Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast

Ep 138 Resort Style Living at Home: Outdoor Design Masterclass with Landscape Architect Kurt Kraisinger of Lorax Design Group

Mike and Trey Farley interview Kurt Kraisinger, landscape architect, owner of Lorax Design Group in Overland Park, Kansas, and co-founder of Tributary Revelation. Kurt recounts his path from aspiring architect to landscape architecture at Kansas State University, building his practice across 25 states, and explains his client-first design philosophy focused on context, lifestyle, and architectural fit rather than a single signature style. He describes how clients often fixate on Pinterest features, why trust is built by showing what clients ask for alongside better alternatives, and why circulation plus grading/drainage are foundational, especially in Kansas City’s freeze-thaw and rainfall conditions. Kurt outlines his “prescribed process” from concept to master plan, early contractor estimates to prevent budget surprises, phasing strategies, and stepwise 3D visualization. He explains the Lorax name origin, Tributary’s tours-based networking model, discusses trendy pool features and value engineering, and shares influences (Simon Sinek, Blue Ocean Strategy), plus personal favorites and travel inspiration.   Discover more: https://loraxdesigngroup.com/ [https://loraxdesigngroup.com/] https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/]   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:23 Meet Kurt Kraisinger 02:54 Path to Landscape Architecture 04:39 K State Training and Early Work 07:51 Design Philosophy and Style Range 11:01 Guiding Clients Past Pinterest 15:48 Why Lorax Design Group 19:55 Outdoor Living After COVID 21:44 Site Walkthrough and Flow Basics 25:43 Master Plans and Phasing 27:24 Budget Reality and Cost Process 31:57 Luxury Features and Tradeoffs 35:21 Learning Negative Edge Details 37:51 How Tributary Started 39:48 Building Tributary Tours 42:17 Vendors Behind Scenes 43:47 Membership Rules Evolve 44:59 Midwest Build Challenges 49:56 When to Hire Designers 52:51 Hand Drawing Value 56:04 3D Workflow Funnel 01:01:22 Timeless Pool Design 01:05:36 Saying No to Clients 01:11:26 Books Food Movies 01:17:41 Wrap Up Contact Info 01:18:22 Show Mission Closing

Ep 137 Year-round Luxury : Bringing the Oasis Indoors & Outdoors With Oasis Pools

Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast with guests Chip Unnerstall and Nicole Newkirk of Oasis Pools, a St. Louis design-build firm focused on high-end residential pools and outdoor living. Chip shares starting his company at 17 after a client loaned him $50,000, leading to rapid early growth, while Nicole describes her design background, their collaboration, and her “Not Your Average Life” mindset brand. They discuss evolving from liners to custom concrete work through continuing education (Genesis and WaterShape University), bringing shotcrete and plaster operations in-house for quality and scheduling control, and lessons from COVID contract escalation. Topics include Midwest weather strategies using tents and heat for year-round building, winterization vs keeping some pools open, indoor pool costs and dehumidification, sanitation options like UV/ozone, material and design “true crimes,” and standout award-winning projects featuring rain curtains, hidden auto covers, entryway water, and perimeter-overflow/tiled pools.   Discover and connect: https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/]   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Chip And Nicole 02:42 How They Got Started 05:40 Growing Into High End 07:24 Training And Genesis 09:44 Going Fully In House 13:17 Weatherproof Building Tents 16:58 Full Backyard Packages 20:38 Service Area And Winterizing 23:25 Spas Hot Tubs And Shell Types 27:02 Indoor Pools And Humidity 30:37 Sanitation UV And Ozone 34:31 Indoor Design And Covers 43:03 Award Winning Projects 44:49 Limestone House Details 45:33 Who Builds Pool Houses 46:48 Modern Rain Curtain Pool 49:28 Cantilever Swings Feature 50:43 Mosaic Tile Reflection Pool 52:58 Lazy River Memories 55:30 Women In Pool Design 57:46 Social Media And Vetting Builders 01:00:28 Design Limits And Timelines 01:02:18 3D Modeling Versus Hand Sketching 01:07:41 Poolside True Crime Lessons 01:13:49 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:16:16 Travel Inspiration And Craftsmanship 01:20:01 Contact Info And Wrap Up 01:22:40 Show Mission Closing

