Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

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 ide...

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 planni...

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 (...

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, quie...

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 prope...

Mike and Trey Farley interview Mitch Martinez, design manager at Diamond Spas, a 30-year-old company fabricating custom stainless steel and copper vessels including spas, cold plunges, plunge pools, pools, swim spas, and water features for luxury residential and commercial wellness projects. Martinez explains benefits over fiberglass/gunite such as 316L shells, 304 supports, 25-year warranty, contemporary straight-line designs, lig...

Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Ginny Brennan, co-founder of One Affirmation, an online home decor shop launched after forming an LLC in 2015 and going live in 2016. Ginny shares her background (former actress with roles including Entourage and The Hit List), her move from Brooklyn to Texas, and how a 2015 trip to Thailand inspired her to source handmade textiles and teach herself sewing vi...

Mike Farley of Farley Pool Designs hosts Tanr Ross of Pool Scapes (Las Vegas) to discuss pool and outdoor living design, with an emphasis on when 3D modeling is necessary and how it improves client understanding. Additional topics include challenges and benefits of LED strip lighting and uplights (installation complexity, costs, and preference for PAL lighting support), the value of reviewing recent, verifiable work and visiting ac...

Mike and Trey Farley sit down with Alan, a sauna expert and ambassador, to discuss the rich history, cultural practices, and health benefits of traditional Finnish saunas. Alan shares his personal sauna journey, starting from infancy, and delves into details about the authentic sauna experience, including the importance of elements like proper ventilation, wood-burning heaters, and the use of birch branches. The conversation also t...

Join hosts Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs in an engaging conversation with Ty from Plungie, a manufacturer of prefabricated concrete pools. With a legacy of turning backyards into personal retreats, they explore innovative solutions for adding swimming pools to various spaces, emphasizing efficiency, customization, and affordability. Ty shares insights into the design and installation of Plunge pools, their adaptabilit...

Are you planning to transform your backyard into a stunning retreat? Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs, who have over 40 years of experience, share invaluable insights in this episode of the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast. With key topics like why you shouldn't pay for the entire pool up front, the dangers of incomplete contracts, and the importance of accurate 3D modeling, they ensure you avoid common pitfalls. They also ...

Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs delve into the often-debated topic of whether homeowners should pay a design fee for their outdoor living projects. Drawing from their 40 years of industry expertise, they explore the pros and cons of design fees from both consumer and business perspectives. They emphasize the importance of detailed, professional designs to avoid costly mistakes and ensure an efficient, cohesive outcome. ...

In this episode of the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast, Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs delve into the latest trends for 2026 in outdoor living spaces. They discuss the continued popularity of indoor-outdoor transitions, the shift towards year-round outdoor spaces, and the growing trend of small, cozy niches. Key highlights include the rise of portable fire pits, the use of AI in gardening, the preference for multi-functi...

Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast, hosted by Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs, features Andrew Cook, an expert in European greenhouses. The episode delves into the evolution and intricacies of setting up greenhouses. They discuss design trends, common misconceptions, and unique structures such as polycarbonate and glass greenhouses. Andrew highlights the importance of climate control and building permits, while providing ins...

This episode is a 2025 recap of the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast with Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs. Over 40 years of expertise is distilled into key episodes covering design trends, insider tips, and transformational outdoor projects. They discuss major episodes from the year, such as design processes, wellness in outdoor spaces, construction insights, and interviews with leading designers and product experts. Topic...

In this episode of the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast, hosts Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs discuss ceramic grills with a focus on the Big Green Egg, Primo, and Kamado Joe. They dive into the history, unique features, and cooking techniques for each grill type, sharing insights on selecting the right grill, managing temperatures, and favorite recipes. With over 40 years of experience in outdoor living design, Mike and T...

Have you ever wondered how to turn your backyard into a luxury retreat? This episode of the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast, hosted by Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs, features a special guest, Matt Sharp from Pebble Tech. They discuss various pool finishing options, including Pebble Tech, Pebble Sheen, Pebble Breeze, and more, diving into the pros and cons of each. Learn about the history, manufacturing standards, and un...

Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast hosts Mike and Trey Farley of Farley Pool Designs discuss redefining backyard spaces through complete transformations, including demolishing old pools and redesigning them into modern personal retreats. They emphasize the importance of planning, design, and working with professionals to achieve a customized, aesthetically cohesive environment. Highlights include insights into why pools are demolished, ...