Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

Mike Farley
  • 5.0 (17)
  • 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. Ep 134 Garden and Landscape Hacks for Great Outdoor Spaces with Jay White and Morgan McBride

    4d ago

    Ep 134 Garden and Landscape Hacks for Great Outdoor Spaces with Jay White and Morgan McBride

    Mike and Trey Farley host Jay White, publisher of Texas Gardener Magazine, and Morgan, a longtime DFW landscaper now with Verde Growers, to answer homeowner questions about gardening and landscaping around pools. They stress planning for sunlight, drainage, and soil (often alkaline in North Texas), using soil tests, reading plant labels, and favoring local nurseries over big-box stores. Topics include soil prep differences for annual beds vs trees, backfilling trees with native soil, staking, container vs balled-and-burlapped trees, best planting season (fall), raised-bed vegetable gardening and crop rotation, chill hours for fruit trees, water efficiency and avoiding overwatering (drip on timers), fertilizing with balanced ratios and slow-release nitrogen, protecting trees during construction, common regional pests/diseases, privacy screens (hollies and junipers), invasive bamboo, and recommended perennials like roses and salvias.   Discover more: https://texasgardener.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:12 Meet the Guests 03:20 Soil Prep Basics 05:02 Soil Tests Explained 08:37 Tilling and Living Soil 11:06 Skip Big Box Stores 15:12 Find Your Planting Zone 17:37 Gardens Near Pools 21:11 Crop Rotation 101 25:38 Best Time to Plant Trees 27:51 Container vs B&B Trees 33:02 Water Smart Gardening 40:19 Right Plant Right Place 43:01 Fruit Trees and Chill Hours 43:53 Chill Hours Basics 44:46 Early Bloom Plum Experiment 45:46 Avoid Big Box Fruit Trees 46:50 Plants and Memory Bonds 48:50 Best Shade Tree Picks 50:49 Privacy Screening Plants 53:32 Bamboo Planting and Removal 55:52 Favorite Perennials for Texas 59:33 Killing Poison Ivy 01:00:29 Garden Pets and Critters 01:02:08 Fertilizer Ratios Explained 01:08:38 Protect Trees During Construction 01:10:03 Texas Pests and Regulations 01:14:23 Synthetic Turf Pros and Cons 01:15:16 Texas Tomato Timing 01:16:27 Easy Starter Vegetables 01:18:28 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:22:49 Show Wrap and Mission

    1h 24m
  2. Ep 133 Delicious Water: Steve Kenny's AOP Recipe with Farley Pool Designs

    May 20

    Ep 133 Delicious Water: Steve Kenny's AOP Recipe with Farley Pool Designs

    Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs interview Steve Kenny of SRK Pools in East Hampton, Long Island, who describes his path from a family pool service business started in 1985 to building high-performance “chlorine-free” pools. Kenny explains how decades of service experience led him to advanced water treatment using high-output ozone with UV to create advanced oxidation (hydroxyl radicals), paired with activated glass media filtration, CO2 pH control, and a Blue Sentinel controller to maintain very low chlorine (about 0.1–0.2 ppm) with minimal manual intervention and monthly service. He details side-stream ozone injection, contact tanks, ozone destruction and safety monitoring, and floor-return/skimmer hydraulics to reduce dead spots. The conversation covers pathogen control (e.g., crypto/giardia), equipment “bunkers,” freeze-thaw considerations, keeping pools open year-round, wellness trends like cold plunges, and Kenny’s water-inspired mosaic art.   Discover more: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Steve Kenny 02:26 From Culinary to Pools 04:46 Going Chlorine Free 07:42 AOP Hydroxyl Explained 09:08 Ozone System Sizing 11:53 Automation and Controls 14:32 Bunkers and Venting 17:39 Why Add UV 20:54 Glass Media Filtration 22:58 Hydraulics Skimmers Returns 25:13 Real World Results and Cost 30:26 Training Maintenance Teams 33:25 Delicious Water Philosophy 35:27 Proactive Water Care 36:10 Mindset Over Energy Costs 37:14 AOP Basics Ozone UV 38:09 Glass Media And No Minerals 40:21 Chlorine Sensitivity Explained 41:23 Building For Freeze Thaw 45:37 Plumbing Flow And Heating 46:55 Perimeter Overflow Artistry 47:44 Underwater Art And Tile 50:35 Designing For Lifestyle 51:51 System Capacity Dogs And Bugs 58:23 Wellness Cold Plunge Trends 01:01:37 Rapid Fire And Wrap Up 01:04:06 Show Mission Closing

