Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

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.

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https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/

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Discover more and connect with our guest:

https://archpot.com/

https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/

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Our Guest:

https://sjpoolsandlandscaping.com/

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/

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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/

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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/

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https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts

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/

On today's episode Mike Farley is joined by guest Hunter Gary of H2 Outdoor Living from Middle Tennessee, to discuss how Hunter entered pool design and launched his design firm three years ago and a newer build/GC arm. They focus on why detailed construction and hydraulic plans matter to prevent costly, hard-to-fix underground plumbing problems and to ensure apples-to-apples bidding. The epsiode outline homeowner red flags and checkpoints, including clean, well-laid-out equipment pads, photo documentation, flow meters, and builders who can explain pump curves and turnover rates. They emphasize larger plumbing, variable-speed pumps, cartridge filters, proper circulation, quieter systems, safety/entrapment avoidance, Venturi skimmers, in-floor returns/cleaning, and correct design of perimeter overflows and vanishing-edge basins, including surge capacity and filtration/sanitation.

Discover more and connect:

https://h2outdoorliving.com/

https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/

Watch episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts

In this episode we interview Jon Driscoll, founder of Backyard Butler (launched 2018), which provides recurring “white glove” cleaning and maintenance for luxury outdoor living spaces in Dallas–Fort Worth—filling a gap not covered by gardeners, pool cleaners, or housekeepers. Jon explains service frequency options, party-prep cleanings, and a detailed checklist covering patios, furniture, outdoor kitchens, grills, heaters, and more, aiming to deliver a “Four Seasons” experience at home. The episode covers materials and maintenance insights: Sunbrella fabrics clean best; porcelain paving is easiest while exposed aggregate and some stones are difficult; efflorescence can be treated but plant-pot mineral stains can be nearly impossible; turf is maintained via power-brooming and deodorizing; granite counters and non-porous backsplashes clean best; drains, hose bibs, outlets, sealed lighting, and easy-clean materials improve long-term upkeep. Jon discusses seasonality, common stains (notably crape myrtle), a sealing mishap that ended their sealing services, notable transformations, and Backyard Butler’s plans to franchise.

Discover more and connect:

https://www.backyardbutler.net/

https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/

Welcome to another episode of the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast. Today Mike and Trey Farley interview Ryan Walta of Southern Comfort Bed Swings, who describes starting the business 16 years ago after building a better-looking bed swing for his wife and then receiving orders from guests at their rented lake house. Ryan explains how early demand grew quickly through magazine ads, leading from basement production to a showroom and a high-end custom brand using teak, powder-coated aluminum, and handwoven resin wicker, with hidden hardware and stainless fasteners to improve durability and deter copying. They discuss sizing options, custom projects (including hotels and international work), rope vs chain (using synthetic polypropylene Manila rope), quick-dry Dry Fast foam with Sunbrella fabrics, replacement parts, installation guidance and safety, popular models like the Conroy and Emerson, new products like the backless Chloe, and expanding into matching sofas and lounge chairs.

Discover more and connect with us:

https://www.southernkomfortbedswings.com/

https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/