Image courtesy of JAGwired

The outdoor room has evolved with dramatic leaps from the traditional deck with a Weber barbecue, plastic chairs and a blow up kiddy pool. Patterned after upscale resorts and faraway hotels from around the world, homeowners can now see exciting new and sophisticated outdoor rooms become a reality.

The furniture industry has grown along with this market of lush gardens, elaborate water features, pergolas, pavilions and outdoor kitchens. There are some amazing and innovative designs on the market, bringing polished and graceful lines to our outdoor retreats and patios. Retreats created with outdoor furnishings can now extend the exquisite tastes, architectural details and the fine craftsmanship from a well-done home’s interior.

Oscar de la Renta, for example, has taken inspiration from colonnade columns in his Punta Cana home and, with Century Furniture’s assistance, created a dramatic 60-inch round cast stone table. This beautiful weather-resistant table is cast from a combination of crushed stone and resin, this newer material is wonderfully stone-like, without the weight or costs associated with natural stone. Another positive feature in working with a cast stone product is the wide array of custom finishes and textures that can be achieved.

The outdoor furniture market has also adapted to the larger architectural scale now popular for outdoor entertaining. Tables are now designed to accommodate large parties of 12 or more. Double-canopied chaises and even sectionals are making their way outdoors. The creative use of multileveled tiered decks and terraces can invite guests and prospective buyers to explore and enjoy otherwise unused spaces.

Fabric patterns are only limited by the imagination. Soft tropical leaves, paired with bold multicolored stripes, are making dramatic statements. Outdoor fabric contents are now 100 percent Olefin and 100 percent Acrylic, which ensures a long life with minimal maintenance. The milling processes of these new materials have advanced greatly. No longer are they rigid and coarse, but can be fine textured similar to cotton or linen.

Along with these exciting advancements with fabric and furniture, outdoor lighting has also made some impressive strides. A beautiful collection, called Costa del Sol by Fine Art Lamps, captures the rich design traditions of the Mediterranean coasts. A classic elegant quatrefoil design in metal, finished in a rich bronze and warm gold accents, highlights this collection. This collection also features a pier-mount design, with an updated approach to standard installation process. The fixture installs easier and still maintains a streamlined appearance.

Creating outdoor retreats can now have strong impacts on the resale value of a home. Although not added into the square footage of a home, certainly outdoor retreats can visually maximize special lines in a prospective buyer’s mind. So be bold and daring and wander down that stone path. Connect your interior design with your exterior space to maximize your homes potential and resale value.