(BPT) - Indoors or outdoors, your home decor needs some TLC to look its best. Replacing worn or dated furniture or flooring inside your home is considered fairly easy. But when outdoor spaces start to appear shabby, do you decide to live with the tired look because you think freshening the space will be too time-consuming or costly?

(BPT) - Most of us view lawns, porches, decks and gardens as extensions of our homes and look forward to enjoying these spaces during warm weather. Unfortunately, rising temperatures also bring invasive insects that can lay their claim to these spaces and cause hefty damage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency released its preliminary flood maps Monday which include much of coastal Queens that was flooded in Hurricane Sandy.

The new maps, the first change in New York City’s flood zones in 30 years, put nearly all of the Rockaway Peninsula, Broad Channel and Howard Beach into high-risk areas that will force residents to purchase flood insurance and follow new guidelines for home construction.

(BPT) - When warm weather arrives, does your family head outdoors to enjoy your patio or deck? Do they then turn around and head right back into the air-conditioned comfort when summer sun and temperatures make outdoor living spaces too hot to handle?

(BPT) - Whether you own a cozy cottage or mega mansion, as a homeowner, you likely embrace the outdoor living trend. But when you look at your deck or patio, does it leave something to be desired? By taking a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach, you can affordably create outdoor spaces that enhance the style and functionality of your home, plus add to the overall value of the property.

Year after year, moms and children are faced with the same question: “What are we going to get dad for Father’s Day?”  Finding the right gift can be stressful and the department stores filled sky-high with matching tie and sock combinations are less than helpful.

(StatePoint) In the warmer months your home’s outdoor space is just as important as the rooms inside, especially if your family spends a lot of time outside.

When Deputy Inspector Michael Coyle took over as commanding officer of the 105th Precinct in Queens Village in May, it was not so much a welcome as much as it was a welcome home.

“I liked working here when I was executive officer,” Coyle said on May 29 at a meeting of the precinct’s Community Council. “I wanted to come back as the commanding officer.”

(NewsUSA) - Southern California will soon have a new source of locally grown, organic produce, not to mention it will be home to one of the most energy-efficient urban garden systems in the U.S.

The new City Council map is officially final.

The NYC Districting Commission said that the final stage in certifying the map was completed on May 20 whenthe U.S. Department of Justice precleared the commission'splan to map out the city’s51 Council districts.

The NBA Draft Lottery held last week at the Disney Studios in Times Square determined the order of selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 27 at the Barclays Center. The participants were all from NBA clubs that did not qualify for the playoffs, which meant that for the first time in years, neither the Knicks nor Nets were involved. Nevertheless, there were a number Queens-related stories.

Ernie Grunfeld, the greatest basketball player in Forest Hills High School history, was at the lottery as president of the Washington Wizards. Ernie has the unique perspective of having been a former first-round draft choice himself, as he was chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1977, and now is in the position of selecting a player for that honor. I asked him about his memories of being selected by an NBA team after finishing his four years at the University of Tennessee.

A Kew Gardens home filled with carbon monoxide poisoned the two people living in the house.

According to the FDNY, a 911 call was made at 10:41 p.m. reporting a possible leak at 119-18 Park Lane South and Beverly Road.

(BPT) - Sprucing up your home’s curb appeal brings new energy and life, not only to your property, but also to the entire neighborhood. It creates a welcoming and appealing environment, while also making it a better candidate for resale, if that’s in your near future.

Spring brings a new season of fruits, vegetables and herbs to the Glendale Community Garden.

Founded in 2009 through an effort led by Glendale resident and Community Board 5 member Dorie Figliola and sponsored by the Glendale Kiwanis, the garden is home to everything from tomatoes to eggplant to, starting this year, herbs. It is located on a piece of land at 88th Street and 74th Avenue “borrowed” from the Yeshiva Gedolah Seminary, which owns the land.

On a Saturday afternoon at Kissena Corridor Park, Field 10 plays host to a good old American softball game. On one side is the Mets and their opponents are the Yankees. There are pre-game stretches and the Star-Spangled Banner.

But you won’t see David Wright or A-Rod wielding a bat. Instead of high-paid athletes, Randy Novick is giving an opportunity to developmentally disabled adults to put on an exciting game of America’s pastime.

Our lawns and gardens seem to be all about the “green.” We spend a lot of green on our lawns and gardens – nearly $30 billion a year. We grow a lot of greens – nearly a third of us grow food in our gardens. And many companies now make outdoor gardening products with recycled materials, such as plastics – which contribute to sustainability and make our lawns and gardens a bit greener.

(BPT) - It’s time to make your home’s exterior shine with some added summer curb appeal. You can quickly do the easy stuff – wash your windows, plant annuals, install pathway lights – to spruce things up. But you should also consider those projects you’ve been avoiding.

(BPT) - Hooray for a holiday. You’ve got the day off, you’ve sent out the backyard barbecue invite and all your nearest and dearest are coming over to eat, drink and be merry.

MillionTreesNYC was established to greenify public spaces in the city, but private spaces, including backyards, apartment building courtyards and community gardens, are not included in the initiative.

In an effort to bring some of the greenery to Queens’ private areas, the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance and the New York Restoration Project will be giving away 200 trees on Sunday in MacDonald Park in Forest Hills at Queens Boulevard and 70th Avenue from 1 to 3 p.m.