LATEST NEWS

Investigators don't believe that shoddy construction caused the balcony to collapse but, simply, too many party goers crowding onto it on a balmy summer evening. With the holiday weekend approaching, making sure that your deck is safe is not as hard as it sounds.

Homes in the New England are treated to a measure of effortless outdoor decorating for fall: Nature does most of the work by turning the trees a vivid palette of reds, oranges, and golds. Add a pumpkin or two on the doorstep and the look is complete.

Smaller yards and houses built closer to each other are leaving little room for outdoor entertaining, so homeowners are taking the backyard deck to new levels — literally — with patios on their rooftops.

In other homes, glass-paned garage doors take the place of walls in the living area and roll up to transform the entire house into an outdoor entertainment area.

As fall creeps in, it can be hard to transition from lazing on your patio or porch to sitting inside. Fortunately, there are heating options to cozy up those cool fall days and extend the summer season for your outdoor living space.

Deirdre Graziano recalls the good old days in Lincoln Park, when mature trees dotted the neighborhood and backyards flowed from one home to the next.