Some pictures would help get the creative juices flowing.

My grandparents had a wood patio cover, but it was covered with bamboo stalks. It made for a tropical/modern setting. The bamboo provides for filtered light but would easily obscure a view from upper windows.

looks great but over my pool would be a bit obtrusive?????

Something to protect you from line of sight of your neighbors is going to be obtrusive in a manner of speaking ;-) Shade sails might be less so?