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.

Outdoor Spaces Katya Pankov Outdoor Spaces Katya Pankov

Take Advantage of Your Large Backyard by Adding an Outdoor Kitchen to Your Landscape Design in Port Washington, NY

There are so many wonderful memories to create when you and your family can enjoy a meal together in your Port Washington, NY, backyard. When you include an outdoor kitchen in your landscape design, you can customize it to your cooking and entertaining style—in fact, no other backyard feature offers such an amazing capacity for creative expression.

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What Type of Outdoor Kitchen Design Would Work Best for a Huntington and Northport, NY, Backyard?

Getting the most out of your outdoor living space means transferring some of your most cherished tasks to the outdoors. An outdoor kitchen enables you or another talented cook in your household to create memorable meals right from your backyard. The promise of one of these delicious meals will be sure to draw friends and family and offers up a chance to make some great memories. Here’s how to decide what type of outdoor kitchen design would work best for a Huntington and Northport, NY backyard.

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These 6 Outdoor Lighting Tips Will Bring Your Landscape Design to Life in Southampton, Long Island, NY

The appreciation of the beauty of your landscape doesn’t have to stop when night falls. In fact, the nighttime is probably the best time to show off your landscape with a creative lighting design. A combination of various lighting techniques will turn any backyard into a dreamy paradise at night. These six outdoor lighting tips will bring your landscape design to life.

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Outdoor Living, Outdoor Fireplace Katya Pankov Outdoor Living, Outdoor Fireplace Katya Pankov

Get the Most Use Out of Your Outdoor Fireplace This Spring in Old Westbury and Huntington, NY, Areas

If you are constantly dreaming about fun times spent outdoors with family and friends, why not get a jump start to the outdoor season by focusing on a new outdoor fireplace? With a few ideas, it could become an amazing place to relax and get some fresh air, even when the air is still frosty.

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Landscape Design, Pool, Outdoor Living Katya Pankov Landscape Design, Pool, Outdoor Living Katya Pankov

Landscape Design Tips for a Backyard That Can Be Used Year-Round in Oyster Bay and Southampton, NY, Areas 

If you’ve been wondering how much use you’ll get from a backyard that mostly centers around a pool, there are some creative workarounds that can make all the difference. Here are landscape design tips for a backyard that can be used year-round in the Oyster Bay and Southampton, NY, areas.

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Spruce Up Your Holiday Home With These Landscape Design Ideas in Northport and Stony Brook, NY, Areas

In this unprecedented year, the holidays are requiring new traditions, with many people staying close to home. You can spruce up your holiday home with these landscape design ideas in Northport and Stony Brook, NY, areas, and expand your entertaining opportunities to the great outdoors.

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