    1h 5m
  3. Ep 132 Floatee: The Smart Tech Transforming Luxury Water Safety with Farley Pool Designs

    May 12

    Ep 132 Floatee: The Smart Tech Transforming Luxury Water Safety with Farley Pool Designs

    On this episode of Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast, Mike Farley interviews Scarlett Hanson, owner of Floatee US, during Water Safety Month about Floatee, a France-made anti-drowning T-shirt for children that looks like an anti-UV swim shirt but automatically inflates into a life jacket when submerged, inflating in under three seconds, keeping the wearer on their back with airways out of the water via an asymmetrical design. It won a prestigious design award, has been used by over 50,000 people in Europe, and has generated parent testimonials after real pool incidents. The system uses a dissolving sensor and replaceable gas canister; the inflatable insert can be moved between shirt sizes and bright colors aid visibility. Sizes currently cover 10–25 kg, with 25–40 kg in development, plus adult manual/automatic versions. Scarlett shares pricing, certifications (ISO 12402), washing instructions, travel guidance for canisters, and plans for awareness, retail expansion, and trade-show demos, with info@floateeus.com.   Discover more: https://www.floateeus.com/ https://floatee.co/en https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:17 Water Safety Month Intro 01:59 Meet Scarlett and Floatee 02:21 How Floatee Works 05:04 Inside the Tech 08:23 Fit Sizes and Reuse 10:35 Travel and Layering Tips 12:23 Adult Versions Explained 14:46 Scarlett Safety Journey 20:26 Why Drowning Gets Overlooked 24:32 Real Life Saves and Pricing 27:35 Future Plans and Care 32:42 Rapid Fire Questions 34:23 Contact and Trade Shows 35:54 Final Wrap Up

    37 min
  4. Ep 131 What Your Builder Won’t Tell You with Sean of Deck Remodelers and Farley Pool Designs

    May 5

    Ep 131 What Your Builder Won’t Tell You with Sean of Deck Remodelers and Farley Pool Designs

    Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Sean of Deck Remodelers from Northern New Jersey about his background from an Irish carpentry family through construction and culinary school to specializing in high-end decks since 2007–08. Sean describes winning 70+ national design awards, focusing on team-building, and advising homeowners to start with an honest budget rather than bidding games, then vet contractors by details and materials (steel framing, premium PVC, fewer posts, better beams). He explains his in-house architects and exterior-focused interior designers, custom fabrication and board bending for curved decks and stairs, full-yard design/GC scope, VR walkthroughs, and standardized training via “Deck Remodelers University.” Topics include fire features and clearances, covered spaces, lighting and electric infrared heaters (Infotech), under-deck drainage (Haven Under Deck), code/climate considerations like frost depth, and common remodel failures from inadequate blocking. He also discusses NADRA’s education/community, his book and favorite book “Die With Zero,” and a road-trip ride to Niagara Falls.   Discover more: https://deckremodelers.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:17 Meet the Hosts and Guest 01:34 Spring Weather and Busy Season 02:01 Why the Name Deck Remodelers 02:24 Origin Story and Early Carpentry 05:35 From Culinary School to Construction 06:49 Deck Medic to High-End Decks 08:20 Awards and Building a Team 09:08 Homeowner Mistakes and Budget Talk 12:08 In-House Designers and Architects 13:46 Curved Decks and Board Bending 18:08 Fire Features and Material Safety 18:48 YouTube Experiments and 50 Cal Test 19:50 Full Backyard Design and GC Scope 20:38 Standardizing Quality with DRU 22:44 Service Area and Expansion Plans 25:05 Climate Loads and Louvered Roofs 27:04 Designing Transitions and Materials 28:56 Tough Home Styles and Review Boards 30:32 Writing the Book and Going Full Service 31:38 Grand Staircases and Glue-Lams 32:45 Heaters and Lighting Expertise 36:58 Frost Lines Steel Framing and Durability 40:02 Designing for Function and Furnishings 41:02 Making Under-Deck Space Usable 42:38 Waterproofing Done Right 43:38 Details That Add Value 46:15 Cover It For Comfort 47:46 Building Docks On Ice 50:17 Lifestyle Upgrade Mindset 51:39 Football Fan Banter 53:51 Master Planning Backyards 57:24 Gunite And Clay Engineering 01:01:20 Contractor True Crime 01:05:14 NADRA And Community 01:09:26 Fire Features Under Roofs 01:11:23 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:17:15 Wrap Up And Mission

