Episodi

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

    Ep 130 Hidden Details of the Ultra Luxury Patio with Armen of Arto with Farley Pool Designs
    Apr 28 2026
    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
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    1 ora
  • Ep 129 Step 1: The Dream to Your Luxury Pool and Outdoor Living Oasis with Farley Pool Designs

    Ep 129 Step 1: The Dream to Your Luxury Pool and Outdoor Living Oasis with Farley Pool Designs
    Apr 21 2026

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

    Ep 128 Five Tips for Better Deck Design w Industry Experts Robert The Deck da Vinci and Farley Pool Design
    Mar 31 2026

    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
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    1 ora e 11 min
  • Ep 127 Luxury Unlocked: Wintergreen Grass Backyard Oasis Solutions with Farley Pool Designs

    Ep 127 Luxury Unlocked: Wintergreen Grass Backyard Oasis Solutions with Farley Pool Designs
    Mar 24 2026

    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
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    1 ora e 27 min
  • Ep 126 The Truth About Infinity Pools: Skip Phillips on Mastering the Vanishing Edge

    Ep 126 The Truth About Infinity Pools: Skip Phillips on Mastering the Vanishing Edge
    Mar 17 2026

    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
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    54 min
  • Ep 125 PAINTING WITH LIGHT: Transforming Nightscapes with Scott Beverly of Signature Illumination Designs.

    Ep 125 PAINTING WITH LIGHT: Transforming Nightscapes with Scott Beverly of Signature Illumination Designs.
    Mar 10 2026

    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
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    1 ora
  • Ep 124 The Designer Secret of Metal Luxury Spas with Diamond Spas

    Ep 124 The Designer Secret of Metal Luxury Spas with Diamond Spas
    Mar 3 2026

    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, lighter weight for rooftops, energy efficiency from closed-cell spray foam insulation, and two-stage containment via a vault with access for maintenance and leak monitoring. He compares stainless vs copper mainly by aesthetics and copper’s antimicrobial properties, notes salt/chlorine/bromine void warranties, and recommends UV with hydrogen peroxide or AOP systems. The episode covers customization (jet layouts, loungers, acrylic windows, infinity edges, covers, movable floors), installation logistics, bonding, lighting, climate-related heating/chilling, and common issues like improper sanitizers or rigging.

    Discover more:

    https://www.diamondspas.com/ (720) 864-9115

    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 Mitch Martinez 01:50 What Diamond Spas Makes 02:58 Mitch Career Path 04:40 Who Buys These 05:15 Metal vs Fiberglass 06:27 Stainless vs Copper 08:39 Tile and Finishes 09:59 Heating and Insulation 11:21 Climate and Chillers 12:28 Equipment Options 13:43 Rooftop Weight Benefits 14:12 Leak Protection Strategy 16:18 Welding and Quality 17:24 Expansion and Movement 18:36 Custom Features and Ergonomics 21:19 Edges Windows Covers Floors 22:55 Sanitizers and Chemicals 24:52 Wellness Center Boom 26:46 Coastal Salt Considerations 29:45 Delivery and Installation 32:01 Wild Install Stories 33:51 Recycled Metals and Repairs 35:40 Shipping Size Limits 37:39 Structural Support Planning 38:28 How to Start a Project 40:18 Pre-Patina Copper Finish 40:55 Cost vs Gunite Pools 42:47 Infinity Edges and Acrylic 44:07 Water Color and Reflection 45:35 Surface Feel and Slip 46:52 Bonding and Electrical Safety 47:28 LED Lighting Options 48:20 Covers and Debris Control 51:12 Install Risks and Scope 54:54 Warranty and Jobsite Protection 58:50 Vault Access and Drainage 01:04:53 Rapid Fire Personal Q&A 01:08:42 Cold Plunges and Chillers 01:15:20 Wrap-Up and Show Mission
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    1 ora e 17 min
  • Ep 123 Stop Designing ‘Patios’ and Start Designing Rooms: Ginny Brennan’s Secret

    Ep 123 Stop Designing ‘Patios’ and Start Designing Rooms: Ginny Brennan’s Secret
    Feb 24 2026

    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 via YouTube, leading to her first Etsy sales and a growing pillow business.

    Discover more:

    https://www.oneaffirmation.com/

    https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/poolzila/

    00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet the Hosts and Guest 01:40 Backyard Design Story 03:51 What Is One Affirmation 04:30 From Acting to Etsy 05:55 Sourcing Textiles and Designers 07:56 Outdoor Pillow Essentials 09:56 Custom Cushions and Wind Fixes 11:19 Outdoor Living Trends and Comfort 12:46 Shopping the New Website 13:42 Pillow Consultations and Styling 16:40 Scaling the Business 18:39 COVID Boom and Texas Move 20:36 Inventory and Shipping Timelines 22:01 What Makes a Luxury Backyard 24:50 Rugs and Custom Work 26:00 How to Contact and Follow 27:27 How Many Pillows Is Too Many 28:41 Bench Depth Planning 30:05 Layering Outdoor Comfort 32:31 Pet Friendly Fabrics 34:03 Design Rules And Value 34:55 Textiles And Career Shift 36:15 Neutral Pillow Trends 37:18 Social Media Design School 38:47 Outdoor Inserts And Mold 40:14 Dogs And Backyard Life 42:28 Luxury Feel With Accessories 44:35 Sizing Rugs And Refreshing 46:31 Rapid Fire Favorites 48:35 Wrap Up And Show Mission
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    50 min