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.

Landscape Design Katya Pankov Landscape Design Katya Pankov

Need a New Look? Try These 3 Landscape Design Ideas for Your Backyard in Manhasset and Setauket, NY

Spending time outdoors is one of the joys of homeownership. Your outdoor space is an extension of the home and hosts many of your favorite activities. Its customization is up to you, in order for your patio to become an ideal expression of your outdoor lifestyle. If your outdoor living space needs a new look to achieve this goal, consider the following landscape design ideas for your backyard in Manhasset and Setauket, NY.

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Katya Pankov Katya Pankov

7 Ways You Can Use Your Outdoor Fireplace Year Round in Babylon, NY

An outdoor fireplace is often the centerpiece of summertime outdoor entertaining. Luckily, you don’t have to pack up the fun when summer ends and gaze longingly at your outdoor fireplace from indoors. Here are seven ways you can use your outdoor fireplace year round in Babylon, NY.

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Katya Pankov Katya Pankov

9 Ideas for Updating Your Outdoor Fireplace in Long Island, NY

Your outdoor fireplace should be the hub of your landscape. But if it doesn’t match the aesthetics of your home or the rest of your hardscape, you may not be using it or enjoying it as much as you could. The good news is that you don’t have to live with a fireplace you don’t love (and you don’t have to demolish it, either). Here are eight ideas for updating your outdoor fireplace in Long Island, NY.

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Katya Pankov Katya Pankov

8 Patio Designs to Enhance Your Old Westbury, NY, Landscape

If it’s time to redo your old patio and you need some inspiration to drive the remodel of this part of your landscape, you’ll find many ideas all around you. Consider these eight patio designs to enhance your landscape—and your vision of the perfect patio.

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