Go look at PB's work so you can see the finishes up close. That will help with your coping and tile choices.

Sunny locations and shady have an affect on the plaster color's appearance. Depth's will change it also.

@zealart, Thanks for the pics. Do you know the names of the tiles/stones and finish in each pic? I especially like the wood/tile combo, the stone, and the poured something looks.

@Vince K , sorry, I don't. I'm just someone who enjoys using pools, but has no knowledge of construction in regards to it. In a lot of photos, you can get ask questions, and sometimes you get lucky and the poster answers.

Go pebble vs plaster. Plaster pools especially darker color ones mottle. You will sign on your contract stating the plasterer has no control over it. It will happen end of story.

Pebble pools eliminate all of that. They stay true to their color and remove 90% of the paster issues. When choosing a color the door of the plaster or pebbles is not the color you will end up with. The water and your pools surroundings change the final color. Even the exact surface color in one yard to the other will look different even if it was next door. As an example tan makes the water look green.

Every pool Co has their favorite med blue with some lagoon name to it. You can add abalone shells to give a nice sparkle to it.

When choosing tiles the larger the tile the less grout which means less failure. Smaller tiles might be needed if there are tight radiuses.

Most important is to actually see a pool co's work. Make sure written in that contract the OWNER will be there during the process and to inspect the final work. Ask for THEIR recommendation for a Co to maintain the pool for the first year. This way they cant blame failure on YOU!!

Pool Cos are notorious for using day laborers and handing out Co shirts on the job site. You will then find out why somebody with a 5th grade education shouldn't be doing the work or a well educated plaster person in the country legally. I don't care how nice they are if they don't understand what a quality job is how do you expect them to do one?