Did you solve your design dilemma or find an answer to your question? Very, very few designers monitor the Other section of Houzz, which is why it took so long for you to get a reply. If you desire design advice, please post this again in the Design Dilemmas section, preferably with as many photos as possible. You will get the best suggestions that way.

I am inclined to suggest laying the decking parallel to the pavers around the pool, with the wood extending to the pavers. That way one step down from that deck would land next to the pool. What do you think? As far as the planting area next to the deck, make it a natural, flowing shape to counter all the straight lines you have so far. Use a garden hose to layout the design, then edge with a flexible edging.

I have built similar structures by myself, You can do it. Ensure however that the deck itself is fastened to the structure in case of a nasty wind storm in the future. Remember to frame the metal anchors in wood by the end. One way to go about it is to build pairs of elements -- two posts and beam - on the floor and then erect the framework of the pergola all at once. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNGG4Oy8A30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqHr9rIfpvQ

Hi Jenn: Yes, I used PTL for the posts (6x6x10'), beam(2x10 each side) and the crosspieces (2X10's 16" apart. The cedar is the gate and the pickets. It's 8' to the top of the 2X10 beam (same as to the bottom of cross pieces). PTL lumber is not meant for finish stuff and the typical stack of the stuff has a lot of beat up pieces. But there's good pieces in every pile. One of the hardest parts of the whole job was picking out the best pieces from the stack. The 6x6's weigh about 100 pounds each but we found 11 that were very good. Even those pieces had knots and checks so I used Minwaxws wood filler (2 part system) to fill all that stuff in. I sanded everything well but even then it's not as smooth as the cedar as PTL always has a little texture to it but the difference is hardly noticeable. Haven't done anything to it in the four years it's been built except for one power washing last year. There's been no warping but I let everything dry out all clamped together. Letting it dry out first also helped with the painting (new PTL can't be painted because it's too "wet"). For all the cross pieces I prepainted them before assembly to avoid time on a ladder. And as I mentioned above I used Sherwin Williams "Duration", a higher end, thicker paint that tended to "fills things in" better. It's $60/gallon but I only needed one! As far as the house connection, when I built the garage I preinstalled a 10" Azek board (see "before" photo in my first post) and when it came time to build the pergola I installed a 2X ledger for the cross pieces to bear on. Everything is screwed together, countersunk and filled in with the wood filler (I thought that one pergola you have in an "idea book" with the exposed metal hangers looked horrible because of that!) This project also had another part where the connection to the garage was a little bit different so I'll point that out not knowing your set up. I had a big blank wall and built a trellis and the connection there was under an eave. Before: After: Connection closeup of trellis: It was a lot of work getting the PTL to the proper shape but at $3K savings over cedar I was motivated. The clear cedar for the gate and pickets alone ran around $700! Thanks for the compliment. Everyone likes it. Put on Houzz a while back and got over 240 likes: [https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-give-your-driveway-and-front-walk-more-curb-appeal-stsetivw-vs~24094147[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-give-your-driveway-and-front-walk-more-curb-appeal-stsetivw-vs~24094147) Scroll down to the 12th post. And I was thinking of this project when I wrote number 17 here: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3285825/what-makes-a-house-have-good-design?n=39 Scroll down to the 23rd post there. Mrs. Architectrunnerguy really likes it too but calls it our $80,000 moongate and pergola because it took me so long! But it was a project I was kinda sad to see completed. It was fun after sitting on by butt all day to go out and "putter" with it a while. And the best of luck with your project! Please keep us posted and anymore questions, just ask.