Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

Mike Farley
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

Dive into the world of pools and outdoor living bliss with ’Luxury Outdoor Living’ the podcast designed exclusively for homeowners eager to transform their outdoor spaces into havens of relaxation and entertainment. Join us weekly with hosts Mike & Trey from Farley Pool Designs as they embark on an exciting journey to help you make the most informed decisions when it comes to buying a pool, spa, or enhancing your overall backyard living experience. Our expert hosts, each have more than 30 years of industry experience, will demystify the process, offering invaluable tips on selecting the perfect pool or spa, navigating design and landscaping choices, understanding maintenance, and even optimising your backyard for year-round enjoyment. Each episode they’ll answer your questions, which you can submit at www.poolsideperspectives.com, and discuss a vocabulary word in the pool industry. Whether you’re a first-time pool owner or a seasoned backyard enthusiast, ’Poolside Perspectives Podcast’ is your go-to source for inspiration, advice, and insider knowledge to create the backyard paradise you’ve always dreamed of. Tune in to unlock the secrets of outdoor relaxation and entertainment, and turn your backyard into an oasis you’ll cherish for years to come. Subscribe today and start your journey towards backyard bliss!”

  1. 1d ago

    Ep 155 Great Basic Backyard to Elite Oasis: The Ultimate Hardscape Blueprint with Oldcastle APG

    In this episode of Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast we interview Joe Raboine, VP of Design for Oldcastle APG, who shares his path from contractor to manufacturer and discusses Oldcastle’s “Live Well Outside” focus on designing outdoor spaces for daily health and wellness. We cover how outdoor living has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a “need-to-have,” the rise of outdoor kitchens, micro-space design strategies, and modular prefab “Elements” kitchens and fireplaces that speed installation. Joe explains Oldcastle’s family of brands (including Belgard, Sakrete, Techniseal, PebbleTec, RDI Railings, and Catalyst Fence), the importance of coordinated color palettes, and trends like larger pavers, warmer tones, organic textures, and varied patterns. Sustainability topics include concrete recyclability, local sourcing, and permeable pavers for storm water management. Joe advises homeowners to start with a solid design, budget, and drainage plan.   Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   Connect with us and discover more: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   Our guest: https://www.oldcastleapg.com/ https://www.instagram.com/oldcastleapg/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:34 Meet Joe Reboyne 02:33 From Contractor to VP 06:00 Live Well Outside 10:00 Oldcastle Brand Family 12:35 Outdoor Living Is Essential 15:41 Color Cohesion Strategy 17:52 Modular Elements Fast Builds 24:24 Designing Micro Spaces 30:50 Micro Outdoor Spaces 31:36 Decks Meet Hardscape 33:02 Indoor Outdoor Transitions 36:36 Design Trends From Europe 41:39 Sustainability And Water 43:50 Permeable Pavers Explained 48:12 Belgard Product Overview 50:55 Modular Paver System 52:16 Homeowner Planning Advice 55:08 Rapid Fire Personal Q&A 58:20 Wrap Up And Contact Info 59:36 Podcast Mission Statement

    Ep 155 Great Basic Backyard to Elite Oasis: The Ultimate Hardscape Blueprint with Oldcastle APG

  2. Oct 13

    Ep 154 What's Next for Luxury Outdoor Living? Insights from the Pool, Spa & Patio

    The Luxury Outdoor Living podcast welcomes Megan Magana, show manager for the annual Pool Spa Patio Expo, a yearly show for pool, spa and deck professionals. It's being held in New Orleans, this year 2026, on November (Nov. 17–19) and returning to Las Vegas next year. Megan shares her career path into trade shows and explains the expo’s three pillars—education, networking, and products—offering certification courses, classroom sessions, and hands-on show-floor demos, plus 350+ exhibitors across pools, spas, patios, outdoor kitchens, and the co-located Deck Expo. The conversation emphasizes why homeowners should value builders who attend shows for updated product, code, and design knowledge, and how in-person connections and demos can’t be replicated online. They discuss awards, the new First Look Pavilion, Pool Nation hands-on training, and the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge with live voting and a $10,000 prize.   Connect with us and discover more: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   Our Guest: https://www.poolspapatio.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@PoolSpaPatioExpo   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Megan Magana 01:49 How Trade Shows Work 02:20 Megan Career Path 04:33 Trade Show War Stories 05:38 Joining Informa 07:51 Why Homeowners Care 09:34 Awards And First Show 11:16 Three Pillars Of Expo 13:25 Lazy River Lesson 18:00 In Person Beats Online 22:38 Classes And Speakers 25:32 Million Dollar Challenge 26:35 Design Challenge Format 27:23 Finalists Live Judging 30:35 Tools Not Renderings 32:06 Who Should Attend 36:58 Why Classes Aren't Recorded 38:33 Hands On Show Floor 40:46 Career Growth Stories 42:13 Beyond Pools Outdoors 44:50 Show Schedule Grind 46:02 Keep Learning Mindset 49:07 Rapid Fire Questions 51:03 Podcast Wrap Up

