I'd go for something hardy like lillipillies along the pool - provided that you don't mind losing sun in either the morning or afternoon depending on which way the side faces. If you want to keep the pool nice and warm go for something a bit lower like a mix of tropical plants like ginger, small palms and bougainvillea which will add lovely colour. I'd caution against bamboo as they drop quite a bit of leaf litter and are very water hungry. As for the shady areas not sure but perhaps some pretty river pebbles as 'mulch' interspersed with a few shade-loving tropical plants like you see at hotels. But not too many plants as this will make the area darker.

Ali, I think you are overthinking this, let your back garden be more natural as a contrast to the structured effect of the tiles in the house. I don't think you need consistency, the pool changes the whole vibe of the area so design for the pool to create a welcoming oasis - think tropical island resort. Have you checked with your local Council if there are limits of hardscape you can have? Some Councils do limit this and that will include your roof, driveway, paths, patios, the pool, etc. As well if you want this much hardscape you will need to consider runoff and drainage, particularly to ensure your neighbours don't get swamped in heavy rain or you have areas that puddle and take days to dry out. Consider summer heat too, sitting outside and the radiated heat that comes off hard surfaces, white and light colours reflect heat while dark colours absorb it. As well too much hardscape does not absorb noise - your neighbours will hear all your conversations and noise from the pool will be amplified. If you want that pool area to be inviting, then it needs lush greenery around it to offset this and soften and cool. Carrara marble tiles around a pool look fabulous and would be a great contrast to your dark tiles indoors. The area outside your kitchen should be grassed and include gardens as space for your dogs, even a small tree or two for the environment and to create shade for the dogs. Artificial turf gets extremely hot and would certainly not provide a pleasant or suitable outdoor space for them. I think I would read up on the breed of dog you plan to get also and fully ascertain their needs to ensure you provide properly for them. If you are planning children down the track, they will want a nice safe, green area to play too.

it's a gorgeous home with lovely garden and well worth upgrading but your proposal adds about 25 sq m of extra floor area but will lose much of the valuable original charm without creating much more usable space eg converting the front verandah would be more expensive than adding a new room of the same size because the old floor, walls, ceiling and roof would have to be completely replaced, the office is too small to be called a fourth bedroom and reduces useable living area and etc...my suggestion includes a simple 36sqm extension with matching wall cladding at the same floor height with a skillion ("flat") roof matching the height and angle of the front verandah and includes two bedrooms and a bathroom..the existing master bedroom is opened up to the old dining area and the backyard, the old living area is a separate lounge or private dining room, the existing baby's room becomes a (small bedroom sized) office... add a new carport (recycle the old carport?) with tall posts to be higher than the kitchen window and towards the rear of the house with covered access through the laundry and the original front verandah (with repairs) and the fabulous palm remain unchanged...despite being a bigger renovation than planned, this extension will be a much better investment, will look more original and can be completed in stages as funds allow ..discuss with builders and real estate agents for quotes and opinions this is a very rough image of the extension from the front

pending more details my suggestion would be to have a bigger kitchen with pantry as the dining area feels too cramped, use the old dining as a separate study bed 4 with two living areas and consider a future master suite extension instead of rearranging the existing living area.. when you have such a good sized block of land extending at ground level is far more cost effective than a second storey that uses so much space with stairs and, as big reader has already suggested it's cost effective to have plans drawn up and r Development applications submitted for both extensions and the alfresco even if you don't complete them all at the same time...btw having the new northern kitchen wall line up with the northern wall of the original master bedroom would make the roof work better and not needing to make space for the dining area on the west gives more flexibility with the size of the kitchen family room