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.

Pool, Pool Installations Katya Pankov Pool, Pool Installations Katya Pankov

If You Love to Entertain, an Upscale Swimming Pool Is What You Are Missing in The Stony Brook, NY Area

The days of summer can bring some incredible memories for you and your family, and those great times can be even better with the right landscape design—and a swimming pool. With some fantastic design options and exciting additions, your new poolscape in Stony Brook, NY, could be the ultimate staycation-worthy space, especially if you love to entertain.

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Pool, Creative Lighting Design Katya Pankov Pool, Creative Lighting Design Katya Pankov

Enjoy Your Manhasset, NY Backyard Pool Long Into the Night With Outdoor Lighting

Owning a pool can change your entire outdoor lifestyle for the better. However, you can’t enjoy a pool to the fullest without some proper outdoor lighting. This summer, you can enjoy your Manhasset, NY, backyard pool long into the night with outdoor lighting. Here are some top techniques for adding ambience to your pool area.

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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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