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.

Landscape Design, Pergola, Gazebo Katya Pankov Landscape Design, Pergola, Gazebo Katya Pankov

Freshen Up Your Landscape Design in Sag Harbor and Old Westbury, NY, This Spring With These 5 Tips

Spring offers an opportune time to start realizing landscaping projects you have dreamed about all winter. From adopting eco-friendly standards to designing native greenscapes, from a new shelter structure to water features and permeable driveway pavers, your outdoor living space can benefit from an update.

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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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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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