The Gary Duff Designs Blog

Ideas That Shape the Way Long Island Lives Outdoors

Design is always evolving, and so are the ways we live outside. The Gary Duff Designs Blog shares expert insight, creative inspiration, and time-tested advice from fifty years of landscape design and construction on Long Island, NY.

Outdoor living space with custom pergola, stone patio, and waterfront views in Port Washington, NY
Landscape design featuring layered plantings and a curved stone walkway beside a historic home in Cold Spring Harbor, NY

Explore Our Outdoor Living Insights

  • Create spaces that bring comfort, beauty, and purpose to everyday life.

  • Stay ahead with fresh perspectives from our design team.

  • Discover ideas that reflect the Long Island lifestyle.

  •  Learn how to prepare, plant, and maintain for year-round impact.

  • Practical ways to protect and preserve your investment.

Every article reflects the same principles that define our work: intentional design, enduring craftsmanship, and local expertise.

Where Inspiration Meets Expertise


From patio ideas that make entertaining effortless to seasonal landscaping tips that keep your property thriving, our team brings clarity and creativity to every topic. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or maintaining, you’ll find guidance rooted in experience and love for the craft.

Pergola, Pergola Design, Outdoor Living Katya Pankov Pergola, Pergola Design, Outdoor Living Katya Pankov

Make It Yours: 3 Ideas for Including a Pergola in Patio Designs on Long Island, NY

Creating great memories with family and friends often starts on the patio. If this past summer ended up being too hot for comfort sometimes, now could be the ideal time to plan for next summer by installing a pergola. Whether you’re adding a pergola to an existing patio or starting from scratch, here’s how to make it yours, with three ideas for including a pergola in patio designs on Long Island, NY.

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Landscape Design, Pergola, Gazebo Katya Pankov Landscape Design, Pergola, Gazebo Katya Pankov

Freshen Up Your Landscape Design in Sag Harbor and Old Westbury, NY, This Spring With These 5 Tips

Spring offers an opportune time to start realizing landscaping projects you have dreamed about all winter. From adopting eco-friendly standards to designing native greenscapes, from a new shelter structure to water features and permeable driveway pavers, your outdoor living space can benefit from an update.

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Outdoor Living, Pergola Katya Pankov Outdoor Living, Pergola Katya Pankov

3 Materials to Pair With a Wooden Pergola in Deer Park and Old Westbury, NY Area

Pergolas are a wonderful addition to an outdoor living space. They offer shade from the blazing sun as well as a touch of sophistication. Sometimes, though, they stick out and don’t seem to be quite as integrated into the space as they could be. To help a wooden pergola fit in visually, here are three materials to pair with it in the Deer Park and Old Westbury, NY, areas.

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