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.

Hi mluh You've obviously done your research on these products, so it's most likely going to come down to personal preference. As you've mentioned, a natural stone is going to come with an amount of maintenance but the beauty of Travertine is within its variation. Once sealed with a good quality sealer (I recommend Guard Industry), the maintenance is really quite low and most spills are lost within those natural variations. 99% of spills can be cleaned up without too much trouble. Porcelain, on the other hand, can be quite difficult to clean once it's been marked. That said, the external porcelains have a great non-slip texture and are very hardy when used as paving/tiles. I'm personally not a fan of using them as pool coping, but many people love it. Again, both have their advantages and disadvantages so I would recommend using the product that you're happy looking at for the next 10-20 years. - Jordan

We have purchased limestone pavers (30mm depth) for the coping and surround around our saltwater pool. In readiness for their laying and sealing, our research on line shows that limestone is an excellent paver for around salt water pools. However, a couple of tile cleaner professionals said the pavers will need to be pretreated with a densifier solution to 'Harden up' the limestone and prevent corrosive salt water from eating away at the limestone over time. Then one coat of sealer. Just 2 coats of sealer will not be enough to counteract the salt water, they say. Why is nothing ever simple? Has anyone got any thoughts or experience on how limestone and saltwater interact? Appreciate any advice.

I checked the pavers that were left over from the same batch...low and behold 2 out of the 13 pavers also had the same white streaks on them. These are unused pavers. I'm now leaning towards the manufacturing stage and the retailer I have convinced of the same. He is sending someone out on Monday to see if some sort of chemical will clean them. I fear the worse but let's see how it goes on a couple of them. I agree with you all entirely, the streaks and scratches should have been seen before laying and not used. Luck is what I need for Monday, failing that, block your ears as I ask the pool renovator to pull up the defective pavers and lay new ones.... Renovating tests your body, mind and spirit sometimes lol