The return of rattan
Natural materials are increasingly popular, and woven rattan, made from the thin pliable stems of climbing palms, is moving from the patio and poolside into living and dining rooms, as well as the kitchen and bedrooms.
Sustainably grown rattan is strong, lightweight, easy to clean and can be bent and shaped to make durable furnishings.
Folding glass doors
Commercial designs often carry over into residential use, and large, industrial-style folding steel and glass doors are just the latest example of this trend, according to Julie Bradshaw, owner of Bradshaw Designs in San Antonio.
When closed, these doors provide wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling views to the outside. Opened, they stack back on themselves, accordion-like, eliminating any border between the outdoors and the in.