    Ep 154 What's Next for Luxury Outdoor Living? Insights from the Pool, Spa & Patio

  3. Oct 6

    Ep 153 Sunken Fire Pits: How to Bring Five-Star Resort Vibes Home

    Mike and Trey Farley discuss why sunken fire pits are popular—shelter from wind, increased privacy, warmer heat retention, quieter and more personal conversation—and what makes them succeed or fail. They explain depth options (from shallow 12-inch drops to ~36 inches for real comfort), typical sizing for 6–8 people, efficient bench layouts, and practical clearances (often 24 inches between bench and fire). Major drivers are cost and construction complexity, especially structural walls and drainage, preferably gravity to daylight or otherwise a sump pump. They cover safety and utility considerations for luxury builds with gas/propane ignition, ventilation differences, and why wood-burning pits need fire brick. Comfort details include pitched bench backs, cushion sizing, and lighting for steps and toe-kicks. They also touch on location near pools/spas, acrylic pool windows, and examples from designers like Jesse Kalamingo and Ryan Hughes, then invite topic/guest suggestions and note their upcoming International Pool Show & Spa trip.   Connect and discover more: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:31 Why Sunken Fire Pits 02:40 Comfort And Privacy 05:18 Depth And Cost 08:18 Drainage Essentials 11:19 Gravity Vs Sump Pumps 13:30 Sizing And Seating 16:14 Shapes And Clearances 20:31 Benches And Cushions 25:22 Location By Pool And Spa 27:55 TVs And Privacy Screens 29:16 Water Walls And Quiet Sound 30:41 Fireplace Chimneys And Smokeless Options 32:16 Propane Safety And Venting 33:51 DIY Builds And Fire Brick 35:11 Materials Food Mess And Cushions 37:58 Lighting Strip Lights And Steps 39:44 Ignition Choices And Fire Pit Products 42:17 Benches Flexibility And Cost Factors 43:43 Soil Piers And Phasing Builds 47:46 Personal Favorites Q And A 52:21 Future Topics Events And Wrap Up

    Ep 153 Sunken Fire Pits: How to Bring Five-Star Resort Vibes Home

  4. Sep 29

    Ep 152 GFRC Archpots: The Science Behind Luxury Planters, Fire & Water Bowls

    Pots can enhance your luxury outdoor space by unifying design elements and adding durable planters, fire features, and water accents. Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs interview Tim Hall of Archpot, a Southern California manufacturer of handmade, made-to-order GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) architectural site furnishings including planters, fire bowls, fire-water bowls, water bowls, and fire tables. Tim explains Archpot’s shift from importing high-end terracotta to lighter, more durable GFRC, its performance in freeze-thaw and extreme heat, and the importance of quality, trusted vendors, and realistic expectations about customization. They cover planning needs for large vessels (drainage, irrigation, conduit, lighting), why saucers are avoided, Archpot’s ~20 finishes, timeless styles like the Legacy series, and fire feature engineering (support plates, ignition systems, burner types, media options, wind performance, and optional windscreens), plus nationwide shipping and ways to contact Archpot.   Discover more and connect with us: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   Watch our episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   Discover more and connect with our guest: https://archpot.com/     00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:17 Meet Tim Hall Archpot 02:06 From Importer to GFRC 03:18 Why GFRC Beats Precast 04:05 Custom Work and Quality 07:48 Shipping and Finish Options 09:15 Matching Planters and Fire 11:02 Choosing Styles and Sizes 14:28 Planning for Giant Pots 18:00 Timeless and New Finishes 20:26 Fire Features Visual vs Heat 22:17 Why Fire Bowls Crack 23:03 Proper Fire Bowl Build 24:18 Support Plate Basics 24:51 From Planters to Plug and Play 26:23 Fire Tables vs Fire Bowls 27:29 Toe Kick Design Details 29:15 Burners and Media Coverage 31:23 Wind Performance and Windscreens 33:19 Fire Media Options Explained 37:46 Fire Bowl Styles and Colors 38:57 Adding Water Features 42:04 Contact Info and Wrap Up

