Think beyond the edge of the pool.
The water is one part of a place to live. A terrace for breakfast, shade for a long afternoon and a quieter route through the garden can all change the way the home is enjoyed. Begin with those everyday moments rather than a list of objects.
Give each area a reason.
Consider where you will gather, where you want privacy and how people will move between indoors and out. Look at the views from inside the house as well as those from the terrace. The layout should respond to the actual site and the needs of the people using it.
Let the materials connect.
A restrained palette can connect separate areas without making them identical. Compare paving, walls, planting and the water in the same light. Ask the relevant professionals about suitability, installation, maintenance and the requirements of the site.
Make the whole brief visible.
Share the areas you want to change and the work you expect to happen together. Be clear about existing structures, access and the services you need. Design, specialist advice and construction are scoped separately so responsibilities are understood from the beginning.