Ep 136 Ryan and Sozan Hughes on how to Create your Vibe with Solana Outdoor Living

The Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast hosts Mike and Trey Farley interview Sozan and Ryan Hughes of Ryan Hughes Design and Solana Outdoor Living about expanding from a second-generation Florida landscape and pool firm into a holistic luxury outdoor living platform that includes furnishings, lighting, kitchens, and specialty products. Ryan explains how the business evolved after 2009 and how furniture became a critical element despite early rejection from manufacturers and consumer credibility hurdles, eventually won through marketing, media exposure, and social proof. Sozan describes joining the company around 2008–2012, negotiating dealer pricing, and launching their first major furniture success. They detail Solana’s 12,000-square-foot showroom in Tampa with vignette displays, customization options, trade support, warehousing/QC/logistics, and plans to scale locations and serve residential, hospitality, and nationwide clients.   Discover more: https://www.solanaoutdoor.com/ [https://www.solanaoutdoor.com/] https://ryanhughesdesign.com [https://ryanhughesdesign.com/] https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/]   00:00 Meet Sozan Hughes 00:57 Podcast Intro and Mission 02:09 Guests Welcome and Origins 02:54 Ryan Hughes Design Evolution 05:36 Sozan Joins the Business 08:52 Breaking Into Furniture 12:39 Selling the Vibe 15:09 Inside the Solana Showroom 18:45 Curating Luxury Brands 22:34 Trade Program and Logistics 26:49 Bespoke Customization and AI 29:53 Signature Products and Video Wall 36:04 Lighting Innovations Spotlight 38:53 How to Explore Solana 40:27 Showroom Visits Explained 41:29 Designing for Trends 44:11 Expanding the Showroom 45:04 New Brands from Italy 46:14 When to Start Planning 48:33 Guiding Clients in Store 50:42 AI and 3D Visuals 52:32 Scaling Solana Nationwide 54:33 Outdoor Kitchen Standouts 57:53 More Niche Product Lines 01:02:36 Advice and Rapid Fire 01:05:54 Travel Inspiration and Wrap 01:08:14 Podcast Mission Closing

Ep 135 From Pool Floors to Ceiling Stars with Fiber Creations and Farley Pool Designs

Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Rhonda Sheeran of Fiber Creations about Pool Stars, a patented fiber-optic “stars in the pool floor” product with a 3D twinkling effect that appears on the pool bottom and reflects off the water surface. Rhonda describes her background in pool tile, renovation, plastering, and early fiber-optic lighting, and explains how Pool Stars use high-quality Mitsubishi fibers bundled from an LED RGBW/DMX-capable illuminator (no electricity in the water) through minimal piping, then distributed as single/double/triple fibers for varied brightness. She details installation steps, plaster/tile considerations, remodel approaches, distance limits (~90 feet), dimming and app/DMX control, use cases (sun shelves, decks, walls, star ceilings, countertops), quality cautions, and typical costs varying by star count and labor.   Discover more: https://www.fibercreations.com/ [https://www.fibercreations.com/] https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/]   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:12 Meet Rhonda Sheeran 02:18 Pool Stars Origin Story 05:55 How Pool Stars Work 10:35 Installation Step by Step 15:17 Remodels and Tile Pools 17:02 Safety and Equipment Setup 21:25 Customization and DMX Control 25:10 Creative Applications Beyond Pools 27:53 Finish Tips and Longevity 29:25 Podcast Legacy Story 30:29 Remodeling a Star Pool 32:19 Drones and Dimming Control 33:43 Why Quality Fiber Matters 35:25 Acrylic Windows and Placement 36:23 Star Ceilings Installation 39:11 Backlit Stone and Showers 41:16 Controllers Apps and Music Sync 44:21 Product Evolution and Install Tips 47:35 Durability Big Clients and Future 50:16 Cost Ranges and Design Options 52:19 Rapid Fire Guest Questions 54:20 Seeing It In Person and Wrap Up

Ep 134 Garden and Landscape Hacks for Great Outdoor Spaces with Jay White and Morgan McBride

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://texasgardener.com/] https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/ [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