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.

6 Options for Adding a Rustic Outdoor Kitchen to Your Landscape Design in Deer Park, NY

Even the best outdoor living spaces can be enhanced by an outdoor kitchen that’s designed to address both everyday family activities and occasional outdoor parties. With the right design, your outdoor kitchen can become the hub of outdoor living and the source of incredible al fresco meals. Here are six options for including a rustic outdoor kitchen in your landscape design in Deer Park, NY.

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Feature the Chef: 5 Ideas for Putting the Focus on Your Outdoor Kitchen in Southampton and Babylon, NY

Dining outside with friends and family is one of life’s great pleasures, especially outdoors in Southampton and Babylon, NY. Outdoor kitchens provide chefs, both amateur and professional, with the opportunity of showcasing their talents as well as the beauty of the backyard. Building the perfect outdoor kitchen can be a great passion project, so it’s important to start with some solid ideas.

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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

9 Must-Have Outdoor Fireplace Accessories

If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor fireplace to your Port Washington, NY, chances are it will instantly become a focal point of your outdoor living space. Nothing beats the warmth and cozy ambience of a fire after all. But there’s more to an outdoor fireplace than the flames—you can make your fireside experience even better with these nine must-have outdoor fireplace accessories.

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