FOR SOFT, CONTEMPORARY LOOK AT HOME, TRY CALVIN KLEIN.

Byline: Gary Krino Orange County Register

Old Cal is at it again. For his spring 1996 line of home merchandise, Calvin Klein has added table linens, bedskirts, window treatments, shower curtains, guest towels, bath accessories, bath rugs and beach towels.

In true Klein form, the look is sleek, pared, contemporary. There's color, but you won't need dark glasses to keep it under control. Tones are soft, muted. Patterns run to stripes, plaids and delicate floral prints. Fabics include cotton, wool, linen, cashmere. Items can stand alone or be used as part of a coordinated look.

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Cocooning never looked so good to the outdoor furniture industry. According to a new study from Packaged Facts, a New York-based market-research firm, in 1991-95, sales of outdoor casual furniture rose 29 percent, to $1.4 billion.

Recent milestones in manufacturing haven't hurt, either. They include the introduction of wrought aluminum; development of extrusion processes whereby PVC can simulate other materials; the formulation of resin weave, which emulates the look of traditional wicker; and the development of solution-dyed acrylics, which allows for greater textile print detail and durability.

Elissa Moses, managing director of The BrainWaves Group, a global consulting and trends think tank based in New York, says the new millennium is going to bring plenty of changes in design.

Ever heard of feng shui? If you haven't, you will, Moses says. Feng shui is the Asian art of arranging a home or business in a way that brings prosperity and harmony. It's both practical and mystical.