    Ep 152 GFRC Archpots: The Science Behind Luxury Planters, Fire & Water Bowls

  5. Sep 22

    Ep 151 The Ultimate Backyard Flex: Using Your Luxury Pool All Winter Long

    Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Wellington Gomez of New Jersey, a Brazil-born builder who started in hardscaping and landscaping, then began building pools after repeated issues managing unreliable pool subcontractors. Gomez describes focusing on full-scope luxury outdoor environments, emphasizing client collaboration based on lifestyle, entertaining style, and cultural background, and discusses New Jersey’s proximity to New York City and four-season climate. He highlights industry education through Master Pool Guild, Watershape, and Genesis, and supports stronger pool-builder licensing. Gomez explains typical Northeast winterization versus his push to keep pools open year-round using heated, redundant equipment setups, indoor equipment rooms, automatic covers, generators, and radiant heat/boiler integration. He shares design preferences such as extensive fire features, upgraded Wet Edge finishes, and black spa accents, and warns against poorly installed outdoor porcelain in freeze-thaw climates.   Discover more and connect with us: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   Our Guest: https://sjpoolsandlandscaping.com/     00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:12 Meet the Hosts and Guest 01:36 Wellington’s Origin Story 04:05 From Pavers to Pools 06:22 Full Service Luxury Builds 08:43 Lessons From a Pool Float 11:13 Client Collaboration Philosophy 12:58 Life and Work in North Jersey 16:52 Training and Industry Standards 22:22 Year Round Pools in Snow 27:45 Winter Pool Engineering Setup 29:40 Dual Equipment Setup 31:13 Keeping Pools Open 31:53 Winterizing Reality Check 35:17 Freeze Protection Basics 38:18 Why Add Fire 41:51 Designing the Backyard 46:32 Where Not to Cut 47:42 Bold Black Spa 50:52 Trends That Age Badly 52:03 Rapid Fire Favorites 54:29 Travel for Inspiration 57:26 Four Season Comfort 01:00:08 Closing Thoughts

    Ep 151 The Ultimate Backyard Flex: Using Your Luxury Pool All Winter Long

  6. Sep 15

    E 150 Engineering Paradise: How Lucas Lagoons Builds Million-Dollar Waterfalls

    Organic, natural pools with boulders and waterfalls can create a true outdoor retreat, but they demand serious artistry and engineering to be safe, efficient, and long-lasting. Mike and Trey Farley host Lucas Congdon of Lucas Lagoons, who recounts growing up in Vermont doing stonework, leaving Montana State to build hands-on, and moving to Florida where a first pool remodel led him to start Lucas Lagoons. Lucas explains learning engineering the hard way after a rock-heavy project failed, why he uses site-specific engineering and geotechnical reports, and how soils, drainage, plumbing efficiency, and equipment sizing shape complex builds. He details natural vs artificial rock risks, manifold and pump setups for grottos, and a notable speakeasy pool with 48 tons of ceiling rock pinned into a post-tension slab and X-rayed. He also discusses his contractor programs, the realities of reality TV production, and travel inspirations.   Discover more and connect with us: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   Watch episodes with stunning visuals on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   Discover more about Lucas Lagoons: https://lucaslagoons.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/LucasLagoons https://www.instagram.com/lucaslagoons/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Lucas Congdon 01:47 Vermont Roots 03:33 Stonework Lessons 05:45 Montana State Detour 07:04 Finding Pools in Florida 11:12 Engineering Excellence 17:48 Geotech and Site Plans 21:33 Mastering Rockwork 28:23 Grotto Plumbing Setup 35:00 Speakeasy Pool Story 37:46 X-Rayed Rock Reinforcement 38:30 Hand Placed Boulders 39:03 Born Talent Or Trained 42:51 Hillside Pool Engineering 46:04 Texas Soil And Clay 47:59 Travel Inspiration And History 50:11 Design Changes And 3D 54:16 Insane Pools Cast Update 56:28 Scaling Signature Series 58:24 Reality TV Behind Scenes 01:02:35 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:05:13 Closing Thanks And Mission

    E 150 Engineering Paradise: How Lucas Lagoons Builds Million-Dollar Waterfalls

  7. Sep 8

    Ep 149 Smart Shade: Cantilevers & The Future of Architectural Aluminum with Umbra Solace

