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.

Game Courts, Pool Katya Pankov Game Courts, Pool Katya Pankov

Install a Game Court Alongside a Swimming Pool for the Ultimate Entertaining Space in the Southampton and Stony Brook, NY, Areas

If you were able to combine your favorite activities—swimming and playing sports—you would truly be able to maximize your spare time in the Southampton and Stony Brook, NY, areas. In this post, we’ll explore several upsides of installing a game court alongside your swimming pool.

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Pool, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Spaces Katya Pankov Pool, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Spaces Katya Pankov

5 Tips for Highly Customized Fiberglass Pools in Port Jefferson and Mt. Sinai, NY, Areas

Whether your backyard is expansive or on the smaller side, a customized fiberglass pool can become the centerpiece of summer fun in the Port Jefferson and Mt. Sinai, NY, areas. Useful features can be built right into the structure of the pool, or the landscape can be altered to help unify the entire backyard. Working with a landscape design company to customize your pool is a surefire way toward making progress on your dream backyard/destination spot.

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Katya Pankov Katya Pankov

Using Masonry to Spruce Up the Poolside in Southampton, NY

If you’re inspired to transform your backyard pool area into a real showstopper that your family will love all summer long (and that will look like a beautiful part of the landscape even during winter), here are some great ideas for using masonry to spruce up the poolside in Southampton, NY.

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