    1h 19m
  5. Ep 130 Hidden Details of the Ultra Luxury Patio with Armen of Arto with Farley Pool Designs

    Apr 28

    Ep 130 Hidden Details of the Ultra Luxury Patio with Armen of Arto with Farley Pool Designs

    Mike and Trey Farley introduce and interview Armen from Southern California’s Arto Brick, a family business founded in the 1960s by Armen’s father after emigrating from Egypt. Armen explains how the company began with handmade clay thin-brick veneer sold on a milk route, grew from installation into full-time manufacturing, and expanded staff significantly. He discusses working through family-business conflicts, Arto Brick’s “rustic elegance” look and how trends affect demand, and the value of handmade products and factory tours. Armen outlines current offerings—handcrafted concrete and low-absorption clay tiles for walls/floors indoors and outdoors, trims/coping, custom colors/shapes, and curated stone/porcelain—plus installation and maintenance issues like sealing, expansion joints, and hot-weather setting, with notes on saltwater pool impacts. He also shares favorites (movie Patton, books Gates of Fire and How the Mighty Fall) and travel interests.   Discover more: https://www.arto.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Armen Arto Brick 02:01 Immigrant Origin Story 03:39 Thin Brick Innovation 06:06 Scaling the Family Business 07:58 Working With Family 10:37 Celebrity Client Tales 12:02 Trends Rustic Elegance 14:53 Handmade Factory Advantage 19:06 What Arto Brick Makes 22:48 How Customers Discover It 27:14 Pool Coping Throwback 30:05 How Tiles Are Made 31:12 Molding and Packing Tiles 31:54 Concrete vs Clay Process 33:12 Low Absorption Benefits 34:48 Indoor Outdoor Transitions 35:42 Freeze Thaw and Waterproofing 37:04 Saltwater Pool Material Choices 39:54 Common Install Mistakes 41:31 Expansion Joints and Movement 42:37 Sealing and Cleaning Tips 43:36 Patina Expectations and Trends 45:41 Ceiling Install Stories 48:44 New Art Tazo Brick Line 50:47 Growing in California 52:43 Legacy and Customer Value 54:52 Rapid Fire Favorites 57:16 Travel Plans and Wrap Up 58:30 Podcast Mission Statement

    1 hr
  6. Ep 129 Step 1: The Dream to Your Luxury Pool and Outdoor Living Oasis with Farley Pool Designs

    Apr 21

    Ep 129 Step 1: The Dream to Your Luxury Pool and Outdoor Living Oasis with Farley Pool Designs

    Mike and Trey Farley introduce the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast from Farley Pool Designs, explaining their goal of helping homeowners avoid “dream-to-nightmare” outdoor projects by sharing industry knowledge, trends, and insider tips. In this episode, they outline step one of a homeowner’s journey: define the dream and establish a realistic budget using photos to clarify style and features, align priorities with a partner, and identify must-haves versus compromises due to space or cost. They discuss how backyard projects can be major investments that may return value at resale, and how media and social platforms inspire new ideas. Mike describes a “shopping list” budgeting method that factors in site conditions like soil, access, grades, utilities, and HOAs to price features individually. They preview future step-by-step episodes covering site analysis, patios/structures, outdoor kitchens, aesthetic features, and pools. https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:12 Step One Overview 02:28 Avoiding Backyard Nightmares 03:56 Big Investment Value 06:29 Where Dreams Begin 09:47 Media Inspired Ideas 12:29 Use Photos to Communicate 16:57 Compromise and Priorities 19:27 3D Models and Lot Types 21:04 Outdoor Kitchen Segment 22:14 Warm Towel Hack 22:44 Dream Pool Options 24:35 Water And Fire Features 25:45 Outdoor Kitchens And Comfort 27:00 Tech Wellness And Fitness 28:56 Privacy Landscaping And Budgeting 31:59 Shopping List Budget Method 37:28 Real World Overbudget Story 41:48 Cost Of The Dream Wrap Up 42:26 Next Episodes Roadmap 43:55 Podcast Mission Statement

    45 min
  7. Ep 128 Five Tips for Better Deck Design w Industry Experts Robert The Deck da Vinci and Farley Pool Design

    Mar 31

    Ep 128 Five Tips for Better Deck Design w Industry Experts Robert The Deck da Vinci and Farley Pool Design

    Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Ontario-based deck designer Robert Hodichak (“Deck Da Vinci”), who designs complex outdoor structures and co-runs 33 North Design with contractor John Lee while also designing for Decks & Docks. Robert explains how remote design is enabled by photos, tools like Hover, SketchUp, and Lumion, and stresses that homeowners should prioritize proper space planning, flow, and understanding use cases (gatherings, dining, kitchens, hot tubs) before aesthetics. He recommends NADRA as a resource for finding qualified deck builders and highlights common mistakes from unqualified contractors, including code and waterproofing failures. The conversation covers material choices (wood vs composites vs PVC), heat and expansion concerns, steel/aluminum framing longevity, under-deck drainage for usable dry space, railing options (aluminum vs glass), lighting for ambiance, stairs and landings, and trends around wellness features like saunas, cold plunges, and spas.   Discover more: https://www.instagram.com/33_northdesign/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/poolzila/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:12 Meet Robert Hodichak 01:56 Deck Da Vinci Origin 03:46 Remote Design Reach 04:23 Launching 33 North 05:57 Social Media Backstory 08:07 Finding Builders NADRA 11:48 Deck Planning Mistakes 15:31 Deck Materials Guide 22:13 Steel and Aluminum Framing 24:50 Permits and Runoff Rules 26:01 Dry Space Under Deck 29:27 Railing Options 33:08 Cantilevered Fireplace Build 34:44 Lightweight Stone Cladding 35:20 Decks That Belong 36:20 Tying Decks Into Homes 38:34 Wellness Outdoors Trend 41:04 Biophilic Design Benefits 43:03 Lighting For Ambiance 44:33 Railing Lights Explained 46:10 Fire Pits On Decks 47:23 Signature Project Styles 48:33 Stair Design Essentials 51:38 Built In Seating And Code 53:56 3D Design Workflow Tools 58:18 Deck Failure Horror Story 01:01:52 Extend Season With Porches 01:03:58 Design Due Diligence 01:05:46 Contact And Rapid Fire Qs 01:09:29 Podcast Wrap Up

    1h 11m
  8. Ep 127 Luxury Unlocked: Wintergreen Grass Backyard Oasis Solutions with Farley Pool Designs

    Mar 24

    Ep 127 Luxury Unlocked: Wintergreen Grass Backyard Oasis Solutions with Farley Pool Designs

    Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Winter Moore of Winter Green Synthetic Grass, a company he started in 2014 with a borrowed $10,000 that has grown to about 60 employees providing full-service artificial grass for residential and commercial uses. Winter explains why turf appealed to him, how it performs in real dog-heavy backyards, and key pros and cons: low watering and reduced maintenance (but not maintenance-free), aesthetic appeal, heat, pet urine odor, and higher upfront cost with ROI over time. He emphasizes base preparation and drainage (crushed concrete, drain rock, French drains, irrigation rinse cycles) to prevent settling and odors, discusses product quality/testing (ASTM, lead-free), and covers applications including playgrounds with fall ratings/padding systems, sports surfaces, poolside transitions, pavers with turf strips, putting greens from recreational to tour-style chip-accepting builds, and HOA/permeability considerations.   Contacts and Connections: https://www.wintergreengrass.com/ or 469-537-4747 https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/poolzila/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Winter Moore 01:54 Starting Wintergreen 04:21 How Turf Won Him Over 06:54 Pros Cons and ROI 10:34 Quality Testing and Safety 17:22 Choosing the Right Turf 21:23 Matching Old and New Turf 23:40 Pet Installs Drainage Basics 28:07 Maintenance Smell and Repairs 31:46 Playgrounds and Fall Ratings 35:02 Sports Courts and Padel 40:05 Sports Turf vs Landscape Heat 41:18 Pads and Infill Basics 42:34 Backyard Putting Green Boom 43:30 Recreational Green Design 45:06 Pro Greens and Chipping 47:35 Bunkers and Turf Durability 49:56 Golf Complex Design Team 53:10 HOA and Permeability Rules 57:04 Protecting Trees Near Turf 01:00:48 Turf as Pool Decking 01:03:56 Paver Strips and Zero Edge 01:06:38 Putt Putt and Play Berms 01:11:29 Maintenance and Wear Patterns 01:13:43 Turf Installation Horror Story 01:16:21 Grain Direction and Seams 01:18:31 Industry Growth and Luxury Golf 01:21:43 Contact Info and Wrap Up 01:23:33 Rapid Fire and Closing 01:26:26 Show Mission Outro

    1h 27m
See All (134)

5
out of 5
17 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
    134
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

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