table perches a sliver of teak on a smoke, coffee or emerald-hued ceramic base. And Cecilie Manz鈥檚 Atmosphere collection pairs a curvy, powder-coated aluminum frame with a slim teak seat, then pads the sofa and chair backs in hues such as nightshade, salmon, quince and lichen.
For those seeking a more traditional look, Richard Frinier鈥檚 Archipelago collection for Century features richly carved and stained teak seating and tables that evoke British and Dutch Colonial style.
The new Lilly Pulitzer collection at Pottery Barn includes the designer鈥檚 signature preppy-nautical prints on outdoor soft accessories, and crisp, white, trellis-patterned planters.
Many designers鈥� patterns dispel the notion that outdoor furniture should be printed with tropical motifs.
Brown Jordan鈥檚 Suncloth fabric collection includes menswear-style houndstooth, tweed and even sweater prints. Elaine Smith, a former jewelry designer in England, now designs runway-inspired luxury outdoor pillows. On solution-dyed Sunbrella fabric that resists fade or mildew, she incorporates dressmaker details such as silky fringe, hand-crafted knots and jewelry embellishments. Her patterns range from jaunty nautical motifs to animal and tribal prints to florals.
Sunbrella鈥檚 Makers Collection includes weather-resistant fabrics that evoke fine wools, hand-loomed Peruvian cottons or metallic-thread linens. Other outdoor fabric houses are being inspired by antique tapestries, quilting or Japanese kimonos. And some are using specialty yarns to create sumptuous pearlescent or silken textiles that withstand the elements.
