TL;DR: if we put in 1 step between paver patio and pool deck, will that look okay?? Step up would follow patio pavers from edge of deck stairs and partly around the round fire patio. Any tips to make this look good? Stamped border with overhang?? Darker color to match darker bricks on patio for contrast .

Or would an 18” wall look better??
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We will be putting in a pool. Trying to figure out transition between patio and future concrete pool deck.

There is about 2.5-3’ of slope down as you go from the our house to back of property. Our ground water level is high and we do get a few inches of standing water in the very back (by that bridge and table in the pic) when it rains. Hit ground water after 3-4’ in the lowest spot in the back.

Pool builder said we could make it same level as pavers. He's going to put in well points and sump pump around pool, but if I’m understanding him right, he would like to at least place pool up 6-8" (so level with our house). This way, it would be very unlikely that ground water would ever be higher than the water level in the pool (like if it rains hard). But he also mentioned building up to 18"- i think just because he thinks that would
Look nice around fire circle pavers.

We have been here 6 years and have never had water up to the patio. So I'm half tempted to just have it level with the patio, especially If that would look nicer.

But let's say we have an single 6” step- how do we handle transition?

The 2 last images are examples of pools with a single step up to the concrete deck like what i am referring to. Do we do as they did? Or is there some way to dress it up? Do we stamp the side as shown in one of the example pics?

If it's 18", do we put in a brick wall that goes halfway around circle and along front of pool deck? A wall may blow the budget?? No idea what this would cost. Also don't want to have to worry about pool constantly.

Anyone have a step up from their patio to pool deck??

https://imgur.com/a/fvl6V1z