Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

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
 

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
 

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
 
 

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
 

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
 
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

On the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast, Mike and Trey Farley interview renowned pool designer Skip Phillips about his career path from a family tool business and pool service company to pioneering vanishing-edge, zero-edge, and perimeter-overflow pools, and his role elevating industry standards through education and expert-witness work. Phillips explains his design premise—intentional water/deck relationships, minimal materials, quiet and reflective water surfaces—and how vanishing edges blur water with surroundings.
 
Discover more:
https://skipphillips.com/
https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/https://www.instagram.com/poolzila/
 
00:00 Skip Phillips Legacy
00:57 Podcast Welcome
02:39 From Tools to Pools
04:36 Vanishing Edge Origins
06:28 Designing for Daily Use
10:08 Common Edge Misconceptions
11:31 Weir Details and Sightlines
13:30 Robb Report Recognition
16:31 Where Edges Work Best
19:12 Overflow Into the Garden
20:50 Genesis Education Mission
23:43 Engineering and Surge Basics
25:54 Surge Tanks and Failures
28:23 Edge Tolerance Basics
29:40 Equipment Placement Strategy
30:56 Keeping Water Mirror Calm
32:53 Bigger Pipes Smaller Pumps
34:38 Clients Ignoring Engineering
36:18 Wet Coping Vs Latner
38:22 Vent Pipes Stop Gurgle
40:11 Avoiding Lawsuits
43:12 Designing The Full Experience
47:03 Hardest Builds St Lucia
49:22 Rapid Fire Favorites
51:45 Wrap Up And Contact
 

Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Scott Beverly of Signature Illumination Designs, a Dallas-based exterior lighting contractor providing turnkey design, installation, and lifetime servicing for bold residential lighting. Scott explains how professional lighting differs from DIY kits by using symmetry, layered uplighting and downlighting (“moonlighting”), and depth beyond pools to reveal property boundaries.
 
Discover more:
https://www.lightsbysignature.com/
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 Scott Beverly
02:16 How He Got Started
03:17 Lighting Misconceptions
04:42 Working With Contractors
06:33 Visualizing The Design
08:36 Moonlighting Without Big Trees
09:39 Low Vs Line Voltage
10:50 Color Changing Basics
12:05 Kelvin Color Temperature
13:35 Matching Indoor Outdoor Light
15:50 Layering For Mood
17:50 In Ground Marker Lights
19:24 Downlighting Without Trees
20:46 HOA Dark Sky Rules
22:42 Motion Sensors And Security
23:51 Pool Strip Lighting Trends
24:45 Tape Light Installation Details
27:29 Waterproof Ratings And Corners
30:05 Where Strip Lighting Shines
31:18 Modern Step Lighting
31:37 Outlining Turf Effects
32:43 Permanent Holiday Lighting
34:27 Fixture Materials Quality
35:59 Moisture Ratings Durability
37:06 Value Engineering Fixtures
38:30 Phasing Wiring Night Set
40:29 Maintenance Longevity
41:24 String Lights Pole Setup
43:18 One App Nolu System
46:20 Structures Umbrellas Lighting
47:24 Safety Security Lighting
48:19 Travel Install Process
48:59 Zoning Controls Calibration
50:29 Lighting Mistakes To Avoid
52:33 Control System Best Practices
54:07 Cost Expectations Catalog Trap
55:13 Why Night Lighting Wins
56:19 Pool Light Reflection Reality
57:27 Contact Info Guest QandA
59:16 Show Wrap Up Conclusion