Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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
 

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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
 
 
 

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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
 

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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
 
 

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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
 
 

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/
Watch episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts
 
 

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/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://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
 

Luxury outdoor cooking is evolving beyond gas grills and ceramic kamados into architectural live-fire ovens designed for performance, aesthetics, and experience. Mike and Trey Farley host Bobby Brennan, former co-founder of Kamado Joe and founder of Emberhaus, who explains how his corporate exit led to building Kamado Joe and later creating Emberhaus to bring restaurant-style charcoal ovens into luxury residential outdoor kitchens. Brennan describes Emberhaus as a versatile charcoal oven (200–900°F) that grills, smokes, and bakes with faster cook times, high capacity, precise airflow control, easy ash removal, dishwasher-safe cooking surfaces, and a more intimate “fire” experience. The oven is American-made in Athens, Georgia, uses 316 marine-grade stainless and high-temp Cerakote coatings, offers 16 standard colors plus custom options, and targets designers, architects, and builders through showrooms.
 
Discover more and connect with us:
https://www.emberhaus.com/
https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/
 
Watch episodes on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts
 
00:00 Podcast Welcome
01:12 Meet The Guest
02:06 From Corporate To Startup
05:29 Building Kamado Joe
07:37 Scaling And Selling
09:47 What Is Emberhaus
12:15 Cooking Experience And Personas
15:02 First Cook Tips
16:58 Kamado Joe Improvements
19:55 Designing For Luxury Homes
24:19 User Friendly Innovations
26:50 Efficiency And Outdoor Kitchens
28:46 Replacing Other Appliances
30:42 Marine Grade Materials
31:52 Maintenance And Longevity
32:59 Install Height And Cutout
34:00 Vent Hood And Pricing
35:53 Brand Strategy And Showrooms
38:12 Awareness And Safety Insulation
40:15 Versus The Green Egg
43:01 Kitchen Layout And Cart
46:32 Colors Trim And Customization
48:06 Why Rectangular Design
50:32 Ten Year Vision
52:27 Rapid Fire Questions
56:06 Show Wrap And Mission
 

How can maintenance-free plants help you create a realistic, low-effort outdoor oasis? Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Jason, president and co-owner of Desert Steel in Wichita, Kansas, about the company’s handcrafted steel desert plants used as realistic, maintenance-free landscape accents. Jason shares Desert Steel’s origins from artist Eric Carroll making steel saguaros for art shows and how the business evolved into durable landscaping replacements made from galvanized steel with a patina oxidation process (no paint) to prevent fading and minimize rust, with guidance to avoid moisture-holding mulch at the base. They discuss popular products (saguaros, agaves), internal lighting options and torch features, shipping and easy assembly, wind resistance with recommended concrete pads, indoor/commercial uses, slight patina variation, and a free design service creating digital renderings. Jason notes increased demand tied to wildfire “Zone Zero” rules, mentions limited customization, upcoming foxtail agave launch in October, and ordering via desertsteel.net.
 
Discover more and connect:
https://desertsteel.net/
https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesignshttps://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/
 
00:00 Podcast Welcome
01:12 Meet The Hosts
01:46 Guest Introduction
02:21 Jason’s Origin Story
04:48 Desert Steel Beginnings
07:43 Maintenance Free Concept
09:47 Materials And Patina
10:55 Best Sellers And Use Cases
14:43 Installation And Base Tips
16:21 Indoor Design Ideas
20:03 Shipping And Storm Proofing
24:35 Safety And Realism Details
29:11 Lighting And Torch Features
32:08 Finish Care And Salt Air
34:20 Sprinkler Mineral Stains
34:41 Choosing The Right Sizes
36:57 Patina Color Variations
38:27 Steel Origami Process
40:05 Design Service Renderings
43:24 Lighting And Planter Hacks
49:48 Wildfire Zone Zero Demand
54:24 Custom Projects And Odd Requests
57:38 Why Buy Desert Steel
01:01:23 How To Order And Wrap Up