    Discovering next level shade in luxury outdoor living, Mike Farley hosts the Luxury Outdoor Living podcast (without co-host Trey, who is sick) and interviews Derek of Umbra Solace about engineered, contractor-supplied aluminum shade structures. Derek shares his path from storm restoration (2001) to founding and selling Hamilton Steele (2008), starting Outdoor Elements, shifting toward commercial multifamily renovations, then focusing on Umbra Solace to bring commercial-grade systems to homeowners. Umbra Solace sells wholesale to contractors and provides general engineering and training, not direct pricing or DIY kits. They discuss product options beyond louvers—arbors/pergolas, cabanas with walls, solid-roof “Perfect Panel” polyurethane/galvalume panels with wood-sublimated tongue-and-groove ceilings, and cantilever/double cantilever designs up to 14x16 and 18x16. Topics include footing tables, hidden fasteners, maintenance vs. wood, coastal corrosivity, integrated low-voltage lighting with built-in conduit, screen/fan accommodations, hail resilience, and an upcoming gable-roof configuration.   Discover more and connect: https://umbrasolace.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts

    Ep 149 Smart Shade: Cantilevers & The Future of Architectural Aluminum with Umbra Solace

  8. Sep 1

    Ep 148 The Secret to High-End Naturalistic OutdoorDesigns: Fontana Ponds & Water Features

    Ponds, fountains and natural pools can transform luxury outdoor living into a daily retreat, and in this Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast episode, Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs interview Diego of Fontana Ponds & Water Features, an Aquascape Master Certified contractor and Aquascape Artist of the Year. Diego shares his path from landscaping to specializing in ecosystem ponds and water features, explains his client-first process (aligning goals, discussing budgets early, marking layouts with spray paint, detailed drawings, and adapting designs during installation), and contrasts pond types including pondless waterfalls, koi ponds, and recreation swim ponds (which require increased biological filtration such as constructed wetlands). He discusses local stone sourcing, misconceptions like mosquitoes and required pond depth, maintenance offerings (bi-weekly to quarterly plus annual clean-outs), notable large projects including a retirement facility rebuild, and collaborations such as work in Africa and upcoming builds in Utah.   Discover more and connect: https://fontanawaterfeatures.ca/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:42 Meet Diego Fontana 02:29 From Landscaping to Ponds 04:46 Where to See Work 06:42 Design Process Explained 12:09 Artist of the Year 14:08 Aquascape System Basics 17:23 Feature Types Overview 23:08 Pondless Waterfalls 24:40 Biggest Builds Stories 32:34 Small Spaces Big Impact 34:11 Sound Versus Visuals 34:43 Design From Indoors 36:49 Landscaping Makes Ponds 38:28 Choosing Local Stone 41:25 Pond Maintenance Plans 44:07 Ponds Improve With Age 45:57 Common Pond Misconceptions 48:42 Future Goals And Growth 51:10 Big Collaborations And Travel 54:27 Resale Value And Repeat Clients 59:53 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:02:29 Inspiration And Family Wrap 01:04:09 Podcast Mission Outro

    Ep 148 The Secret to High-End Naturalistic OutdoorDesigns: Fontana Ponds & Water Features
See All (155)

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Dive into the world of pools and outdoor living bliss with ’Luxury Outdoor Living’ the podcast designed exclusively for homeowners eager to transform their outdoor spaces into havens of relaxation and entertainment. Join us weekly with hosts Mike & Trey from Farley Pool Designs as they embark on an exciting journey to help you make the most informed decisions when it comes to buying a pool, spa, or enhancing your overall backyard living experience. Our expert hosts, each have more than 30 years of industry experience, will demystify the process, offering invaluable tips on selecting the perfect pool or spa, navigating design and landscaping choices, understanding maintenance, and even optimising your backyard for year-round enjoyment. Each episode they’ll answer your questions, which you can submit at www.poolsideperspectives.com, and discuss a vocabulary word in the pool industry. Whether you’re a first-time pool owner or a seasoned backyard enthusiast, ’Poolside Perspectives Podcast’ is your go-to source for inspiration, advice, and insider knowledge to create the backyard paradise you’ve always dreamed of. Tune in to unlock the secrets of outdoor relaxation and entertainment, and turn your backyard into an oasis you’ll cherish for years to come. Subscribe today and start your journey towards backyard bliss!”

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Farley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

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