We’re all just itching to get outside and into the sun — and thankfully we’ve already got an early spring here in the Northwest. But all this lovely weather has me dreaming of new outdoor furniture to enjoy it in, and these fresh picks from Loll Designs are what I’m dreaming of! A pair of coco chairs (shown in apple) out on the deck? Sigh! Perfect for having coffee while I look at the lilac blooms. And that coffee is resting on a tiered topo table (shown in sky) while a family of robins chirp inside their pitch birdhouse (shown in leaf). But these are cooler than the average plastic furniture. Loll makes their products out of recycled milk bottles, and they’re constructed to last. See them all here. — Megan B.

Stay tuned for more modern patio furniture — this time made from recycled materials — coming up.

Pea and Black Pepper Risotto
(serves 4)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablsepoon butter (optional, but worth it)
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
1 large shallot, minced
1 1/2 cups arborio rice (10 ounces)
1/2 c dry white wine (eg, Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio)
4 cups chicken stock , warmed (or veg, if preferred)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
One 16-ounce bag frozen petite peas (3 cups), thawed
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
garnish with extra black pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the garlic and shallot, cover and cook over moderately low heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir over moderately low heat until slightly translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the 1/2 cup of wine and cook, stirring occasionaly until it is almost evaporated. Add 1 cup of the warmed chicken stock and cook, stirring, until nearly absorbed. Continue adding the stock, about 1 cup at a time, stirring until the stock is absorbed before adding more. Cook, stirring, until the rice is al dente and suspended in thick, creamy liquid, about 17 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper; Add the peas and cook just until heated through. Stir in the cheese, garnish with more coarse ground pepper, and serve immediately.

First, remove any bits of the papery husk still attached to the fronds. Then — if you’re a nervous eater — you’ll want to boil or steam the heck out of them to avoid the slight chance of a GI problem that some health officials have worried people about. If you’re like me, you’ll risk the stomach upset for a flavorful, lightly cooked fiddlehead that tastes of spring. Simply toss them in a skillet with some butter, a drizzle of olive oil, and some salt and pepper. Delicious. — Erica P.

I love the idea of pairing a few old transferware serving pieces and plates with Target’s new Liberty of London Dining collection. Not only would the mix of materials and patterns be fun, it would also be a great way to stretch your dollars. Ruby Lane, Tias.com, and eBay have plenty of listings for great antique transferware in pinks, blacks, and pastels. The problem is actually finding the Liberty of London collection in stores! To date, I’ve made two trips but the Target closest to me only has bedding and apparel in stock — some, like this dinner plate, are only available online. Having better luck? If so, what do you plan on doing with your new plates and bowls? Do they live up to the hype? — Sarah L.

Liberty of London is selling out of Target stores fast, but lucky for you, we’re giving away a whole set of goodies to Shelterrific Facebook fans! Click for the details!

Feel the fear…and a dark door could open and take you right out of the woods into a room where people talk backwards in riddles and a little man dances. They do, however, have some pretty nifty chairs. We’re speaking, of course, of the Black Lodge, the final destination in our tour of Twin Peaks goodness. If you just want a taste, visit Gainsbourg, a Seattle restaurant with a lounge area done up to bring the Black Lodge to mind, top photo above. But if you want to bring a bit of the Black Lodge home (leave Bob behind, please), read on…

Jayson Home & Garden’s Martene Chair, $1,516, will evoke the Black Lodge spirit(s), as will a black & white Zigzag rug from West Elm, somewhat more affordable at $39-649. You can count on IKEA for the signature red velvet curtains, $70. Check eBay for a fine deco Saturn lamp, and look to Anthropologie for more owls that are not what they seem, because they’re actually creature kingdom hooks, $20, and a doorstop, $24. Fabulous, vintage Robsjohn-Gibbings torchiere floor lamps, $1995 each, will give your home an eerie yet stylish glow. Keep warm on a stakeout with the Bookhouse Boys using this tabletop gel firepit, $92.50. And finally, add just the right amount of flavor to the setting with these Checkmate salt and pepper shakers, $34. And now we must bid Twin Peaks adieu. Well played, Windom Earle. Well played. — Mary T.

A final note of thanks to Tula Jeng of Whorange, who so patiently and fabulously pulled together all these amazing Twin Peaks-ian items for us! Our gratitude for your help is more copious than the flow of Donna Hayward’s tears.

Previously on Twin Peaks decor:
Coffee, donuts, and pie
The Lady with the Log
Welcome to Twin Peaks

I’ll be the first to admit I was never into hopscotch as a kid. I didn’t understand the point in taking time to draw the grid in chalk just to enjoy three seconds of hopping through it. Me? I was a four-square girl. This fact hasn’t swayed me from totally digging the hopscotch rug from CB2. Maybe it’s that I don’t have to draw the grid myself, but more likely it’s jut the fun-loving feeling I think it would add to a room. Sure, most people will put this in a kid’s room, but I think it would add loads of character to a living room. Buy the 100% wool rug for $199 here. — Erica P.

Design magazines and blogs have been abuzz the past few weeks about the launch of Liberty of London’s limited edition line for Target that features 35 of their classic prints. If you’re obsessed like us, you logged on this weekend and tried to score some before they sold out. (Sadly, the insanely cute chairs are gone already!) But here’s the good news: We have a box chock-full of the collection’s home decor items to give to one lucky reader.

To enter to win, all you have to do is become a fan of Shelterrific on Facebook by next Monday, March 22nd at 9 p.m. EST. One lucky fan will be chosen by a random drawing to win a box full of goodies that includes: A lidded storage box, a ceramic Floral Piggy Bank, and a gorgeous Maynard Canister. Also included is a picture frame, some purse-sized notebooks, and small note cards.

Don’t miss this chance to snag these groovy items! Become a Shelterrific fan on Facebook now, and you could win! See more great Liberty of London stuff at Target here.