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.

Is a Gunite Swimming Pool the Right Fit for Your Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson, NY, Area Backyard Style?

A backyard pool can transform your summer life. With the various pool construction materials to choose from, it can require some up-front planning to decide what’s right for your landscape and outdoor lifestyle. Fiberglass and vinyl pools have their advantages, but few pool options have the creative versatility of gunite. As you plan out your perfect pool in anticipation of the warmer seasons, let’s answer the question: Is a gunite swimming pool the right fit for your Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson, NY, area backyard style?

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Pool Katya Pankov Pool Katya Pankov

Swimming Pool Designs That Would Take Your Outdoor Space to the Next Level in Port Jefferson and Southampton, NY

Spending your days and evenings in your backyard swimming pool with your friends and family will help create some of the best memories you can share together. Swimming pools are so much fun that even the most basic models will be a hit, yet they can be so much more too. Choosing the right design and adding personalized features will make your pool that much more ideal for your lifestyle. Here are some swimming pool designs that would take your outdoor living space to the next level in Port Jefferson and Southampton, NY.

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Landscape Design Katya Pankov Landscape Design Katya Pankov

5 Masonry Ideas to Improve the Look of a Front Entrance in Southampton and Port Jefferson, NY Areas

The front entrance to your home is the most visible portion of your home from the street, so it creates a powerful first impression for guests and passersby if you have a beautiful landscape design. You may view masonry features as the best way to boost those first impressions—here are five ideas to do just that in Southampton and Port Jefferson, NY.

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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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