Is your deck ready for the in-laws?

Summer will come. We promise. And when it does, the word is we'll be spending more time at home because entertaining family and friends here costs less than going out.

For some of us that will be difficult without new furniture for the patio or deck.

Crate & Barrel presents outdoor collections that meet environmental standards.

We selected this teak and resin wicker sofa from the Carlisle line. The company says it is the first North American home retailer to work directly with the Tropical Forest Trust. That means the wood is from plantations that are responsibly and socially managed for long-term conservation.

The wicker has no known toxins and is recyclable. And the cushions are Sunbrella from a facility that sends no waste to landfills and uses an environmentally kind coloring process.

The price tag is $1,299 plus $250 for cushions. The company also has lines that you assemble yourself to save money.

Outdoor furniture is available in the company's stores and at crateandbarrel.com.

And what will we put in the living room?

While we're in a furniture mode, Robin Bruce, a Rowe company, offers ecologically friendly furniture for inside your house.

First of all, they are made in the United States, which means less fuel should be needed to get it to your house.

The wood is from replenished forests, the foam is plant based and free from all kinds of noxious initials such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). And fabric choices include organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and linen.

This is an accent chair called Jackson, shown in organic cotton.

Retailers include Cocoon in Geneva. Others are at robinbruce.com.

Pass this by if you only love new stuff

My favorite form of being green is purchasing old and used things, sometimes even antiques.

The Winnetka Antiques Show is always a great place to look for treasures. Fifty dealers from the United States and Europe will sell furniture, decorative arts, jewelry, folk art, vintage clothing, books, textiles and rugs.

The show will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, March 6; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Admission is $15, which covers all three days. The location is the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, which benefits from the show.

Special events include a talk by Chris Jussel, the first host of Antiques Roadshow. That will be at 10 a.m. Saturday and costs $40, including show admission. The preview party is Thursday, March 5 and costs $135.